My husband loves to save energy in a host of small ways; it drives me bananas. Here are some of his annoying habits, in case you want to save money, take the moral high ground on all things green, and irritate the people you live with into the bargain!
- Turn off the sockets at the wall when you’re not using appliances. Not only will you save energy, you’ll also generate extra body heat as you laugh uproariously at your partner’s confusion as to why their hairdryer won’t work EVERY SINGLE MORNING. It never gets old.
- Ensure your car tyres are inflated to the right pressure. This lowers the friction between the tyre and the road, saving fuel. Of course, keeping the boot topped up with spare shoes, motorbike parts, tools and items that are ‘definitely’ going to the tip at the weekend is likely to offset this saving, but don’t let that put you off.
- Carry bowls of used washing-up water outside and use them to water the plants in the garden. Dripping water all over the floor on the way out is optional.
- Turn down the heating or switch off the heaters now that the snow has melted; preferably without mentioning it. If you have central heating, turning it down just one degree could save you around £50 per year. Pop a jumper on and see how long it takes those around you to start complaining…
- When you’re not using your phone, turning off 4G will save energy and also means less frequent charging. Anyone who borrows your phone will spend a few entertaining minutes wondering why they can’t get internet.
If you want to save energy on a bigger scale, insulation and draught-proofing is key; for the house, for your hot water tank, and for when you turn down that heating, for yourself. And maybe use those savings to buy flowers / beer / chocolate for the poor souls who live with the new energy-conscious you.
