This is a thread to brainstorm ways to save money on electricity/heating. Chime in with your tips and tricks so together we can all save our cents.
So far I have got,
Check out different power providers. If you haven't changed in the last year, have a hunt around and see if you can swap to cheaper. Or someone offering a decent perk for joining. Often switching companies will get you credit or a discount.
Run the slow cooker/dryer/dehumidifier etc at night. Often power companies have a cheaper night rate. If this is you, do the things you don't need during the day at night. Honestly, waking up to the smell of dinner simmering, the bread baking, the laundry finishing and the home feeling dry makes you feel very accomplished and put together at 6.30am.
Ask yourself if you really need to run XYZ. A hand beater for Cream will take longer but is free compared to electric ones. There is some great tables and charts out there like this one. https://www.consumer.org.nz/articles/appliance-running-costs
Check out what it costs to run your appliances and decide if your happy to spend and what you would rather save. Maybe you can live with cold towels but absolutely need your straightener
Keep your home as dry as you can. Damper is harder, and therefore more expensive to heat. Squeegee, open windows, run a dehumidifier, properly ventilate with cooking, showering or using a dryer etc can all help keep dampness down.
Choose certain rooms to occupy to the day, only heat them.
Bust out the hot water bottle, invest in flannel pajamas, snuggle into to a jersey and socks. You might not need a heater at night with that power combo. Dressing warmly during the day might mean your heappump can run at 17 rather than 23
If your work or gym has showers, use the free hot water. If you do it at the end of the day, it might not be something there is a queue for, and so you can lather, shave and exfoliate without hogging.
Line dry laundry as much as you can and then shove into into the dryer to finish.
If you can afford it, look at getting a more efficient fridge/dryer/washing machine etc. Work out if you will save more in the long run to do this.
Only run one load in the dishwasher (even cheaper if you turn it on to run during the night and get the night rates).
Make sure your hot water tank is seat to 60..this is hot enough to kill germs in the tank, but cheaper than running it at 80 etc. Also look into getting a hot water tank cover.
So far I have got,
Check out different power providers. If you haven't changed in the last year, have a hunt around and see if you can swap to cheaper. Or someone offering a decent perk for joining. Often switching companies will get you credit or a discount.
Run the slow cooker/dryer/dehumidifier etc at night. Often power companies have a cheaper night rate. If this is you, do the things you don't need during the day at night. Honestly, waking up to the smell of dinner simmering, the bread baking, the laundry finishing and the home feeling dry makes you feel very accomplished and put together at 6.30am.
Ask yourself if you really need to run XYZ. A hand beater for Cream will take longer but is free compared to electric ones. There is some great tables and charts out there like this one. https://www.consumer.org.nz/articles/appliance-running-costs
Check out what it costs to run your appliances and decide if your happy to spend and what you would rather save. Maybe you can live with cold towels but absolutely need your straightener
Keep your home as dry as you can. Damper is harder, and therefore more expensive to heat. Squeegee, open windows, run a dehumidifier, properly ventilate with cooking, showering or using a dryer etc can all help keep dampness down.
Choose certain rooms to occupy to the day, only heat them.
Bust out the hot water bottle, invest in flannel pajamas, snuggle into to a jersey and socks. You might not need a heater at night with that power combo. Dressing warmly during the day might mean your heappump can run at 17 rather than 23
If your work or gym has showers, use the free hot water. If you do it at the end of the day, it might not be something there is a queue for, and so you can lather, shave and exfoliate without hogging.
Line dry laundry as much as you can and then shove into into the dryer to finish.
If you can afford it, look at getting a more efficient fridge/dryer/washing machine etc. Work out if you will save more in the long run to do this.
Only run one load in the dishwasher (even cheaper if you turn it on to run during the night and get the night rates).
Make sure your hot water tank is seat to 60..this is hot enough to kill germs in the tank, but cheaper than running it at 80 etc. Also look into getting a hot water tank cover.