Energy Saving Gadgets - What do you use?
| Related: | Personal Finance•Utilities•Energy Saving |
Hi everyone, I'm going to be discussing energy saving gadgets on the You and Yours programme on Radio 4 at lunchtime tomorrow. I'd be interested to hear whether you use any energy saving gadgets to save money at home.
If so which ones do you use? Are there any that you think are fantastic and would recommend or any you think people should stay away from?
Let me know your thoughts!
Responses (14)
Hi Martin. I have an energy saving kettle which has two sections and you only fill what you need. It was sent by Scottish Power and is really good as you can instantly see what you are using. The only other things are the loft insulation and the wall cavity installation. We also had a new boiler condenser fitted which has cut the bills greatly
Using filament bulbs is using electric heating. It's expensive in winter and a total waste in summer. Modern compact fluorescents (CFLs) and LED.s recoup their cost in less than a year so not only help reduce CO2 but save cash too. Also now more instant, not like the old fashioned CFLs.
LEDs still a bit low on output and output can be hard to judge with a lack of consistent data. Some are quoted in Lumens, some in lux others in watts equivalent.
Why are halogen lamps classed as energy saving as typically saving is 10 - 20% over filament? Others types above are 80%+
Energy saving is a bit like education, hard to do before and after comparisons. Perhaps we need an independent body to test energy saving devices and give advice on likely results in particular circumstances.
This has been done to some extent with Solar PV installations. We have one of these and in the first year we have earned about an eigth of its cost and also saved an unquantifiable amount on our use of electricity.
Small gadgets like water savers for showers and devices which reduce the capacity of toilet cisterns are fairly easy to quantify in physical twerms but putting a monetary value on their use is difficult.
Not for your programme tomorrow but a question that might be posed to the appropriate government agency - how many homes would need to be equipped with solar pv panels to match the output of a nuclear power station and how would the costs compare. I know it is an oranges versus apples query since solar pv output is affected by seasons and time of day but this could be allowed for in the equation. Michael
nuclear power about 1,200,000,000W (Sizewell B) Carbon dioxide extremely low. Lead time 10 -12 years. Yes it needs subsidy but probably not anywhere near as much as comparable solar panels and the wretched windmills. Output is predictable and it works well on cloudy windless winter days.
Also Severn barrier. Yes it would CHANGE the ecology and cost a fortune BUT it would give predictable power. A significant fraction of the UK needs and no CO2. I'm not suggesting we use navvies with shovels and whellbarrows to build it but if unemployment continues to rise.......
Crumbs randall,better get my digger out of storage and make a start....
Hmm havent heard that name since Randall and Hopkirk deceased.
Well cool name!!!!
Randall - i shall add that to my list of baby names....
Just got to find a female with which to procreate now!
Hmm now thats the hard part!
Well, so long as you've got the hard part right, Omenski.....
Just had the walls insulated this year Martin.
Low energy light bulbs which I don't particularly like but we've got them all over the house.
Loo blocks to reduce 'the flush'.
Also a smart meter which I've just worked out how to read...
Oh also I use my 'Slow Cooker' which uses a fraction of electrity compared to cooking in the oven and/or hob.
Agree Lillie, just love the slow cooker for using cheap cuts of meat and very little energy. It just needs a bit of planning.
Must investigate this slow cooker thing - my mum has one dont think she has ever used it in years!
Is it the same as a crock pot?
They are an extremely useful item to have Omen as you can prepare your meal say a chicken casserole the night before and put it in the slow cooker before you go to work and you'll have the most delicious smell when you open your front door. Remember to heat the cooker up first and when you are about to put the liquid in heat that up too then it doesn't take so long.
Hi Martin- We use the ghastly energy saving bulbs which I know save money but are slow to light up and give a nasty cold light but the best energy saver is my husband who turns down the thermostat on the heating and won't put any more logs into the wood burner after 9.30pm.
Try these
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/290647061218?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/220647835257?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649
Save more energy and dont take any time to light up and are much brighter - no cold nasty blue light...
No gadgets needed - energy saving bulbs of course, but switching the heating off for rooms not used daily, setting the thermostat down 2 degrees, never leaving an appliance on standby, and setting the hot water so that it is only available when it's needed has reduced my energy bill by 23%. No gadgets, just common sense.
the best gadget to use is the supplier that guarantees to provide you with the cheapest supplie in the first place, look here,
Commission? Must be..second post from you promoting same thing.....
It depends on the reason you want to use energy saving gadgets, if it is to reduce your usage in order to reduce your cost, one of the main reasons why you should want to use energy saving gadgets in the first place then I would suggest as Ihave done why not just get the cheapest in the first place??
If you want to reduce your carbon foot print or simpilly just want to help the enviroment then you need to learn about what you use, how you use it and when. In order to answer some of these basci questions have a look at this company and get yourself set up to answer the basic questions !! (and no, no commission here!!) (but we were heavily involved in the trials of this type of equipment by being on site testers, for no money ok!!)
Jazz, this is far from just the second post, there are at least a couple of dozen now from highburyhouse all promoting Utility Warehouse.
I think I picked up about 5 in a row..must've missed the others!!
He's even on the reviews !!!! must be on commission
Pain in the neck....
Taking the "in it to win it" expression comes to mind a tad too much...
Still does not beat the off switch highburyhouse.
Jazz, I would have probably have used a less polite term than 'Neck'!
Pain in the arse you mean!
I cant resist the temptation its been my downfall many a time~!
Yes, Omenski, that's exactly what I mean.....
But I just managed to resist the temptation"
What can I say, I was well brought up........
And it shines through, Jazz, you are an example to us all! ;-)
So was I but i Rebelled...
Wot u calling me a scruff then
?
:'o)
Hang on feline, wasn't it you accusing me of lowering the tone on the forum the other day............??? lol
Tried that Omen, didn't get me anywhere!
But you're still an example to us all, Omen, just a bad example...;-)
We use the light bulbs but as always the gadget the saves the most and I use on a regular basis is the off switch the only sure way of making a saving.
Noddy, that's the most sensible comment on this thread!
Nice one Noddy.
Led light bulbs - surface mount type are the best
I have reduced for example my lounge designer light centre piece from 250 watts to just under 20 watts and its almost as bright.
For pure ease of use the all/off standby savers - press a button on ym tv remote control and this little gadget switches the tv , surround sound amp and lights all off in a oner...
I have heard though that these standby timers can cause unusual electrical problems with your equipment and may even damage them when you power them off by causing a power surge so always fit a surge protector in line when using em myself!!!
Solar powered security / shed / garage lights.
Solar powered web ip camera in my hallway.
Solar powered plant pot rotator....
Solar is cool baby!!!!
Water saving gadget - the water hippo does save water - only if you live in England though as I believe your water is metered - poor buggers...Ripped off yet again....
I've got solar lights too outside.. not bright lights but they're enough to give a glow to show where the steps are.
Water hippos, yes, got those too, takes a bit of tweaking to get the right amount of water in it to ensure the flush still does its job...
You can use a brick - cheaper than a water hippo!
Hippos were free Feline :)
My water hippo was free Feline - even though we arent metered up here I still like to do my bit.
We're not metered in England, Omen, we can choose!
You're ok if you don't move house as far as I can see fruity. This place wasn't metered until we bought it, and my old house had meter fitted as soon as we'd moved out....water companies out to make money do you think??
Sounds like it, Jazz, doesn't happen here though, so maybe depends on the water company.
That'd be just my luck :)
Interesting
I used to live in a nightmare Barrat newbuild house
Was never registered for leccie so the whole time i lived in it i was never billed by Scottish Power - the new owners never notified the leccie board either so i presume they are still getting free leccie
I think that wins the best for money saving gadget!
Know what you mean, Jazz, my area has the most expensive water in the UK I believe!
That's got to get the award, Omen!
Thought that was Cornwall.................?
Is there a £2000 prize???
Naah, that's for someone telling us about car boot sales..........
LOL, Jazz!
As it happens, I know about this great car boot sale.......
I'm banging a drum here, except I REALLY do believe they work: Radflek radiator reflectors. So simple you almost can't believe it! Sheets of laminated foil that you hang behind your rads to reflect heat back into the room. Even over the past two weeks (we've got snow here) I haven't moved my rad thermostats off 3 (some are even lower). Some people say to just use foil. But I've tried that and it doesn't really work. First off, you have to dust the sheets to maintain reflectivity and foil tears, but secondly foil exodises and goes dull v quickly. I bought my first lot of Radflek last year and another batch on discount recently (Daily Mail promo) and I am still v impressed with the results and would certainly recommend.
Something i bit fishy going on - Liz all your posts going back two weeks are about Radflek - I see you are managing director of Radflek. (Elizabeth Croft I believe)....
Nice try I must say!
Lol
Well spotted, Omenski!
Hmm - this 'ad' appears on lots of forums. I think that reflectors probably do increase efficiency but you would need to do some careful calculations to show that buying them is really going to save you any money.
Interesting, Omen!
Mum wraps foil around cardboard to put behind radiators, seems to work fine as is cheap
They probably do work quite well actually...
I have NO idea who ELizabeth Croft is - funnily enough my surname begins with a G (duh)! It's a shame people can't genuinely be impressed with a product without you lot getting suspicious. I also endorse Spanx pants, and am a huge fan of Apple computers. Maybe you are going to start placing me as MD of those companies too??!!
So, back to my genuine chuffed-ness with Radflek: it works much better than foil, which oxidises and goes dull after a short period. Foil and radiator reflectors only work if they are shiny and can actually reflect. On that basis you also need to be able to access whatever you are using and dust it regularly. In my experience this is when tin foil tears and you end up ditching it!
I don't see the point of these forums if you're not allowed to rate products that you actually believe in. I have been using Radflek for a few years now and I genuinely believe it does save money. In fact, if I could buy shares in Radflek I probably would! Anyone got this Ms Croft's number?
I can't help thinking of Omen's definition of chuff........
Yes we know you're pleased, and thanks for sharing, but if there's nothing new to add..............?
So how come you have posted about 15 times and every one is about Radlfek then?
Bit fishy really.
https://my.money.co.uk/guides/guide-details.htm#id=4393
I heard you can put them on top of your head as well and it keeps the aliens from transmitting into your brain!
Damn good that Radlfek i must say!
Its ok Liz take a chill pill we are having fun but if you are going to post lets hear something new!
You actually look a bit like Fruiters and my fave Servalan from Blakes 7. sEXXXXYYYYYY GRRRRRRRR
Just ignore it, my lovely Omen! Too trivial to get stressed about....
Omen's right, lizbg, your avatar does look like Servalan...very sexy lady!!
Sorry Jazz - I thought the readership on this site was more that you and Omen....
Besides, if you actually READ Martin's posting he asks a direct question.
And I have answered it.
Unless you are the Editor of this site I suggest you stop trying to edit what people post.
You have indeed..a couple of times in the same thread.......
Good manners cost nothing my dear, I suggest you remember that, and Martins thread was about a programme he was doing two months ago.
We're a friendly site and polite new members are always welcome
Ah, you are ARE the Editor. Of course you are. "Polite new members welcome". RIght-ho, am too busy for this. Am off to do my day job of being MD of Radflek.
Well said, Sis! I'll second that,
Not like me to be rude but I feel justified in this case...........
what about looking at insulating CH pipes UNDER floorboards, for example..? then all heat would come to radiators ??...just a thought.. ...and..in rooms where only a little heat is required..turn the return valve off..then crack open just a little to allow a little flow....but you need to leave at least 1 rad..full on....I tried foil behind rads also....but main thing I think is to look at thermstat settings..1c less..helps a lot
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