Coronavirus (COVID-19): Saving Energy on a Lockdown Part II

Saving Energy at Home

The UK is now officially under a lockdown. People are urged to stay at home and only leave for the essentials. People are worried about their finances and how they are going to afford the coming months. Where possible, cutting costs is a great way to relieve the pressure.

Using Less Stuff recently published, Coronavirus (COVID-19): Saving Energy on a Lockdown.  Understanding that these are difficult times and with more people staying in your homes than usual and after the success of the post, a part II was in order. After all, it’s important to come together and help one another during these difficult times.

The Kitchen

• Lockdown will result in plenty of cups of teas for millions of Brits. When boiling the kettle make sure you only fill it with what you need. If you’re the only want who wants a hot drink, it would be silly to boil the kettle enough for six. According to a university professor the average household could save £19 per year just by filling the kettle correctly.
• Keep the oven door and stove top clean to make sure they work as efficiently as possible. It will take longer to heat to the required temperature as well as food to cook.
• Using lids on your pots and pans whilst cooking helps to contain the heat and it cooks your food faster. Also, ensure that you are using the correct size pan because if it’s too big you will be using excess energy.
• Try to cook your food in bulk and then microwave or freeze the leftovers. Microwaves use less energy than the hob or oven. This will also prevent food waste because certain foods can be preserved for longer dependant on what they are made into.

Around the home

• Switch to LEDs. Now that you are spending more time at home it’s worth switching from your incandescent lightbulbs to LEDs. They are more energy efficient, last longer and have the same brightness. They can also have you a considerable amount of money in the long run.
• Bleed your radiators. It’s important to bleed your radiators at least once a year but preferably before the start of a season. Bleeding your radiators prevents air pockets getting trapped which means hot water cannot circulate effectively.  
• Turn down the temperature of the water on the washing machine. Your wash will be just as effective at a cooler temperature of 30-40 degrees and help to save you money in the process.
• Clean the filters in the dishwasher and the washing machine. They’ll perform better and will be less likely to clog up.

Recreation

• Make a worm farm. This activity can be done outdoors and doesn’t require any energy. As the weather is warmer make the most of your time in the garden.
• Bring out the board games. Go old school and play some family board games instead of watching TV.
• Design a rain barrel collection point. This is a fun activity that you can do with your children and will allow you to have a storage facility for rainwater which you can use on your own plants.
• Set up your own herb garden or even a miniature allotment plot (if you have space)! The ultimate sustainable goal is to have your own plot where you grow your own produce. There are tons of resources online to help start your growing journey.

If you have children and are in need of some activities during home schooling and the Easter holidays, we have created a list of sustainable projects for you to complete. Whether your children are interested in arts and crafts, writing essays or testing their knowledge with a quiz, Using Less Stuff has the answer. Head over to ‘Covid-19: We want to help’ to access your free projects.

Conclusion

Hopefully these tips can help you reduce your household bills. This is a difficult time for us all and these tips can be utilised to minimise the stress over bills. Right now, we should all be working together, staying at home and helping one another wherever possible. To our readers, stay safe and stay at home.