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Ceiling insulation is a great way to save on power bills, and has no ongoing costs.
[guest]
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Put a lid on it: When you're in the kitchen, there are lots of small things you can do that can help make a difference. Saucepans with lids on heat much quicker, using less energy in the process. The other thing you might not have thought of is to keep your freezer full. It takes less energy to keep a full freezer cold than an empty one.
myxlfidian (150)
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Bubble wrap applied to the inside of your windows will keep your home warm in winter, or cool in summer. Cut a sheet of bubble-wrap to the size of your window. Spray the inside of the window with a fine spray of water, then press the bubble wrap onto the window, sticking it to the window. This will decrease your electricity usage.
Kevin Solway (173)
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Three biggest ways to save on power:
1) Rent a small one-bedroom unit. It's less lights, less cooling and heating. But you need a door between the two rooms to reduce heat and cool air loss. One bonus is you only need two split system airconditioners to cool and heat the entire appartment.
2) Share that same unit with someone and split the bill. That person will probably have to be your partner though because it would be far too crowded to have a two bedroom situation. You will always pay around 30-40% less on utilities and phone when you share.
3) Be sure to rent a unit with a gas stove and relatively small or narrow refrigerator.
myxlfidian (150)
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Stop drafts: If you have an older house you can save money on your heating bills by blocking up unused chimneys. Plastic foam is the best but you can use old clothes.
[guest]
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Hot drinks for one: If you are usually boiling a kettle only for one person, then get a really small kettle. It is wasteful to boil the extra water unnecessarily. Another solution is to fill a vacuum flask with boiling water and use that for your hot drinks throughout the day.
Kevin Solway (173)
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A mains power meter, which is not very expensive, can plug into a wall socket and tell you how much power your appliances are using — even when they are turned off. Once you know which appliances are draining the most power you will be better informed about whether to switch them off at the wall, or upgrade them.
thesource (378)
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Bright ideas: Every time you change a lightbulb from now on, make sure you change it with a compact fluorescent lightbulb. Not only do they use about 75% less energy than a standard bulb, but they'll last 6 times longer. Easy.
myxlfidian (150)
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Block door-floor-gap draughts: Make a "sausage dog" to sit along the gap. A cheap version: pour cups of rice into the bottom of a large garbage bag, roll it up, and wind gaffer-tape around the sausage to prevent the bag tearing.
kellyjones00 (593)
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Very dry air will not hold heat for very long. Use a humidifier to increase the humidity to around 55%. This will hold the heat for longer, reducing your heating costs.
Kevin Solway (173)
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A ceiling fan, in winter, on slow, in reverse (blowing air towards the ceiling), can distribute the warm air that collects near the ceiling evenly throughout the room.
Kevin Solway (173)
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