This tip is based on a suggestion from my friend Meghan, who pointed out
that, with the cold weather approaching, a higher proportion of our money will
be spent keeping warm. Here are some pointers on how to cut down the cost of
toasty fingers.
Keep your heating equipment functioning well
Make sure your boiler or heater gets a check-up early. Like, now. It will
decrease your headache if it goes on the fritz in January. This has to be done
by a qualified professional, but in order to make sure the boiler isn't working
overtime for nothing, you need to make sure your radiators are free of dust.
Before you turn them on for the first time, run a dusting cloth attached to an
unbent coat hanger between the heating panels of the radiator, making sure all
the dust is gone.
If you have hot-water radiators, connected to a boiler, make sure the air is
thoroughly bled from them. Do this by using either a wrench or a special
radiator key to open the valve on the side of the radiators. Hold an old cloth
or some paper towels against the valve to prevent any spillage when the air is
removed. As an added bonus for this style of radiators, stick sheets of
aluminium foil with blu-tak to the wall behind the radiators. This will
propagate the heat out into the room, heating it faster and more effectively.
Know your energy plan
There are many energy plans out there, with different prices for different
types of energy (gas, oil, and electricity). Know what your house or apartment
uses for heating, cooking, and water heating (these can be different), and what
your energy plan is charging you per unit. This information should be found on
your energy bill. Use this information to compare to other energy suppliers. If
you find a cheaper solution, phone up your own supplier and threaten to switch.
Chances are, they want to keep a paying customer, and will put you on a cheaper
plan if one is available.
Another tip for dealing with the energy suppliers is not to pay by direct
debit. Although it may seem nice to have a single, flat rate each month to pay,
and to have it leave your bank account worry-free, you could be paying too
much. By paying through a per-usage, meter read system, you could not only save
money, but you will be more conscious of your monthly usage, and therefore able
to cut down on your usage in a conscious way.
Acknowledge your circumstances
If you need to heat your house, you're not living in a tropical country.
There is therefore no reason why your house should be heated to 30*C. Lower the
temperature and add a layer. You will save loads of money.
There are some other tricks of the cold-country trade which should be
learned if you're new to this situation:
(1) take your shoes off at the door and switch to slippers or thick socks
(2) eat more complex carbohydrates (providing heat and energy for longer)
and protein
(3) have a sofa-blanket so you can snuggle up warmly while watching TV or
reading a book
(4) wear warm pyjamas and sleep under a duvet (better than blankets!)
(5) turn the heating down at night and when you're not in the house - you
need it to be warm enough to not have pipes freeze (minimum inside temperature
of about 16*C) - but it needn't be blasting heat when you're not going to enjoy
it
(6) get any door and window leaks seen to and plugged, before the cold
weather really starts. Nothing kills your buzz like a draft.
Recognize other areas your energy cost is going
Cooking, showering, and using hot water cycles on washing machines and
dishwashers also contribute to your monthly energy costs. Cutting down on these
is a hidden way to cut your expenditures.
Cooking: as above, with changing the type of food you eat, you should also
think about the method of preparation. Use a kettle to boil water; Use more one-pot
recipes such as home-made soup, stir-fry, or curry, making sure you use a good
thick-bottomed pot; If you have one, use a Crockpot, which can cut down on
energy costs dramatically. Make more than you need, freeze it, and re-heat in a
microwave.
Showers: it's no secret that hot water uses energy, but in winter a hot
shower can be incredibly enticing. If you want to save money, buy a cheap
water-proof timer and time your showers. Aim to reduce them by 10 seconds each
shower until you reach a point where you feel you couldn't take any more time
off and still come out clean (and shaven). I usually have my showers at night,
allowing my body to cool down ready for sleep and reducing the need for
hair drying equipment.
Washing clothes and dishes: some countries offer discounts to households
which run large appliances only at night. If you have a washing machine or
dishwasher equipped with a timer function, and these discounts are available in
your area, take advantage! Just make sure you empty it in the morning. Also,
make sure you have a full load each time you use one of these machines, and use
the cold water cycle of washing machines. If you're running your dishwasher
during the day, open it before the heat dry cycle begins. Your dishes will
still dry, they will just take a bit extra time and won't be warm.
And the final and most important tip: dress warmly, inside and out...
... because being blue isn't sexy.
