Still Saving

Amazingly, despite the polar weather last week, our meter readings show that we managed to keep our savings for the third week consistent with the first two weeks. So we have cut our gas use by 30% and electricity use by 35% and are on track to save £440 per year!!!

Even though the weather has warmed-up significantly we are still trying to do more to cut our energy use. Last year we put radiator foil behind our radiators on outside walls. This is meant to stop some of the heat going straight out the wall and reflect it back into the room.

So the only thing left to do to our radiators was to stop the heat going straight up and heating the ceiling rather than the room (surprisingly, the Romans had the right idea 2000+ years ago with underfloor heating that meant the heat went up through the room space and the floor stayed nice and toasty for your toes!). We'd seen radiator fans that sit on the top of each radiator and blow the warm air into the room. However, as they are a fan they make a noise a bit like a computer and have to be plugged-in. We are not big fans of using energy to save energy (although they do say that what you save in heating can be over £100 more than what you pay in electricity for them to be plugged-in - that's if one is in every room at £30-£40 each!). So we chose to put-up simple radiator shelves (from FREE old shelves stored in our loft) to bounce some of the heat down and back into the room.

Sorry about today's boring photos, hope to have something more exciting later in the week.

ESTIMATED ANNUAL SAVINGS
Radiator shelves                            £10
Free water saving stuff                    £5
H2O alarm clocks x 4                    £30
Door draught seal                            £5
Lined front door curtains               £10
Bathroom energy saving light       £30
No power games & activities        £10
Less charging (car inverter)          £15
No power lawn mowing                £10
Reduced ironing                            £15
Hall energy saving light                £30
Front door solar light                    £30
Lined bedroom curtains                  £5
Cooking Co-operative                   £25
Dishwasher used only when full   £20
Bed half an hour earlier                 £25
Washing Machine at 30 deg C      £15
Reduced Heating & Hot Water     £50
Ditch the Tumble Dryer                £50
Still Less TV & Xbox                   £10
Total Annual Savings                  £400

ACTUAL SPEND (will add items in as we install them and estimate their savings)
H2O alarm clocks x 4                    £26
Door draught seal                            £5
Pulley bathroom airer                    £43
Lined front door curtains               £21
Bathroom energy saving light       £20
Invertor                                          £20
Hall energy saving light                £27
Front door solar light                     £25
Lined bedroom curtains                 £10
Total spend                                   £197
TTFN

Easy Savings

Well we came up with little that was new today but because the weather was so nice we spent most of the day outside using very little energy. First thing Tom had a football match (fantastic job in goal again and his team won 5-2) which we traipsed-off to a little bleary-eyed following the clocks springing forward. Then between Harry (the dog) walks we spent most of the day in the garden and even got Tom trying to be a bit green-fingered!

Despite it being Mother's Day, Toni cooked for the 5,000 (well not quite) to return some of the meals we'd had at others as part of our "cooking co-operative." Although we cooked for more I don't think we used any more energy than if we had just cooked for the 4 of us so we definitely believe the plan is working. Sammy even used the oven that was already on cooking our Sunday dinner to make some lovely cakes.

Also notice the tiered steamer on the hob cooking all our veg off just one gas ring!

Due to the lovely weather, we got none of the planned jobs done fixing-up our last few B&Q purchases so will have to make time during the week.

Tom tried to claim new energy savings by turning his thermostatic radiator valve down from 3 to 1, not knowing that we aren't going to have the heating on with this warm weather! Still shows he is trying after 3 weeks.

ESTIMATED ANNUAL SAVINGS
Free water saving stuff                    £5
H2O alarm clocks x 4                    £30
Door draught seal                            £5
Lined front door curtains               £10
Bathroom energy saving light       £30
No power games & activities        £10
Less charging (car inverter)          £15
No power lawn mowing                £10
Reduced ironing                            £15
Hall energy saving light                £30
Front door solar light                    £30
Lined bedroom curtains                  £5
Cooking Co-operative                   £25
Dishwasher used only when full   £20
Bed half an hour earlier                 £25
Washing Machine at 30 deg C      £15
Reduced Heating & Hot Water     £50
Ditch the Tumble Dryer                £50
Still Less TV & Xbox                   £10
Total Annual Savings                  £390

ACTUAL SPEND (will add items in as we install them and estimate their savings)
H2O alarm clocks x 4                    £26
Door draught seal                            £5
Pulley bathroom airer                    £43
Lined front door curtains               £21
Bathroom energy saving light       £20
Invertor                                          £20
Hall energy saving light                £27
Front door solar light                     £25
Lined bedroom curtains                 £10
Total spend                                   £197

Final week starting tomorrow, so one final push to find a few more practical energy saving ideas.

TTFN

Lovely Freebies

As we approach the final week we are looking for free stuff and ideas to try and reduce our energy saving a little further (because we've nearly blown our budget!). The first things we found were on www.savewatersavemoney.co.uk. Now we know saving water isn't saving energy but saving hot water is (and it is good and eco friendly to keep our water usage down). Anyway, we got a free 4-minute shower timer and free energy saving shower head plus free shower save and tap aerators. All are designed to reduce water usage but also decrease hot water usage therefore reducing energy use (and they are FREE!).

The topsy-turvy weather continues with a lovely sunny and hot day today (we had snow 3 days ago!) so saved energy by using ours and getting out and about (even with Sammy cutting off half my head!).

In the energy saving "zone" we kept the TV and gadgets off and Tom and I got creative model making (we used to do loads when he was younger but all got lost in our gadgets up until the Great Energy Race).

ESTIMATED ANNUAL SAVINGS
Free water saving stuff                    £5
H2O alarm clocks x 4                    £30
Door draught seal                            £5
Lined front door curtains               £10
Bathroom energy saving light       £30
No power games & activities        £10
Less charging (car inverter)          £15
No power lawn mowing                £10
Reduced ironing                            £15
Hall energy saving light                £30
Front door solar light                    £30
Lined bedroom curtains                  £5
Cooking Co-operative                   £25
Dishwasher used only when full   £20
Bed half an hour earlier                 £25
Washing Machine at 30 deg C      £15
Reduced Heating & Hot Water     £50
Ditch the Tumble Dryer                £50
Still Less TV & Xbox                   £10
Total Annual Savings                  £390

ACTUAL SPEND (will add items in as we install them and estimate their savings)
H2O alarm clocks x 4                    £26
Door draught seal                            £5
Pulley bathroom airer                    £43
Lined front door curtains               £21
Bathroom energy saving light       £20
Invertor                                          £20
Hall energy saving light                £27
Front door solar light                     £25
Lined bedroom curtains                 £10
Total spend                                   £197
Weather meant to be nice tomorrow so we will be out and about again keeping the power usage as low as possibly and also got the last few B&Q purchases to fix up.

TTFN

Crazy Climate

After yesterday's snow, today we had sunshine, rain, thunder and lightning, a hail storm, a cold wind and then warm sun?!? Is this the effects of global warming or just a mad March? A very apt question during the Great Energy Race!

Yippee, the alarm clocks got delivered today and Tom and Sammy were very eager to see them.

They were jumping with joy once they got them open as they were so excited to get them working (Sammy even turned into a blur she was so overjoyed!).

And what caused all this jubilation? Water powered alarm clocks!!! It must have been Science Week at school last week that sparked their imagination (although I also think they thought they wouldn't be real having been brought up with everything plugging-in or needing batteries).

They are not going to save the planet, or reduce our energy bill by much, but hopefully every little bit we do (along with a few others) adds-up and might at least stop our climate going crazy, like today, and give our children have a chance! Well that was a little serious for a change so here's Sammy doing her bit - getting outside, warming herself-up and having a little read at the same time!

ESTIMATED ANNUAL SAVINGS
H2O alarm clocks x 4                    £30
Door draught seal                            £5
Lined front door curtains               £10
Bathroom energy saving light       £30
No power games & activities        £10
Less charging (car inverter)          £15
No power lawn mowing                £10
Reduced ironing                            £15
Hall energy saving light                £30
Front door solar light                    £30
Lined bedroom curtains                  £5
Cooking Co-operative                   £25
Dishwasher used only when full   £20
Bed half an hour earlier                 £25
Washing Machine at 30 deg C      £15
Reduced Heating & Hot Water     £50
Ditch the Tumble Dryer                £50
Still Less TV & Xbox                   £10
Total Annual Savings                  £385

ACTUAL SPEND (will add items in as we install them and estimate their savings)
H2O alarm clocks x 4                    £26
Door draught seal                            £5
Pulley bathroom airer                    £43
Lined front door curtains               £21
Bathroom energy saving light       £20
Invertor                                          £20
Hall energy saving light                £27
Front door solar light                     £25
Lined bedroom curtains                 £10
Total spend                                   £197

Nearly up to our £250 spend limit but our savings are much bigger. Even better is the fact that the savings will carry on every year without having to spend again (as long as we remain vigilant).

TTFN

Horrible Weather

Only in this country could it go from nearly 20 deg. C to snowing in just 10 days! Yes we had a covering of the white stuff today - which doesn't help when your trying to save energy as just the look of it makes you want to turn up the heating, put on the fire and make loads of hot drinks! However, we persevered with a nice bath (one shared in turn by all again), fluffy dressing gowns and a board game to exercise the grey matter (though we did sneak in hot drinks and biscuits).

One advantage/disadvantage of the return of winter is that it lets you feel where any cold draughts are from. Stopped the draught under the living room door with a draught seal bought from B&Q. Could have used an old fashioned sausage dog but that would probably been attacked by Harry!

Talking of the dog, Harry, he has been very energy saving by not turning the fire on to sit in front of but going to bed (mine & Toni's!).

Sammy got ready to finish her homework as if she was off on a polar trek!!!

ESTIMATED ANNUAL SAVINGS
Door draught seal                            £5
Lined front door curtains               £10
Bathroom energy saving light       £30
No power games & activities        £10
Less charging (car inverter)          £15
No power lawn mowing                £10
Reduced ironing                            £15
Hall energy saving light                £30
Front door solar light                    £30
Lined bedroom curtains                  £5
Cooking Co-operative                   £25
Dishwasher used only when full   £20
Bed half an hour earlier                 £25
Washing Machine at 30 deg C      £15
Reduced Heating & Hot Water     £50
Ditch the Tumble Dryer                £50
Still Less TV & Xbox                   £10
Total Annual Savings                  £355

ACTUAL SPEND (will add items in as we install them and estimate their savings)
Door draught seal                            £5
Pulley bathroom airer                    £43
Lined front door curtains               £21
Bathroom energy saving light       £20
Invertor                                          £20
Hall energy saving light                £27
Front door solar light                     £25
Lined bedroom curtains                 £10
Total spend                                   £171
Our energy saving alarm clocks were delivered but no one was in to take them, argh! Hopefully redelivered tomorrow and we can have some fun with them!

TTFN

Savings confirmed

Amazingly our meter readings show that we used exactly the same amount of energy in week 2 of the Great Energy Race as in week 1. Although it would have been nice to see a little more saved in week 2 we are more than pleased to have confirmed that we are on target to save £440 per year. The main reason for no change is probably the change in the weather - typical for this country! Week 1 was exceptionally warm and dry (there was even a mention of drought in the newspapers despite the previous 2 months of constant rain!) and week 2 was grey, showery and much colder. Anyway, we are not downbeat and despite the freezing wind we all ventured out with Harry again for a nice long walk.

When we got back rather than turning the heating on we shared a bath in turns, put on our pjs, dressing gowns and slippers, had a warm drink and played another board game (Battleships tonight)
before early to bed.

ESTIMATED ANNUAL SAVINGS
Lined front door curtains               £10
Bathroom energy saving light       £30
No power games & activities        £10
Less charging (car inverter)          £15
No power lawn mowing                £10
Reduced ironing                            £15
Hall energy saving light                £30
Front door solar light                    £30
Lined bedroom curtains                  £5
Cooking Co-operative                   £25
Dishwasher used only when full   £20
Bed half an hour earlier                 £25
Washing Machine at 30 deg C      £15
Reduced Heating & Hot Water     £50
Ditch the Tumble Dryer                £50
Still Less TV & Xbox                   £10
Total Annual Savings                  £350

ACTUAL SPEND (will add items in as we install them and estimate their savings)
Pulley bathroom airer                    £43
Lined front door curtains               £21
Bathroom energy saving light       £20
Invertor                                          £20
Hall energy saving light                £27
Front door solar light                     £25
Lined bedroom curtains                 £10
Total spend                                   £166

By the way, the front door curtains have already made a noticeable difference to the warmth retained in the hall and stairs.

TTFN

More DIY

We have all been really busy with our energy saving over the last few days that we haven't had time for a new post so this might be a long one!!!

Coming to the end of the second week, we've been carrying on with all the initiatives we've started and added a few more. The games consoles and TVs have been on a lot less as we have played more board games, ventured outside with the dog and enjoyed more creative activities together as a family. Tom and Sammy have both been very vigilant at turning plugs and switches off and even reminding us if we forget! As a reward for all their good energy saving and motivation (or is it a bribe?) for the next 2 weeks, Sammy got her chemistry set (no power required, not even batteries!) and Tom got a "build a human body" (guts and all - very much to his taste).

The weather has turned wetter and colder but we haven't needed anymore energy. In just a couple of weeks we have all got used to putting on another layer if we are feeling the cold and just slip on our dressing gowns and slippers in the evenings (nice and toasty!).

The tumble dryer has stayed off, despite the rain, as we have now installed our latest purchase - an old fashioned pulley airer for the bathroom. For under £45, a couple of drill holes and less than an hour of time we now have a tried and tested, no power indoor clothes dryer - anybody want a second hand tumble dryer?

The "cooking collective" is going really well and we have eaten at family or friends 5 or 6 times over the last 2 weeks. Had to repay the favour to some today with a big Sunday roast. However, the oven was on for no longer than it would have been on a normal Sunday at home and with a little wine, conversation and a few games no extra power was consumed (just too much food).

Changed another energy wasting 3 spot light fitting to an elegant, single energy saving light bulb fitting from B&Q, this time in our bathroom.

Also added new door curtains to our front door/porch to keep some of the cold air out. The fully lined door curtains were another B&Q clearance bargain at only £7 each - we needed 2, and a curtain pole, to cover the whole porch entrance.

We mentioned on day one that we all had plug-in alarm clocks that we wanted to change for something more energy efficient. Although they don't use a huge amount of electricity, it seems a bit silly that they all run for 24 hours when we only really need them for 10 minutes a day (alarm and a cheeky hit of the snooze button). Anyway, with a bit of internet searching (on an energy efficient laptop of course) we think we have found the answer (none of us wanted wind-up, tick-tock, bell alarm clocks as we thought they would keep us awake - and give me and Toni nightmares of sleeping in freezing, damp, spooky grandparent's houses when we were kids!). So another order placed and we will disclose all when they arrive.

ESTIMATED ANNUAL SAVINGS
Lined front door curtains               £10
Bathroom energy saving light       £30
No power games & activities        £10
Less charging (car inverter)          £15
No power lawn mowing                £10
Reduced ironing                            £15
Hall energy saving light                £30
Front door solar light                    £30
Lined bedroom curtains                  £5
Cooking Co-operative                   £25
Dishwasher used only when full   £20
Bed half an hour earlier                 £25
Washing Machine at 30 deg C      £15
Reduced Heating & Hot Water     £50
Ditch the Tumble Dryer                £50
Still Less TV & Xbox                   £10
Total Annual Savings                  £350

ACTUAL SPEND (will add items in as we install them and estimate their savings)
Pulley bathroom airer                    £43
Lined front door curtains               £21
Bathroom energy saving light       £20
Invertor                                          £20
Hall energy saving light                £27
Front door solar light                     £25
Lined bedroom curtains                 £10
Total spend                                   £166

Checking the second weeks actual energy use via our meters tomorrow so fingers crossed that we have shaved a little more off.

TTFN

Keeping Up the Good Work

As the weather has stayed fine for the last couple of days it has been easy to get everyone outside and turning all the gadgets and appliances off.

We've not just been walking (or running out of shot!) Harry our dog but have been playing in the park and getting bikes and scooters out from their winter breaks.

However, it has started to rain tonight and is meant to get colder so won't be as easy as switching-off and getting outside. Zero power, tumble dryer alternative has arrived but needs fixing-up so will have to wait until the weekend until we reveal all!!!

Following Tom's science experiments for homework and it being National Science Week, Sammy has found it much more exciting to actually get messy than play Science Papa on the Wii console and now wants a full chemistry set! I wonder what other console games we can make hands-on so that the power stays off? Also, still playing loads of board games and cards, especially when the Xbox starts calling Tom so I don't think his missing it too much.

Nearly had the first hiccup yesterday when there was only just enough hot water for our shared (one at a time) bath. Thought we might have to put the timer on for longer (ARGHHH!) but then found out that Toni had bathed Harry earlier in the day (no-way were we keeping his dirty, flea-ridden water to share). At least he is clean and smells nice, making him a great, cuddly alternative to a hot water bottle - I wonder how much energy that saves???

ESTIMATED ANNUAL SAVINGS
No power games & activities        £10
Less charging (car inverter)          £15
No power lawn mowing                £10
Reduced ironing                            £15
Hall energy saving light                £30
Front door solar light                    £30
Lined bedroom curtains                  £5
Cooking Co-operative                   £25
Dishwasher used only when full   £20
Bed half an hour earlier                 £25
Washing Machine at 30 deg C      £15
Reduced Heating & Hot Water     £50
Ditch the Tumble Dryer                £50
Still Less TV & Xbox                   £10
Total Annual Savings                  £310

ACTUAL SPEND (will add items in as we install them and estimate their savings)
Invertor                                          £20
Hall energy saving light                £27
Front door solar light                     £25
Lined bedroom curtains                 £10
Total spend                                    £82
As we've all been more active, we are more tired in the evenings so makes us all keep up the going to bed earlier (and turning everything off earlier - kerching!)

TTFN

Every Little Helps

Continued on with all the ideas we've implemented so far and also started using an in-car invertor purchased from B&Q at the weekend. This plugs into the power/cigarette socket in the car and allows gadgets/appliances to be run or charged from our cars battery from a normal 3-pin plug. So will now be charging mobile phones, tablets etc. whilst driving and not using any home energy! Two tips; firstly we won't be leaving the gadgets in the car to be stolen, and second, we will be checking and, if necessary, charging the car battery from time-to-time.

Also managed to get time to cut the grass today. However, instead of using any power we dug-out our push along cylinder mower. It took a little mower effort than normal but this was eased by the thought that it wasn't plugged-in! Plus Harry (our dog) helped (see pic.). They are the cheapest type of mower to buy and other than a firm push require no energy and only a little maintenance.

As we were outside, thought we would add a photo of our solar panels collecting lots of lovely sunshine (plus free electricity and the feed-in tariff).

Did our, now normal, eating out ("cooking co-operative" - owe a few meals now), shared bath in turns and then a board game (Buzzed Out tonight that ended in a draw - everyone happy!).

ESTIMATED ANNUAL SAVINGS
Less gadget charging                     £15
No power lawn mowing                £10
Reduced ironing                            £15
Hall energy saving light                £30
Front door solar light                    £30
Lined bedroom curtains                  £5
Cooking Co-operative                   £25
Dishwasher used only when full   £20
Bed half an hour earlier                 £25
Washing Machine at 30 deg C      £15
Reduced Heating & Hot Water     £50
Ditch the Tumble Dryer                £50
Still Less TV & Xbox                   £10
Total Annual Savings                  £300

ACTUAL SPEND (will add items in as we install them and estimate their savings)
Invertor                                          £20
Hall energy saving light                £27
Front door solar light                     £25
Lined bedroom curtains                 £10
Total spend                                    £82

Weather meant to change and get showery so ordered our indoor solution to not using the tumble dryer...    will give details when it arrives.

TTFN

Amazing Savings!

Well, we've been tracking our estimated energy savings and this had so far amounted to £260 per year. We have also been taking our meter readings from before the GREAT ENERGY RACE started. As a full week had now passed since the start of the race we decided to see if the meter readings showed anywhere near similar savings. To our amazement, in comparison to the week before the race started we had cut our gas use by 30% (from 4 to under 3 units per day) and electricity use by 35% (from 12 to 8 units per day) equating to a £440 saving per year, WHOOP DEE DO!!! We do have to owe some of this reduction to Mother Nature with the much improved weather but we still really impressed ourselves. So far we have; not been cold, not run out of hot water, kept clean, kept up with the laundry, eaten hot meals, not sat in the dark and (definitely) not been bored! In fact the small changes have been really easy to live with and the kids are even asking if we can keep doing them after the race has finished!

As we go into the second week, Sammy has been busy putting stickers everywhere to remind us to keep energy saving on the ideas we've already put in place.



TUMBLE DRYER

WASHING MACHINE

Toni has almost quit ironing (it wasn't hard to convince her) all for the cause! She is still ironing uniforms and smart stuff but because we aren't using the tumble dryer most things don't need it. A long way from when we first moved-in together, many moons ago, when she used to even iron my boxer shorts!!!

After school Tom played football and Sammy played with her friends so no gadgets turned on by them. We all shared one bath in turn again after dinner and then played another board game, Trivial Pursuit Family Edition, Tom and Sammy won as Sammy was on-fire. Tom's pronunciation of musical composers had us in stitches although his version of Wagner nearly got him a red card and early to bed!!!

ESTIMATED ANNUAL SAVINGS
Reduced ironing                            £15
Hall energy saving light                £30
Front door solar light                    £30
Lined bedroom curtains                  £5
Cooking Co-operative                   £25
Dishwasher used only when full   £20
Bed half an hour earlier                 £25
Washing Machine at 30 deg C      £15
Reduced Heating & Hot Water     £50
Ditch the Tumble Dryer                £50
Still Less TV & Xbox                   £10
Total Annual Savings                  £275

ACTUAL SPEND (will add items in as we install them and estimate their savings)
Hall energy saving light                £27
Front door solar light                     £25
Lined bedroom curtains                 £10
Total spend                                    £62
We haven't changed any of our estimated savings because of the fall in meter readings but we will keep tracking both.

TTFN

A Gorgeous Day

Wow, what a beautiful day and perfect for turning everything off and getting outside. First off the kids went out on their bikes and scooters whilst I changed some inefficient light fittings.

In the hall was a nice looking. energy hungry, 3 mini spot light. I replaced this with an also nice looking, single energy saving bulb fitting bought yesterday from B&Q.

I then took down our wired-in front door light and replaced it with a solar light. We already have solar shed and garden lights and should be making use of the sun's free energy whenever possible, especially now that the technology is no more expensive than wired-in fittings.





We then turned everything off and all went to the park for Tom's football match. It was a fantastic game and ended up a 2-2 draw after Tom's team went 2-0 down. Refereeing, I had to give the other side a blatant penalty but Tom , being the goalie, dived brilliantly to his left to save it and along with some other fine saves, earned himself man-of-the-match!

The kids were now definitely in an outside mood and whilst Sammy played with her friends, Tom did some science experiments for his homework.

So after keeping everything off all day by being mostly outside, we continued by going to Toni's sister's for Sunday Roast and starting our cooking co-operative. Very nice it was too and tasted even better knowing we hadn't used any energy! (Lovely cheesecake Beth).

We got home for baths (one bath of water shared by all 4 of us in turn) and then played Race Track - a Formula 1 based board game. Even though the sun helped, it was a pretty good energy saving day.


ESTIMATED ANNUAL SAVINGS
Hall energy saving light                £30
Front door solar light                    £30
Lined bedroom curtains                  £5
Cooking Co-operative                   £25
Dishwasher used only when full   £20
Bed half an hour earlier                 £25
Washing Machine at 30 deg C      £15
Reduced Heating & Hot Water     £50
Ditch the Tumble Dryer                £50
Still Less TV & Xbox                   £10
Total Annual Savings                  £260

ACTUAL SPEND (will add items in as we install them and estimate their savings)
Hall energy saving light                £27
Front door solar light                     £25
Lined bedroom curtains                 £10
Total spend                                    £62

I was amazed to find out how much the changing of the lights could save but I have got the figures from a good, trustworthy site called www.sust-it.net. I thought it would be 3 - 4 years before the saving covered the cost to buy but it's actually less than one year!

So, one week gone and 4 to go. The savings are looking good and when I look at the meter readings tomorrow they will hopefully prove them - watch this space! Getting late so time for bed said Zebedee, boing (showing my age!).

TTFN

Spend to Save

Great weather today which obviously helps with the energy saving - no heating, kids outside playing rather than using electricity, washing on the line blah, blah, blah. Kids also at clubs and around friends today spreading the energy saving vibe!

Had our visit from a B&Q Energy Adviser this morning (Brad from Southend). He was very thorough and knowledgeable and Sammy liked him because she thought he looked like Joey Essex! He completed a feel assessment and we got a "C" rating (like appliance ratings with "A" being the best) which apparently is pretty good for a property nearly 80 years old!

Made time to visit B&Q this afternoon to spend some of our "allowance" on our energy saving ideas. Had made a list of some of our worst offending items that needed more energy saving alternatives and plans for things we wanted to do. Spent just over £170 but all the items purchased are for long-term energy saving even though I am going to show them against the estimated savings for this year.

Don't want to bore you with a list of everything in one go so will take some pics and estimate our savings when we fit each one. We did manage to put up one of the purchases today, new, fully lined curtains for our bedroom. The kids rooms already have blackout blinds and curtains so their windows are pretty well insulated. Our bedroom window had flimsy, almost see-through curtains - not nice for those living opposite!!! As you can see from the photo, the new curtains on the right block out tons more light and will also be loads more insulating being lined. Plus we found them in the clearance "bin" and they only cost £10!

ESTIMATED ANNUAL SAVINGS
Lined bedroom curtains                  £5
Cooking Co-operative                   £25
Dishwasher used only when full   £20
Bed half an hour earlier                 £25
Washing Machine at 30 deg C      £15
Reduced Heating & Hot Water     £50
Ditch the Tumble Dryer                £50
Still Less TV & Xbox                   £10
Total Annual Savings                  £200

ACTUAL SPEND (will add items in as we install them and estimate their savings)
Lined bedroom curtains                 £10
Total spend                                    £10 

Right, still early to bed as want these plugs off and got all our purchases to put up tomorrow (plus will be running around like a headless chicken with a load of kids at football trying to officiate them!). Oh yes, and the proper start of the "cooking co-operative" with dinner at Toni's sister's (yum, yum).

TTFN

Brilliant Brainwave

No blog post last night because we were at friends for dinner (which had the added bonus of not using our own energy!). This actually got us all thinking and hence the "brilliant brainwave". We decided to start a "cooking co-operative" between local friends and family (best if walking distance otherwise what you save will probably be used up in the cost of petrol). The idea is pretty simple. To cook for more people doesn't cost more in energy - the oven is either on or off. So if 2 or 3 households cook and eat together only one oven is being used. If you rotate the host (use of oven) then you can easily have 2 or 3 nights per week when your not using the oven (or cooking, or using any other energy in your home). Add to this that you are eating out or entertaining and it must be a win, win! Obviously you need to share the cost of the food but that could even give you savings by buying bigger pack sizes. We are fortunate enough to have plenty of friends and family close by so are definitely going to give it a go (Sunday dinner already booked at Toni's sister).

We are now making sure that the dishwasher is totally full before using - as this is more efficient. This has meant instead of daily use it is now only used every other day (and we are not cheating by doing a bit more washing-up by hand - think we have all forgotten how anyway).

ESTIMATED ANNUAL SAVINGS
Cooking Co-operative                   £25
Dishwasher used only when full   £20
Bed half an hour earlier                 £25
Washing Machine at 30 deg C      £15
Reduced Heating & Hot Water     £50
Ditch the Tumble Dryer                £50
Still Less TV & Xbox                   £10
Total Annual Savings                  £195

Loads of plans for the weekend so early to bed.

TTFN

Has the Novelty Worn Off?

Oh no, got in from work to find Sammy watching TV and Tom on his tablet! I was assured that they were just waiting for me as they had decided we should all go for a walk as it was such a lovely evening. So panic over as we turned everything off, got Harry's lead on (harder than it sounds as he goes nuts when its walkies time) and set out for an hour or so.

Got a bit chilly whilst we were out but when we got home no one asked for the heating to be put on instead just all keeping our jumpers and sweatshirts on. All tired from work and school so going to start going to bed half an hour earlier to get some more beauty sleep and turn everything off earlier. Makes loads of sense this time of year when evenings are dark but mornings bright!

ESTIMATED ANNUAL SAVINGS
Bed half an hour earlier                 £25
Washing Machine at 30 deg C      £15
Reduced Heating & Hot Water     £50
Ditch the Tumble Dryer                £50
Still Less TV & Xbox                   £10
Total Annual Savings                  £150
Better sign-off as bed (and all the off switches) are calling.

TTFN

A Quick Update

All at work or school today so Harry (our dog) and Ginger (our cat) home alone - hope they didn't use too much energy!

Sammy and Tom still really going for it. Sammy playing chefs with her friend rather than watching TV - only pretending to use the oven.

Tom reading his football magazine and not using the Xbox.

We are only going to use the washing machine at 30 degrees C and will be reporting back on the results.

ESTIMATED ANNUAL SAVINGS
Washing Machine at 30 deg C      £15
Reduced Heating & Hot Water     £50
Ditch the Tumble Dryer                £50
Still Less TV & Xbox                   £10
Total Annual Savings                  £125

Off to Sammy's trampoline class and then to watch super Stevenage FC (come on the Boro!) so no energy use at home this evening (getting takeaway - is that cheating?).

TTFN





And we're off!

At last the race has started!

At work today, but before I set off I checked our heating and hot water timer to find we definitely have become complacent. Cut the time the hot water is on by 50% and heating by 80%!!! We don't think we will run out of hot water and no one's complained of being cold yet.

Despite being grey and a bit chilly, Toni didn't even contemplate putting the tumble dryer on. The washing went out on the line and is now dry and fresh. What about if it rains? We have a plan but more on this later in the week...

After work and school got Tom and Sammy to look at the energy they use in their bedrooms.

We found all the lights upstairs had energy saving bulbs except the bathroom (because of the fittings so might look at changing) and our bedroom (but it doesn't work - still got told off by Sammy!).

We each had a plug-in alarm clock and thought we could find more energy saving options - we let you know what we come up with.

All the upstairs radiators have Thermostatic Radiator Valves but we never look at them! Found they were all at either 4 or 5 so turned them down to 3 (no reports of cold bedrooms tonight).

Tom and Sammy have really caught the energy saving bug and both been caught turning lights off and closing curtains at dusk!

Even more amazing was that neither the TV nor Xbox has been on!!! After dinner we all bathed in one bath full of water and taking turns of course. Then played a board game - no arguments, having fun and no electric!

Right, sorry a bit of a long post but first day and all that. Just to finish off with my estimated savings summary that I'm going to carry forward each day so that we can keep track and hopefully convince one or two of you to save energy and keep some cash in your pocket.

ESTIMATED ANNUAL SAVINGS
Reduced Heating & Hot Water     £50
Ditch the Tumble Dryer                £50
Less TV & Xbox                           £10
Total Annual Savings                  £110

Not bad for the first day. Although not that creative they have all been free! Will obviously need more imagination over the coming days and we know its going to get harder!

TTFN



At the Starting Blocks

Hi, and welcome to the Hawkins' family blog for the Observer Ethical Awards, in Association with Ecover, THE GREAT ENERGY RACE, in Association with B&Q.

 

What an honour and fantastic opportunity for us to have been chosen to compete. I am Peter and my wife is Toni and with our children, Tom & Sammy, we hope to inspire you with some creative, imaginative and cheap energy saving ideas that are realistic (we both work and do have 2 kids who love their games consoles, DVDs, tablets and numerous other gadgets!).

Since buying our current house, 7 years ago, we have carried out a number of substantial energy saving projects including top-up loft insulation, cavity wall insulation, a condensing boiler, central heating timer and thermostat, thermostatic radiator valves and photovoltaic solar panels (the ones that produce electricity not hot water). However, we are no where near perfect and have become complacent about our use of energy, especially new gadgets! The Wi-Fi always seems to be on along with at least one TV and numerous gadgets plugged in or charging.

Our plan is to start by reviewing what we use and if we can ditch it or if not use it more efficiently. We will then try and get more creative in our energy use reducing whilst still living "normally" (there is no way I'm going to get Toni and the kids to turn everything off and move into a tent in the garden with just a packet of candles!!!).

So with the race starting tomorrow, wish us luck and we hope you join us regularly on our journey.

TTFN (Ta ta for now)