Free Time



Even though not the nicest of days, we turned everything off and all went to the park to watch Tom play football (the easiest way to save energy!)..

 



 I think Harry (our dog) enjoyed it the most as the boys lost despite a brave second-half fight-back. 

The result for the whole morning was energy used nil, energy saved loads!

This afternoon we carried on the theme of getting outside and turning everything off. Tom went out to play with his mates and the rest of us sorted out the greenhouse. We potted-up some of the lettuce seedlings we had grown and sorted out the strawberry plants. We are now all looking forward to lovely summer salads and strawberries that mean we don't have to use the oven!

Whilst in the greenhouse, we had a bit of a brainwave. With the weather warming-up and our ditch the tumble drier plan there may be rainy days when our old-fashioned pulley airer in the bathroom can't cope with our washing. So, we strung-up some old washing-line cord in the greenhouse for speed drying! As long as we open the window and vents to let the condensation out, this should be perfect for drying our washing on warm but rainy days.

Then the, by now, usual routine of one bath shared in turn by all four of us, a family board game(kids v adults trivial pursuit again - adults still only ever beaten the kids once!), some reading (Sammy's school topic next term is rainforests so we found "The Big Green Book", very "eco", and linked in the Great Energy Race and how this will help the rainforests) and early to bed.
 
ESTIMATED ANNUAL SAVINGS
Lined back door curtain                  £5
Draught excluder to seal gaps       £15
Unpowered propagators                  £5
Plugged-in doorbell off                   £2
Video & DVD player unplugged    £2
Chimney blocked-up                       £4
Radiators bled                                 £4
Fridge vents/fins cleaned                £3
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                  £430

ACTUAL SPEND (will add items in as we install them and estimate their savings)
Lined back door curtain                 £14
Draught excluders                          £20
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                                   £231

Last day of the race tomorrow, but not of the energy saving!

TTFN