turn off the chandeliers

 ELECTRICITY, HEALTH, SUBSTITUTES  No Responses »
Jul 302012
 

I am always amazed when I visit someone’s place in the evening and the lighting in the main room is overhead.

Now, I don’t mean the times when people put on the main room’s overhead lighting just for me.

I mean when there is ONLY overhead lighting and no offset lighting at all.

I know we are all different, but for me, at night, the living room is dark except for a low-light (warm) standard lamp in the corner.

Some people say just the TV is enough these days – since they have become so big and bright – but I think a soft, warm corner light is still essential.

It’s the bright overhead lighting that I don’t understand.

Fluorescent lights? Not for me. But if you really want to save…I suppose so.

You can always get ECO fluorescent tubes but my preference would be for a small aquarium growth light, and not overhead.

PS: I have read that uncovered fluoros may have a negative impact on your health. The wikipedia seems to think so too.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fluorescent_lamps_and_health

 

microwave it!

 ELECTRICITY, FOOD AND DRINK, GENERAL, SUBSTITUTES  No Responses »
Jul 262012
 

Do you own a microwave? Most of us do these days – and that is a good thing.

There are so many myths associated with them. Heating from the inside out for example. Not true.

A source of radioactivity? There is NONE. Your body is more radioactive than the microwave. What? Well, it depends what we mean by radioactive. Microwave Radiation is not the the same as radioactive radiation.

Are they dangerous?

Some say yes: http://www.relfe.com/microwave.html

Most say no: http://elgringosalsero.hubpages.com/hub/The-Myths-About-The-Dangers-Of-Microwave-Ovens

I think the case for danger is extremely weak. Of course, it’s your choice.

Microwaves are 70% more efficient than an oven. True.

So my tip here is to remember to use the microwave.

Rather than immediately – and unthinkingly – using the gas or electric range and oven in your kitchen, give your microwave more work to do.

Did it come with a manual? Read it. Learn how to cook with it. Or google “microwave recipes” and find sites like this one:

http://allrecipes.com/recipes/everyday-cooking/campus-cooking/microwave/

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

winter heating costs

 ELECTRICITY, GENERAL  No Responses »
Jul 252012
 

Just over half of household costs are  taken up with heating. Water, of course, for showers and baths, but also winter heating of rooms.

Which are cheapest? Electric heaters, reverse cycle air conditioner heaters, oil heaters, gas heaters, wood fires?

It’s quite a complex question with many kinds of electricity heaters (including air conditioners) to choose from. And not all heaters provide the same efficiency. The initial cost of the heater itself must initially be taken into account.

I believe the cheapest way to heat a room or house (unless you have a ducted or under floor system) is with a gas convection heater.

Those Dimplex oil heaters give off a good clean heat, but are slow to get a room warm and are not cheap to run.

Air conditioners – being run by electricity – are expensive, but the least cost efficient are those electric bar heaters.

Wood heaters – if enclosed – are also quite efficient and give probably the best heat of all, but nothing compares costwise to gas.

But here’s a tip: if you buy a gas convection heater, make sure it has an economy button and USE IT! (It will then not overheat a room.)

And lastly, spend $10 or so at a $2 dollar shop and buy a few draught excluders this winter. Those little snakes of wool placed at the bottom of doors around the house will save heaps! Why heat empty rooms?

rechargeable batteries

 ELECTRICITY, SUBSTITUTES  No Responses »
Jul 172012
 

Sometimes generic brands are not as good as the expensive branded items. Take batteries, for example.

Cheaper batteries don’t last as long it’s true. But they can still offer a considerable saving when they are sold at nearly half the price.

To really save on batteries over time you should buy rechargeables, some of  which can be recharged up to a 1000 times.

Make sure you get a recharger that does the job in 15 minutes instead of 15 hours! Of course, they cost more.

Lithium batteries are the best, but all rechargeables will benefit from being placed in the freezer – retaining their charge much longer.

Unfortunately, ordinary batteries don’t benefit much from being frozen, and the type of use you require of them is usually different i.e. instant light from a torch.

Frozen batteries must be thawed first.

 

time your shower

 ELECTRICITY, GENERAL  No Responses »
Jul 172012
 

There is often a cost to saving money.  It would be nice to be rich enough not to worry.

But waste is for everyone to consider. And over-showering wastes money…and water.

The cost is the loss of the enjoyment of hot water on your back for 15 minutes…

15 minute showers can cost anything up to 50c depending on where you live.

You can always do better.

Take a kitchen timer into the shower with you and speed up – see if you can do your thing in under 3 minutes. Make it a game.

Brushing teeth and shaving can easily be done while NOT showering, but many do.

My husband actually turns of the shower while sudsing up his hair and body. A shower break!

 

cables

 ELECTRICITY, RIP-OFFS  No Responses »
Jul 152012
 

Where would we be without cables for all the new tech gadgets we have?

Well, a lot better off financially!

No other tech product I now is so overpriced!

Make sure you check around online before ever plonking down $20-$30 a cable.

HDMI cables? Some crooks are charging uop to $200.

Just search around online.

 

 

Save on heating

 ELECTRICITY, GENERAL  No Responses »
Jul 112012
 

So easy.

Turn down whatever heating you use around the house and put on extra warm clothing.

You would be surprised how few people do this!

And a tip or two:

  1. on a cold night wear a hat or balaclava indoors (most body heat goes out through the top of your head!)
  2. …and buy some nice thick skiwear socks.

If you have a heater on, don’t make the room go above 21 degrees. You pay a lot more if you do.