Save fuel when driving by taking your foot of the accelerator
By doing this one simple thing I was able to get 15-20% better fuel economy and it is so easy. When approaching red traffic lights, stop signs etc simply take you foot off the accelerator earlier than you normally would and let the car slow down itself rather than accelerating further and then applying the brake as soon as you remove your foot from the accelerator. If your car has a fuel economy gauge that gives instant information about fuel being used then watch this whilst doing the above and you will see the gauge probably move close to zero when you back off.
Set your washing machine to drip dry and bucket out the rinse water
No elaborate grey water systems are need for this one, just a few minutes towards the end of the wash cycle. Have a look on the washing machine and somewhere near the button for cold/warm/hot wash (please use the cold wash setting) there is probably one for drip dry. This means the washing machine will stop before the rinse and spin dry cycles. Keep a bucket handy as then press the normal button and direct the rinse water into a bucket. For me, once it is full I simply lift the lid and it stops rinsing. I then empty the bucket on the garden and repeat the process about five times. That equates to nearly fifty litres of water then goes on the garden rather than down the drain.
A couple of things to keep in mind. Buy a washing detergent designed for cold water washing and with a low phosphate level. You don’t want to end up ‘poisoning’ your garden. As an added measure, don’t always empty the buckets in the same area and try to avoid getting it directly on the leaves if possible.
Turning the heating down a few degrees and save energy and money
If you have a house with the ducted type heating then chances are you have it set a bit higher than your really need. Try turning the thermostat down a bit and see if you notice any difference. You probably won’t. Also, try wearing an extra layer and something slighly thicker that will keep you warmer and particularly on your feet and cold feet can often make you feel colder.
Turn the air conditioning up a few degrees and save energy and money
My neighbour has their air conditioning on 24/7 during the summer and I’d hate to see their electricity ccosts. Instead. try turning up a few degrees and you probably won’t even notice it. It also pays to go outside every now and then to see if a cool change has come through and therefore, no need for the air conditioning any more and you can just open the windows and cool the house down.
Charge your mobile/cell phone in the car rather than the home
If you have a phone and also have a car charger then instead of charging it frm the wall plug in your home or office, use the car charger when you are driving to and from work or simply out running errands. That way you are using ‘free’ energy from the car without affecting performance and saving energy costs at home by not plugging it into the wall to restore the charge. This can also be used for ay items that have a car charger.
Adjust the refridgerator temperature when you are going away for an extended period
Assuming you haven’t left a lot of perishables in your fridge, adjust the thermostat to a slightly warmer temperature when you are away. Because you are not there to open and close the fridge numerous times during the day. it’s not necessary to be quickly cooling it down again. Just make sure it is still within the recommended settings as advised by the manufacturer. Plus there is also the cost saving.
One quick tip that is slightly related. When checking into a hotel that has a fridge, always check the thermostat and possibly adjust it to a bit colder as this is one cost saving measure that hotel management often implement.
Keep the correct pressure in your car tyres and get better fuel economy
Each time you fill up with fuel, take a couple of minutes to check the tyre pressures and ensure they are at the manufacturer’s recommended pressures. The correct pressures are usually on a sticker somewhere near the driver’s door frame or check you manual. By ensuring the correct tyre pressure you will increase your fuel economy and you tyres will also last a lot money. A double money saving tip!
Keep a bucket in the shower to collect the water before it warms up
If your shower takes a while to warm up, so you stand there waiting to jump in, keep a bucket handy and let the water fill it up while it is warming up. Then just place the bucket outside the shower while you do your cleaning and use it on the garden when you have finished the shower. Because it is just water (no soap because you placed it outside the shower) you don’t have to be as conscious about where you use it.
If it’s yellow, let it mellow – another way to save water
All right, this one might not be for everyone and porbably better for those that live alone. Try not flushing the toilet after each visit if you have just urinated. Even just doing it every second time will save a few litres a day. Of course this one is a personal choice. The other option is to do it in the garden. Again, perhaps it depends the privacy of your garden. Oh yeah, much easier for men rather than women.
Adjust the temperature of your hot water service down a few degrees
If you have a hot water system that relies on keeping a store of water hot rather than one of the newer heat on demand units, then try adjusting the temperature of the hot water down a few degrees. It is not really necessary to have boiling water coming out of you hot tap because it is dangerous and you usually end up mixing in some cold water anyway. For those rare occasions when you need boiling water, just pop the kettle on and you will have some in a few minutes.
