energy saving tips???

[Margaret Pilkington]

Yes Less.....but with one major difference...when the food reaches that state(rolling boil) you turn the heat OFF......no burnt pans, no boiling over...and a smaller bill

[MargaretR]

Originally Posted by jaysay

Good grief Margaret, with that many sockets with little red lights on them your gaff must look like blackpool lights on full tilt

I missed one - wireless box
Not all my 9 extensions have red lights.
It is less of a problem now than when I had 4 electric panel heaters and the largest one HAD to have its own socket for safety reasons.
I have to look at wattage use of items used on same extension.
It does limit furniture arrangement somewhat.
I use 2771KWH electricity per annum which at present rates is less than £5 a week
(all bulbs are low energy bulbs)

[Bonnyboy]

Why do we take it for granted that the done thing is to leave fridges and freezers constantly plugged in ? Surely they can hold their temperature for 6 or 7 hours during the night. How long does it take them to defrost without power ?

Thinking of putting ours on a timer so they shut down for 6 hours from midnight. Can anyone think of why I shouldn’t test this out

[AccyLass]

Think freezers take 13 hours to fully defrost, but know mine has been left open and the food at the front went soft in about 4 hours

[MargaretR]

Try one of these
http://www.leicester.gov.uk/housing/PDFs/SAVAplugs.pdf

[Bonnyboy]

Originally Posted by AccyLass27

Think freezers take 13 hours to fully defrost, but know mine has been left open and the food at the front went soft in about 4 hours

If the doors are shut and they aren’t opened through the night hours I reckon I could get away with switching the power off for 6 hours. Bet there is a real saving to be had over the space of a year…so long as you don’t end up with food poisoning

[AccyLass]

Originally Posted by MargaretR

Try one of these
http://www.leicester.gov.uk/housing/PDFs/SAVAplugs.pdf

And ya can get 1 for 20 quid

Savaplug energy saving for freezer & fridge-freezers on eBay, also, Electrical Fittings, DIY Materials, Home Garden (end time 12-Sep-08 15:29:14 BST)

[MargaretR]

http://www.greenhealthwatch.com/good...swsavaplug.htm
That is cheaper than the one here.

I confess that I have one - used it for donkeys years but haven't got around to putting it on the new fridge freezer I got last December

[AccyLass]

Originally Posted by MargaretR

http://www.greenhealthwatch.com/good...swsavaplug.htm
That is cheaper than the one here.

Yeah when I looked on google, it was about 30 quid too

[Bonnyboy]

Cheers Margaret, more info found here 30 quid a pop tho. Not as cost effective as just switching it off , then again maybe it is. Switching the appliance off might cost more on “start up” power consumption. I wonder how to find out, might have to just test it and watch the meter reading.

[AccyLass]

Says that in ten yrs you will save £120, you pay £30 for the plug so thats £90
Would ya only get 10 yrs out of it? Cos they give a 10 yr guarantee, might have to get a new en again

Really ya should get an electrician cos of the wiring which would probably cost ya £90 lol

[Neil]

Originally Posted by Bonnyboy

Why do we take it for granted that the done thing is to leave fridges and freezers constantly plugged in ? Surely they can hold their temperature for 6 or 7 hours during the night. How long does it take them to defrost without power ?

Thinking of putting ours on a timer so they shut down for 6 hours from midnight. Can anyone think of why I shouldn’t test this out

And how much power do you think it will use when you switch it back on again to get to the correct temp? A fridge/freezer is not on all the time. They have a thermostat, they switch on and off as needed to keep the temp at the setting you selected. Since most still use a bi-metal thermostat they use no energy when the compressor is not running (unless they have a little power on light or you open the door).

Do you really want the temp on your food varying?

[Neil]

Originally Posted by MargaretR

http://www.greenhealthwatch.com/good...swsavaplug.htm
That is cheaper than the one here.

I confess that I have one - used it for donkeys years but haven't got around to putting it on the new fridge freezer I got last December

How do you know it actually works? You would need to monitor the power used with and without it to know properly if it is worth buying. Lots of discussions on the net about them being a load of tosh.

[Bonnyboy]

Originally Posted by Neil

And how much power do you think it will use when you switch it back on again to get to the correct temp? A fridge/freezer is not on all the time. They have a thermostat, they switch on and off as needed to keep the temp at the setting you selected. Since most still use a bi-metal thermostat they use no energy when the compressor is not running (unless they have a little power on light or you open the door).

Do you really want the temp on your food varying?

Yeah just twigged that it could be more costly to power the thing back up.

I didn’t think that the contents would lose much temperature if at all over a 6 hour period. The appliances are insulated, the assumption was that they would hold their temperature during a short power off situation...could indeed be well wrong. Thats why I'm looking for input from others. Thanks Neil

[Neil]

If it does not loose it temp then the compressor will not start so wont use energy.