How to bring back old-school romance on Valentine’s Day
Whether it's flowers, a picnic or something unique and special, treat the old-soul in your life to a fun and romantic Valentine's Day!
Saving energy around the house is easy when you know how.
Saving energy around the home is about more than just turning off lights and taking shorter showers (although it is those things too!), it's all about saving you money without compromising your time, or your way of life. It may sound hard, but there are so many little things you can do every day to reduce your energy use and save on electricity, and permanent changes you can make so you don't have to worry about your energy consumption again. Here are a few quick tips to get you started.
1. Unplug your appliances when you aren't using them.
While some appliances will only use a couple of dollars a year when they are on standby, when you have dozens of appliances all running in the background, this can add up. Unplugging little things, such as your kettle, microwave or toaster can start to make a difference to your electricity bill and help you to think about your everyday energy consumption.
2. Make the most of your appliances.
When you put on a load of dishes or clothes, make sure the load is full. This will create less loads and use less electricity in the long run. It might seem small and insignificant, but what if you could halve the number of loads over a year, by increasing the load size? Other appliances are better off being less full to save on energy. Try to only fill your kettle with as much water as you need. This will ensure the water is heated faster and more energy is saved. While you're at it, what other appliances in your kitchen could you use more effectively, to reduce energy expenditure? Turning the oven on? Why not cook multiple meals at once, which will save on the heat up and cool down functions of the appliance.
3. Turn off your appliances.
We have all heard this one, turn off your computer and TV at the wall and turn off the lights when you aren't in the room. But there is more to this one than meets the eye. Try getting an electricity monitor to see exactly what appliances are the biggest culprits. You might find that your modem is using a lot of electricity while you sleep, or your outside sensor light is turning on every time the neighbour's cat crosses your front lawn. You might find you can save yourself money, while dreaming of what you might spend the savings on.
4. Purchase energy efficient appliances.
When it's time to replace your appliances, be careful about purchases that seem to have the best price upfront. Do your research and try to find one that has a good energy rating. This will ensure you get value for money over the long term.
5. Use nature to your advantage.
You can use nature to save energy numerous ways around the home. You could purchase solar panels, and ensure you use the bulk of energy while the sun is out. Also, try regulating the temperature by opening doors to let in the breeze, or blocking off doors to keep the heat in. If you're thinking of doing a major energy overhaul, skylights are a beautiful and electricity-free way of lighting windowless rooms.
6. Need a little help?
Need a little help to make these changes? You can find energy saving appliances over at Buy Search Sell, or better yet, hire a tradie to help you get started!
