Guide To Saving Energy - Part 3
Conversely, do fill your dishwasher!
Putting half the amount of dishes into a dishwasher does not mean you use half the amount of energy, the energy used for every load, however big, is near enough the same.
You should therefore always endeavour to fill your washer to the brim, but not only should you fill it, you should also ensure that it is not set to an unnecessarily high temperature. The lower the heat setting of your machine the lower the energy consumption, you can save £40 annually from turning down the heat alone. All in all, you could be looking at a saving of around £75.
Use your head, try using your hands
There is of course another alternative to lower heat settings and large loads that will save you even more money, doing it yourself (or getting the kids to do it).
Washing up with your hands, some washing up liquid and a sponge can be therapeutic, satisfying and quick! It is not always going to be practical but on those occasions where there are just a couple of plates, give them a blast for a few seconds under the tap as soon after the meal as possible, throw in a squeeze of fairy liquid and they will be good as new.
Our reliance on machines can sometimes be a bit lazy and you can fall into bad habits if you are not careful. Next time you pull out a machine to do a job you may be able to do without it, try doing it yourself, it’ll do your body good and it may just keep your bank balance healthy as well!
The total savings
So, with all of these savings you could buy yourself something special. You could even treat yourself to that impressive home cinema system you have always wanted, complete with a large plasma screen and surround sound, just make sure you remember to turn it off!
