Martin Lewis - money saving tips on energy

[Brillopad]

http://www.express.co.uk/life-style/life/873470/Martin-Lewis-Money-Saving-Expert-energy

I have often wondered about turning heating on/off throughout the day or keeping it on lower all day and which was cheaper, with people all having different opinions on this, so found this a very useful article.

[Cherie]

I like his advice, but in this case he hasn't actually answered the question I don't think, it seems it depends on a number of factors, I always go by the if it isn't on, it isn't costing me money train of thought

[Brillopad]

I like his advice, but in this case he hasn't actually answered the question I don't think, it seems it depends on a number of factors, I always go by the if it isn't on, it isn't costing me money train of thought

A very pocket friendly train of thought. :laugh:

[Cherie]

A very pocket friendly train of thought. :laugh:

:joker: put another jumper on is my motto

like Mr C comes home in a T shirt in the middle of Oct and starts complaining about being cold :umm2:

[waterhog]

:joker: put another jumper on is my motto

like Mr C comes home in a T shirt in the middle of Oct and starts complaining about being cold :umm2:

bring on the global warming - ignorance is bliss :joker:

[smudgie]

Hubby and I have just been researching this very subject.
We are in the process of buying a bungalow, it is going to be empty more or less over the winter and early spring, the vendors have agreed to keep the heating on timed twice a day until we complete and get the keys, then we intend to do the same.
Hubby will be there a lot of the time as well, (total renovation/refurb) plus there are rules to observe for insurance purposes.
Anyhow, the results of our research tell us not to keep it on continuous, as it still has to flare up when it changes temperature so no energy is saved in that department. As has been said, it costs money for all the time it is on, and doesn't when it's off.

[Brillopad]

Hubby and I have just been researching this very subject.
We are in the process of buying a bungalow, it is going to be empty more or less over the winter and early spring, the vendors have agreed to keep the heating on timed twice a day until we complete and get the keys, then we intend to do the same.
Hubby will be there a lot of the time as well, (total renovation/refurb) plus there are rules to observe for insurance purposes.
Anyhow, the results of our research tell us not to keep it on continuous, as it still has to flare up when it changes temperature so no energy is saved in that department. As has been said, it costs money for all the time it is on, and doesn't when it's off.

Interesting Smudgie. It does seem that the on/off option is the most economic.

[Cherie]

Hubby and I have just been researching this very subject.
We are in the process of buying a bungalow, it is going to be empty more or less over the winter and early spring, the vendors have agreed to keep the heating on timed twice a day until we complete and get the keys, then we intend to do the same.
Hubby will be there a lot of the time as well, (total renovation/refurb) plus there are rules to observe for insurance purposes.
Anyhow, the results of our research tell us not to keep it on continuous, as it still has to flare up when it changes temperature so no energy is saved in that department. As has been said, it costs money for all the time it is on, and doesn't when it's off.

congratulations :amazed: you solved your major dilemma then!

Good luck with it all, and yeah it can't cost money if it is off is my thinking

[smudgie]

Interesting Smudgie. It does seem that the on/off option is the most economic.

Yes, if we are in the house all day then we pop it on continuous, but always turn it off at least an hour before bedtime or if we are going out for more than an hour or so.
Can't understand people that leave their heating on overnight as well, I would melt.:laugh:

[smudgie]

congratulations :amazed: you solved your major dilemma then!

Good luck with it all, and yeah it can't cost money if it is off is my thinking

Well, funny enough, we have the plans in for this house,the lift practically ordered etc, then when I had stopped looking for a bungalow this ugly duckling appeared, as if by magic.
The elderly couple have both been admitted to care homes and the family want rid of the bungalow quick, snapped up a bargain, so here we go........

[Cherie]

Well, funny enough, we have the plans in for this house,the lift practically ordered etc, then when I had stopped looking for a bungalow this ugly duckling appeared, as if by magic.
The elderly couple have both been admitted to care homes and the family want rid of the bungalow quick, snapped up a bargain, so here we go........

Love it, good luck with it all!

[Vicky.]

I was always told that having heating on constant but just controlled by the thermostat as cheaper than having it on for an hour or two a day as apparently more energy is needed to heat up than maintain

My heating is a ridiculous cost all the time though, as I have it always on, and the thermostat is set at 21 too :laugh:

[Cherie]

I was always told that having heating on constant but just controlled by the thermostat as cheaper than having it on for an hour or two a day as apparently more energy is needed to heat up than maintain

My heating is a ridiculous cost all the time though, as I have it always on, and the thermostat is set at 21 too :laugh:

at night as well or just during the day I hate it if I forget to turn the heating off overnight, I love a cold bedroom

[Vicky.]

at night as well or just during the day I hate it if I forget to turn the heating off overnight, I love a cold bedroom

Its just on all the time...so if it goes below 21 it heats itself up, no matter what time of the day/night it happens

My dads bills are like 40 quid a month. Mine are 80...so yes its expensive but it means my house is consistent and I prefer paying the extra tenner a week for this tbh

[Niamh.]

I was always told that having heating on constant but just controlled by the thermostat as cheaper than having it on for an hour or two a day as apparently more energy is needed to heat up than maintain

My heating is a ridiculous cost all the time though, as I have it always on, and the thermostat is set at 21 too :laugh:

Gav reckons that Bulls**t and he worked in the building line for years so I believe him

[DemolitionRed]

Most of our electricity is run through our own windpower but our heating mainly comes from a self-chip feeding stove. We purchased the stove in Italy a couple of years ago and its so economical.

One of the things you learn when you live on a boat is, never run water needlessly. Never leave lights on or power running when its not necessary and be careful about how many electrical appliances you have running at any one time. I think a lot of house owners would find that last part quite difficult... I used to.

[bots]

Even in the coldest days of the year, my house gets up to temperature from cold in 20 to 30 mins, so its clearly economic to turn it on 20 mins before getting up and not leave it on all night.

For those using hot water central heating, one should always set the water temperature to maximum on the boiler as it warms the house up faster and reduces the time the water pump is running

[Vicky.]

Gav reckons that Bulls**t and he worked in the building line for years so I believe him

Might be bull****.

I still rather pay the extra so I get no cold though :laugh:

[Niamh.]

Might be bull****.

I still rather pay the extra so I get no cold though :laugh:

yeah I hate a cold house, we have an open fire and it's so toasty I don't think I could feel cosy anymore without it

[Cherie]

Its just on all the time...so if it goes below 21 it heats itself up, no matter what time of the day/night it happens

My dads bills are like 40 quid a month. Mine are 80...so yes its expensive but it means my house is consistent and I prefer paying the extra tenner a week for this tbh

I'm a bit of a scrooge when it comes to heating but our bills are always over the average for some reason, but then I work from home so I wont sit in the cold, we pay 131.00 a month for gas and elec,

[Niamh.]

I'm a bit of a scrooge when it comes to heating but our bills are always over the average for some reason, but then I work from home so I wont sit in the cold, we pay 131.00 a month for gas and elec,

Think yourself lucky I pay that just for the electric on it's own :fist:

[Vicky.]

Our electric is so cheap. With my illness I am inside most of the time so its always getting used...and I am online near all night so our electric should be really high. Works out about 80 for gas and only 40 for electric though. I wonder sometimes if the meter is dodgy. But I'm obviously not going to tell them that my bills are too low. I would complain if they we too high though :D

[Cherie]

Our electric is so cheap. With my illness I am inside most of the time so its always getting used...and I am online near all night so our electric should be really high. Works out about 80 for gas and only 40 for electric though. I wonder sometimes if the meter is dodgy. But I'm obviously not going to tell them that my bills are too low. I would complain if they we too high though :D

we hardly use any gas, electric cooker and hob, only one shower and the bath are gas so during the summer months our gas bill is about a 10.00 a month, so I think your meter might be dodgy unless you have a lot of gas appliances :hehe:

[Vicky.]

we hardly use any gas, electric cooker and hob, only one shower and the bath are gas so during the summer months our gas bill is about a 10.00 a month, so I think your meter might be dodgy unless you have a lot of gas appliances :hehe:

Gas central heating is like the only gas in our house. Rest is all electric.

Either way, I reckon 120 for dual fuel, for having the house at 21 constantly, and electric stuff on all the time, is pretty decent tbh :laugh:

[Josy]

In our case having the heating on constantly at a lower temp definitely works out cheaper than just timing it or having it on for an hour or so, but then we don't have gas in our village so our heating is electric wet and is quite expensive anyway especially in the winter and the fact we can have snow right up til bloody June lol, if we feel its not warm enough we turn the thermostat up higher for a while then turn it back down.