Cook up savings

Energy prices are rising, making electricity and heating costs more expensive. Every watt and volt we use is important. Some of these energy-saving hints and tips may seem obvious but they can make a big difference when it comes to reducing your fuel bills. Little things that can make a big difference…

There are a variety of ways for you to save money on energy bills in the kitchen, from boiling the kettle to washing your clothes.

• Only boil as much water as you need when using the kettle. Boiling a litre uses exactly twice the electricity as boiling half a litre.
• Not much fun but defrosting your fridge freezer will help it operate more efficiently, saving you money.
• Putting something hot in the fridge means it will have to work harder to stay cold, so cooling down plates of food before you put them in will use less electricity.
• Keep your oven door shut. Every time you open the door it wastes heat.
• When washing up, use a bowl as this will reduce the amount of water you need to run.
• Dishwashers can in fact be as energy-efficient as doing it by hand but only if you fill them fully and run them efficiently.
• Using your pan lids massively reduces the heat being lost, so put a lid on it and turn down the heat.
• Cook many things together if you can. Rather than using separate pans for your vegetables, put everything in together.
• Always use the right size pan for your cooking ring.
• If possible, fill up the washing machine, tumble dryer or dishwasher: one full load uses less energy than two half loads.
• Most of the energy of a wash goes into heating the water. Turn down the dial and save with every wash.