Slippers and saucepan lids: readers' eight essential tips for saving energy at home this winter

How to save resources and money? Shut the microwave door, turn down your thermostat and stuff an old pair of jeans up the chimneyEnergy is most expensive during peak times - at 7pm, for example, when everyone is watching TV and cooking. Energy companies often have to switch on backup power plants to help meet the demand at these times. These are expensive to run and often generate a lot of carbon emissions. Think about when you use your energy, as well as how much. By avoiding using high-consuming appliances at peak times, you can also save money. There is a free app called Equiwatt which can help you: you connect your appliance to the app via a smart plug, the app then switches off the appliance for one hour, two to three times a week, during these peak times. Jonathan, Gateshead Continue reading...