Skip to main content

Like most things in life, so the economy starts at home.

The minimum possible "measures" to take to reduce wastage of energy and water would have been saved a very considerable amount annually.

And yet. Just as poor insulation, while the over-use of household appliances and an unnecessary waste of water "inflated" bills and … stretch nerves.

We collected all the wisdom of … home to forty-saving "traditional" and more «hardcore» advice. What will you follow?

In the kitchen and cooking …

1. Lower the intensity of cooling in the refrigerator in the winter. Generally, a temperature approximately 4-5 degrees Celsius in the field maintenance can keep several days without food to freeze, and a freezing temperature at 15-17 degrees below zero is enough to preserve frozen foods and to "produce" ice.

2. Close the oven and stove a few minutes before you stop using them. The temperature is already enough to finish cooking.

3. Put imagination in cooking. You do not need many expensive materials, elaborate recipes and infinite time. You only need several jars of spices and zest for experimentation.

4. Cover the pots and pans when cooking. You will need half a year and half power.

5. Make tea in the tea, instead of using a tea bag in each cup.

6. Do not "boukonete 'fridge with foods that do not need. The air must circulate through it without obstacles to be properly maintained at both temperature and humidity and do not consume extra energy. Also check periodically if the magnets operate the door properly.

7. Do not grieve … the microwave. Use as much as possible, since according to scientific studies consume much less energy than a conventional oven or kitchen, plus they emit much less heat.

8. When using the oven, do not overdo it … warming up. If the food he wants more than an hour to cook, can cook just as well even if the firing started from a cold oven. Also, do not open every now and then the oven to see the status of the roast. Each time you do, the internal temperature drops 5-10 degrees and give him for free energy to climb again.

9. In the freezing … now. If for some reason you cook for a Band, put the freshly cooked food left over (just cool) in the freezer.

10. Hold the bones to make broth is much better than ready-made and extremely easily.

11. Size does matter. Pots and pans use a saw to fully implement the hob, otherwise you are wasting energy and money.

12. Buy the cards from the super market type Dia, Lidl, Aldi, etc. There is no reason to use top-quality toilet paper or kitchen roll.

13. Do not trim the budget of detergents: they will pay half, but you need twice as much to clean, so we will eventually spend the same-perhaps-a little bit more money.

14. Start each sheet of kitchen roll in half to double the duration. Anyway, most leaves are much more absorbent than necessary for most uses.

The rooms …

15. A simple way to reduce energy consumption is to close the gaps around windows and doors and seal ducts, so that gets cold in the house. You will need putty and a special tape to seal the cracks. (Less than 20 €, as it will do all the work yourself)

16. The curtains on the windows than to decorate your home, you can save enough money on heating costs in winter or cooling in summer. If you have multiple windows "look" south and west, and even a pair of cheap curtains can block sunlight and reduce the need for air conditioning in summer. More expensive curtains hanging in the windows, you can ensure even more insulation from outside temperatures in winter and summer.

17. Use energy saving bulbs. Such bulbs use up to 75% less energy and last from 6 to 12 times more than ordinary. Their use reduces the annual electricity costs by about EUR 12 per light. Not bad.

18. If you have a fireplace, gather pine nuts in your next ride in the countryside, to save kindling, and pallets, twigs, wood, etc. thrown from buildings and derelict land in Athens, not to buy overpriced-and moisture-filled woods.

19. Switch off electrical appliances when not in use. Even in wait consume enough energy.

20. Use the "intensive" appliances-washing machine, vacuum cleaner, water heater, after 11.00 at night to take advantage of much lower nightly tariff of electricity.

21. Buy electronic thermostats. They allow you to have greater control over your home's air conditioning, but also the costs for oil and electricity. You can schedule the time you open and close a week and have the head and quiet of your own pocket. The cost shall not exceed 100 €, while the economic benefits of their purchase are visible from the very first time.

22. If the installation of air conditioning systems is too much for your budget, the alternative to the traditional fan is ideal.

In the bathroom …

23. Buy "telephone" shower saves water and energy saving special filters to the taps.Their operation is based on a simple principle: through special openings, water mixed with air to increase its speed and gives the feeling that flows to the same amount as a normal shower, although consumption is reduced at least 40%. Pricing starts at 9.50 €.

24. Put washing at low temperature (30 degrees C for the daily washing of clothes) and a program that allows you to mix several colors, so you use less. Only in cases of difficult stains use temperatures from 40 to 60 degrees.

25. Invest about 50 euros in a new tank that allows a special button to choose whether to "pull" or half full.

26. Prefer soap from the bath. Lasts longer, is incomparably cheaper and impurities-with moisturizer in the "last generation" soap-it makes no difference to the skin.

27. Use the water running when washing your hands or your teeth, picking up the example in a basin, to throw down the toilet.

28. Do not dispose of the last clay of the soap has melted: Join the new, to keep more.

29. Cut the tubes containing, for example, liquid make up, toothpaste, hair cream etc. with scissors in the middle. You will be surprised by how content every time you fly, thinking that the pack is empty.

30. Do not waste your tap water, until you get the temperature to a shower. Gather it into a bowl and use it later for watering or toilet.

In the garden …

31. Plant vegetables and herbs, which you use in cooking. You will not just save money, and always will have fresh organic materials in your kitchen.

32. Use automatic watering irrigation. Savings of water and requires no human presence.

33. Do not dispose of plant debris. Make compost, providing a free organic – and quite expensive-soil conditioner.

34. Do not just put lights. Put lights with solar panel, saving the cost of wiring and energy consume.

35. Scatter the ashes from the fireplace in the garden. Not only enhances the texture of the soil, but discourages snails and slugs from … devour the leaves of your plants.

36. Fill your garden with fruit trees. Besides being beautiful will show you free organic fruit throughout the year.

37. If you're buying plants or trees from a nursery prefer small and gymnoriza. Adapt more easily and cost less.

38. Even better if propersina or last year. Already have withstood the harsh conditions, plus the owner of the nursery will want to get rid of a fairly low price.

39. Give more to buy quality tools. In the long run will make their money, unlike most cheap that you may need to change every year.

40. You deal with your garden, saving the money you give to the gardener.