10 top tips for smart energy saving

Our mums have been putting their smart meters through their paces, and now kids and dads are getting in on the act too – with money saving results!

1. Susan K. Mann has always been conservative with energy use, her husband and kids less so historically. So she’s delighted with the effects of her smart meter: “Since it’s been installed my husband has become obsessed with how much energy we have been using. The meter is great, it tells you how much energy you are currently using, both gas and electricity and how much it is costing you.“

2. All Baby Advice has managed to stick to a challenge she set herself this year: “Luckily this winter it isn’t that cold, so it was maybe a bit easier to accomplish, but I am happy to say that most of the time our British Gas thermostat is on 18C.”

3. Baby Budgeting has made five energy (and money) saving resolutions this year, starting with putting on a jumper and socks before ever turning up the heating and a very simple idea to copy: “Turn off chargers when not in use, don’t leave them plugged in.”

4. Snuggle Baby shows us the, wait for it… sexy side to being green! From candle-light evenings to save on lighting energy, to cuddling under a faux fur blanket: “And let me tell you, the blanket wasn’t the only thing heating things up! My man can CUDDLE!”

5. The Mummy Whisperer is delighted that she has a much better route to money saving than the nagging she had resorted to: smart meters. “They replace your old gas and electricity meters and give you an in-house display. That is going to be so much fun, to see how much everything costs and how much energy it takes up. (I have a strong amount of geek in my blood, so any gadget is going to get my blood pumping!)”

6. Zoe from Zoe & Drew has reclaimed some retro techniques to save her energy bills: “Earlier this year my tumble dryer finally gave up after seven years good service and very regular use. Instead of replacing it I decided to make the use of the whirligig in the garden and the clothes horse in the hall! Already I have seen a reduction in my electricity bill.”

7. Nurture Store has five great tips for green kids and our favourite is a sure fire hit with little ones: “Organise an energy-saving treasure hunt. Send the kids on a hunt to find any appliances left on stand-by so you can switch them off and save energy and money.”

8. Really Kid Friendly reflects on the expense children add to your purse, not just the clothes, food and paraphernalia: “”What they don’t tell you is that the basic costs of running your house will spiral upwards too. Before having children, most likely you spent about an hour at home in the morning, and a few hours at home in the evening before bed, and heated the house accordingly.” Fast forward to round-the-clock heating and “your steamer, blender, washing machine and dishwasher,” which are switched on almost permanently, “and with daily visits from local mums and friends, your kettle is being put through its paces.” Luckily, Really Kid Friendly has 11 golden rules for saving money despite a house full of kids.

9. Mummy Matters asks who is really green by name, green by nature. For any readers whose green credentials don’t really stack up under scrutiny, she has some fail safe approaches to boosting energy saving, including making sure “energy saving light bulbs are fitted in every light/lamp throughout our house, not only are they greener, they are cheaper to run too.”

10. Eco Thrifty Living says “there are so many small habits you can get into which will help you conserve energy”. Top of her list is swapping the tumbledryer for hanging the washing up to dry. “Make sure you do it in a well ventilated area though, otherwise condensation may cause you problems.”

Check out how you can get involved and meet our Smart Mums ambassadors:

• Meet Uju and Karen, our Smart Mums ambassadors
• Get the Smart Mums badge!
• 11 energy saving tips from mums