Energy-saving tips for students 2
Electric blankets
Despite It being spring, it’s still pretty chilly. This tip might help reduce your energy consumption and keep you cosy. Have you ever considered using an electric blanket instead of heating the whole house? They are surprisingly cheap to run.
Electric blankets are highly energy efficient and make studying at home much more appealing. So how much does an electric blanket actually cost?
The wattage of an electric blanket indicates its energy usage at full power. Knowing this, you can calculate the cost of running the blanket per kilowatt hour of electricity. For instance, a 100W electric blanket equals 0.1kW. At a rate of 34p per kWh, running a 100W electric blanket at full power for an hour would cost 3.4p. Meaning you could spend as little as £1.75 a week on heating.
Ok, so electric blankets are cheaper and more efficient than heating the house, but which one should you buy? Apparently, in the old days, these devices just had an on-and-off button. Now, electric blankets have features which enable you to use them efficiently and save even more money! So look out for electric blankets with lots of heat and timer settings. Oh, and don’t forget about the trusty hot water bottle with your new electric blanket. They never get old!
Don’t wash up: use the dishwasher!
Just to confirm, we are not suggesting you don’t clean your dirty dishes; that will definitely upset your housemates! We are suggesting, on the other hand, that you use the dishwasher instead of washing up! It’s far cheaper (and easier).
Instead of filling a bowl with hot water and having a near-continuous stream of water to rinse with, using a full dishwasher will save a lot of water. However, if your dishes are seriously dirty, they may need to be scraped/rinsed beforehand. Otherwise, your dishwasher will complain and might go on strike, and we don’t want that.
In the vast majority of cases, a dishwasher will save you energy and money, just make sure it is full!
Shop weekly instead of daily
Consider doing a weekly food trip and planning your meals for the upcoming week whenever possible. By adopting this habit, you’ll likely minimize food waste, which is beneficial for both your wallet and the planet. Additionally, it can help you avoid the temptation of ordering takeaway food.
Going to wholesale shops instead of supermarkets will also save you money and potentially reduce the amount of packaging you end up using. Some wholesalers may also have organic or fair trade food, which ensures happier farmers and a healthier planet! If you buy those products wholesale, they might not be too expensive. Going to zero-waste shops like Jar Plymouth will mean you never have to use a plastic bag again, phew! But wherever you decide to shop, planning in advance can massively reduce your bills!
That’s it for this week. If you’ve got a technique or a story to share about saving energy/money, comment or email us at sustainability@marjon.ac.uk. #saveplanetsaveenergy
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Post authored by:
Oscar Lindsey-Turner
Sustainability Ambassador
Plymouth Marjon University
