On some other blog about "green ideas", i posted these a few years back:
We set the kitchen timer to buzz when the very last cycle of the dishwasher is finished (we timed it before) stop the machine and let the dishes air dry.
We have the used-water pipe of our washing machine empty out into our bathtub (many small european apartments tend to have washing machines in the bathroom)
I use the soapy water of the first load to soak the second load.
Yes, it is a bother to take sopping wet clothes from tub to machine, but it sure saves energy and soap detergent.
If the second load should be washed at lower temp -it is usually whites first followed by darks to avoid stains from coloured water- then i shower the second load with cold water before hand.
I bought special energy saving light bulbs meant for hallways in large buildings. Really had to look for those!
They can be turned off and on several thousand times more than the other kind without
diminishing their efiicacy- or so i was told.
We are creatures of habit and we are so used to turning the lights off when leaving a room, but one is not supposed to with the new light bulbs...
(Will be switching to LED lights from now on since i learned that the energy saving lights emit some "fumes")
Recently learned that for a fridge to operate at its best, it should not be more than a third empty. One should put boxes on empty shelves and spaces. So i started to do that. Imagine the consternation of DH when he thought there might be food in them and then find them empty. I had told him, i still tell him, but he forgets.
Many people here believe that you can save energy - not having to vaccum /hoover as often- by asking visitors to switch to guest slippers. Less dirty carpets etc.
That could be a separate topic?
