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Solar powered house number fitted outside. Makes pizza deliveries easier!

Veg Patch + Rainwater Harvesting

I get a lot of my  vegetables from my own veg patch, which I water from two rainwater harvesters.

Cycle saves on carbon emissions just like solar panels

Get a travel kettle 1kw or less. It will only boil 1 cups worth and as it is low powered you can often boil for free using Solar PV output. Look at having an owl monitor linked to the solar output cable to see when to boil the kettle and put on your washing.  Looking for a new electric hob? Why not consider an induction hob. No heat lost in rings or hotplates as these generate heat in the ferous pans, instant response, no scary hot cooker bits to touch too!

Thanks to David for your lovely green tips!

By using a smart monitor you can see your usage and know when it's best to switch on appliances. By keeping a close eye on your energy usage then you can find the best ways to cut back and save us all on this massive increase on our electricity bills.

Monitoring solar generation is quite easy using a simple monitor (current cost or OWL). Rather than hooking up the monitor to the main meter, clamp your solar meter instead. All are perfectly safe, then you can see how much energy your panels are producing, add in a few more bits and you can upload to the web

Use a peltier fan on your log burner to move the air around the house; they are an investment but are free to run. Peltier fans blow heat 'round the room saving you money and keeping you nice and toasty in these cold times.

Thanks to Dean for his toasty green tip!

When the sun comes out the kettle goes on, then I fill a vaccuum flask that will last me for the day. At night I use the gas hob of my dual fuel cooker. Sunny days are great for a bake in, cakes, biscuits and casseroles all go in, then get put in the freezer till required. Also, I have invested in solar fairy lights for both indoor and outdoor use this Christmas. It's going to be worth the investment!