Ecobubble Energy Saving Washing Machine

Ecobubble Energy Saving Washing Machine

Energy prices are getting higher every day so never has it been more important to get the most out of your appliances; Not only for the benefit of your bank account but also in the interest of doing your bit for the environment too.

Samsung’s ecobubble washing machine is far and away the best option on the market right now as it combines some truly remarkable technology with quality and longevity that only a market-leader like Samsung can provide. Their revolutionary, yet elegantly simple, idea ensures that your washing gets going from the second you push the button.

Other models on the market take time to get the water to the right temperature, or to get the detergent dissolved and activated properly, but not the ecobubble. Its ceramic heaters bring the water up to temp much faster, plus the water and detergent are mixed before they even get close to the drum. The special ecobubble pump forces air into the solution giving you a wonderfully bubbly outcome.

These bubbles allow your clothes to soak 40 times faster (that’s right, 40) and also mean your detergent can get to work instantly. Shaving minutes off your wash cycle is going to cut down on your consumption and save you those extra pounds and pennies, so it’s crucial you save time where you can.

While speed is important you certainly don’t want to sacrifice wash performance, though don’t fret, the ecobubble is more than prepared. A 15°C ecobubble wash gives you identical wash performance to a standard 40°C cycle in a conventional washing machine so even at low temperatures you’re getting impressive results. You can actually save up to 70% in energy costs every single time.

The Diamond Drum that Samsung have engineered is another breakthrough that’s going to help keep your piggy bank full. The unique design of the recesses in the drum hold more water which gives your clothes some added cushioning in the drum, and the holes inside are 75% smaller, giving your clothes added protection from snags and bobbles.

All of these features are standard across the ecobubble range, however there’s one model in particular that stands out in a big way. The WF1124XAC is home to a gargantuan 12kg drum which will not only provide the largest family with more than enough space, but it also gives you the opportunity to combine some of your loads and reduce your weekly washing quota entirely. That’ll be more savings courtesy of Samsung then.

Guest post

Buying energy efficient products - from the Energy Saving Trust

Did you know that appliances and entertainment electricals (like your TV) use almost two thirds of the power in your home? At the Energy Saving Trust we don’t expect you to compromise your lifestyle in order to do your bit for the environment but there is something even the most ardent gadget lovers can do. The next time you are in the market for new electricals, buying energy efficient models will save you money on your bills without having to give up those home comforts.

Now you may be concerned that energy efficient products do not perform the same way as those you are used to, well The Energy Saving Trust Recommended scheme certifies only those products that are best in class for energy efficiency and performance so if you buy products bearing the Energy Saving Trust Recommended logo you can be sure you are buying a product that is top quality and will save you money on your bills. Lots of big name manufacturers have applied to us for independent certification of their products so you can still buy products from your favourite brands. Check out our online product search for a wide range of energy efficient products.

And it’s not just energy using products we certify, you can also see the label on insulation materials, heating controls and double glazing so using Energy Saving Trust Recommended products the next time your home is due a refurbishment will ensure your home is efficient to run without you having to lift a finger.

In order to use the Energy Saving Trust Recommended logo, products must meet a stringent set of criteria that we set along with an Independent Panel of experts. We review these criteria every year to ensure that the products we certify are always the most efficient on the market; in addition we independently test a percentage of all the products we certify to ensure they continue to meet the high standards we expect. We know that comparing the energy ratings of different products can be confusing and some products don’t have an energy rating at all, at the Energy Saving Trust we have done the hard work for you; all you need to do is look for the label when you are shopping.

For more information check out our website or contact us at estrmarketing@est.org.uk

Press Release - Diary of a Wood Burning Stove!

Check out our press release on the new series featured on this blog.

UK Energy Saving
PRLog
SanePR
PR-GB

Diary of a Wood Burning Stove!

Earlier this year we decided to install a wood burning stove in our living room. After much deliberation we went for the Morso Squirrel 1430 (4.6kw) which is a perfect fit in the space left by our old, rarely used, coal-effect gas fire. It's also actually a multi-fuel stove, so we may experiment with other fuels as well as wood. Apparently it is also the right sort of size to heat our living room and adjoining dining room as well as the conservatory which runs the length of both rooms.

As the autumn sets in I have decided to record our experiences with the wood burning stove so read on to discover our trials and tribulations!

INAUGURAL LIGHTING

We had the stove installed back in April - a good time to get someone in fairly quickly, but not a good time to give it a try given the warm spring we had! We did decide it was cool enough one evening, however, mainly because we weren't patient enough to wait until the autumn to give it a go! Probably a good job we did, though, as the room promptly filled with foul-smelling smoke as the paint cured. As it wasn't really all that cold, it didn't then cause a problem to open all the windows to let out said smoke! Well, so far the stove had caused our home to be cooler than normal, but onwards and upwards!

FIRST SIGN OF AUTUMN

Come the 18th September and we decided to light the stove for the second time! There was a little chill in the air, but we were mainly persuaded that we should go ahead on the basis that we were going to be in all day with our half-naked toddler (on both counts because we are potty training)! Again, this actually turned out to be a good plan, as, whilst nowhere near as chokingly as the first time, once again there was something of a smell of curing paint and more open windows were required. This time, however, we were able to keep the fire in for a number of hours so we're hopeful that next time the smell won't be so bad!

Lighting the fire proved relatively straightforward with some newspaper and kindling, although we discovered that then plonking a great big log in seemed to kill the flames somewhat. Cue, more kindling and some smaller bits of wood and we were starting to get the hang of things. The importance of dry wood was highlighted, however, as the first pieces seemed a little damp and it was only some apparently dryer wood that really got a good blaze going.

All in all then, a pretty good start we felt. Hopefully the paint will just about have finished curing so we won't have to keep opening windows, and I'm sure practice makes perfect in terms of getting a blaze going.

Watch this space for more installments as we get to grips with this wood burning malarky...

Website to reduce CO2 emissions by carpooling now to be known by a new name

A year after launch, rideshare.co.uk is being renamed as carpooling.co.uk – Following the successful expansion of carpooling.com (Europe’s largest ridesharing network) into the UK market, rideshare.co.uk is renamed as carpooling.co.uk.

To date, carpooling.com has saved approximately 630,000 tons of CO2 being created and 323 million liters of petrol through carpooling while helping users to reduce traffic levels by roughly 90,000 kms. Just over a year since launch as rideshare.co.uk, the UK part of the carpooling.com portal has seen registered users soar, although registration is not mandatory. Carpooling.com cites rises in petrol prices, public transport costs, the credit crunch and a heightened feeling of environmental responsibility as the catalyst for growing interest in the free money saving option which can reduce the cost of driving by up to 75%. carpooling.com, which has 3.3 million registered users, connects people in 5,000 cities across 45 countries and is available in 7 languages has facilitated over 24 million carpools being arranged since launch its launch in 2001. The growth in demand for cheaper alternative modes of transport and acceptance of the term carpooling has instigated the change in name from rideshare.co.uk to carpooling.co.uk.

Europe’s largest lift sharing platform, carpooling.com, puts emphasis on providing an easy to use platform to locate, communicate with, and ride with fellow travelers free of charge. Drivers and passengers simply agree the contribution to petrol prior to making the journey. Carpooling.com has been investing heavily in providing complete mobility and flexibility by launching a mobile website, apps for iphone and android phones, apps for facebook and widgets for websites to install tailored results of available carpools on their sites. Rideshare.co.uk was the first car sharing network to introduce an iphone app in the U.K. and carpooling.com have also introduced a new booking system and a number of security measures so users can customize their carpool to meet their preferred security requirements.

Rideshare.co.uk is re-launching as carpooling.co.uk on 15th September and continues to look for partners and companies interested in promoting carpooling as a cost effective and environmentally friendly mode of transport.

About carpooling.co.uk

carpooling.co.uk is part of the largest European online carpooling network, carpooling.com. Since its launch in April 2001 the portal has registered over 3.3 million users and is available in 9 countries and 7 languages with over 600,000 available lifts in their database at any one time. Using the slogan "Click. Ride. Save ", carpooling.co.uk provides a car share platform to users throughout Europe for regular or one off trips. Drivers register routes they are taking, the date, time and suggested price and co-riders search for a route that matches their needs. It is an opportunity to reduce congestion, contribute to saving the environment, save money and meet like minded people. The portal is available in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, France, Great Britain, Spain, Poland and Greece.

For more information contact: Abi Moore amoore@carpooling.com +44 (0) 203 2393022 Skype: carpooling.co.uk

UK Energy Saving Supports the Soil Association’s Organic September

Check out our latest press release via one of the links below as we talk about our support for Organic September.

UK Energy Saving

SanePR

PRLog

Pressbox

Make a Change in September

We are now in the 9th month of our Make a Change campaign with two more suggestions of how you could start living a greener, more ethical life. This month we suggest buying organic and buying FSC certified products - visit the Make a Change page to find out more...

How to Save on Electricity Bills

As the cost of energy rises, people are trying to find ways to save money with their gas and electricity bills, putting a few easy actions in place can help keep money in a person’s pocket. There are a few simple tricks that can help. To begin with shop around to ensure that you find the best electricity and rates.

Look for Leaks:
Take inventory around the house to make sure that cool air and warm are staying indoors and not seeping outside. To check this you can walk around the house with a lit match holding it near electric outlet plugs, windows and doors. If the smoke is pulled out or blown in, there are cracks and crevices that are letting energy out or air inside. Spend time sealing up any areas that have leaks to lower energy costs. Also keep curtains and blinds closed to hold air out of the room. This helps keep rooms cooler when it is warm outdoors and warmer in the colder weather.

Reduce Usage:
Don't not leave electrical devices in standby mode, instead unplug them from the source of electricity to save money. A television or computer that remains plugged in can waste electricity, almost as much as they do when they are being used. Replacing light bulbs from incandescent bulbs to compact fluorescent bulbs also helps to save on lighting costs.

Consider investing in efficient refrigerators, washing machines and tumble dryers. When possible hang clothing out to dry instead of using a tumble dryer. Turning the temperature down on a washing machine will reduce energy costs. Washing in cold water is the most energy efficient way to run the machine.

Don't over fill refrigerators so that the cold air circulates well and don't put hot food inside, let it cool to room temperature first so that it doesn't cause the refrigerator to work harder. Vacuum cleaning under the refrigerator or freezer and behind to keep the coils clear of dust will reduce energy consumption.

Shop Wisely:
Installing a smart meter can help save energy costs. A smart meter will take accurate readings of electricity use every half hour and gas usage daily. Being able to view electricity and gas usage often allows a person to make changes when needed to reduce costs. The readings are sent to the Electricity and Gas Company and this ensures accurate bills coming in every month. Looking into dual fuel instead of single energy tariffs could reduce costs dramatically.

Investigating all the solutions to reduce electricity and gas usage will benefit a person overall.
Putting a few small changes in place can make a big difference when it comes to getting the most out of energy consumption. Saving money is always a positive thing and knowing how to live comfortably without much sacrifice and still having money left over will make life better in the long-term for every consumer.

Company Profile:
First Utility is an energy company with a difference. We want to help you understand your energy usage, reduce your carbon footprint and ensure you receive accurate bills.

For more information about how to save energy and reduce your energy gas and electricity bills please visit www.first-utility.com.

Green Product of the Month

Do you eat fish? Are you never sure whether the fish you buy is sustainable or not? Would you like an easy way to find out? Then check out our green product of the month for September. The Sustainable Fish Guide iPhone App will help you out!

Energy Watch

If you are wondering how you can save energy and money this winter, check out this month's energy watch page for some helpful suggestions.