Sunhat and hammock
Dry laundry outside. If you have the ability to hang out wet washing outside, let the sun and warm summer breeze do the drying for you. Even if you don’t have access to an outside area, try using your dryer on a lower heat setting or only partially drying your shirts and letting them air dry the rest of the way.
Check your fridge. Defrost your fridge and freezer, as just a few centimetres of frost will make it work harder. While you are about it, check your fridge temperature. A fridge should operate at between 0 to 5 degrees C. Just a few degrees colder than necessary can increase energy consumption by up to 25%.
Eat light. Lighter summer food such as cold fruit or salads, taste great in the hot weather. Plus, you will save the energy used cooking on a hot stove.
Pack a picnic. Summer is a great time for family get togethers and days out, but buying lunch at some attractions can give many people financial indigestion. Make a picnic part of the fun, ask everyone to bring along something interesting, set out a rug and have a feast.
Make your own ice-lollies. It is the little things that add up – so be prepared when grandchildren come to stay by making a batch of fresh fruit juice lollies instead of buying expensive ice creams. Detachable lolly moulds can be filled with fruit juice, pureed fruits or yoghurt and you could even get creative by making two colour lollies using a combination of fruits and juices.
Ditch bottled water. In summer months you should definitely drink more water - but now is the time to get out of the habit of buying costly bottles and adding to the mounds of plastic already clogging up landfill. Buy a sturdy water bottle, such as 'Sigg' - www.sigg-aluminium.co.uk - fill it with tap water and keep it in the fridge for a continuous supply of refreshing cool water.
Leave the car at home. Most car journeys are within two miles of where we live. In hot, dry weather there is one less excuse not to get your old bicycle out. Make it a rule to use your bike when the journey is two miles or less. Or even walk. Your bank account, and body, will thank you for it.
Travel off-peak. For longer journeys, enjoy longer daylight hours by switching travel times to off-peak, when the fares are cheaper. Fares on some routes can be as little as a quarter of the price of the peak-time full price ticket.
Plan ahead for future home and garden projects. As summer begins to wind down, it is a perfect time to be on the lookout for season ending sales. Landscape plants, tools, and other outdoor project materials tend to go on sale as people begin to look towards autumn and spending less time outside.