Rising energy prices mitigation

[Quill]

Low-tech magazine just released an interesting article about using hot water bottles to bring down energy usage - https://www.lowtechmagazine.com/2022/01 ... ottle.html

[Arzosah]

Quill, what a great article! NB one of the first items shown, the "foment can" was made in Sefton or Southport (Kenworthy, the maker, had a hydropathic hotel at Southport, apparently). It really hadn't occurred to me to use my hot water bottles, I've got two but they're both quite old.

If the electricity is still on and someone's not using it because of the insane expense, there's also these things, which are usually heated in the microwave. They could also be put at the side of the cooker or something, I suppose? https://wheatybags.co.uk/?msclkid=fc001 ... solidated which may become preferable, because they're made from materials that can be sourced locally. I got one as a present once, and the stuff inside that holds the heat was actually cherry stones.

[Yorkshire Andy]

The outdoor cat gets a hot water bottle on a cold night under a old towel she knows it's coming and tries to curl up on in the second it hits the shed floor

[diamond lil]

Awh Andy that's nice, I used to do that for the stray ginger tom we had living in the shed. I always keep hot water bottles in the house, nothing beats them for warmth where you need it, like sore tummies or backs.

[Yorkshire Andy]

Awh Andy that's nice, I used to do that for the stray ginger tom we had living in the shed. I always keep hot water bottles in the house, nothing beats them for warmth where you need it, like sore tummies or backs.

Shes welcome to come in the house but decides she likes the quiet life she's got a insulated box in one shed and in the other a pile of old pillows and towels to curl up on plus a hot water bottle

[Arzosah]

Awh Andy that's nice, I used to do that for the stray ginger tom we had living in the shed. I always keep hot water bottles in the house, nothing beats them for warmth where you need it, like sore tummies or backs.

Shes welcome to come in the house but decides she likes the quiet life she's got a insulated box in one shed and in the other a pile of old pillows and towels to curl up on plus a hot water bottle

Even nicer! Good for you.

[Quill]

Quill, what a great article! NB one of the first items shown, the "foment can" was made in Sefton or Southport (Kenworthy, the maker, had a hydropathic hotel at Southport, apparently).

That website in general is fab, really interesting perspective. Oh neat!

[GillyBee]

Thanks for finding that article - although it makes me feel old.
In recent years we have used the "cold water botttle" routine in heat waves by freezing a partly filled 2l lemonade bottle of water, wrapping it and taking it to bed. It made a huge difference.
As a kid we all had electric blankets - used before bedtime to warm up the bed or were sent to bed with a well wrapped hot water bottle in cold weather. Getting dressed happened downstairs in front of the fire for the tinies
It is a good reminder for me. We had a power outage last week for a few hours and it made me realise that keeping warm would be our biggest challenge in a longer outage. Heating bricks or water downstairs on the BBQ would be one way to add more warmth if blankets and layers are not enough.

[Vitamin c]

As a kid growing up on a south London council estate with a coal fire in the living room and a paraffin heater at the top of the stairs that was it cold bedrooms hot kitchen when cooking otherwise cold coats on beds ice on windows in mornings.
Its all i knew and it was no different for anyone else i knew.

I now believe its where we're heading again.

[jansman]

As a kid growing up on a south London council estate with a coal fire in the living room and a paraffin heater at the top of the stairs that was it cold bedrooms hot kitchen when cooking otherwise cold coats on beds ice on windows in mornings.
Its all i knew and it was no different for anyone else i knew.

I now believe its where we're heading again.

Yes, you could be right. Over the coming decade or two, I reckon anyone who can use fuel as ‘we’ do now in society, will be a wealthy person. Time will tell.