Apart from heating, the energy we use in our homes is mostly used by our appliances – especially white goods like washing machines, tumble dryers, ovens, and dishwashers. A lot of attention has been paid to making them use less energy, but after many years of reducing energy usage they’ve hit a plateau. The energy savings to be made these days are often relatively minor and there’s often little difference between them. Thinking laterally there’s an easy trick that can save hundreds of pounds a year that many people still neglect.