Even before the economic downturn, it was becoming necessary to try and save on fuel bills. Not only because saving money means more money to spend elsewhere, but because of global warming and how unstable our weather has become. But now there is a worldwide economic crisis it has become imperative to save on fuel bills.

My husband has always conserved electricity and gas, it has always been a passion for him and he has made sure our home is as fuel efficient as he can possibly make it, with cavity wall insulation (in the u.k. our houses have double walls with a cavity between and we fill the cavity with either foam or insulation of some kind), double glazing, and energy saving light bulbs and lately a wood burner to help with heating costs.

We have a large garden with many trees and haven't had to buy wood since we installed the wood burner three years ago. I don't use a tumble drier, I prefer to dry my washing outside on the line whenever possible, but during winter when its not possible I put the clothes on a clothes horse and stand them in the double glazed conservatory, and then when we retire I bring the clothes horse into the sitting room and stand it by the wood burner and there is usually enough heat to complete the drying of the washing. i also use a microwave to cook, as there is enormous fuel savings doing that. I bought a new cooker about three years ago and have only used the oven once, as our microwave is a grill, turbocharged oven and microwave all in one - and very efficient.

The Victorians learned that thick curtains with good linings also helped keep a room warm in winter and conversely light curtains will keep it cool in summer. We don't bother about changing our curtains, but I have thermal linings on all my curtains and that does make a significant difference. In the evenings when you close the curtains the room gets warmer and cozier within fifteen minutes of the curtains being closed.

I was born in Northern Rhodesia and there wasn't enough electricity for everyone to use as we do now, all that's stopping us is the bill, but the supply seems to be limitless. In Northern Rhodesia we were rationed as to how much we could use, and when we were nearing the end of our quota the lights would 'blink' twice and Mum would make sure we had enough candles for the rest of the month. But cooking was done on a wood range, even the water for baths was boiled in big cans on the range, the fridge was run on paraffin, so that was never a problem, and there weren't washing machines, vacuum cleaners or even electric irons and kettles. So we did manage, but life was much simpler as a result and we did have help in the house.

Nowadays I would like to have my own electric source in say solar panels or windmills. it would be wonderful to be completely independent of the power companies, but that maybe is a step too far. It is not a big deal to have a small generator, but they are expensive to run, so at the moment that isn't an option for my husband and myself. At the back of my mind there is a little niggle about what would happen if the unthinkable happens and electricity was no longer available. We have become so used to always having hot water on hand for baths and showers, being able to cook on a gas or electric stove, and having a washing machine to take care of all the dirty clothes, towels and bed linen, not to mention fridges and freezers and microwaves, televisions and computers, and it would be unbearable if we didn't have those amenities any more.

With the current disaster in Japan, it has shown me that we are very vulnerable, and also that we are so used to having this wonderful source of power at our fingertips, how on earth will we manage without it.

I have found a website which shows you how to build your own solar panels at a very reasonable cost, using ordinary easily obtainable components. The writer claims that it is very easy to construct, and you can construct and link 5 and more panels together so your electricity output is considerably increased. I used to think that solar energy wasn't viable in the U.K. because of the very many cloudy days, but this isn't true, we may not get as much solar power during cloudy days but we do get power. Unlike wind mills, no wind no power, and there are very many days without wind where I live.

I would love to give this a go, as then one has ones own source and should anything go wrong at least the fridge and washing machine can be kept running. Cooking can always be done over a fire or on a barbecue, but for me to be without a freezer and washing machine life would be unbearable.