Bringing down my gas and leccy bill challenge (start August 2008)

Andy_Hamilton

Fair enough, be aware that some of the GU10 spotlights take around 2 minutes to fully warm up. I have a 5 GU10 light in the kitchen, I have put 2 led bulbs which give light instantly but it's not bright enough, about 2 seconds later I have around 40% of light available and 2 minutes later its 100%

Mine are megaman and I never noticed any difference between there 7 and 11W bulbs.

newlywed

Andy_Hamilton wrote: »

Fair enough, be aware that some of the GU10 spotlights take around 2 minutes to fully warm up. I have a 5 GU10 light in the kitchen, I have put 2 led bulbs which give light instantly but it's not bright enough, about 2 seconds later I have around 40% of light available and 2 minutes later its 100%

Mine are megaman and I never noticed any difference between there 7 and 11W bulbs.

Thanks it's the megaman ones we're looking at. So you get about 40% of the light after about 2 seconds? As long as it's enough for the boys to see the loo (for aiming purposes :rolleyes:) then that's fine in our bathroom.

Ones we tried from B&Q never got any brighter and so there wasn't enough light to shave!

whatatwit

Hi, I've just been and read my meters to update my online readings. My meters were read last Friday, although I only found out from the online info, Mr Twit failed to tell me :rolleyes:

I don't manage to read my gas too often as it's a bit of a battle to get to the meter, but I have now cleared a path and will try to do it weekly at least.

So, in 20 days, we have used...
Gas 19 units (metric)
Elec 237 units (kwh)

As Miss Twit is at home and often has the TV, GHD's, Ipod & phone charging as well as using either the PC or one of the laptops, I don't think the elec is tooo bad at just under 12 per day.
Gas wise, we have a combi boiler and a gas hob.

I have just got an Eco Kettle (thanks Mum) so it will be interesting to see if our elec usage does decrease. I am emptying out the boiling chamber each use and then putting a cupful back in to take advantage of the warmth from the element (every little helps).

Andy_Hamilton

newlywed wrote: »

Thanks it's the megaman ones we're looking at. So you get about 40% of the light after about 2 seconds? As long as it's enough for the boys to see the loo (for aiming purposes :rolleyes:) then that's fine in our bathroom.

Ones we tried from B&Q never got any brighter and so there wasn't enough light to shave!

I bought the megaman ones from B&Q. I also bought the LED ones from there. There is a delay of around 2 seconds before the megaman ones kick into life (like the first ever type of energy saving bulbs) I can't cope with this so my LED's give just enough light for the first 2 seconds but it's not enough light to use just led's.

For you, you may be better off leaving one normal bulb in for aiming perposes or fit a laser pointer which points into the pan:D

newlywed

Andy_Hamilton wrote: »

I bought the megaman ones from B&Q. I also bought the LED ones from there. There is a delay of around 2 seconds before the megaman ones kick into life (like the first ever type of energy saving bulbs) I can't cope with this so my LED's give just enough light for the first 2 seconds but it's not enough light to use just led's.

For you, you may be better off leaving one normal bulb in for aiming perposes or fit a laser pointer which points into the pan:D

Thanks will make sure we keep one normal bulb over the loo
Where do you get a laser pointer?????? anything that sounds like a toy might help (even though they're 10 and 13 :rolleyes:)

digimortal_2

does anybody use ecoballs for clothes washing, i have been looking at these for a while now, reading reviews etc.. they claim.. low temp wash, no fabric conditioner required, soften clothes, minimal or no rinse required, no chemicals, and 3 - 7 pence per wash...

newsnight report here..
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/newsnight/4969324.stm

im intrrested the saving in price per wash, and using the washing machine at lower temp, less rinse, less water use.. can anybody say if these are a good buy for around £10/170 washes etc.. how much will it save in water/elec without the rinse?

airedaleterrier

I used a older style equivalent a few years back that I got from Lakeland Limited. I had no problems with it. Not really sure why i switched back to soap powder. I will re think. I have just bought some of the tumble dryer balls ( for the wet wet days we get in West Yorks), but its been fine since I bought them so the washing has been out on the line! Any one any experience with them?

Lily-Lu

As we recently had a combi boiler fitted and our hot water tank removed from the airing cupboard, I now have nowhere to dry clothes if it's a naff day outside. So, I've invested in an airer and 20 coat hagers today. Hopefully, this will do the trick and I won't be tempted to put a radiator on just to get something dry.:D

Jojo_the_Tightfisted

airedaleterrier wrote: »

I used a older style equivalent a few years back that I got from Lakeland Limited. I had no problems with it. Not really sure why i switched back to soap powder. I will re think. I have just bought some of the tumble dryer balls ( for the wet wet days we get in West Yorks), but its been fine since I bought them so the washing has been out on the line! Any one any experience with them?

My mum got me the tumble balls from the Poundshop. What used to take a minimum of 70 minutes only seems to take 30 - 40 mins now, so I can't knock them at all.

airedaleterrier

Mine were poundshop bargain ones too! Used them this am, and they have cut the drying time and clothes do feel softer. The Airedale terrier in the house thinks they look like an interesting toy, so will have to make sure that the tumble dryer door isn't left open at all, or it could be hunt the dryer ball!