can i do anymore?!

gazza975526570

Hi

Currently on an energy saving campaign (well money saving campaign!!!)

I live in a 4 bed semi with 2 adults and 2 children.
Currently use around 12 unites of electricty and about 0.6 gas

How does this fare?

Ive had loft insualated, cavity wall, installed low energy lights almost everywhere (except pesky Halogen light fittings of which there are 13 in the kitchen and 4 in the bathroom), shut the curtains early and only have the heating on when realy required, turn things off at the plugs when not in use.

My concern is the electric still seems high? The tumble drier does get a fare bit of use due to the kids but we dry outside when possible

Is there anything else i can do?

Also whats the name of the site people use to record their energy useage?

Edit - oh one last thing we just went away for 4 nights and i turned evrything off except alarm, 2 fride freezers and over clock yet used 15 units of electricity?! - Any ideas as this sounds high too

Magentasue

These are ideas from my personal experience (6 adults and teens in a 3 bed terrace using about 12kwh elec and 25kwh gas in summer, about 60kwh with heating this month - that's a day and the gas units are kwh, not meter units!):
1) All washing 30deg apart from weekly whites wash
2) One fridge, one freezer - do you need two for just four of you?
3) Tumble drier winter only
4) No halogen spotlights - had them in previous house. Can't afford to run them now
5) Cook by gas - oven only on when full
6) TVs off at wall, Sky only on when watched or set to record
7) Dishwasher econ programme - have almost stopped people putting it on not full
8) Whistling kettle on gas hob has stopped people putting kettle on, walking away, reboiling etc.

greenbee

www.imeasure.org.uk

There's a MoneySaving Carbon Club you can join too.

matty2767

we have a detached 4 bed, 2 adults 2 young children. last week we used 100kwh gas and 40kwh elec. which on a metric meter is 9 units of gas.

gazza975526570

Thanks all for your replies.

Seems my gas useage is good but electic could be better - any further pointers on those ive raised?

Joined the imeasure - how do you see the group though when you join it?

Magentasue

gazza975526570 wrote: »

Joined the imeasure - how do you see the group though when you join it?

Carbon Clubs -> Join a Carbon Club -> MoneySaving Carbon Club

You don't see much really, just your position in the group when you look at Results.

A_fiend_for_life

Are you single or double glazed? Lining the curtains would improve insulation a fair bit if you have single glazing.

Draft proofing?

Only heat only the rooms you need would help too.

Only putting the water on when you need to is a big help. As is fewer baths more showers and reducing the temperature and duration of the shower.

Decanting excess warm water into a flask is a good energy saver too. Using lids on pans is a good one for reducing energy consumption and humidity. Make sure you turn the gas down to compensate though.

Re the kitchen lights I have a six foot twin strip light 116w in the kitchen rather than putting that on I use a desk lamp that provides adequate lighting.

Magentasue

Don't think turning the oven clock off will make a noticeable difference. Getting rid of a fridge and freezer will and, as pointed out you're paying to do something supermarkets do for you (unless you fill it from allotment, fishing, hunting etc.). Even so, for such a small household, one of each should be more than adequate.

Ken68

I'm on the verge of packing up the fridge and freezer.
The fridge has hardly anything in, long life milk and cat food are the spoilers, and the freezer is full of surplus garden produce.
With dried stuff, mainly beans, and tinned goods and whatever is in the garden already, not sure I need the expense and hassle of having them.

A_fiend_for_life

Hi Ken68,

I've been meaning to do the same but keep stocking the thing up though.

A bucket of ice cold tap water is ideal for keeping milk cold.

A_fiend_for_life

Your consumption sounds a bit high for four days but might be that you have larger fridge freezers. As mentioned above slim down to one preferably keeping the most energy efficient one. Defrost the one you want to keep first.

Oh - defrosting stuff in the fridge saves a bit of energy too.