The 50% Electricity Challenge - Everyone welcome!

pandapaws

:idea: Just had this idea, and unlike all the other challenges that I'm doing at the moment, it doesn't involve any extra work and is so simple - most of us are already doing it to an extent, but I'd like to be able to monitor success (I feel a spreadsheet coming on:D).

I'm going to try and reduce my electricity usage by 50%. If you want to join me, here's what to do:

1. Take a meter reading NOW, and note day/time (take all readings if you have rate 1 & 2). Post those details here.
2. Use normal amounts of electricity for the next 7 days - try not to think about it! This is the control week to see how much you normally use and how much your target will be.
3. At the same day/time next week, take another reading, and calculate how many units you've used.
4. Use less power (all tips welcomed!)
5. Take another reading a week later and see how much less you've used.
(If anyone's worried about the calculations, just post the numbers here and I or someone else can do the sums.)

I currently spend about £50 a month on electricity, I'd like to cut that in half, which would save about £300 a year.
Anyone want to join me?:money:

Challengers & opening readings (Rate1/Rate2 if applicable):

Blue= no change from previous week or opening week usage. Or in subsequent weeks, it's less than the opening week reading but not as little as a previous week.
Green = reduction in day rate
Red = uh-oh! Try again next week!
Not colouring night readings red or green, as those of us on Economy 7 are trying to increase those but only if it means decreasing the day readings as well!

*Sometimes I disappear for a little while (kids, work, time etc!) and don't always get the time to update here, but if you keep posting your readings then eventually I'll get around to it*

1. Pandapaws: 02324>>02454=130>>2564=110 (hypocrite -must update these!)
... Night: 00324>>00337=13>>00351=14
2. Lula Hula: 43850>>43885=35>>43921=35>>new meter>>76.98=37.41
... Night: 11461>>11464=3>>11461=4>>new meter>>10.56=5.93
3. Shopaholictiedtheknot: 01829>>01948=119>>02036=88>>02128=92>>02306(/2wks)=89>>2420=114
4. Milliemonster: 9263>>9378=115
5. Fayjmck: 13323.3>>14025.5=204.81
6. Welshlassie: 12355>>12461=106>>12567=106>>12678=111>>12763=85>>12863=100
7. Tyllwyd (10%): 7112>>7226=114>>7344=118>>7467=123>>7580=113>>7710=130>>7976(2wks)=133
8. suz7: 12968>>13006=38>>13046=40(40/8 days x7)=35
9. ShelleyC: TBC (readings not possible)
10. Fletch3163: 00739>>969 (2wks)=115>>1087=118>>1208=121>>1326=118>>1444=118>>1718(2wks)=137
11. Bree: 161>>318=157
12. Nannychook: 26897.07/5907.11
13. Lemon Tree: 4667.41/2872.08
14. mrcow: 24089>>24243(10 days=14.7/day)x7=103
15. loopymadlover: TBC
16. seese75: 39750>>35859=109>>39981=122>>40099=118
17. Aliwali: 25310.43>>25350.69=40.26>>new meter=51>>87>>62
.. . Night: 6493.8>>6501.82=8.02>>new meter=7>>10>>6
18. gtx: 18009
19. mumzyof2: 24325
20. brummiebabe: 79636>>79732=96>>79834=102>>80128(/3wks)=98
21. TheBees: TBC
22. SarahNeedle1872: 0469>>0539=70>>603=64>>682=79>>750=68>>820=70>>897=77>>1110(2wks)=106.5
.. . Night:0295>>0344=49>>406=62>>460=54>>503=43>>602=99>>710=108>>1053(2wks)=171.5(?)
23. Sue-UU: TBC
24. Minimee: 24828
25. TurnaroundSue: 57171>>57311=190>>57406=95 = 50% LESS!!!>>57529=123>>57642=113>>57753=111>>57891=138>>57976(9 days)=185= 144 for 7 days
.. . .Gas:6493>>6502=9>>6515=13>>6535=20>>6557(9 days)=22= 17 for 7 days
26. SamanthaA: 39091>>39126=35>>39161=35>>39199=38>>39232=33>>39308(2wks)=38>>39362=54
. .. Night:13866>>13884=18>>13900=16>>13918=18>>13940=22>>13974(2wks)=17>>14000=26
. .. Gas: 6622>>6629=6>>6639=10>>6646=7>>6652=6>>6675(2wks)=11.5>>6692=17
27. Miss J: Elec 18266>>18347=81>>18424=77
. . .Gas: 0559>>0578=19>>594=16
28. Burlesque Babe: 28111>>28180=69>>28241=61>>28303=62>>28370=67
29. Biscotte: 10708>>12716=2008? /Start again! 12731>>12822=91>>12933=111>>13037=104
. .. Night: 13853>>13978=125 /14026>>14107=81>>14167=60>>14258=121
30. Nickynoo08: 51995>>52092=97>>52186=94>>52274=88
.. . Gas: 7992>>8000=8>>8012=12
31. Intergalactic Floozie: 36542>>36664=122>>36792=128
. . .Gas: 2036>>2061=25>>2085=24
32. Different_Corner: 4046>>4171=125>>4299=128>>4429=130>>4562=133>>4699=137
33. hayley11: 76455>>76550=95>>76631=81>>76721=90
. . .Gas:347>>409=62>>454=45>>539=85
34. bestpud: 51747>>51863=116>>52073(2wks)=105
. . .Gas:11583>>11179=21>>11229(2wks)=25
35. Ziggybaby: 77721>>77740=19>>77757=17
. . .High: 38176>>38244=68>>38300=56
36. Irishwexford: TBC
37. Determinedtodothis: 02471>>02531=60
38. Wilf55: 22232
. . .Gas:8967
39. Paulgonnabedebtfree:28244>>28306=62
. . .Gas:01299.9>>1311.793=11.857
40. Moneysavingmonkey85:7653>>7723=70
. . .Gas:585>>593=8

pandapaws

My meter readings today (Monday 20 Oct) at 10.30am were:

Rate 1 (daytime)..... 02324
Rate 2 (overnight)....00324

My overnight units cost about a third of the daytime ones, so as well as reducing overall use, I'm going to try and move daytime units onto night, so to start off I'll be aiming for a 50% reduction in the daytime units and won't worry about the night ones for now (otherwise it may confuse me!)

Lula-Hula

Hi pandapaws,

I'd like to join please.

My meter readings at 2.30 : rate 1 - 43850
rate 2 - 11461

I think I'm pretty good at economising ; nothing on standby, no tumble dryer etc but i know that I dont make use of the night rate properly & it's half the day rate :eek: may think about becoming nocturnal

lula

pandapaws

Hi Lula!
I'm the same. My night rate starts at midnight, and I often get as far as about 10pm then get fed up waiting and shove the dryer on anyway!

Enjoy your week of non-reduced cosumption!!!

shopaholictiedtheknot

Pandapaws what a great idea:T I will join you, I will take my readings when I get home and post later/tomorrow I had no idea about night reductions - does it apply to everyone and do all suppliers do this?

milliemonster

I'd like to join if that's ok as I have no idea what leccy I use tbh, although I try to not use any unnecessarily

My reading today is 9263

Night readings only apply if you have economy 7 I think

Pippilongstocking

Ok this sounds like fun - Monday at 15.40

- one rate 13323.3 with Scottish Power think about 12p kWh

You might need to remind me though!! will keep looking...........

Welshlassie

I'd like to join in with tis, but struggle to get into my meter cupboard as don't have one of those keys - anyone any idea where I can find/buy one??

tyllwyd

On another board, I came across imeasure (http://www.imeasure.org.uk/), which a lot of people seem to be using to keep track of their energy use. The criticism I would have of them is that they don't seem to have the ability to do any fancy graphs etc with the results, so if you are an excel wizz it might be more fun to do it yourself.

(I'm trying to keep the gas/electric down, but I can't see myself being able to cut it by half!)

suz7

Hi pandapaws,

I'd like to join please. My reading at 6.55pm was 12968.

Welshlassie - have a nosey at this thread -

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?p=14544655

Sue

ShelleyC_2

I so want to join in but leave in a serviced flat so only get readings when meter reader comes or by asking landlord - not sure he'd be impressed with me asking for 2 readings at exactly the same time & a week apart!!!

Will make a concerted effort to use economy seven etc :A