The 50% Electricity Challenge - Everyone welcome!

Pippilongstocking

seese75 wrote: »

Hi,


Most difficult bit now will be trying to continue as "normal" this week....looking forward to staring next week.

We have been finding it hard to use normal electricity since we got our energy owl thingmy - they think I am obessessed - runs twitching - so maybe this will focus me further

and lidls here have got the 5 low energy bulbs for 49p? or somethig silly -so stocked up on those too.......

mumzyof2

How do i count how many units ive used? after this could we do with the gas??

mumzyof2

My electric at 20.37pm is 24325 (im hoping that my electric.. had a dail next to it going round as have lots of applainces on at mo)

brummiebabe

This is a great idea for a challenge - am finally getting DH and kids on board (DS2 (age 5) even asked me to turn off the kitchen TV when he'd finished playing the Playstation - to save electricity!!!:j )

My meter reading was 79636 today at 6.05pm - must remember to set a reminder on my phone to check it at the same time next week!!!

pandapaws

Welcome everyone else joining in - have added you to the list, if I miss anyone please let me know!

Mumzyof2, I thought about a gas challenge, but in my house the gas only powers the heating/water which are set on thermostats and the temperature is weather dependant so I don't have a lot of control over it. Plus, I don't mind sitting in the dark but I ain't freezing my backside off for any money! But you can obviously add them on and take readings for them too if you want. To see how much we're using, we'll just take the first reading away from the second reading (next week) and that's the number of units. Then do the same the next week and hopefully have used half.

brummiebabe, that's the beauty of this - the kids can actually get involved and it's teaching them good habits for the future too. My elder DS is only 3, and still has no concept of either electricity or money so it's a bit harder! For those with kids who are NOT green at all, how about saying you'll give them the amount in cash that you save for the first month? That should get them switching things off after themselves!

aliwali, the night rate times vary a lot depending on your supplier and area. We're with Scottish Power and it's on the website tho it still isn't clear. Watch out as well as the times are normally GMT so start an hour later at this time of the year.

mumzyof2

Thankyou pandapaws.

I forgot to say to give a idea of what im using..

I live in a 2 bed house.. open plan downstairs (so cold at night). I ahve 2 children aged 4 and 2. I use electric blanket at night. my heating is on for 2 hrs a day.

pandapaws

Mumzyof2, I'd love to get an electric blanket but not sure about using one for the kids and it would be a bit unfair for us to be snug while they were freezing! Do either of your kids have them yet? What age do you think is safe to start using one?

brummiebabe

pandapaws wrote: »

brummiebabe, that's the beauty of this - the kids can actually get involved and it's teaching them good habits for the future too.

I've been drumming it into them over the last few months....DH has been harder to convince (lol) - he's only just grasping the concept of doing little things to save money. Although, to be fair, he's been doing it in a way for years!! He never leaves plugs in (except fridge etc..) - always unplugs EVERYTHING (worries about fire etc....not for moneysaving reasons!) This used to drive me insane but at least we're already in the habit of doing it!!:rotfl:

TheBees

TheBees would like to join in with this please but this is not a good time to start for us as it's half term next week and we'll be using a lot more electric all being at home off school and work!!

PANDAPAWS - Our children have had electric blankets from a very early age. We normally put them on to heat up about an hour before they go to bed to take the chill off then once they get in to bed we switch them off. Lovely and cosy!!

Does anyone know the answer to this? I have been wondering if its cheaper to run the washing machine on 30 degrees on a 40 minute wash or 40 degrees on a 15 minute wash!?

TheBees

Oh also forgot to ask - if we turn the satellite off at the wall at night will it need resetting when we switch it back on or will it be OK?