The 50% Electricity Challenge - Everyone welcome!

TheBees

Hi Pandapaws
TheBees would like to take part but we're going to wait until after half-term to start if that's OK.
Tonight I've pulled out all our old elec and gas bills and put them in order. I was trying to compare the cost and amount of fuel we're using compared to last year but it's proving difficult as we changed supplier and the months for each quarter don't always coincide with the previous year. I'll have to wait until we've completed another full year for a cost comparison.

For the past couple evenings we've had tea light candles on in the lounge and no other light apart from the TV! Very cosy!

Our dishwasher's doing really well - it will be 12 years old in December! Probably not as economical or water efficient as newer models but it's not getting replaced until it konks out!

tyllwyd

ifti wrote: »

2280 * 365 = 832200 which is around 832.2Kw a year.

I had a look at your maths, and it all looked logical to me too.

I had a look around on the internet, and it looks as if older fridgefreezers were a lot less efficient than the new ones. If your freezer is using 832Kw per year, at say 12p per unit, that's £99 a year - ouch!

pandapaws

tyllwyd wrote: »

I had a look at your maths, and it all looked logical to me too.

I had a look around on the internet, and it looks as if older fridgefreezers were a lot less efficient than the new ones. If your freezer is using 832Kw per year, at say 12p per unit, that's £99 a year - ouch!

:eek: ...and when you multiply that by all the other old non-efficient appliances that are plugged in...:eek: :eek: :eek: .

Perhaps ifti's fridge-freezer doesn't actually consume that much electricity on a permanent basis, maybe that's the max rating or something? I'd definitely buy one of the meter plug thingies to check that out though, that's extortionate.

TheBees, you're welcome to join in whenever you like. You sound very organised with your bills. I haven't a clue how much we use, apart from 'too much'.

TurnaroundSue

Hi Can I join please - my meter reading is 57171 at 10.03 on a Friday evening - ong how sad is that?? It is Friday evening and I am reading my electricity meter!!!!:rotfl:

For those who have lost/misplaced their key maybe you could ask your neighbour/friend/relative to borrow theirs so that you are able to read your meter - would save £2.89 at B&Q. Or phone up your suppliers and see if they will send one for FREE!

Good luck with the challenge everyone - mind you, I think we will find it hard to be 'normal' in the usage of electricity for the next week as am now so used to going round turning off lights, hanging washing on line etc!:D

ifti

yep seems alot,

i thought 95W is nothing but 24/7 its adding up, its a reserve fridge/freezer we have on during the summer, now its time to turn it off.

my father told us to switch it off but i said 95W is nothing but now i worked it out and its definatly going off.

after southern electric increased our monthly electricity DD to £120 per month, my father wants everything not needed OFF!. i think our gas is £60-£70.

thanks again to everyone.

now i need to find the wattage of the normal fridge we have as well as the normal freezer which also also quite old.

im thinking of getting the lidl energy monitor i saw today, it was for £6.99 but i think it worth it.

TurnaroundSue

Just remembered next Friday is halloween and my friends and their kids are coming to my house for a halloween party:j . However, this is where my plan comes unstuck, OH is working nights :j , kids are going out trick or treating and me and friends having a glass of wine (or 2) so not sure whether I will be able to focus to read the meter correctly this time next week!!!!!!!:eek:

TheBees

I bought our meter cupboard key from the local iron mongers for 99p and have also seen them on the stand in the spar where you find cheap bits and bobs for the same price.

pandapaws

Wouldn't have thought to look in the Spar! Thanks The Bees!

TurnaroundSue, we'll all look forward to a post full of tipsy jibberish next Friday (while sad and sober!)

ifti, you've really got me thinking about my appliances now. I bought the meter a few weeks ago but it's still in the car glove box so I think I'll be looking it out tomorrow.

tyllwyd

ifti wrote: »

after southern electric increasing our monthly electricity DD to £120 per month, my father wants everything not needed OFF!. i think our gas is £60-£70.

EEK - £120 per month not including gas - is that to cover arrears? Because if not, if I was you I'd get them out to check the meter, just in case. That's a huge amount.

ifti

its wrong, just found out properly, its 60 for electric and 55 for gas a month

we're thinking of getting a new energy efficient freezer, so that should help.

i think the fridge and freezers are prob the only real things that are on 24/7, others are on and off but average out for the day, like dishwashers and washing machines which are around 1Kw+.