Ideas how to calculate average electricity??

BankFree

I didn't get it either so I'm guessing must be reference to some sort of cult character...

rhiwfield

Some low cost tips to saving energy:

• Curtains with thermal linings closed at dusk help conserve heat, using one of the methods to seal the gap at the bottom of the curtains makes them much more efficient
• Draught excluders at base of doors/ full length curtains
• Draught insulation strips around windows and doors
• Thick curtain across external door opening
• Seal letter box opening
• Thin film double temporary double glazing on single glazed windows
• Batch cook
• Use microwave to cook or precook
• If using oven try to cook everything in it
• Only fill kettle with amount of water you need
• If cooking potatoes on hob bring to boil, then switch off and allow to cook in the hot water
• If roasting potatoes use the hot water used for parboiling for cooking any veg on the hob or for making stock
• Trvs on radiators to direct heat to room required
• Keep a throw by the sofa to keep snug
• Put a rug on floor where you sit as extra insulation
• Wear an extra layer of clothes and keep arms and legs covered
• Pop outside briefly when its cold and youll feel warmer when you come back in!
• Defrost frozen food in fridge to reduce fridge leccy use
• Every so often clean pipes at back of fridge and freezer to maintain efficiency
• Line dry clothes (if we ever see the sun again!)
• Switch off lights and standbys if not in use, its better to be thorough rather than trying to remember which standbys are low wattage
• Get one of the new insulation offers, payback in a year!
• Get a cheap energy meter from LIDL (£7) and work thru your gadgets one by one to see where leccy is going
• See if there are non essential items left on 24/7, such as towel rails, and put them on a timer
• Lighting can make a big difference if you dont have energy efficient lights. Look especially at halogen lights where its easy to have 400W in a couple of fittings.
• TV power consumption can be high, especially if you have a big plasma surround sound get up with all the trimmings! A 32" Samsung LCD tv with separate freesat box should only use about 90W.
• If you have to change an appliance get an energy efficient one
• There are plenty of gadgets to power down tvs, computers etc but switching off at mains is quite effective as well, especially if all the related gadgets are on one switched extension/power surge protector.
• Use a lowflo shower head if electric shower and turn down the heat setting
• As well as the energy monitor try reading your meter daily so you get to know what is using the juice. That way you can work out if you want to cut down on those items and you'll never be surprised at a bill again.

But

• heating with leccy is expensive and its been very cold of late so everyone's bills will be higher than normal
• tumble dryers guzzle leccy (say 2kwh per cycle) but drying clothes indoors can lead to damp and mould issues
• cooking meals from scratch will save you ££££ even if you use say 2 kwh per main meal