Can't save any more

st999

Over the past few years after I retired I set about increasing the insulation in my house and by last November I had reduced my gas consumption from 22,000 kWh average per year to 18,500 average per year as of last November.

This is in spite of the heating now being on all day instead of being timed.

I also saved electricity by changing light bulbs and switching off all unnecessary electrical equipment.

However this has meant that as I am now home all day my electricity has increased because my heating needs electricity to work even although it is gas, and my computer is on all day.

So my electricity has increased from 3,999 kWh per year up to last november to 4,200 kWh per year averaged out.

On comparing last years figures to this years figures I have not saved any amount on my gas, actually 50 kWh more this year than last year and also my electricity has increased by 201 kWh.

So unless I switch off my computer and sit in the cold, and that is not an option, there are no more savings to be had .

Farway

Do you ever go out? If so do you turn of PC / heating whilst you are not at home?

If not then maybe more savings can still be made

Hooloovoo

I found spending the best part of two months in Australia last winter reduced my annual heating bills tremendously

macman

OP, I reckon that you have reduced your gas bill by around £100, and you electricity bill has gone up by only about £20, despite the extra time at home. Overall you're ahead by about £80-so why the long face?
Your boiler and PC account for a very small proportion of your total electricity consumption.

anotherbaldrick

st999 wrote: »

Over the past few years after I retired I set about increasing the insulation in my house and by last November I had reduced my gas consumption from 22,000 kWh average per year to 18,500 average per year as of last November.


On comparing last years figures to this years figures I have not saved any amount on my gas, actually 50 kWh more this year than last year and also my electricity has increased by 201 kWh.

.

It was a hellish cold winter 09/10. I think we all used a lot more fuel keeping our bits warm. Hopefully the coming one will not be as deep.

amcluesent

>after I retired<

Did you get the Winter Fuel payment? That's £250 right off.

Then there's slankets etc.

st999

Did you get the Winter Fuel payment?

Off course. My birthday is at the beginning of Oct so the first year, a long time ago, I never got it the year I was 60.

Do you ever go out? If so do you turn of PC / heating whilst you are not at home?

Yes I turn them off when I go out. Wife doesn't like it if I go out alone though.

The good thing about warm air heating is that it is almost instant heat. Bad thing is the house cools down quickly, or it used to before everything was insulated.

6 hours of my computer is only 10p and my heating is at present costing me £1.50 a day or 10p an hour but it will go up to £3.00 a day in the really cold weather.

However all that is included in my calculations. As I said all this is based on my average yearly gas consumption which was 22,000 kWh per year for the past 7 years then the past 2 years it is 18,500 and I cannot get it down any further.

My heating is warm air and the fan and electronics use about 100 watts which for 15 hours is 1.5 kWh. All my electricity consumption has been measured with plug in monitors and the E.on monitor, I know exactly what each electrical item in my house uses.

Then there's slankets etc.

That's not me I'm afraid.

I prefer being comfortable in my house with the minimum of clothing but I don't go about in T-shirts and shorts.

The temperature is usually about 22 deg C all day. And this is for a couple of OAPs, not young people who don't feel the cold.

The long face is because I can't reduce my consumption anymore. So as the price of gas and electricity go up I can't pay any less than I am paying now.

penrhyn

The only other option would be to move into a smaller house.

22 degrees is a bit high, 20 should be plenty.

Barneysmom

Hi re your electricity, how old is your fridge freezer, our new one uses next to nothing.

I'm a big fan of bubble wrap and put on on the inside of windows that are on the back of the house, plus all the conservatory windows too when it gets really cold.

Do you make a flask of coffee or do you boil the kettle every time?
Plus when you do a dippy egg do you turn the gas off when the ater's boiling and let the egg carry on cooking, with a lid on the pan? You can also cook pasta that way.

st999

22 degrees is a bit high, 20 should be plenty.

That is very subjective, who says 20 should be plenty?

Also try telling that to my wife who has an underactive thyroid. And yes, before anyone asks, she is on medication and it is the correct dose.

I would rather be comfortable and spend a few quid more.

The only other option would be to move into a smaller house

That is in the works, 2 OAPs rattling about in a 3 bed semi!

I'm a big fan of bubble wrap and put on on the inside of windows

All my windows are double glazed and I would rather be able to see out my windows.

The point of my post was, once you get to the bottom, the only way is up.

Pincher

Museums hire lots of pensioners sitting in rooms telling people
"no touching", "don't breathe on the exhibits". If you get subsidised canteen, even better. Gets you out, save on fuel, you get paid.