How do I find out what 'average' energy usage is?

Ms_Piggy_2

Our annual energy usage seems very high:

Electric - 4580 kWh
Gas - 37075 kWh

We are a four bed semi, loft insulation, cavity wall insulation, new boiler, don't leave things on stand-by etc. Our bills seem very high, so I'm looking at switching, but I also want to check our usage against 'average'.

Thanks

DUTR

I think the average gas was 20500kwh per annum and electric 3300kwh, recently there was a post suggesting the gas is under 19500kwh, yes your usage seems a little high for both, but it's not just about the size of property but the appliances in use and duration of use.

Carrot007

Another question is what average.

The mathmatical average of averyone is a bit useless.

A useful average would have to be based on house type and occupants and many other things and probably impossible to do.

Mine come in at 14373 Gas and 6900 Electric. (3 bed, end terrace) I consider my usage average for gas and high for electric (long electric showers, I really should use the boiler to heat the water for showers, I even have a bath tap with a shower outlet on it, I should start using it!)

Premier_2

DUTR wrote: »

I think the average gas was 20500kwh per annum and electric 3300kwh, recently there was a post suggesting the gas is under 19500kwh, yes your usage seems a little high for both, but it's not just about the size of property but the appliances in use and duration of use.

The new amount for gas is 16500kWh

These are figures for a medium user and come from Ofgem

macman

Your gas usage is extremely high for a property as described, probably at least 10,00kWh more than might be expected for gas CH, DHW and cooking. You need to work out where all that is going, which, with gas, should be fairly easy. Break down your consumption per billing period so you can see what's happening during the summer when the CH is presumably off.
What controls do you have on the system: room 'stat, TRV's, modern digital programmer?
What temp do you set the CH at?
Any other gas appliances?

Ms_Piggy_2

Gas is only for central heating and hot water (but not the shower as that is electric). I agree it seems very high to me :eek:

We have dou8ble glazing - but it's on it's last legs, so the house is draughty. we do have the heating on when people are home, but we set the thermostat low (anything between 16-20 degrees - but it is in the coldest part of the house). We turn off radiators in rooms not in use. The boiler is a new-ish one. I can't see how we can reduce it that much....

macman

How do you control the temp? TRV's, programmer?
If the room stat is in the coldest part of the house, then it may be constantly calling for heat, which may not be required in the actual living areas.

Ms_Piggy_2

There's a dial on the boiler that sets how hot the radiators are. We have that set about half way.

Then the thermostat is in the hall where we set the temp we are aiming for. As you say, I tend to keep it low, as the temp in rooms is higher than the hall.... It's usually anywhere between 16 and 18 degrees.

macman

That is one very cold house then.
Do you not have TRV's on all the rads, which a modern CH install should have?
I would look at swapping the room stat for a proper digital programmer, that would give you more precise control.
And draughtproof your hall?

Ms_Piggy_2

I'm not sure what a TVR is?

All the upstairs rads have individual controls but the downstairs ones don't. The thermostat is a digital one. We had the boiler replaced (and the thermostat) about two years ago.

The front door is UPVC, but we could look into draught proofing.

macman

Thermostatic Radiator Valve.
So you can control the temp of each room or zone independently.
Odd to fit them upstairs only.