Flick that Switch!

rinabean

We used 3kWh per day (on average - more like 2 in summer and 4 in winter) in our old flat. No gas. 2 of us in a one bed flat, him out sometimes, me in all day. 2 computers always on. The trick is to never turn the heating on because you're too damn poor and it doesn't even work very well (storage heaters - evil things). And using energy saving bulbs, efficient fridge and washing machine, no tumble drier, filling up the oven fully. But mostly the no heating thing, I think.

meritaten

Winchelsea wrote: »

I'm using about 18 to 20 kWh of electricity a week at the moment, so not too bad - but it is only me in the house.

I turn off everything I can when not needed - internet goes off as soon as I've finished for example. Some folks will tell you you 'have' to keep it on all the time, but, no way for me, seems so wasteful, and it doesn't cause any problems.

One thing that does frustrate me is that the house has a burglar alarm, installed by the previous owners. I've made the mistake of trying to switch it off, but any break in the electricity supply causes the thing to go off at annoyingly high volume. And there are those "magic eyes" in all the downstairs rooms whose little red lights come on as soon as the sensors detect any movement, all of which is consuming power.

I hate the thing, and technically keep it switched off all the time, but obviously this leaves it just on a lower level of alert. Grrrr!

Does anyone else use iMeasure by the way? I log in every Monday with my gas and elec readings - does help to concentrate the mind. It's giving me an 'A' rating at present, but that will undoubtably go up once I switch the central heating on (still managing without it).

I think there must have been a good reason the previous owners installed a burgler alarm like yours.
and for the few pounds it costs - it may well be worth the money.
do you live in a high risk area? installing the alarm may have saved them pounds on their insurance - especially if they had been victims of a burglary.
have you informed your home contents insurers of this alarm system? it could save you the cost of the electricity on the discount on the insurance!

Kaz2904

I'm on i-measure too although ashamed to say that I read an email from them the other day and thought "ooh, I must log that". When I got to do it today (having read this thread earlier today) I realised that I had not logged my readings since the 19th of April last year :eek:. I will aim to keep on top of this now

mardatha

Our heating is coal and cooking is Calor gas. But our elect still runs at 5 units a day and we can't get it lower

GreyQueen

RAS wrote: »

The other biggie here is that if I recall correctly all the heating and hotwater are provided by a communal system?

That's right, RAS; the gas central heating (inc hot water) is coming off a central boiler house. I have a humungous water tank that has an electrical switch-thingy (found out to my cost a couple of years ago when I woke to no hot water and it was 5 days before the council could get it fixed -although in all fairness 2 of those days were over a weekend).

I did mention that on the post on the other thread which Lilli used as her starting point for this thread.

Thanks goodness, as it would be hell-on-wheels to have a combi boiler in this tiny kitchen, they'd have to remove one of my few cupboards and there are very few spaces to put things in as it is. My entire flat is 24 meters squared.

The central heating and hot water are levied as a rent charge as Shoebox Towers has a built-in system with huge industrial boilers; think the average gas-safe-register engineer would have kittens if faced by them. There are fewer than 5 engineers in the city who can work on them.

I pay circa £350 a year for this. I say circa because we've had 2 price hikes in 2011 thus far. I don't think we can have another before the end of the calender year as they legally have to give one month's notice but I could get smacked by another increase before the end of the financial year.

The plus is that I pay the same winter and summer, the downside is that this flat is so tiny and well-insulated that I barely need to have the heating on at all- I've lived in places which were a lot colder with the heating going full-blast. Oh, and if I didn't pay it I'd be in rent arrears and could lose my home...........:eek:

So, I pay for all my electricity and have a conventional gas meter, which is connected to my gas stove alone, and have a duel-fuel bill from one of the Big Six each quarter.

Today I am planning to use the gas oven to bake bread and have made 6 loaves up yesterday evening which have been sitting in the kitchen under a teatowel to prove - it really develops the flavour. My oven will take 6 x 2 lb loaf tins and I try not to fire it up unless I can utilise it for more than one item.

I'll have the oven on a whopping Gas 7 for 30 mins plus 7 mins warm-up time but I will sneakily turn it off 5 mins before the end to let the residual heat cook the last bit. Well, every little helps.:o

I'd love to hear energy-saving tips from others as I think we're all feeling the pinch, these days.

lillibet_dripping

Thanks for all these replies!!
I think I will leave the fridge on rather than risk food poisoning:o

OK, here's another one to ponder......

I have a dely-timer thingy on my washing machine. If I set it so that the machine comes on on the overnight tariff, does the energy used in keeping it on 'standby' on the day tariff outweigh the benefit of running it on the night tariff?

I'm becoming a bit fanatical about saving energy lately - can you tell? I read the meters every Sunday and enter the readings into my online power supplier account. It has become a personal challenge to beat the previous weeks readings. (Do you think I need to get out more?:p)

valk_scot

lillibet_dripping wrote: »

I have a dely-timer thingy on my washing machine. If I set it so that the machine comes on on the overnight tariff, does the energy used in keeping it on 'standby' on the day tariff outweigh the benefit of running it on the night tariff?

Well, if it's anything like my Bosch, yes, you'll make a big saving. I usually load the washing machine in the evening though, not leave it sitting ticking away all day. If you've got one of these plug in eanergy measuring gizmos though you could check it out yourself.

I run the dishwasher on the timer too btw.

Kaz2904

Not many electricity companies have a cheaper night time tariff any more so that's worth checking on your bill. It would be a shame to be doing this and it actually be costing you more money wouldn't it?
I was just looking at switching my utilities but I don't know what tariff I'm on. I think I've found the cheapest but now don't know my bank details. Any idea how I can find these out if they aren't on my card and I can't see them on my online banking? I'm with nationwide if that helps

maman

I once tried turning my digibox/recorder thing completely off instead of stand-by and I had to retune it when I switched it back on. I'll give it another go tonight and see if it happens again.

forgotmyname

Switch the wahing machine on at night before bed and set the delay for a few hours. So the wash finishes when
you get up or when the night tariff ends.

That way the damp washing wont be in the machine for hours.

Why would you set the washing machine in the morning and put it on timer?

Watch a scary movie and turn the lights off. Drink more water and less hot tea.

I find there are no greedy energy devices but its like a slow leak. Everything is like a leaky bucket dripping
the stuff away little by little.

Trying some LED lights, They use tiny amounts of power even when compared to energy efficient lights.

It didnt even register on my meter that records how much power items use. Bit directional though like a spotlight
and they recommend they are not used for more than 16 hours at a time.

Our living room is dark so the lights are on virtually all day unless its a bright summer sun.

Ordered a few from china to test.