How much electricity do you use in a day?

Quasar

When I moved into this flat, about 15 years ago, I made a point of checking the electricity and gas meters every Sunday and monitor my consumption. That's when I learned to cut out all non essential energy usage. When I got into the good habit, I stopped checking.

Methinks I shall start again, just to see. Oh, but now ALL my lightbulbs are low energy ones, and I no longer watch TV except for the news or some really interesting programme now and then.

aimme13

Thanks for the reply Cardew,
I also have Gas which is for the heating and the cooker.
I have the smallest type tumble dryers which someone gave to me 3 months ago and ive used about 10 times.

I need to use the immersion to heat the water, the boiler is for the heating only. Unfortunately we are in private rented accomodation so cant change it to a combi boiler:-(.

We also have electric shower, nothing fancy just the basic, but i would have thought the washing machine would use up far more than the shower, will bear that in mind......and no dishwasher here so saving there:-)

thanks again, will now see if i can get the reading down for my first week of monitoring:-)

Cardew

aimme13 wrote: »

Thanks for the reply Cardew,
I also have Gas which is for the heating and the cooker.

I need to use the immersion to heat the water, the boiler is for the heating only. Unfortunately we are in private rented accomodation so cant change it to a combi boiler:-(.

What sort of gas heating? Radiator Central heating or open gas fire.

aimme13

Its radiator central heating

Gal

Does you Central heating have a programmer? And does the programmer have Hot Water marked on it?

Gas Central Heating normally has an immersion element built into the tank as an emergancy backup incase your gas is cut off - therefore your primary source of water heating should be Gas and not electric.

aimme13

Hot water is def from the immersion. The boiler needed fixing a while ago and i spoke to the plumber about it being a pain that the boiler was only for the heating and not hot water, he said it would be really easy to change (explained how but couldnt really tell u what he said) said it wouldnt be a big job either, but unfortunately the landlord wont change it or let me change it. The immersion is a pain and has gone wrong 3 or 4 times in the time we have been here....but i guess there is nothing we can do. I do know that the first year we moved in (id never used an immersion heater before) i left it on all the time, then when i got the huge bill i was told why! so really try and use it a little as possible, however my daughter sometimes puts it on and forgets it on!!

chunky79

Hi This is my first post on this site as i usually lurk. I am so glad i have seen this post.

I have recieved my electricity bill this morning, £569.89. This is for 5 months usage. I have at the minute a check meter installed, this has been inplace since May 06. According to this check meter i have used 7032 unit in 10 months, but the shocking find for me is that i checked my reading from 5 months ago and i have apparently doubled the amount i use!

I have no idea how, i have changed nothing other then adding an extra addition to the family, and i am quite sure your all aware that babies do not run on electric!

SuiDreams

Read my meter over the weekend and used 5 units friday, 9 units Saturday and 10 units sunday. Need to concentrate on getting the weekend readings down (and keeping weekday units at 5 (or below)).

SuiDreams

Cardew wrote: »

Firstly a unit is a kWh.

The average usage in UK is 3,300kWh pa so you are about average.

If you 'only' use 3546kWh you presumably have another for of heating? Gas? Oil?

If so why do you use an Immersion heater? It will always be cheaper to use gas/oil to heat water than Electricity(unless you have Economy 7)

Washing machines on 30/40C setting do not use a lot - typically 0.6 to 0.9kWh. The biggest culprits are tumble dryers, Dishwashers, Electric showers and electric cookers.

Quite shocked to see that based on last years readings we used more than the national average, when there are only 2 of us in a small 3 bedroom semi detached starter home, with Gas Central heating and Hot water, no tumble dryer, dishwasher or electric shower, and all lights except kitchen have energy saving bulbs. The daily readings I've taken over the last 5 days son't seem to account for our previous usage, so we must have some spikes somewhere.

SuiDreams

9 Units yesterday not excellent but I think the PC's the culprit.