Reducing my INSANE energy bill without draconian measures ?

macman

Given what is obviously a large property that's occupied in the day, and relatively poorly insulated compared to a modern one, I don't think your gas consumption is that enormous, all you can do is turn the 'stats and TRV's down and of course reduce the hours that the CH is running. It's said that a 1C reduction can save 10% of your heating bill.
I'd be concentrating on your mammoth electricity usage, about twice what would be expected-where is that all going? It's not all accounted for by a few gadgets, so get yourself a monitor. Solar PV might not give a quick payback, but you could probably fit a full 4kWp system to maximise your returns, and generate maybe 40% of your own needs.

macman

The OP lists full double glazing as having been fitted: 2nd item.

Consumerist

Yes, sorry missed that. Post removed.

Nearchus

I've just installed a gas tumble dryer - rather rare beasts but having tried electric heated air dryers they consumed an astonishing 7kW per day. The old electric tumble dryer only chewed through maximum of 3kW on a bad day. That leads me to the observation that for me the 'little but long' things outweigh the 'strong but short' things like kettles. My advice? Dump the old fridges, they'll pay for themselves in cost savings the first year. And checkout the gas tumble dryers - although finding an installer is tricky.
I've been monitoring my house and individual appliances using the CurrentCost monitors and individual appliance meters for a couple of years now and like you had almost gone pure LED lighting before realising that lighting and boiling kettles were a minuscule part of the bigger picture.

good_advice

Boiling the kettle might just be a small thing, but guess what? our kettle uses the highest amount of electric according to my OWL. I jumps to 35p when the kettle is on with the usual things. With my half size oven owl will say 20.

When you have insulated all you can it is time to look at the plug in things, big and small. Switch off what you can.

macman

Yes, but your kettle is only on for a few minutes a day, so it's actual total consumption is a small part of the total. A electric shower is the highest rated device in most houses, (typically 4 times that of a kettle), but again it's only running for a few minutes at a time (unless you have teenage daughters, but that's another subject...).

chris1973

Check our site to see what can suit you

Sod off and spam somewhere else

Herongull

Get rid the clothes drier. In winter or on wet days get one of those victorian-style hanging driers - this is an example of what I mean http://www.pulleymaid.com/classic_clothes_airer.htm. Clothes dry much faster cf clothes horse due to convection (hot air rises) and they don't take up floor space.

Do you have a modern condensing boiler? Thermostats on all the rads? If not get them.

Make sure your heating goes off at night and that the heating is on very low in the bedrooms when it is on. You don't really need to heat bedrooms. Get everyone a 13.5 tog duvet and hotwater bottles. Down duvets are very reasonably priced and are like sleeping under a cloud:) And 13.5 tog synthetics are even cheaper even though not as cloud-like.

Get a gas stove - so much better than electric and cheaper to run too!

You don't need a dishwasher - just use a sink and a drying rack. The dishes practically wash and dry themselves anyway.

My husband and I are home during the day and live in 1930s house and pay around £800 per year in gas and electricity and are toasty warm in winter.:)

rogerblack

Herongull wrote: »

And 13.5 tog synthetics are even cheaper even though not as cloud-like.
<snip>

You don't need a dishwasher - just use a sink and a drying rack. The dishes practically wash and dry themselves anyway.

Dishwashers may use less water and energy than doing it by hand, unless you are very economical, and don't use much water, and it's cheaply heated.

Also - electric blankets can be most useful.

Ken68

A woodburner, Owen, though no payback unless free fuel.
Or something in the chimney to stop heat escaping.
If wooden floors , can you can get underneath to insulate.
?Is kitchen tile floor.
As mentioned electric blankets and modify one for the lounge.
And when moving CASHBACK plus Quidco.
Double glazing, double curtains and a quilt over the windows.
THEN cross subsidise your heating costs by moving onto the other boards of this forum, e.g. Food and Groceries.Gardening etc
This might be useful http://www.builditsolar.com/Projects/Conservation/ThermalShades/Shurcliff%20Thermal%20Shades.htm