Green and ethical >>> solar

Sterlingtimes

The true eco warrior would surely drive economies through household design and behaviour.

I am gradually getting everything in order from the investment and design perspective (now good B-rating). However, I am failing in getting the family to share my passion in adjusting behaviour to achieve the real economies that I think possible.

After some measurement of usage of white goods, I concluded that they were accounting for about half of my electricity consumption (approx 4,000 kW/h per year out of approximately 8,000 KWh/year. I carried out a full house audit and produced an estimate of 7,843 kWh, equating pretty much with actual usage.

Presumably, with higher usage the opportunity for using self-generated electricity is higher. What do others think.

saveallmymoney

I can tell you what my wife thinks about not using the tumble dryer, but its not printable in these forums....

Getting things like TV's, set top boxes with auto standby, pir and timer lights, electronic radiator valves have helped "less enthusiastic" members of our family be more energy efficient without having to change their behaviour.

But if behaviours won't change, how can you get your appliances used during the day when your panels are generating?

Sterlingtimes

saveallmymoney wrote: »

But if behaviours won't change, how can you get your appliances used during the day when your panels are generating?

Thank you, saveallmymoney. This is the crux of the problem. Tentatively, Mrs Sterling agrees to try to use the tumble dryer (£160 per year), dish washer and washing machine (£80 per year) during the day. I cannot be anymore perceptive about timing and phasing or using eco settings. Substitution of "better" drying methods is not negotiable. Furthermore, Mrs Sterling does not like the idea of a gas tumble dryer.

The shower (gas heated) is the other bug bear. I tried to sneak in a 9 litre per minute regulator when I changed the shower hose. Unfortunately, the Sterling family rebelled attributing the poor flow to the new hose. Regulator is now removed.

Andy_WSM

Oh dear. I feel for you.

I have a lodger that is so wasteful it's ridiculous. In the few hours he's around in the evening and the hour or so in the morning he can use more electricity than I do in 24 hours.

Both last night & this morning the washing machine has been on - attributable only to him, both times whilst it's dark. The tumble drier gets used to "air clothes".

My consumption hit over 6kW peak this morning and I wasn't even home. Lodger had washing machine & dishwasher on at the same time and had propped open the door to "let some air in" whilst the heat pump was busy trying to replace the lost heat.

I've given up asking him to be reasonable, so the next step is to start cutting plugs off appliances. :eek:

Sterlingtimes

Andy_WSM wrote: »

... so the next step is to start cutting plugs off appliances.

Good. More than reasonable suggestion.

Please keep any ideas coming on how to catch out the anti-ecos.

lstar337

Sterlingtimes wrote: »

The shower (gas heated) is the other bug bear. I tried to sneak in a 9 litre per minute regulator when I changed the shower hose. Unfortunately, the Sterling family rebelled attributing the poor flow to the new hose. Regulator is now removed.

Ha Ha Ha, partners in crime! :rotfl:

I did the same (though I just snuck it in and didn't change the hose) and was busted almost immediately! I did manage to get flow restrictors/aerators on all the other taps in the house because they helped produce a more even and less violent flow.

You win some, you lose some!

Sterlingtimes

I've just bought the parts from Wilco to fit the EXPORT LIGHT. I'm fixing the light on our landing outside of the airing cupboard. I will the light to the output of the Solar iBoost, so whenever we're exporting, it's a signal for the Sterling family to use the electricity wisely.

1961Nick

Sterlingtimes wrote: »

I've just bought the parts from Wilco to fit the EXPORT LIGHT. I'm fixing the light on our landing outside of the airing cupboard. I will the light to the output of the Solar iBoost, so whenever we're exporting, it's a signal for the Sterling family to use the electricity wisely.

I wonder if the iBoost supply will be steady enough to power that light without flickering? It might need a capacitor.

Andy_WSM

1961Nick wrote: »

I wonder if the iBoost supply will be steady enough to power that light without flickering? It might need a capacitor.

I've done a similar thing actually. Got a 15w pygmy bulb wired into mine, mounted on a single surface plate type thing next to the solar divertor. It flickers lots, but it doesn't matter as i'm not looking to use the light to thread needles or paint master pieces. (neither of which I could do anyway). I told my lodger if the light is on then we are generating more than we are using - but I think he sees this as a signal that he should waste more, rather than use wisely!

1961Nick

Andy_WSM wrote: »

I've done a similar thing actually. Got a 15w pygmy bulb wired into mine, mounted on a single surface plate type thing next to the solar divertor. It flickers lots, but it doesn't matter as i'm not looking to use the light to thread needles or paint master pieces. (neither of which I could do anyway). I told my lodger if the light is on then we are generating more than we are using - but I think he sees this as a signal that he should waste more, rather than use wisely!

Does the brightness & flickering increase as the surplus going to iBoost increases?

Andy_WSM

1961Nick wrote: »

Does the brightness & flickering increase with more export?

Yes, you can even "see" the effect of a cloud passing over head as the lamp dims and brightens again.

edit = should say I have a solarmiser, which I presume is pretty much the same.