How can I cut down on energy usage?

Andy_WSM

Ectophile wrote: »

I wouldn't spend thousands of pounds on a new boiler to save a few pence a day.

Totally this!

The times I've read people saying they have spent £2.5k on a new boiler install but that's ok because they're saving £10 a month on gas! Swapping a boiler for efficiency reasons alone is one of the least financially efficient things you can do!

Insulate and heat less are the best ways to save energy.

RelievedSheff

That's why we need more details about the property before any realistic energy saving measures can be suggested.

A large 4 bed victorian villa for example is never going to be as warm as a smaller, highly insulated 4 bed new build.

jaybeetoo

yellow218 wrote: »

Once the heating goes on in winter it’s on a timer for when we are around, and set between 19-21 degrees (depending who’s last fiddled with it). It goes up a bit if we have visitors as it can feel a bit nippy if you’re sitting about, but it’s fine for us most of the time to keep the chill off.

Where is your thermostat located?

nigelbb

Andy_WSM wrote: »

Totally this!

The times I've read people saying they have spent £2.5k on a new boiler install but that's ok because they're saving £10 a month on gas! Swapping a boiler for efficiency reasons alone is one of the least financially efficient things you can do!

Especially when the payback time is over ten years & the lifetime of the new super-efficient condensing boiler only 6-8 years. The only reason to replace an existing boiler is if it breaks down & is irreparable.

BLaird

If you are eligible under the ECO Scheme you can get a free condensing combi boiler. As for changing radiators, there is no change to the flow temperature so you don't need to change the radiators.

macman

Turn down the room 'stat? A 1C increase in the set temp can add 10% to your heating bill.
Your gas usage is not excessively high, just a little above the average.

[Deleted User]

I think you'll find they don't say 'average', (which would then require a definition of Mean, Mode, or Median), but instead use the word 'typical'.


Read into that whatever you may

coffeehound

We tend to talk in terms of insulation, but really the most important thing is draught-proofing. Even a 100% insulated house will still be chilly if it has draughts. The good news is that draught-proofing is typically easier, quicker and cheaper than insulating, if you do have draughts..

The open fireplace will be a source of draughts and heat loss, so if it has a damper to close when you aren't using it, that would be worth using, otherwise one of the other flue blocking methods like the inflatables might suit your usage.

BLaird wrote: »

If you are eligible under the ECO Scheme you can get a free condensing combi boiler. As for changing radiators, there is no change to the flow temperature so you don't need to change the radiators.

You do need to ensure that the radiator circuit water is returned to the boiler at the right temerature for it to work in condensing mode, which might mean running radiators cooler than previously.

reeac

We still have an old non-condensing boiler for the reason stated above that it isn't broke so wait until it is. Nevertheless my understanding is that condensing boilers require to run at a lower return temperature in order to stay in condensing mode and therefore are likely to require in increased radiator area in order to get the place up to the required temperature. Depends on how closely specified the system was in the first place, of course.