HUGE gas cost savings

scattycat_3

Hi George, I was generalising about gas efficiency, as it depends on the appliance and useage. Old gas fires were 25%ish efficient, as are some modern coal effect ones, ie most of the heat goes up the flue/chimney. Old boilers tended to be 50% or less, but now the average is 75%ish or higher, condensing ones a staggering 92%ish, but only when in condensing mode.

But back to your kettle, I would guess it is cheaper to boil the required amount of water in a modern kettle as Nicholas suggests. There is no element to cover so you can get away with just a cupful. The waste heat from the gas ring, ie that which misses the water, is not really wasted as it heats the kitchen ( that is if it is not already warm enough). One thing I used to do to quickly warm a cold house (that had been empty for a while), was to turn all the gas cooker rings on. In reality this is 100% efficient as all the heat goes into the room. (Expect to be shot down in flames but that is my belief.)

So in a nutshell, the only fuel we waste is that wot goes, up the chimney, out the window, through the walls and roof and in making it hotter than we need to. Hence insulation (grant based preferable), is the key to Moneysaving.
I frequently boil the kettle and then forget, when I remember it is cold again, Groundhog Day.

A good way to test your savings, which I might even try, is to boil one litre of water run off at the same temperature, in both an electric kettle and in your gas kettle, noting your meter readings and seeing just how many Killowatts each uses, and then comparing costs. Interesting?

Good luck Scat

George_Bray

..deleted due to negative feedback.

Nicholas

George_Bray wrote:

I'm not cutting back at all. It's 100% about saving money in my case. In any event, the 12C aspect is only a small element of the various suggestions I made.

You said: "Has George got the wrong end of the stick with this money saving site?". This comment is starting to get personal and risks infringing the forum guidelines to treat other members with respect. To substantiate such a claim, you would have to look at a whole lot of postings I have made and then become a self-appointed judge.

And I then went on to say that the posting was not a dig at your personal lifestyle. As you live by yourself you are at full liberty to do as you wish but as you have already yourself stated you would have to reconsider if you had others in your household.

I also then went on to give a separate reply about using a jug kettle which I hope you have read.

Sometimes when you post on forums, all of us are going to get critised for our comments at some time or other. However, what I feel is important is that any comments or critisism should be constructive. I feel mine was and I backed it up with a direct quote from Martin.

Just to add a touch of humour to this posting, I once knew a colleague at work that used to take his flask to the toilets just before leaving work to fill up with hot water to wash the dishes every evening at home.;) Seriously, it's true. All I'm saying is that we are all different.

So if you took my posting personally, then I'm sorry for that, but it was not intended that way. In fact, I think that some of the discussion points that have been raised on this thread are fasinating, although in my case at a theoretical level rather than a practical one (the missus would soon put paid to me experimenting with the heating controls too much!!).

George_Bray

..deleted due to negative feedback.

Nicholas

Hmm,

Perhaps we are not so different after all.

I have just (2 days ago) applied to Ebico for them to be my "supplier" of gas and electric.

Yes, I do try to use gas wherever possible (with the exception of the jug kettle which I think bucks the trend). When we had a new kitchen fitted and the wife wanted one of those built in oven and hob thingies, I actually found a company that made gas fan assisted ovens and opted for one of those instead of an electric one which most people would have gone for.

Cannot do anything about the pilot light, as moved house recently and had to have one of those new condensing boilers fitted, and it has electronic ignition, which I suppose is a saver in itself.

Yes, I do wear more clothes around the house in winter, but unfortunately I am a lizzard who still prefers a temperature of around about 22C (Shocking!!). Temperature is all down to personal perception - what is cold for one is too warm for someone else.

I suppose in a way I envy you for being comfortable with such low temperatures - in 12C I would be freezing cold and miserable.

Although how are you coping today George with these sorts of temperatures?;)

George_Bray

..deleted due to negative feedback.

George_Bray

Cardew wrote:

...I consider some of your posts both unwise and impracical. If you consider that comment 'personal' then so be it.

OK. Point taken. I disagree but will remove all the suggestions in case anyone is in danger.

robowen

George.

I seem to remember in your OP, you invited everyone to comment on your post. You even invited sceptical posters to explain why you were wrong.

I'm sorry you didn't get the answers you were looking for, and I'm also sorry you didn't get a boost to your total of 'Thank You's'....which you complained about.

It's not in the least bit embarrassing to be criticised for having 'extreme viewpoints'. I myself have come in for some stick in this forum......hard to believe.....but yes I have :cool:

I'm sure...very soon....you'll have another great idea to share with us :j

Until then.....Don't take it personally George. No offense is intended by anyone...were all friends here !! :beer:

rob

George_Bray

robowen wrote:

...I'm sorry you didn't get the answers you were looking for...

The aspect which I find most disappointing has been the concentration on only one of around half a dozen suggestions I made - the 12C winter living aspect. To suggest I am endangering lives through hypothermia is absurd, and insults my intelligence. How many people enjoy skiing in temperatures way below 12C? Are they in danger? It depends how well you wrap up. In any event, there are significant savings to be made from the other 5 ideas.

loon_2

being summer, i have recently moved into a cave. this way i pay nothing for gas and electric... hows that for money saving advice.. or is this classed as negative feedback.. (..and when did we get so uptight about negative feedback, has no-one read the T+ threads?)