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Saving electricity and cutting electric bill.

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Just wanted to post something I've been doing in my house which has really helped me save electricity over the last few years and that is to go back to old fashioned filament light bulbs which give out most of their energy in heat I believe. You can still buy them.
I only have electric heaters which I use with smart plugs where you can set times to come on and also set countdown timer if say you only want 10 minutes of heat.
But with the old fashioned light bulbs I don't need to use them much....
I just bought lots of cheap lamps and have 100 watt bulbs in them ( not the new LED bulbs these don't give off any heat)... in a large bedroom I run  3 x 100 watt bulbs in three lamps and it keeps the room at a pretty good temperature even when it's freezing outside. The lamps are placed at different corners of the rooms to help distribute the heat and obviously you need light so they perform two functions and give off a nice soft warm light as lamps do.
This could be done in a living room you may need more more lamps maybe five.
Obviously it depends on how well your room is insulated and draughts coming in around windows and doors etc as to how well it will heat the room and and how long it holds the heat. Mine is quite modern
With the tv on that's another 100watt approx!
I also use a single electric blanket on my sofa under a fleece throw.
3 x 100w lamps costs approx 5pence per hour at 15p per kw rate
5 x 100w lamps costs approx 7p per hour at the same 15p per kw hour.
Single blanket warmer cost approx..less than 1 pence per hour.
2kw electric heater to boost the room  on full for 10 minutes on a countdown smart plug..approx 6 pence
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Comments

  • Gerry1
    Gerry1 Posts: 10,848 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Welcome to the forum.
    Unfortunately it's not very good advice, apart from the electric blanket: for the same input you'll get the same amount of heat regardless of the device.  Whether it's a 1kW heater or ten 100W bulbs, the heat output will be exactly the same, there's no such thing as a free lunch.  The only advantage of using 100W bulbs is that the output can be more granular.
    Assuming it's absolutely impossible to get gas, then modern storage heaters on E7 would probably be better, especially if the house is occupied during the day.
  • RelievedSheff
    RelievedSheff Posts: 12,691 Forumite
    10,000 Posts Sixth Anniversary Name Dropper Photogenic
    This has to be a wind up yes?
  • Hasbeen
    Hasbeen Posts: 4,404 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    This has to be a wind up yes?
    Idea
    The OP had a lightbulb moment?
    The world is not ruined by the wickedness of the wicked, but by the weakness of the good. Napoleon
  • andy111
    andy111 Posts: 181 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 100 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    When you run 3x100w and it's freezing outside what temperature are you claiming and how big is the room?
  • Gerry1
    Gerry1 Posts: 10,848 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    If you put a mirror behind each bulb it will double the output !
  • Robin9
    Robin9 Posts: 12,799 Forumite
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    I've lived in a house without c/h and only electric light bulbs - my father's false teeth froze in a glass in the bedroom.

    Never pay on an estimated bill. Always read and understand your bill
  • Gerry1
    Gerry1 Posts: 10,848 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Robin9 said:
    I've lived in a house without c/h and only electric light bulbs - my father's false teeth froze in a glass in the bedroom.
    Luxury !  We had only gas lighting when I was very little.
  • Robin9
    Robin9 Posts: 12,799 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Me also - born just post war - electric came in 1954.

    Those fragile gas mantles -  and before them paraffin lamps
    Never pay on an estimated bill. Always read and understand your bill
  • RobM99
    RobM99 Posts: 2,710 Forumite
    Eighth Anniversary 1,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    Gerry1 said:
    Robin9 said:
    I've lived in a house without c/h and only electric light bulbs - my father's false teeth froze in a glass in the bedroom.
    Luxury !  We had only gas lighting when I was very little.
    We had to share a candle. Ee oop lad, there were 17 of us!
    Now a gainfully employed bassist again - WooHoo!
  • Talldave
    Talldave Posts: 2,002 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Gerry1 said:
    If you put a mirror behind each bulb it will double the output !
    If you put a solar panel behind them, you can light more lightbulbs!!!

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