Usage advice please

beautifulmist

Can i suggest rather than just informing us energy prices are rising, could MSE list out the running costs of things as i dont think people really understand what things cost to run.
This evening i wondered about some items and checked the computer. We leave it on 24/7 i had no idea it uses about 200 watts per hour, it will be less on standby . That is the equivalent of 5 x 40 watt bulbs.
So that is the same as leaving 5 lamps fitted with 40 watt bulbs on all day everyday. Nobody would do that, they would switch the lamps off but we leave computers running because its easy to do.
Now my electric rate is about 28 pence per Kilowatt Hour that means the PC is costing £30 per month ... 

So can anyone else out there tell me if i'm correct or not or better still lets have some research done by MSE to list out simple things we can do to save a bit here and a bit there.

Evan3020

Get a laptop, around 60w an hour and just close the lid and it drops to almost zero.
55 inch TV about 100w, my fridge and freezer use around 80w an hour overnight.

pochase

There were several threads where this type of information is discussed. Unfortunately the search for the forum is quite bad.

Evan3020

My kettle uses 0.014kw to boil 400ml of water.
Tell me when you want me to stop.

TheGardener

beautifulmist said:

.....
So can anyone else out there tell me if i'm correct or not or better still lets have some research done by MSE to list out simple things we can do to save a bit here and a bit there.

Lots of sites already provide this information - try this site -  You can set the tariff rate 
Electricity Cost Calculator - How much do your appliances, heaters cost to run? (sust-it.net)

Unless it's a big gaming computer it shouldn't use that much power should it?

Mstty

All devices and appliances will have different draws and energy ratings and be used differently.

It is just not possible to create the list you want.

funny.money

TheGardener said:

beautifulmist said:

.....
So can anyone else out there tell me if i'm correct or not or better still lets have some research done by MSE to list out simple things we can do to save a bit here and a bit there.

Lots of sites already provide this information - try this site -  You can set the tariff rate 
Electricity Cost Calculator - How much do your appliances, heaters cost to run? (sust-it.net)

Unless it's a big gaming computer it shouldn't use that much power should it?

Just looked at that site,  I also would like a simple list to see costs but understand what @mstty means about differences. 

The site says:

 " Simply enter the amount of electricity the appliance uses (in Watts or KiloWatts) and the length of time it is used (in Hours or Minutes), then instantly see the cost."

Do all electrical items have this info on them somewhere.  I'm presuming if this info isn't available then there's no way to find out the running cost using this or a similar site. 

Btw, I have recently bought one of those plugs that you can programme the cost into and see what a particular appliance is using. 

MattMattMattUK

beautifulmist said:

Can i suggest rather than just informing us energy prices are rising, could MSE list out the running costs of things as i dont think people really understand what things cost to run.
This evening i wondered about some items and checked the computer. We leave it on 24/7 i had no idea it uses about 200 watts per hour, it will be less on standby . That is the equivalent of 5 x 40 watt bulbs.
So that is the same as leaving 5 lamps fitted with 40 watt bulbs on all day everyday. Nobody would do that, they would switch the lamps off but we leave computers running because its easy to do.
Now my electric rate is about 28 pence per Kilowatt Hour that means the PC is costing £30 per month ... 

So can anyone else out there tell me if i'm correct or not or better still lets have some research done by MSE to list out simple things we can do to save a bit here and a bit there.

The problem is that there are far too many variables. MSE does, as do the media regularly pick out how much things cost to run, but even they they are mostly just a stab in the dark. 

Laptops, at idle or basic browsing most will use less than 30 watts, but higher powered laptops can hit 100 watts or more when doing intensive tasks. A desktop and monitor can range from 150 watts to 1,000 or more, however at idle that can drop to <50 watts. Most people still turn their desktop off when not using it, although some lazy people do not.

People go around turning off TV's in standby at night, to save less than 0.5 watts power draw, most modern TVs that will be below 0.25 watts. They turn Google Home or Amazon Echos off at night, with a similar <0.5 watt power draw, they think that turning off mobile chargers at the wall will save them a lot of money where as it save nothing (They do not draw power unless they are plugged into a phone).

Fridge Freezers vary wildly depending on original efficiency, how much food is in them, how they are installed (good ventilation makes a reasonable difference) age etc. 

Modern bulbs use very little, 8-9 watts is pretty much the maximum for LEDs and many are in the 4-5 watt range. 

Any research would need to be vast and never ending, as well as so detailed that it would not help people understand. The basics are already there for anyone who just wants the basics, the reality is more complicated and needs to take account of individual circumstances so people need to work it out for themselves. 

jimjames

beautifulmist said:

This evening i wondered about some items and checked the computer. We leave it on 24/7 i had no idea it uses about 200 watts per hour, it will be less on standby . That is the equivalent of 5 x 40 watt bulbs.

It doesn't really matter what item it is. If you're not using it then turn it off. Anything will use less (none) turned off than turned on. For some standby might be minimal but it will consume nothing if powered off. Clearly not feasible for things like a fridge or freezer but it would be interesting to know if you could turn off for a few hours and the temperature be maintained with door shut. Would that save much?

[Deleted User]

If you have a smart meter, the IHD will show what is known as the baseload. This will change as items are switched on and off; however, if you temporarily turn off your fridge at night with no lights on in the house you can see what the total draw of things such as chargers; TVs on standby etc is. You might be surprised.

Then go around the house and switch things off such as chargers; computers/TVs etc on standby and repeat the IHD exercise.

Don’t forget to turn the fridge back on.

Coffeekup

beautifulmist said:

Can i suggest rather than just informing us energy prices are rising, could MSE list out the running costs of things as i dont think people really understand what things cost to run.
This evening i wondered about some items and checked the computer. We leave it on 24/7 i had no idea it uses about 200 watts per hour, it will be less on standby . That is the equivalent of 5 x 40 watt bulbs.
So that is the same as leaving 5 lamps fitted with 40 watt bulbs on all day everyday. Nobody would do that, they would switch the lamps off but we leave computers running because its easy to do.
Now my electric rate is about 28 pence per Kilowatt Hour that means the PC is costing £30 per month ... 

So can anyone else out there tell me if i'm correct or not or better still lets have some research done by MSE to list out simple things we can do to save a bit here and a bit there.

Can I suggest turning it off when not in use?

People will learn what it costs come January/February/March next year unfortunately it'll be too late by then, money will be spent on Christmas gifts, booze, lighting and heating, after these summer months where people use very little lighting and heating it's more of a sleep walk into a kick in the unmentionables.

So what can we do?
Turn things like microwave, tv decoder's, TV's, PC's, hifi equipment, washing machines off at the wall when out the house or in bed.
Use the tumble dryer less or even better not at all.
Put a sweater on when it gets nippy Instead of the heating.
Turn down thermostat to a nicer more comfortable 18*C setting.
Eat, watch TV and sleep round someone else's house.