Why do you think your energy bill is higher than the national average?

mar7t1n

I despair when I hear people say we'll have to stop using the tumble drying, or we need to cut back. Surely the summer is the time to save, and prep for the winter. Why is average household energy consumption so high?

Steve_79_P

We use the tumble dryer all summer rather than hang washing out

A few factors for us. 

1) There are four of us in the house

2) We use the dryer a lot

3) We eat and drink at different times

4) Three storey 1920's semi detached house
4) a) The basement requires 24/7 ventilation and dehumidification to keep it dry

5) North West England

6) We have always been able to comfortably afford our energy bills so have not had any real impetus to make savings

7) We have an EV

6 and 2 are the areas where we can (and have) improved our energy consumption.

Until 2 years ago we had an old inefficient boiler too, replacing this cut our gas from 18000kwh to 10000kwh

We have only recently looked to cut the electricity use, last year's was 10800kwh, we are on target to reduce this to about 9000kwh this year.

[Deleted User]

Steve_79_P said:

Until 2 years ago we had an old inefficient boiler too, replacing this cut our gas from 18000kwh to 10000kwh

Does the boiler itself make that much difference?  Or is it getting the central heating set up and balanced? Or was it actually a usage thing?

I ask because I have a Potterton Suprima from the very early 90s (non-condensing, under 80% efficient when new) and can't decide whether it's actually worth replacing it or whether I could get most of the benefit from just tweaking what I already have.

Novice_investor101

This made me chuckle & also kick myself. I just used the bathroom & washed my hands with the hot tap. It indeed did not get hot before I’d finished. 

I’m already a very low energy user, I’ll use the cold tap in future. 

Ultrasonic

My energy bill isn't higher than average...

The main reasons for people having above average usage aren't fully reflected in the poll. For me they are:

• The number of people in a household.
• The size of the home and how well thermally insulated it is.
• How much of the time people are home, especially during the winter.
• How warm people choose to heat their home when they are in.

Sea_Shell

Well we must be doing something "right", as we do none of those things and are below average users. 😇

Steve_79_P

We use the tumble dryer all summer rather than hang washing out

Does the boiler itself make that much difference?  Or is it getting the central heating set up and balanced? Or was it actually a usage thing?

I ask because I have a Potterton Suprima from the very early 90s (non-condensing, under 80% efficient when new) and can't decide whether it's actually worth replacing it or whether I could get most of the benefit from just tweaking what I already have.

No it is the whole system to be fair. Old boiler was c.20% less efficient so saved around 3500kwh, at the same time the system was properly balanced and we had trv's and a programmable thermostat fitted too which is responsible for the rest

Steve_79_P

We use the tumble dryer all summer rather than hang washing out

It also had a knock on effect on our electricity usage which would have been around 12000kwh as the new system is a combi, the old was traditional with an immersion heater which we used quite often. Ignorance of costs only became an issue with the recent price rises

maisie_cat

We live in an old stone cottage with two foot walls that are not insulated and there is really no way to insulate them.
The rooms are small and we are in a national park so both external and internal insulation are a no go, even if we could afford it.

Mstty

Bit naff the poll really as so many things missing and very specific leading options.

I despair with this poll.

macman

[Deleted User] said:

Steve_79_P said:

Until 2 years ago we had an old inefficient boiler too, replacing this cut our gas from 18000kwh to 10000kwh

Does the boiler itself make that much difference?  Or is it getting the central heating set up and balanced? Or was it actually a usage thing?

I ask because I have a Potterton Suprima from the very early 90s (non-condensing, under 80% efficient when new) and can't decide whether it's actually worth replacing it or whether I could get most of the benefit from just tweaking what I already have.

If under 80% efficient when new, a new system with condensing boiler, TRV's, weather compensation and a decent programmer etc might save you as much as 20%. Then take your annual gas cost , the cost of replacement/upgrade and calculate how any years to achieve payback.
But for most users, with a boiler of that vintage, the decision is made for them when it's no longer possible to source spares for it. After 30 years, it doesn't owe you anything.
For me, the biggest change I noticed 5 years ago when I replaced an old non-condensing combi was the noise: the new one is near silent.