Reducing the baseload

anon_ymous

It seems that I'm using around 150-200w/hr doing absolutely nothing other than the general running of the house. That's 3.6 KwH/day not actively used as such

What can I do to reduce the base load? I've noticed that I'm averaging around say 9kWh/day for everything.

It'd then be nice to reduce that, especially if it means I can use Octopus Flux for a month or two longer due to simply using less energy than I'm generating 

victor2

waqasahmed said:

It seems that I'm using around 150-200w/hr doing absolutely nothing other than the general running of the house. That's 3.6 KwH/day not actively used as such

What can I do to reduce the base load? I've noticed that I'm averaging around say 9kWh/day for everything.

It'd then be nice to reduce that, especially if it means I can use Octopus Flux for a month or two longer due to simply using less energy than I'm generating 

Get a plug-in monitor like the very popular Tapo P110, which not only reports usage but also gives you remote control via a smartphone.

Then work around the house and see what items use over a 24 hour period (or longer).

Biggest single user contributing to the base load is likely to be a fridge/freezer, as they're on 24/7 and just cut in and out as necessary. Anti-frost freezers often have a heating element that cuts in once a day or so. Hence the need to monitor over a longer period of time.

Other contributors are likely to be internet routers, automatic lights, security equipment (alarms, cameras etc.), external equipment such as the dreaded pond pump, and "luxury" items like automatic garage doors.

Unless you have a very old TV, it is unliklely to be a significant load on standby, but games consoles, sky boxes and the like can contribute.

anon_ymous

victor2 said:

waqasahmed said:

It seems that I'm using around 150-200w/hr doing absolutely nothing other than the general running of the house. That's 3.6 KwH/day not actively used as such

What can I do to reduce the base load? I've noticed that I'm averaging around say 9kWh/day for everything.

It'd then be nice to reduce that, especially if it means I can use Octopus Flux for a month or two longer due to simply using less energy than I'm generating 

Get a plug-in monitor like the very popular Tapo P110, which not only reports usage but also gives you remote control via a smartphone.

Then work around the house and see what items use over a 24 hour period (or longer).

Biggest single user contributing to the base load is likely to be a fridge/freezer, as they're on 24/7 and just cut in and out as necessary. Anti-frost freezers often have a heating element that cuts in once a day or so. Hence the need to monitor over a longer period of time.

Other contributors are likely to be internet routers, automatic lights, security equipment (alarms, cameras etc.), external equipment such as the dreaded pond pump, and "luxury" items like automatic garage doors.

Unless you have a very old TV, it is unliklely to be a significant load on standby, but games consoles, sky boxes and the like can contribute.

I did think my biggest issue was probably the fridge freezer tbf unfortunately.

My TV won't use a whole lot but I've got timers to switch off the extension lead anyway 

MattMattMattUK

victor2 said:

Unless you have a very old TV, it is unliklely to be a significant load on standby, but games consoles, sky boxes and the like can contribute.

One might think and it is sort of true, but most internet connected TVs will use around 25w in standby if connected via Wifi. As an example my 2021 Sony OLED uses 0.5w in standby with wifi off, 6w in standby with wifi off and network wake turned on, or 25w in standby with wifi on. That equates to 600Wh per day so around 20p, whilst not huge also not insignificant, especially if one has multiple TVs throughout the home.

My PS5 uses around 4w in standby and my Switch uses around 0.4w.

*All measured on Tapo P110 plugs.

Green_hopeful

We did an audit many years ago and got rid of a couple of freezers and bought a cheaper to run freezer nearly new on eBay. We also swapped out some lightbulbs for LED ones bought on deal from wickes. We have 16 down lights in our kitchen. At 40w each they used loads of energy. They needed the fittings switched because they couldn’t take LED bulbs but it was worth it when we had the kitchen done. In the meantime we got a side light with an LED. Our usage went from 27kwh per day to less than 9kwh. It still goes over 10 if we leave the TV on for a long time. 

Reed_Richards

You're spending about £1 per day, mostly for the benefit of keeping things cold.  If you live close to a supermarket the alternative would be to make use of their fridges and freezers and just buy chilled or frozen items when you need to use them.  I've no idea if you could make this work or if you would conclude that your £1 a day is worth it.   

anon_ymous

Reed_Richards said:

You're spending about £1 per day, mostly for the benefit of keeping things cold.  If you live close to a supermarket the alternative would be to make use of their fridges and freezers and just buy chilled or frozen items when you need to use them.  I've no idea if you could make this work or if you would conclude that your £1 a day is worth it.   

I'm about a 30 minute walk from there and I've got an E rated American fridge freezer. I guess I'll wait until American fridge freezers get significantly more efficient (and worth it in the price increase)

I have noticed that Bosch make a decent regular A rated fridge freezer for about £900 or so which isn't so bad 

Screwdriva

A friend has had that exact Bosch fridge freezer installed (along with the same AEG A++ rated oven and A rated dishwasher we have). 

I’ve asked for 3 months of before/ after data but the savings in their household are significant over the past 6 weeks! 

Reed_Richards

I've always suspected that those large American fridge freezers are like large American cars; they're not built with fuel economy in mind.

QrizB

waqasahmed said:

I have noticed that Bosch make a decent regular A rated fridge freezer for about £900 or so which isn't so bad 

Always check the energy use in kWh/yr as well as the letter.

A larger fridge or freezer with a "better" letter might still use more energy.

anon_ymous

QrizB said:

waqasahmed said:

I have noticed that Bosch make a decent regular A rated fridge freezer for about £900 or so which isn't so bad 

Always check the energy use in kWh/yr as well as the letter.

A larger fridge or freezer with a "better" letter might still use more energy.

Oh for sure. I absolutely look at those things when narrowing things down 

Equally, I've seen Samsung do C rated American fridge freezers which don't use that much but I don't fancy Samsung as a brand when it comes to home appliances

Besides, I was actually looking at an F rated Haier that had a massive amount of space too but sadly it was too big, in terms of width. It was a 685l thing and that's cheaper to run per litre than the other stuff despite having a worse EPC eating

Equally, Bosch had a D rated fridge freezer but it had 620 litres for £1500. I was considering that until I saw this Haier for £800 from Currys clearance