Suggestions for reducing electric useage.

sparklewing

I've been recording my weekly eletric useage for a while and wondered if anyone could help give me pointers for reducing it.

It's a 3 bedroom, mid terrace. 2 adults living here, both in pretty much all day everyday just now. Gas heating and water, electric cooking.

Using around 66 units a week just now.

All lightbulbs are energy saving except the living room which has a dimmer switch, can you buy bulbs for this? Living room light is probably on about 18 hours a day(doesn't get much natural light), hall light is on for 6 hours overnight so I know I could reduce useage here.

Cooker is used once a day, fridge freezer is obviously on all the time but is a new energy efficient one. Washing machine used once or twice a week on economy 40 degrees.

Laptop and tv(non plasma) are on pretty much all day every day. Laptop is left plugged into wall at all times. Sky box and xbox 360 also on a lot and none of these are switched off at wall overnight but are turned off not left on standby where possible.

Any suggestions? Have been reading an old thread where people in similar houses are using 4-5 units a day!

albertross_2

3400 units pa isn't bad, especially if you are at home all day, well below average

http://www.simplyswitch.com/energy/switchingguide/averageenergyuse.aspx

All you can do is turn stuff of at the wall when you aren't using them, especially heating appliances. Why is the laptop plugged in 24/7, that's probably 1 unit/day.

sparklewing

albertross wrote: »

3400 units pa isn't bad, especially if you are at home all day, well below average

http://www.simplyswitch.com/energy/switchingguide/averageenergyuse.aspx

All you can do is turn stuff of at the wall when you aren't using them, especially heating appliances. Why is the laptop plugged in 24/7, that's probably 1 unit/day.

Well i use it all day for work etc but have it plugged in as the battery doesn't last that long. Suppose I should turn it off at the wall over night though.

Thanks for the link, I was going by the usage I'd seen on here and mine seemed huge in comparison.

Terrylw1

See if there if anything of use on here.

http://www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/

Might be worth a longer lasting laptop battery or a spare.

albertross_2

A different battery won't make any difference, because you still have to charge it. If the laptop is actually powered down, and plugged in, it won't be using any power (apart from a minute current), just when the laptop is on, or the battery needs charging.

Terrylw1

I mean in terms of a longer lasting one that will charge up in the same time as the current one or less hence on charge the same or less for a longer battery life when unplugged. Not sure if they would drain the same since more power required though?

weegie.geek

Terrylw1 wrote: »

I mean in terms of a longer lasting one that will charge up in the same time as the current one or less hence on charge the same or less for a longer battery life when unplugged. Not sure if they would drain the same since more power required though?

Longer lasting = higher capacity.

Higher capacity = uses more electricity to charge. It may well charge faster, but all it does in that case is use electricity faster.

albertross_2

It will just require more current to charge it fully, so no advantage, unless you can charge it at a workplace etc. The OP could minimise the current required to run it by making sure all the power saving functions are on in control panel, but there won't be massive savings because laptops are pretty power efficient anyway

RuthMarianna

Yes you can get low energy light bulbs for dimmer switches but they are a little expensive on a site called something like "wired and unwired" Also suggest on the landing you plug a small movement sensitive light so it is only on when someone is about.

Ice_2

buy some newer energy bulbs as when I looked at mine they were the old 20watt ones so I have put them aside to use in the garage when required and bought some 9watt new ones at boyes 99p each maybe cheaper in sale that is coming up...never leave anything on standby it cost around £30 pa for 1 item on standby and can be a fire hazard...turn your themosate down acouple of degrees you wont notice the difference but your bill will...but don't be cold...I use my cooker every day for baking and cooking so I don't need the heating on while that is on...and if I am cold I put a cardi on and some woolie socks...the heating I just use on a booster system not on a timer system...this way it's on when I want it on and not when it's programmed to come on...I never have my gas fire on just boost the central heating when it's cold...that way the whole house gets warmed up...have a cup of soup or warm drink to warm you up as well as that usually help's me to stay warm...I have just got me 6 monthly gas bill which was £151 not bad for 6 months I'm with ebico/southern electric...hth's

also turn off light's not in use...:D

sparklewing

Ice wrote: »

buy some newer energy bulbs as when I looked at mine they were the old 20watt ones so I have put them aside to use in the garage when required and bought some 9watt new ones at boyes 99p each maybe cheaper in sale that is coming up...never leave anything on standby it cost around £30 pa for 1 item on standby and can be a fire hazard...turn your themosate down acouple of degrees you wont notice the difference but your bill will...but don't be cold...I use my cooker every day for baking and cooking so I don't need the heating on while that is on...and if I am cold I put a cardi on and some woolie socks...the heating I just use on a booster system not on a timer system...this way it's on when I want it on and not when it's programmed to come on...I never have my gas fire on just boost the central heating when it's cold...that way the whole house gets warmed up...have a cup of soup or warm drink to warm you up as well as that usually help's me to stay warm...I have just got me 6 monthly gas bill which was £151 not bad for 6 months I'm with ebico/southern electric...hth's
also turn off light's not in use...:D

Thanks lots of useful tips there. Heating comes on for 2 hours in morning and 4 at night and is set at 17 degrees so don't really fancy turning it down any further

Will certainly have a look for new bulbs and for dimmer ones as think ours are 20 watt ones(person I bought house off left a whole bag full) :j