My Energy use Diary

setmefree2

Hi:hello:

The SMF2s own 2 fridges. One is old (15 years at least) and we could live with out it. I think it is using alot of elecricity - maybe 2 -3 kW :eek: per day :eek:. This means on my current cheap tarriff (capped 2005) it is costing between £73 and £87 per year to run. I'm thinking of getting rid of it, but I feel guilty getting rid of something that works. I would take it to the local council tip/recycling centre if I do get rid of it.

Any thoughts?

A_fiend_for_life

setmefree2 wrote: »

Hi:hello:

The SMF2s own 2 fridges. One is old (15 years at least) and we could live with out it. I think it is using alot of elecricity - maybe 2 -3 kW :eek: per day :eek:. This means on my current cheap tarriff (capped 2005) it is costing between £73 and £87 per year to run. I'm thinking of getting rid of it, but I feel guilty getting rid of something that works. I would take it to the local council tip/recycling centre if I do get rid of it.

Any thoughts?

Sounds a lot of cash for a freezer. See how well you do without it first and see if you can flog it in the local paper.

Are there any warm patches on the sides of your freezer or partially defrosted elements? You'll get this if you pack bags down the side of the fridge you would need to remove the bags etc. I've never done this of course as it would mean the fridge would need to work harder.

If you live in a University town see if you can post adverts on a campus noticeboards, at a local college or in shops near campus / college. Student flats are always running out of fridge / freezer space. They might be poorer this year too so might be looking for savings rather than buying new. Might not be so easy to flog at the moment but give it a week or two into the new term and it might go.

Some student flats or so bad for pilfering they have their own in the bedroom.

Not sure if charities will take it at that age but worth a try.

A_fiend_for_life

PS when you defrost it to be really frugal stick the ice in tubs in the fridge that your still using - ice absorbs a lot of heat to melt.

Also defrost frozen things in the fridge to keep the fridge cool rather than cooking from frozen.

Keep a day or half a days worth of milk in a jug so folk don't keep going in the fridge.

jumanji

setmefree2 wrote: »

Hi

2) Washing only twice a week with full loads and low temperatures.

SMF2

Not every wash programme uses a 'full' load.

For example: If your washing machine has a 6kg load only a few of the programmes take a full 6kg wash load - please check the washing machines instructions. Some wash programmes only take a maximum load of 2-3kg. Overloading the washer can cause damage - it doesn't wash your clothes as effectively.

[for my sins - I sell washing machines - and lots of other electrical goods - for a living :cool: ]

A_fiend_for_life

On a good drying day skip the spin cycle to save energy and reduce wear on the machine.

andrione1

really interesting thread, thanks everyone, i want an energy counter now!!

andrione1

P.S. rather than electric shower, which i want, but will not get now i know how much electricity it uses, i use one of those hose things on the bath taps. it is fine, and much prefer to the jug idea!

Frugaldom

Hello SetMeFree2 and others

Read about this thread in Martin's weekly newsletter and thought I'd pop along to have a read. I've been doing my own electricity consumption challenge for a full year now, recording day and night, although we only have electricity (no mains gas where we stay). I haven't read all through your thread yet but good luck with the challenge. It's difficult enough trying to cut down on power use without 'them' increasing the prices again and again and again faster than we can cut back. I'm almost sure there's a not-so-hidden agenda somewhere.

I'm thinking of getting rid of it, but I feel guilty getting rid of something that works. I would take it to the local council tip/recycling centre if I do get rid of it.

Any thoughts?

Have you thought of advertising the fridge on Freecycle? They have groups all over the place and I'm sure there will be one near you. The whole point of it is to recycle anything for free and to help others to do the same.

dancingfairy

Wow - I didn't know there were other people who checked their meter like I do- how exciting. :rotfl: . When we moved into this house 2 months ago we notices we have the meter right outside the enterance to our little flat and with money tight we though we would keep an eye on our electric use - especially as our last flat was really cold and damp and needed loads and loads of heating and a dehumidifer.

ANyway this flat is really warm and we are averagin about 7kw a day . Not too bad but really want to get it down.

We (well my OH) puts the hot water on for half an hour to 45 mins when he gets up and turns it off just before our economy 7 tariff runs out (about 7.30 am). This usually lasts most of the day, will do us for 2 showers and a bowl of washing up although if we are doing a lot of washing up we will boost it for half an hour.

Oh works all day and I spend a lot of the day either on the laptop or watching t.v. Sometimes I even have the t.v in standby and the laptop charging (eek). We turn everything off at night well t.v, laptop ,etc.

We do washing 3/4 loads a week during peak hours (not sure our neighbours would appreciate it beng on overnight). Um we line dry. Well we have done for the 2+ months we have been here. The house requires virutally no heating as it seems to be a real sun trap so hoping we won't need it too much (and I hope it's cheap) but
OH thinks it will double our electric consumption. We do ocasionally dry things overnight on an airer in the front room. We have energy efficient light bulbs. Um that's about it.

We are thinking of charging the laptop up overnight so it is full for the morning but not sure how much that would save?

Also trying to switch our batteries over to the new longer lasting type as and when they run out ( not electric saving but hopefully money saving IYSWIM).

Might get a solar mobile charger although it won't be cost effective but could save us a little money on our electric bills.

Winter we will probably have to resort to a laundrette to dry our washing as we don't have a tumble drier no room either and we rent. Although our clothes won't be getting so hot and sweaty so hopefully less washing.

Probably could be a little more frugal with heating up the correct amount of water - not too good at this. Also don't make full use of oven when it is on. Just cook whatever we will be eating.

Any suggestions welcome.

Sorry if I am hijacking your thread. I saw it on Martins email and thought I would check our consumption and then I thought people would like to know how we can use so little which is why this ended up as an essay so sorry.

Leonie

I got rid of my electric shower some years ago because my son would stay under it until he felt better - this could take a fair while. I changed to a bath shower mixer, so that when the hot water ran out, he would have to get out :-)

Now that there's usually only me in the house I just have the water heating function set to come on twice a day for 30 minutes to cover all daily needs.

When my partner comes to stay, he usually gets second shower - and not very warm by all accounts, but he doesn't seem to care. If I suggest putting the boiler back on, he doesn't want me to. I guess it saves me some money!