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What are you doing to reduce your electricity use?

135 replies

ImFree2doasiwant · 14/02/2022 15:31

I have Oil CH, no gas so the electricity is quite low, but oil costs are quite high. I dont think I can limit my electricity use too much other than not using the tumble dryer (I already try to avoid it) and dishwasher (was recently given to me, so am used to not having it and don't find it as much help as I thought!)

Anything else? I'm switching lights off more and not leaving the radio on all day but can't see that they use too much anyway

OP posts:
mogsrus · 18/02/2022 16:59

Sorry. But I really really don’t get this thing with turning lights off all over the place. If every light is on in our house it draws less than 120 watts. And that is 26 lights. 120watts yesterday was 1 old lightbulb, not worth getting hung up over it

OpheliaThrupps · 18/02/2022 17:03

@mogsrus

Sorry. But I really really don’t get this thing with turning lights off all over the place. If every light is on in our house it draws less than 120 watts. And that is 26 lights. 120watts yesterday was 1 old lightbulb, not worth getting hung up over it
Agreed. Lighting wasn't a big current drain even in the famous days of the "Blackpool-illuminations" grumpy dad! Nowadays with LED bulbs you can leave them on 24/7 all year and you really won't notice the effect on your bill.

(But if it makes you feel better ... Grin)

Davetheshoes · 18/02/2022 17:13

I know gas isn't your issue, but might help someone? We had a dodgy gas fire, it was either on full or off, but had it fixed and now we can turn it down to low. We put curtains up at external doors and use a draught excluder too. I have a fleecy throw and wear thick socks and a jumper/cardi all the time now. Luckily, DH and the DC are always warm.

The gas oven was always on, I'd cook meals for 2hrs+ now we cook double portions for an hour and freeze half, sometimes cook next day's dinner too. I also use the slow cooker more now.

We don't have GCH, so that's all the gas we use. By making the changes over this winter, we more than halved our gas use from this time last year.

The washing machine was on 2-3x per day, but now DH's work clothes are saved and washed together. Towels and T-towels wash together. Darks, mid-colours & whites are condensed to darks and lights. It's still on most days, but just once, which in turn uses less washing powder.

We dry clothes on airers or coat hangers in doorways. It took 2+hrs to dry one full wet load, costing 90p-ish in our dryer, that's now down to 15p for 20 minutes to just finish them in the dryer, so it costs the same for the week as it used to for one load.

Showering for less time, DH showers in record time and not 'forcing' the eldest DC to shower every day, he doesn't want to, that's his choice!

Finally, we've turned off the emersion heater. We estimate it will cost over £1 an hour (was on 2hrs per day) and it is a pain, but boiling the kettle 4x to clean/fill the sink should only be around 12p. We've only just started this, but we're hopeful it will show on the next statement.

mum2jakie · 18/02/2022 17:16

I've stopped having my laptop plugged in permanently while working and just plugging it on when the battery drops. Also charging my work (and personal) phone up at work on the days I'm in the office. Have had to crank the heating up today though - it's been bloody freezing!

mogsrus · 18/02/2022 17:18

@Davetheshoes

I know gas isn't your issue, but might help someone? We had a dodgy gas fire, it was either on full or off, but had it fixed and now we can turn it down to low. We put curtains up at external doors and use a draught excluder too. I have a fleecy throw and wear thick socks and a jumper/cardi all the time now. Luckily, DH and the DC are always warm.

The gas oven was always on, I'd cook meals for 2hrs+ now we cook double portions for an hour and freeze half, sometimes cook next day's dinner too. I also use the slow cooker more now.

We don't have GCH, so that's all the gas we use. By making the changes over this winter, we more than halved our gas use from this time last year.

The washing machine was on 2-3x per day, but now DH's work clothes are saved and washed together. Towels and T-towels wash together. Darks, mid-colours & whites are condensed to darks and lights. It's still on most days, but just once, which in turn uses less washing powder.

We dry clothes on airers or coat hangers in doorways. It took 2+hrs to dry one full wet load, costing 90p-ish in our dryer, that's now down to 15p for 20 minutes to just finish them in the dryer, so it costs the same for the week as it used to for one load.

Showering for less time, DH showers in record time and not 'forcing' the eldest DC to shower every day, he doesn't want to, that's his choice!

Finally, we've turned off the emersion heater. We estimate it will cost over £1 an hour (was on 2hrs per day) and it is a pain, but boiling the kettle 4x to clean/fill the sink should only be around 12p. We've only just started this, but we're hopeful it will show on the next statement.

Immersion heater. Usually pulls about 3k so let’s say your tariff is 10p per kWh. = 60p for 2 hours
OpheliaThrupps · 18/02/2022 17:22

It uses around 0.04 kWh of lecky to charge your phone. That costs in the region of one penny!

Davetheshoes · 18/02/2022 17:28

Thanks for that. Ours is out of the Ark and doesn't say, so we just don't know. We've googled it (it said it was likely to be 6k online) and used the info online to estimate the cost.

But our provider (British Gas) is currently about 20p per kwh and it will be going up to around 28p per kwh from April, so still around £1.80 for 2hrs? Unless I'm working that out wrong?

mogsrus · 18/02/2022 17:46

@Davetheshoes

Thanks for that. Ours is out of the Ark and doesn't say, so we just don't know. We've googled it (it said it was likely to be 6k online) and used the info online to estimate the cost.

But our provider (British Gas) is currently about 20p per kwh and it will be going up to around 28p per kwh from April, so still around £1.80 for 2hrs? Unless I'm working that out wrong?

If it’s got a switch on it, guarantee it will not pull more than 3k. as that is the total you can run on the house wiring. 6k is absolutely no way that’s a electric shower which would require cooker cable to run it. If yours is in the airing cupboard with a switch it definitely 3. 28p x 3 = 84p per hour x twice
Davetheshoes · 18/02/2022 18:09

It is in the airing cupboard with a switch. Thanks for that. As you can tell, we're clueless!

mogsrus · 18/02/2022 18:16

@Davetheshoes

It is in the airing cupboard with a switch. Thanks for that. As you can tell, we're clueless!
So that is definitely a 3k unit. If it’s been there for a very long time, it might be worth changing as the old unit could be very clogged up with calcium deposit which eats power Hope this help you.
BalladOfBarryAndFreda · 18/02/2022 18:20

@Moonmelodies

I wonder if electric car sales will be affected?
I doubt it, charging at home is still considerably cheaper than petrol or diesel (which is also still rocketing).
Davetheshoes · 18/02/2022 18:21

Very much so @mogsrus, thank you.

BalladOfBarryAndFreda · 18/02/2022 18:26

Sorry further on the EV sales point, I’m on a few electric motoring groups and the talk there amongst people considering the switch is that the loss of the grant has impacted affordability and incentive to make the switch. There are a few people worried about the rising costs of electricity but even with the upcoming price cap changes, it should still be better value than ICE motoring.

mogsrus · 18/02/2022 18:28

@Davetheshoes

Very much so *@mogsrus*, thank you.
You need to remove it & match it with the same length as they come in various sizes although some come bent in different shapes but they still come in @ 3k maximum.Start around 25£ screwfix
cakeorwine · 18/02/2022 18:39

@BackwardsPrawn

We have:
  • put smart plugs on all the things that would otherwise be on standby 24/7. Chargers, TV, laptops etc.
  • Set computers to shut down/start up on a schedule
  • Cut back a little on tumble drying (we didn't do much anyway)
  • left the dishwasher and washing machine permanently on eco settings
  • made an effort to double up in the oven when we can, rather than cook things seperately

The result is a saving of approx 1000-1500kwh a year (£280-£420 per year!).

Impressive - the annual average is 2900 KWH per year.

What's your annual usage? I am surprised those changes have made such a difference.

cakeorwine · 18/02/2022 18:43

@mogsrus

Sorry. But I really really don’t get this thing with turning lights off all over the place. If every light is on in our house it draws less than 120 watts. And that is 26 lights. 120watts yesterday was 1 old lightbulb, not worth getting hung up over it
This.

I read people making changes that won't have a massive difference but can make their life a bit harder.

There are some choices that can make a large impact

mogsrus · 18/02/2022 18:52

It’s big stuff that pulls power & the biggest culprit is the freezer unless it’s inverter technology they pull in max power when firing up, but inverter motors just tick over gently almost go to sleep, and gently wake up when new food is introduced so no big surge on power.
Tumble dryer big pull, full on electric cooker big pull

ImFree2doasiwant · 18/02/2022 19:39

@Billandben444 we don't even have a shower in the house. Just a large bath. 2 x DC have a bath every other day, I also have a bath every other day (but have been known to stretch it to 3....). I wash at the sink morning and night. I might use 3 sink full of water but it's nothing compared to a bathful. I don't smell. I always have a bath before going into the office ir out in public but living rurally and part wfh helps in that respect!

OP posts:
Svara · 18/02/2022 19:44

@mogsrus

Sorry. But I really really don’t get this thing with turning lights off all over the place. If every light is on in our house it draws less than 120 watts. And that is 26 lights. 120watts yesterday was 1 old lightbulb, not worth getting hung up over it
I don't think they make much difference, but what else is there to cut if you have gas CH, hot water and stove top? Can't get rid of the fridge/freezer, TV and computer are only on when being used, can't cut back on washing too much or it becomes socially unacceptable. It leaves turning off what we are not using as the only way to cut costs.
ImFree2doasiwant · 18/02/2022 19:48

The things I have that make the smart meter rocket, are dishwasher, tumble dryer and immersion heater. I never switch the immersion heater on - it run from the oil fired boiler for 1 hour a day. If I switch it on to run from electricity I can see the smart meter surge.

I used the dishwasher yesterday on the "daily " setting, it cost about 40p looking at the smart meter.

I've only just got the dishwasher but won't be using it as a matter of course

OP posts:
cakeorwine · 18/02/2022 19:48

It leaves turning off what we are not using as the only way to cut costs

Cutting out lights won't make much difference.

Do you know what your typical electricity usage is? The average house is 2900 KWH per year so about 8 KWH per day.

A 10 watt light will use 0.1 KWH if one for 10 hours a day.

Svara · 18/02/2022 19:50

@cakeorwine

It leaves turning off what we are not using as the only way to cut costs

Cutting out lights won't make much difference.

Do you know what your typical electricity usage is? The average house is 2900 KWH per year so about 8 KWH per day.

A 10 watt light will use 0.1 KWH if one for 10 hours a day.

1295kWh
cakeorwine · 18/02/2022 19:52

1295kWh

That's lower than mine. We live in a flat and DS likes his showers Grin

Svara · 18/02/2022 20:02

@cakeorwine

1295kWh

That's lower than mine. We live in a flat and DS likes his showers Grin

I don't think I can get it much lower. We are going to be paying £1 a day for usage but 45p for just the standing charge Angry. I think I can make more difference with gas.
Svara · 18/02/2022 20:03

Our shower isn't electric though

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