- Jul 10, 2003
- 27,751
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[Misc] Suggestions to save energy this winter…
- Thread starter nicko31
- Start date
Sorrel
Well-known member
Getting a smart meter is an excellent idea as you can see when the power is being used and adjust accordingly. I used to work on smart meters back in the early to mid 2010s and wouldn't have wanted to get one then, but the ones now are much better. We have one from Octopus (meters from Kaifa) and they have been very good at showing us that the dishwasher is the cause of a third of our daily electricity use. The IHD works well a long way and through many walls from the actual meters.
We got an efficient, 2022 regulations compliant, small wood-burner installed in January and if our children are not here (they are adult children) we can cope with just that and very little heating on. It seems to emit very little smoke out the chimney if decent very low moisture logs are used. Not much help if you can't afford the upfront costs of getting it, though.
We've also turned down the temperature of the hot water (gas heated, in a cylinder) around 5 degrees. That saved around 20% gas over the summer.
In terms of cost, Octopus have put us on a £180 a month direct debit we can't reduce easily, though we are using way under half of that. I'm guess that from October the increases will mean that will start to be eaten into.
We got an efficient, 2022 regulations compliant, small wood-burner installed in January and if our children are not here (they are adult children) we can cope with just that and very little heating on. It seems to emit very little smoke out the chimney if decent very low moisture logs are used. Not much help if you can't afford the upfront costs of getting it, though.
We've also turned down the temperature of the hot water (gas heated, in a cylinder) around 5 degrees. That saved around 20% gas over the summer.
In terms of cost, Octopus have put us on a £180 a month direct debit we can't reduce easily, though we are using way under half of that. I'm guess that from October the increases will mean that will start to be eaten into.
LamieRobertson
Not awoke
….unless they are on a ‘fix’
Machiavelli
Well-known member
I didn't know about that (bad) baseline, but the key thing is that the lifetime savings vary quite prominently across appliances.
It transpired that our one turned up with a dent in it, and my partner managed to negotiate a £220 reduction, so we've got over 25% off a £749 fridge freezer.
I’ve just had our first electricity bill since moving to a tariff called “Intelligent Octopus”.
Between 11.30 pm and 6.30 am rate is 7.5p per kWh and 42 p during the day. I have an electric car that is now charged automatically at the lower rate and we have timers for the dishwasher and washing machine.
The first bill was 2/3 of our previous one and with the government subsidy just £60 pm.
I can now charge my car from empty to 300 mile range for under £6.
If anyone wants to switch to it let me know as we both get a referral discount.
Between 11.30 pm and 6.30 am rate is 7.5p per kWh and 42 p during the day. I have an electric car that is now charged automatically at the lower rate and we have timers for the dishwasher and washing machine.
The first bill was 2/3 of our previous one and with the government subsidy just £60 pm.
I can now charge my car from empty to 300 mile range for under £6.
If anyone wants to switch to it let me know as we both get a referral discount.
Good ideas...but make sure you don't set your water cylinder temperature too low or I believe you may risk getting nasty bacteria. I'm no expert so give it a Google unless you know
Is it PotG?
Thrifty non-licker
Pretty disappointing Downing Street has ditched a public information campaign to save energy this winter.
Even Jacob Rees-Mogg thought it was a good idea.
Just why
No idea, maybe reluctant to be called out for telling folk what to do or setting out a nanny state.
Most people might work out for themselves that reducing the heating thermostat by 2° or turning lights off when you leave a room might conserve energy.
nicko31
Well-known member
- Thread starter
- #290
Saving energy has multiple benefits...
a) Its good for the planet
b) It saves people money during the cost of living crisis
c) It saves the government money as they are subsidising energy bills (we yes are all paying for in the future anyway)
There was a whole raft of suggestions that could have assisted people.
What we are witnessing is strange ideology leading to plain stupidity and against the best interests of the population at large
Is it PotG?
Thrifty non-licker
nicko31
Well-known member
- Thread starter
- #293
Suggest people go this Irish government website, lots of sensible advice here. Adults clearly in charge
https://www.seai.ie/reduceyouruse/
Is it PotG?
Thrifty non-licker
Not for me Clive.
In my front room (no radiator) I have one of thise gas fires that looks like a real fire. Anyone got any idea how practical it would be to take ot out and put in an ordinary grate? - for wood burning. Would I need adaptations to the chimney, etc., etc?
Any advice, or anyone had any experience of doing it? - would be welcome.
Any advice, or anyone had any experience of doing it? - would be welcome.
The less energy people use, the less profit energy giants make. Tory’s love the energy giants. They are in each other’s pockets.
Dirty ****ing Tory’s.
Good ideas...but make sure you don't set your water cylinder temperature too low or I believe you may risk getting nasty bacteria. I'm no expert so give it a Google unless you know
Should keep hot water cylinder @ 60f to kill off legionnaires disease and other bugs
Is it PotG?
Thrifty non-licker
Does it have the vital "Close the windows before putting the heating on" anywhere?
KZNSeagull
Well-known member
Labour love them too - the more profit they make the more windfall tax they can take