Energy saving ideas?
Discussion
Ok, we have all been hit with a shocker of an increase, how is everyone going to try and mitigate this ?
Assuming you are bothered, what are you going to do to save gas and electric ?
My first one was I released that when I WFH I have two PC's and three monitors going, my work one across two monitors and a desktop gaming pc running all day, its very handy but thinking may just use a Raspberry Pi that draws a minimal amount of current in comparison.
After your ideas, I have the Smart monitor on my desk, currently drawing 535 watts, 10p an hour which will soon be 38 p an hour so got to get it down.
Am now wearing a fleece and a second pair of pyjamas over my trousers as was cold, so added more clothes rather than cranking up the heating from 17 to 20.
Assuming you are bothered, what are you going to do to save gas and electric ?
My first one was I released that when I WFH I have two PC's and three monitors going, my work one across two monitors and a desktop gaming pc running all day, its very handy but thinking may just use a Raspberry Pi that draws a minimal amount of current in comparison.
After your ideas, I have the Smart monitor on my desk, currently drawing 535 watts, 10p an hour which will soon be 38 p an hour so got to get it down.
Am now wearing a fleece and a second pair of pyjamas over my trousers as was cold, so added more clothes rather than cranking up the heating from 17 to 20.
I'm currently fitting Tado and smart TRVs in key rooms so I can monitor the heating a bit more closely. I've also fitted LED bulbs all over the place and am hunting out the most efficient appliances for the kitchen we will be having fitted shortly.
Sadly I doubt the outlay will make that much of a noticeable difference to my monthly bills. I really wish the government would cut/remove VAT on energy and/or reduce the levies they place on energy firms and force them to pass the saving on. However, they are too busy fighting about the head womble's lockdown parties to do anything actually useful.
Sadly I doubt the outlay will make that much of a noticeable difference to my monthly bills. I really wish the government would cut/remove VAT on energy and/or reduce the levies they place on energy firms and force them to pass the saving on. However, they are too busy fighting about the head womble's lockdown parties to do anything actually useful.
I have a brand new evohome setup ready and waiting to be installed from a long time ago, but our boiler (a thorn olympic) is 40 years old, so I very much doubt it can be wired in. The current thermostat sits in the hottest room in the house, so it is very tricky regulating the temps in the house.
Just turned the hot cylinder down a notch, will see if that makes a difference.
When it gets warmer, I am going to replace some of the seals on our uPVC windows as I am sure I can feel a small breeze around some of them at times.
Just turned the hot cylinder down a notch, will see if that makes a difference.
When it gets warmer, I am going to replace some of the seals on our uPVC windows as I am sure I can feel a small breeze around some of them at times.
Perhaps it's all part of the government plan to get us to use less energy and insulate our homes?
I had a couple of new external doors fitted yesterday, I can't really see us recovering the cost from energy consumption any time soon. Look nice though.
Find saving elsewhere? I started eating less junk food lately, saves about £20 a week.
I had a couple of new external doors fitted yesterday, I can't really see us recovering the cost from energy consumption any time soon. Look nice though.
Find saving elsewhere? I started eating less junk food lately, saves about £20 a week.
I work from home. You can get a heated foot mat which draws 60W - having warm feet and having the air heated under my desk has meant I'm no longer running the 2000W oil heater, or the GSH for the entire house.
I should really put some of my constant draw devices on to timers - like my PC amplifier, Server, NAS etc. We have solar panels which offset some of this usage during the day.
I have someone in quoting to add some or more insulation to a couple of 1970s flat roofs, and roof cheeks. This is very much the long game.
We have a wood burner - I got quite sweaty last year winter chopping it up, and it's warming us up this winter too.
Also, I've bought a device to direct the excess solar to our hot water tank immersion - the pipe run from HW cylinder to boiler is quite long - so in Spring/Summer if we can avoid using the boiler for heating water we can avoid the heat loss from the unlagged pipe under the floorboards. Also, Solar FIT payments are going up this year by RPI.
Something else which is helping mitigate the costs - I bought BP & Shell shares last year (and the year before).
I should really put some of my constant draw devices on to timers - like my PC amplifier, Server, NAS etc. We have solar panels which offset some of this usage during the day.
I have someone in quoting to add some or more insulation to a couple of 1970s flat roofs, and roof cheeks. This is very much the long game.
We have a wood burner - I got quite sweaty last year winter chopping it up, and it's warming us up this winter too.
Also, I've bought a device to direct the excess solar to our hot water tank immersion - the pipe run from HW cylinder to boiler is quite long - so in Spring/Summer if we can avoid using the boiler for heating water we can avoid the heat loss from the unlagged pipe under the floorboards. Also, Solar FIT payments are going up this year by RPI.
Something else which is helping mitigate the costs - I bought BP & Shell shares last year (and the year before).
Edited by Chris Type R on Thursday 3rd February 16:28
Chris Type R said:
I work from home. You can get a heated foot mat which draws 60W - having warm feet and having the air heated under my desk has meant I'm no longer running the 2000W oil heater, or the GSH for the entire house.
That's a good shout on the foot mat - I hadn't seen them before. I've been using a 2000W oil-free radiator to heat my study when it's cold working from home but it's my feet that get cold.Edited by Chris Type R on Thursday 3rd February 16:28
I swap jeans for fleece lined walking trousers as well.
Pixelpeep 135 said:
J4CKO said:
We have an old wooden front door and the draft excluder was all mangled so ti got torn off, suspect that's not helping, any recommendations other than replacing the door ?
a thick curtain and rail put up just behind it so you can pull it completely across?
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