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Hacks to reduce energy costs

@oldvyou have done really well at reducing you consumption and therefore you bills. I have reduced my consumption too over the last couple of years. The house is insulated to the full depth in the loft, the cavity walls are insulated, I have individual thermostats on my radiators, I cook using an air fryer or a microwave. I only eat 1 hot meal a day. I wash up only once a day. When I boil the kettle I fill it and put the excess into a flask and use that gor the remaining drinks during the day. When I shower I do so gor less than 4 mins. My energy company have still doubled my direct debit for the remainder of 2022. I live in a 2 bedroom end of terrace built in the 70's. I am really not sure that I can do much more to reduce my costs, that us where the trouble lies once you have done all you can what else is there but switching off all the heating and sitting wrapped in blankets. Even then you would still be charged thestanding charge!
 
Bildad said:
@oldvyou have done really well at reducing you consumption and therefore you bills. I have reduced my consumption too over the last couple of years. The house is insulated to the full depth in the loft, the cavity walls are insulated, I have individual thermostats on my radiators, I cook using an air fryer or a microwave. I only eat 1 hot meal a day. I wash up only once a day. When I boil the kettle I fill it and put the excess into a flask and use that gor the remaining drinks during the day. When I shower I do so gor less than 4 mins. My energy company have still doubled my direct debit for the remainder of 2022. I live in a 2 bedroom end of terrace built in the 70's. I am really not sure that I can do much more to reduce my costs, that us where the trouble lies once you have done all you can what else is there but switching off all the heating and sitting wrapped in blankets. Even then you would still be charged thestanding charge!
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Well donel, take a bow. As you say, there comes a stage where it is difficult to improve on what you have done so far. My energy company doubled my direct debit, but I pushed back and negotiated a lower payment which so far has exceeded my bills for the last 5 months, I have built up a surplus ready for the winter, which suits me, That surplus is a protected sum that the recovery plan covers if my supplier folds. in the same way my bank deposits are protected.

I have considered getting a solar panel and USB backup battery so I can save on charging my phone but the payback period is too long and it would not be productive.

My provider is working to introduce Smart Meter variable tariffs soon where I pay less when the sun shines and the wind blows, but it is not in place yet. When it comes in I may be able to benefit from off peak use of the 'gas guzzlers', and it may be sensible to fit timer sockets for them when the tariff is launched.

I use an electric overblanket and a snood so I don't need to heat the room. It keeps me snuggly warm quite cheaply, I have a routine time for kitchen duties, so I can set the timer schedule for the kitchen area to cover this activity, or I can internet my instructions from my living room in advance of a session.

Have you considered the floors? I overlaid a faux parquet floor on top of an insulation barrier on the floorboards in my living room, and it makes that room so much easier to heat and keep warm. It was very noticeable last winter. If you have carpets, then make sure there is an insulating layer underneath (underlay) It makes such a difference.
 
Riva_Roxaban said:
Here's some hints and tips from the electricity mob we use called Ergon.

Appliances: https://www.ergon.com.au/retail/residential/home-energy-tips/appliances

Energy efficient home: https://www.ergon.com.au/retail/residential/home-energy-tips/energy-efficient-home

More calculaters to save power: https://www.ergon.com.au/retail/residential/home-energy-tips/calculators

You can always move to a warmer climate, it's pretty good in the sub tropical area I live. :happy:



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Rhank you for these tips. Unfortunately some of them do not really apply in the UK, For instanxe the heating tips appear to be aimed at electric heating systems, so the tip to switch to ecomomy tariff would not be suitable for the gas central heating systems that are the common UK residential heating systems. In the UK we have Economy 7 and White Meter tariffs that can be used with night storage heaters ( bricks in a box) but not much else. The use of gas means that boilers have to be placed well away from windows and doors to prevent fume ingress, and this means they are often placed away from where they are needed. The hot water tanks are large and cumbersome and tend to be hidden in cupboards and under the stairs so this is where an electric only system is more convenient. The advice to lower the water temp to 60C is ok, but even at 60 I find it uncomfortably hot, and have to mix it with cokd water for baths and washing up, so that is counter productive IMO. I have dropped mine to 50C and it is still hot enough.

The section on freezers and fridges is much the same as the UK

The section on washing and laundry seems special to your counttry. In the UK it is very difficult to get a soap powder / detergent that will work below 30C and so my washing machne has no cold water settings. so 30C is the lowest temp and requires designated detergents. We use enzyme detergents, and they do not operate at cold. Also the advice is that body contact clothing should be washed at 60C for hygene purposes. The 4 minute shower is only good for singing a pop single, not an LP track

The advice on lighting is similar to the UK. The info on colour temperature is informative, but our marketing practices are not - we get lumen output and wattage but no colour temp info. I do have an LED reading lamp that has a switchable colour temp control that I could use if I could be bothered, but all I need is a light. I also have an LED disco lamp that cycles through all the colours for ambience. I use it at Christmas.

I have not read all the sections, but I do not see any mention of cooking appliances. Will try to read the rest later today.
 
OK, just a couple of comments. I don't have air conditioning or a pool, so skipped those sections. The entertainment section is similar to general UK advice.

So no advice on cooking or preparation devices. Don't you guys use electric in the kitchen? Strange, since my main cooker consumes 18 kw with everything turned on. My kettle is 3 kw, my coffee maker is 2 kw. My toothbrush is 25w. A Quooker point of use boiler is around 3 kw. An airfryer is 2kw. And these appliances are the ones that get used most days, so I am surprised they do not figure in their own section.

The advice on Home Efficiency measures seems to be for builders and renovators, and not really useful for the likes of pensioners and people who are already living on restricted budgets. Sticking a chimney sheep up the chimney is also out of reach for many I suspect. I went through a phase of making papier mache to stuff into the floorboard cracks, and carpeting my floors with cheap hardboard coz it was cheaper than carpet or lino per m2 (but also because my wife was an artist who painted the floor as she created her masterpieces in the easel. I also had kids who painted the floor in their own styles and cats who altered the floors in their own ways too)

The calculators may have been useful if we could alter the wattage as well as the time, and also put in our own energy cost factors in GPB. I have a spreadsheet that does this and also allows me to compare different tariffs. against my actual consumption history.
 
HSSS said:
An issue with lowering boiler temperature is that it needs to be stored above 60 degrees (I believe) to avoid legionnaires disease developing. Not something I’d want to catch.
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Yes. This is an important point, The recommendation is indeed 60C for hot water tanked systems but 50 is acceptable in continuous flow systems or point of delivery systems.. I withdraw my hack for those using a hot water tank. Also add a warning that legionaires is a common problem when using an electric immersion heater since most outbreaks in hot water systems are associated with electric heaters. Gas systems rarely have outbreaks apparently because of the higher boiler output temperature. apparently any temperature between 25 - 50C is when legionella breeds, so having a water tank in the loftspace in summer is sufficient to trigger an output even in the cold delivery system. another reason why pipes should be insulated, even the cold supply.
 
Here' a couple of bits from our last power bill, there is a small number in front of the main value which is GST

Account Details

Account Number 9XXXXXX4
Issue Date 02/09/22
Billing Period
(93 days) 30/05/22—31/08/22
Security Deposit Held NIL
Next Meter Read (Approx) 01 Dec 22

Statement Only

Account Summary
Previous Account $714.47CR
Payments $350.00CR

Opening Balance of this Account $1064.47CR

Electricity Charges $247.81
Other Charges & Credits $253.05CR
Total New Charges
Total Amount Due

$5.24CR
$1069.71CR


TOTAL
(INC GST) No Payment Required

Account Breakdown

New Charges
Electricity Charges
Tariff 11 - Residential Flat Rate (General Domestic) (31/05/22 - 30/06/22)
5782 76560 77084 All Consumption 174.67 19.782 $3.46 $38.01
Service Fee 31 88.392 $2.74 $30.14

Tariff 33 Controlled Supply (Economy) (31/05/22 - 30/06/22)
5788 27556 27739 All Consumption 61 14.313 $0.87 $9.60
Tariff 11 - Residential Flat Rate (General Domestic) (01/07/22 - 31/08/22)
5782 76560 77084 All Consumption 349.33 22.135 $7.73 $85.05
Service Fee 62 90.408 $5.61 $61.66

Tariff 33 Controlled Supply (Economy) (01/07/22 - 31/08/22)
5788 27556 27739 All Consumption 122 17.400 $2.12 $23.35
TOTAL $22.53 $247.81
Other Charges & Credits

Qld Govt Cost of Living Rebate CREDIT $175.00CR
31/08/22 Qld Govt Electricity Rebate (93 days) $8.38CR $92.17CR
31/08/22 Meter Services Charge $1.28 $14.12
TOTAL $7.10CR $253.05CR
 
Riva_Roxaban said:
Here' a couple of bits from our last power bill, there is a small number in front of the main value which is GST

Account Details

Account Number 9XXXXXX4
Issue Date 02/09/22
Billing Period
(93 days) 30/05/22—31/08/22
Security Deposit Held NIL
Next Meter Read (Approx) 01 Dec 22

Statement Only

Account Summary
Previous Account $714.47CR
Payments $350.00CR

Opening Balance of this Account $1064.47CR

Electricity Charges $247.81
Other Charges & Credits $253.05CR
Total New Charges
Total Amount Due

$5.24CR
$1069.71CR


TOTAL
(INC GST) No Payment Required

Account Breakdown

New Charges
Electricity Charges
Tariff 11 - Residential Flat Rate (General Domestic) (31/05/22 - 30/06/22)
5782 76560 77084 All Consumption 174.67 19.782 $3.46 $38.01
Service Fee 31 88.392 $2.74 $30.14

Tariff 33 Controlled Supply (Economy) (31/05/22 - 30/06/22)
5788 27556 27739 All Consumption 61 14.313 $0.87 $9.60
Tariff 11 - Residential Flat Rate (General Domestic) (01/07/22 - 31/08/22)
5782 76560 77084 All Consumption 349.33 22.135 $7.73 $85.05
Service Fee 62 90.408 $5.61 $61.66

Tariff 33 Controlled Supply (Economy) (01/07/22 - 31/08/22)
5788 27556 27739 All Consumption 122 17.400 $2.12 $23.35
TOTAL $22.53 $247.81
Other Charges & Credits

Qld Govt Cost of Living Rebate CREDIT $175.00CR
31/08/22 Qld Govt Electricity Rebate (93 days) $8.38CR $92.17CR
31/08/22 Meter Services Charge $1.28 $14.12
TOTAL $7.10CR $253.05CR
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So you are currently running in credit, and your energy usage charge is almosr as much as the service charge Your GST is sales tax like our VAT. You are using both a standard supply and a small amount of Tariff 33 timed economy for something. I see you get a gov rebate for cost of living which seems to be offsetting the service charge.
It looks like your costs are less than ours in the UK.
Edit to add for clarity, One $ = £0.59 i.e. about 60 pence
 
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Oldvatr said:
It looks like your costs are less than ours in the UK.
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Our power bills are suppose to go up very shortly, if we can keep up the way we have been going keeping a credit balance and pay the $50.00 a fortnight we should stay in front.
 
Another tip, we do not do any ironing unless it's for really good clothes.

No ironing of sheets, tea towels etc as they will get crumpled first time you sleep on them. I have heard of people ironing handerchiefs ( first good nose blowing session they are well and truly ********) use tissues.

All save power.
 
Riva_Roxaban said:
Another tip, we do not do any ironing unless it's for really good clothes.

No ironing of sheets, tea towels etc as they will get crumpled first time you sleep on them. I have heard of people ironing handerchiefs ( first good nose blowing session they are well and truly ********) use tissues.

All save power.
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In a similar train of thought, I purchased a floor cleaning bot. It charges itself up and sweeps a whole floor before it gets hungry again. it keeps the cat entertained. My house vaccum cleaner consumes 1k5 watts so is an energy guzzler. Bot is cheaper to run.

I have given up shaving, and have gone for the hirsute look. I trim it every 3rd month. My shaver is a wet/dry electric one that has rechargeable batteries, so again its low energy and I can use it in the shower.
 
I boil a kettle in the morning and put rest of water into a thermos flask to use later.
I have ordered a Ninja 15-1 air fryer. It has 15 functions and uses a lot less electric than using the oven, also cooks a lot quicker. Can also batch cook and freeze half for another day. Ninja arrives today so very excited!
 
Brekkie said:
For tough meat I add a pinch of baking powder. It seems to soften the meat. Don’t know if it affects blood sugars though haven’t noticed as I only do it occasionally.
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It is Sodium Bicarbonate rather than Sodium Chloride (cooking salt) so will increase your blood sodium level. (and blood pressure and water retention if you believe the experts) keep it to a pinch and you will be ok
 
Pam* said:
I boil a kettle in the morning and put rest of water into a thermos flask to use later.
I have ordered a Ninja 15-1 air fryer. It has 15 functions and uses a lot less electric than using the oven, also cooks a lot quicker. Can also batch cook and freeze half for another day. Ninja arrives today so very excited!
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Very posh! The Ninja is 1.5 kw compared to a 2 kw or 3 kw of a standard oven But I suspect the standard oven only uses full power on warm up and spends a lot of its time off after that. However, it will be cheaper to use the Ninja since there is almost no warmup time required.
 
In the 'Good Old Days' they used to use newspaper under their carpets as a poor mans underlay. Of course, it is not recommended now becaise of the fire risk. But a layer of proper membrane would help and is not too expensive. I looked at the floor cavity insulation products, and it was indeed one of those investments that take ages to recoup. By the way, loo rolls are designed to be flushable, so no need to send them through the roof. The cardboard formers are recyclable. Again, newspaper is often used as a substitute.

We had a machine that compressed papier mache into brickettes for burning on the fire. Trouble was you had to make them in the summer otherwise they never dried out.
 
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