Electric bills

[easy-lift guy]

I live in a Two bed 1.5 bath home. My electric bill on average per month is $75.00. I changed out the original AC unit five years ago and that alone cut my electric by 2/3rds.

TBH our summers our brutally hot and from May-October our AC is running more or less every day. Other than having our windows replaced with energy efficient ones Two years ago and having an on off switch installed for the water heater, we are blessed with low energy cost. Perhaps some day I will have solar panels placed on our roof to go completely off the grid, long term goal. Now if I could just steer them nasty Hurricanes and Tornados away from my neighborhood I will have it made!.

easy-lift guy

[face cord]

Its worth switching provider/tariff if you haven't already.

 

Saved me over £200 on the yearly bill.

 

 

 

Any insulation etc in your house you could upgrade , loft etc?

[Chris Sheppard]

We're really fortunate as our electric comes via a the factory that used to own the house we live in so we pay them based on meter readings - last bill was £82 for 5/6 months over winter.

 

Previous house wasn't too bad at about £100/£120 a quarter with Npower.

[fonzy]

Some good ideas typed above. I would recommend an energy monitor, this helped me identify what a waste of elec my garage freezer was and it's a visual deterrent to everyone. One large waste is boiling a full kettle for one cup. I also change out my halogen hob for an induction one.

 

I'd also look at the philips low energy bulbs, around £9 a pop but are quite bright and last a very long time.

 

Two schools of thought regarding the water heater. Have it on a timer as it only heats water when required or have it on all the time so it is only using a little energy to keep a stead-ish temp. Again the energy monitor will help determine whats best for you. I have my hot water on (oil water and heating) constantly which works for us. I would suggest checking the temp it heating the water to, 65oC is uncomfortable on the hand.

 

Get a monitor and try a few things.

 

Fonzy

[Justme]

Surely if you have the immersion on timed the water will cool down so when it switches back on it will have to heat the whole tank up again using more electric than leaving it on all the time as it only switches on when you draw off any hot . Was wondering as we have 2 hot water tanks on all the time.

 

 

That is so so wrong.

 

The hotter the water & the longer it is at that temp the more heat (so energy) can be lost.

 

Look at it this way.

 

 

Get a bucket (the water cylinder), put a hole in it (the heat loss).

 

 

1, Fill the bucket, take a cup full out in the morning (your morning usage), let the water drain out till its all gone, Then hours later when you need more water at night fill it up & take your cup full again.

 

or

 

2, Fill the bucket, take a cup full out in the morning (your morning usage), open the tap so it runs at the same speed as the leak so the bucket stays full. Then when you need more water at night use your cup full again.

 

 

How much water (energy) have you used?

 

 

1, 2 buckets full

2, 20 (ish) buckets full

 

Your heater wont just turn on when water is used, it will keep turning on as heat is lost from the cylinder.

[Amelanchier]

Would you have your kettle keep the water hot all day and night so you can have a brew instantly or are you happy to just heat what you need? Which would use the most energy?

[woodland dweller]

hi justme i could not get the bucket idea as the tank is allways full. As for the second part your drawn off water its being replaced with cold water which will cool the tank down, then when the critical temp is reached the heater switches on. On a timer by the time it comes on if you have used hot water during the day this being replaced with cold means the whole lot needs heating up again using more electric than keeping it warm all the time. I'm no expert thats the way i can get my head around it , will try timing it next month to see if less electricity is used.