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Main boards => General Discussion => Topic started by: Diasi on August 29, 2022, 03:06:10 PM

Title: Has Anyone Started to Review Their Energy Usage?
Post by: Diasi on August 29, 2022, 03:06:10 PM
A Couple of ways that we could cut back on electricity would be to:

1: disconnect our smarthome & security systems which would save around 200 watts per hour
2: stop having toast & heating anything that can be eaten cold such as baked beans & soup etc
3: wearing clothes for longer  periods & not washing bedding as often etc.

What can you cut back on?
Title: Re: Has Anyone Started to Review Their Energy Usage?
Post by: klondike on August 29, 2022, 03:25:59 PM
Breathing would be the biggest saving. I think that's what they are hoping all us oldies will be doing.
Title: Re: Has Anyone Started to Review Their Energy Usage?
Post by: Jacqueline on August 29, 2022, 06:12:21 PM
If I have to cut down that drastically on electricity I might just as well go out and shoot myself. Come the dreaded day when the clocks go back and it's dark at 5, I like to turn on my table lamps and cheer the place up, I refuse to sit in the dark it's miserable.  Even if I have to use all my savings I must have some heat and light in the winter, and I shall not go smelly either, will not cut down on washing clothes and bedding or taking showers.
Title: Re: Has Anyone Started to Review Their Energy Usage?
Post by: Scrumpy on August 29, 2022, 06:53:08 PM
I will not be cold in my own home.. I will still eat toast and marmalade.. I will shower every day and change my underwear and bedding as usual..
If my bill doesn't get paid let them take this old girl to court... Prison is nice and warm , I will be fed ( toast) and entertained by a tv that I am not paying a licence for..
Title: Re: Has Anyone Started to Review Their Energy Usage?
Post by: klondike on August 29, 2022, 07:15:48 PM
I think one of their fears is that there will be a load of defaulters which will push more of the energy reseller companies into bankruptcy. It could happen.
Title: Re: Has Anyone Started to Review Their Energy Usage?
Post by: Alex on August 29, 2022, 07:26:10 PM
One news programme this morning was suggesting we all stop paying by direct debit and either just pay when they send a bill, or change to a standing order. 
I can do a shower one day and a good wash at the sink the next day.  By the time I've showered, washed my air, used a conditioner and then used the hair dryer, it certainly bumps up the little 'what I've used ' screen.
My toast will stay the same, although my kettle does boil to just 90º so I heat what I need. Ooooh and I'll still be using the leccy blanket  :upvote:
Title: Re: Has Anyone Started to Review Their Energy Usage?
Post by: klondike on August 29, 2022, 07:31:53 PM
I think most of the power companies charge more if you pay by cheque and there certainly used to be a discount for direct debit payment. Whether it's SO DD or cheque nothing usually gets paid if there is nowt in the account.

i remember going into a showroom in town and paying with cash.
Title: Re: Has Anyone Started to Review Their Energy Usage?
Post by: GrannyMac on August 29, 2022, 07:40:15 PM
I'm going to buy a slow cooker. We have an electric oven, the dearest form of cooking.  A hot meal helps keep us warm.
Title: Re: Has Anyone Started to Review Their Energy Usage?
Post by: Raven on August 29, 2022, 08:59:07 PM
I always use my slow cooker GM, would be lost without it. I always make extra and freeze it for when it's wanted.
I get my daily shower at the Leisure Centre after my swim, so it's only Himself using the one in the house.
We will also continue to eat toast and marmalade every day as usual. As for the washing I tend to make things do a bit longer in the Winter anyway.
Title: Re: Has Anyone Started to Review Their Energy Usage?
Post by: Ashy on August 29, 2022, 09:33:52 PM
Quote from: Jacqueline on August 29, 2022, 06:12:21 PMCome the dreaded day when the clocks go back and it's dark at 5, I like to turn on my table lamps and cheer the place up, I refuse to sit in the dark it's miserable.
Wouldn't it be a good idea to go back to double summertime all year?
Title: Re: Has Anyone Started to Review Their Energy Usage?
Post by: klondike on August 29, 2022, 10:37:52 PM
Ok down here but I think it buggers up Scotland. It wouldn't get light there till about 10 in the morning or some such.

Raven must know what time it gets light right up the top on GMT and you'd need to push that on a couple of hours.
Title: Re: Has Anyone Started to Review Their Energy Usage?
Post by: Diasi on August 29, 2022, 11:49:14 PM
Just as Shell's  100% renewable energy adverts are a complete con, I also don't see why anyone with a smart meter should have a fixed DD amount, which is another con.

Shell will know to the penny what each of my monthly bills should be.
Title: Re: Has Anyone Started to Review Their Energy Usage?
Post by: GrannyMac on August 30, 2022, 07:11:42 AM
Don't forget that from October, 1/6 of the £400 energy rebate will be applied to our bills. £66 in Oct & Nov, £67 for each of the other four months. And state pensioners will get £300 on top of the regular Winter Fuel Allowance.

I've built up a credit balance, its not as if the bank would give me much interest.  We'll have toast in the mornings too! 😁. Raven, I shower and wash my hair and use the hairdryers at the Leisure centre too. 😉
Title: Re: Has Anyone Started to Review Their Energy Usage?
Post by: Diasi on August 30, 2022, 09:16:05 AM
Quote from: GrannyMac on August 30, 2022, 07:11:42 AM😁. Raven, I shower and wash my hair and use the hairdryers at the Leisure centre too. 😉
I won't be using our leisure centre (not that I ever have or ever would), especially at £5 a pop.

Last winter I reduced our heating to 18c & as I got used to it I reduced it to 16c & then to 14c.

I've always been able to tolerate cold weather very well so this winter I intend to either not put the heating on or if I do it'll be set to 12c just enough to keep the fabric of the house aired.
Title: Re: Has Anyone Started to Review Their Energy Usage?
Post by: Raven on August 30, 2022, 11:48:03 AM
Quote from: klondike on August 29, 2022, 10:37:52 PMOk down here but I think it buggers up Scotland. It wouldn't get light there till about 10 in the morning or some such.

Raven must know what time it gets light right up the top on GMT and you'd need to push that on a couple of hours.

As it stands just now, by Christmas Day we have roughly 5-6 hours of daylight. Getting light around 9am, getting dark around 3pm.
Title: Re: Has Anyone Started to Review Their Energy Usage?
Post by: klondike on August 30, 2022, 12:01:29 PM
Sounds like even just retaining BST isn't an attractive option for you. Those hours mean primary school children just about manage daylight each way but anything else would mean starting out in the pitch dark when people are heading to work.

Double summer time would actually suit us in the south quite well and maybe save some energy. Perhaps they should look at different timezones as changing school hours would be too much of a disruption.
Title: Re: Has Anyone Started to Review Their Energy Usage?
Post by: Raven on August 30, 2022, 12:09:45 PM
We're kind of used to it up here.
Title: Re: Has Anyone Started to Review Their Energy Usage?
Post by: Scrumpy on August 30, 2022, 12:15:28 PM
Today I started my shower every other day routine..
I brushed then stuck my unwashed hair behind my ears. I stood at the sink and started at the top and worked down.. Blimey !!.. I can still lift my leg up and stick my foot in the sink..

It bought back memories of my childhood.. We only had a bath on Sunday ready for school next day.. We had strip down washes at the kitchen sink .. no heating..
My mum used to call it the three 'Fs'  Face.. Fanny.. Feet..  :grin: :grin:
All the kids around us were the same.. Tide marks everywhere.. !! and horrible Gibbs tooth powder.. (pink)...
Title: Re: Has Anyone Started to Review Their Energy Usage?
Post by: Raven on August 30, 2022, 12:28:52 PM
OOOOHHHH I remember that pink tooth powder, my Nana used to use it. She was the only one in the house that used it, I remember trying it once and spluttered for ages afterwards.
Title: Re: Has Anyone Started to Review Their Energy Usage?
Post by: Sheila on August 30, 2022, 01:43:05 PM
I was amazed today when Paul ordered a fleece outfit with hoody to wear at home.  This is a man who won't wear pyjamas and doesn't feel the cold.  Looks as though he is getting prepared!

Neither of us will cut down on our morning shower.  We've got quite a big house so maybe we will have to use fewer rooms and shut the rest off.

We have a halogen cooker which we have been using more often and make 'proper' chips in an Actifry.  I've not really thought about trying to save costs before but it looks as though I may have to start.
Title: Re: Has Anyone Started to Review Their Energy Usage?
Post by: Alex on August 30, 2022, 01:47:06 PM
I tried to order a new airfryer, a larger one but delivery from Amazon is October !
Title: Re: Has Anyone Started to Review Their Energy Usage?
Post by: Countryman on August 30, 2022, 06:50:03 PM
Scotland will soon be an independent country, no doubt, so let them have their own time to suit their needs. Issue solved!
Title: Re: Has Anyone Started to Review Their Energy Usage?
Post by: klondike on August 30, 2022, 08:17:13 PM
I'm not certain about the "no doubt". Independence is for the heart and I can understand the passions for it. I'm not  at all sure that the practicalities stack up though. Then it becomes a matter of persuading more than 50% to take the chance and that will be tough going. At least I think it will.
Title: Re: Has Anyone Started to Review Their Energy Usage?
Post by: Raven on August 30, 2022, 08:22:05 PM
Quote from: Diasi on August 30, 2022, 09:16:05 AMI won't be using our leisure centre (not that I ever have or ever would), especially at £5 a pop.

Most of us daily users have a membership of one kind or another. Mine is £46 a month. That gives me 7days a week access from 6.30am to 10.pm.
Swimming Pool.
Steam Rooms.
Saunas.
Jacuzzis.
Gym.
Showers.
Cafe.
Title: Re: Has Anyone Started to Review Their Energy Usage?
Post by: GrannyMac on August 30, 2022, 11:09:23 PM
Raven, mine is only £26. Discount on food and drink in the cafe too. Bargain.
Title: Re: Has Anyone Started to Review Their Energy Usage?
Post by: Raven on August 31, 2022, 06:54:17 AM
WOW, I don't know how they can do that. When I was still a member of the Perth Pool I was paying £25.50. 15 years ago. It's gone up a good bit too according to a pal in  Perth I was swimming with on my last trip down there. Still it works out around £11 a, week and for 6 visits a week it's under £2 a time, so I won't grumble. 😉
Title: Re: Has Anyone Started to Review Their Energy Usage?
Post by: Diasi on August 31, 2022, 08:38:35 AM
Quote from: Scrumpy on August 30, 2022, 12:15:28 PMIt bought back memories of my childhood.. We only had a bath on Sunday ready for school next day.. We had strip down washes at the kitchen sink .. no heating..
My mum used to call it the three 'Fs'  Face.. Fanny.. Feet..  :grin: :grin:
All the kids around us were the same.. Tide marks everywhere.. !! and horrible Gibbs tooth powder.. (pink)...
Gibbs tooth powder, yuk, everyone rubbing their toothbrush in the same tin & then there was breathing in some of the powder.

At least your Mum got the three F's advice in a reasonable order.  :grin:
Title: Re: Has Anyone Started to Review Their Energy Usage?
Post by: Scrumpy on August 31, 2022, 09:04:35 AM

... and we all shared the same flannel.  !!  :grin: :grin: :grin:
Title: Re: Has Anyone Started to Review Their Energy Usage?
Post by: klondike on August 31, 2022, 09:06:26 AM
... including the dog  :grin:
Title: Re: Has Anyone Started to Review Their Energy Usage?
Post by: Michael Rolls on August 31, 2022, 09:54:10 AM
who owned it in the first place! :grin:  :grin:
Title: Re: Has Anyone Started to Review Their Energy Usage?
Post by: GrannyMac on August 31, 2022, 10:44:11 AM
Ha ha!  At least you had a toothbrush and a flannel!

We had to scrub ourselves with old newspapers!

Anyone remember the Four Yorkshiremen sketch by Monty Python? 😁
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ue7wM0QC5LE
Title: Re: Has Anyone Started to Review Their Energy Usage?
Post by: klondike on August 31, 2022, 10:51:14 AM
:grin: :grin: :grin:
Title: Re: Has Anyone Started to Review Their Energy Usage?
Post by: Michael Rolls on August 31, 2022, 12:20:44 PM
 :grin:  :grin:  :grin:
Title: Re: Has Anyone Started to Review Their Energy Usage?
Post by: klondike on September 01, 2022, 03:52:35 PM
(https://i.postimg.cc/BQpTFS85/electric-bill.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)
Title: Re: Has Anyone Started to Review Their Energy Usage?
Post by: Michael Rolls on September 02, 2022, 09:57:27 AM
Brilliant! Cartoon in the Telegraph the other day - chap holding his electricity bill, jumping up and down and explaining 'I'm not jumping for joy - I'm trying to keep warm!'
Mike
Title: Re: Has Anyone Started to Review Their Energy Usage?
Post by: klondike on September 02, 2022, 10:02:54 AM
If you don't laugh you'll cry. How could they bugger up so badly that we ended up like this?
Title: Re: Has Anyone Started to Review Their Energy Usage?
Post by: Ashy on September 02, 2022, 10:31:32 AM
One of the reasons may be that politicians who fail are rarely penalised. They just hand in the keys and leave it to someone else to sort out. Some of them leave the country and go to live elsewhere.

I believe I am right that even local councillors cannot be surcharged any more.

And of course their definition of failure and ours may not coincide. Someone made enough money out of a minor computer program that didn't work to replace the entire national electricity grid including the power stations.

And then again we have hoteliers making a fortune with a guaranteed refit of their property.

Title: Re: Has Anyone Started to Review Their Energy Usage?
Post by: Raven on September 02, 2022, 11:50:56 AM
Here we go, Boris has it Nailed. :nooo:

boris.jpg
Title: Re: Has Anyone Started to Review Their Energy Usage?
Post by: Jacqueline on September 02, 2022, 11:59:05 AM
We vote for  politicians to represent us and govern the country, we don't vote for 650 people to do the opposite of what the people want or to have hidden agendas.

If they mess up and don't do their job properly they should be accountable. Perhaps a report on what they have actually done each year? after all they get into power on a manifesto, they should deliver what they promise or we want to know why. 
Title: Re: Has Anyone Started to Review Their Energy Usage?
Post by: klondike on September 02, 2022, 12:52:28 PM
Dont forget the buggers on the red seats collecting £300 a day (last I heard and probably more now) just for signing a register to say they turfed up. There are even more of them than MPs and nobody can vote them out.
Title: Re: Has Anyone Started to Review Their Energy Usage?
Post by: Raven on September 02, 2022, 04:59:35 PM
Quote from: klondike on September 02, 2022, 12:52:28 PMDont forget the buggers on the red seats collecting £300 a day (last I heard and probably more now) just for signing a register to say they turfed up. There are even more of them than MPs and nobody can vote them out.

Wonder how many would turn up if it were minimum wage.  :wink:
Title: Re: Has Anyone Started to Review Their Energy Usage?
Post by: Ashy on September 03, 2022, 08:11:43 PM
There are some 950 in the house of peers and they get expenses too. Every time the wind changes direction the bring out another honours list too.

I don't think the PM really meant us to go out and buy new kettles because the physics of the case says it wouldn't save any electricity at all, so it was a poor analogy for new power stations or whatever he was talking about. But he is a classicist and not an engineer.

Mary Truss is a graduate in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics and has links to the WEF, so don't get your hopes up.