Energy prices.

[Morrisman]

I've just had my electric bill for the 15th April to 16th May, £51. That's gone up from an average of about £38 a month before 'the big rise'.

Thats me on my own, in a 2 bed bungalow.

 

[Kayos]

They are closing power plants over here, at a greater pace than alternates come on line.
Black outs are projected to happen intermittently for years into the future.

Where are you?

 

[Hood]

Where are you?

 

[willie.macleod]

That’s really useful thanks. About 4 “blats” of electric per day on average. We consistently hit 20-25 per day since I’ve been monitoring it but that’s family of 5. I suspect the dishwasher/washing machine and dryer are main culprits. And the car gets a top up every now and then.

Just got my bill in today for last two months or so, averaging 27kWh a day with 4 bed well insulated house, family of 6 and a electric car. No gas, just electric however we have a multi fuel stove with back boiler although that wouldn't have been on much in the billing period.

 

[fizzy]

If you find the light poor then you have the wrong lamps. I did exactly the same, first time the light was awful. I returned them. The ones I have now have been in for two years or so instead of failing every six months and give just as good illumination as conventional gu10's

I found the GU10s rubbish as well. They are new LEDs. It is because the ceiling is so low.

 

[fizzy]

absolutely! in my folks kitchen there are about 6 million GU10 50w down lighters, its about 1kw if they were all halogen still, the led's are a pretty considerable saving!

2x 50W tubes would be far better. I hate little spotlights of any description!

 

[Maker]

I hate little spotlights of any description!

Each to their own, I think spots look good and you'd never convince me to put up tubes in my house, far too commercial looking.

 

[fizzy]

Each to their own, I think spots look good and you'd never convince me to put up tubes in my house, far too commercial looking.

You can get some hidden tubes with nice stylish flush fittings etc.
Wouldn't work in an old fashioned place of course.

 

[atomant48]

Just got my bill in today for last two months or so, averaging 27kWh a day with 4 bed well insulated house, family of 6 and a electric car. No gas, just electric however we have a multi fuel stove with back boiler although that wouldn't have been on much in the billing period.

That’s great thanks…. You’ve made me feel much better. That sounds like a similar situation to us and similar numbers.

 

[fizzy]

My latest energy saving idea.
Aga still lit as weather not great here.
Kitchen is 20c - too warm for me.
Living room 16C. Can't be bothered to light the woodburner.
Tried this. Living room now 18C and nice
Hasn't fallen off - yet!

 

[julianthegypsy]

A ceiling fan above a wood burner is a brilliant idea. It pushes the heat down and spreads it beautifully. I had a stove in front of the fireplace with the flue angled back into the breast and the fireplace blocked off in our house in Alberta, so all the heat from the stove actually went into the room instead of up the chimney, and a big lazy fan above it spread it right around the house. We were never cold and our gas bill was tiny. The heating was set right down to come on if the stove ever went out, just to stop pipes bursting but it barely ever came on. Bear in mind that it was minus 20 or lower for several months!

 

[fizzy]

A ceiling fan above a wood burner is a brilliant idea. It pushes the heat down and spreads it beautifully. I had a stove in front of the fireplace with the flue angled back into the breast and the fireplace blocked off in our house in Alberta, so all the heat from the stove actually went into the room instead of up the chimney, and a big lazy fan above it spread it right around the house. We were never cold and our gas bill was tiny. The heating was set right down to come on if the stove ever went out, just to stop pipes bursting but it barely ever came on. Bear in mind that it was minus 20 or lower for several months!

Yes I have a stove top fan on the woodburner as well as it is recessed in the chimney breast.

 

[slim_boy_fat]

Even now oil and gas are cheaper than buying wood.

And without the work.

 

[addjunkie]

And without the work.

Wood is dear but far better to pay a poor person to cut and split it for you. In doing so, you helpa little guy pay his bills and feed his family, he spends his money in the local economy, therefore helping your friends and neighbours pay their bills too.
Buy oil or gas and who does it benefit locally?

 

[reb78]

Wood is dear but far better to pay a poor person to cut and split it for you. In doing so, you helpa little guy pay his bills and feed his family, he spends his money in the local economy, therefore helping your friends and neighbours pay their bills too.
Buy oil or gas and who does it benefit locally?

I do it myself. If I paid someone else i would be poorer and a lot less fit!!

 

[fizzy]

And without the work.

Indeed!
I get free wood so I have to put in some work. Just cut the pallet bearers into 2 or 3 with my big chop saw.

 

[Onoff]

Indeed!
I get free wood so I have to put in some work. Just cut the pallet bearers into 2 or 3 with my big chop saw.

What do you do with the wood ash that's presumably full of nails?

 

[bricol]

What do you do with the wood ash that's presumably full of nails?

Nails into bucket to weigh in later with other scrap.

Ash into rubbish bin.

 

[reb78]

What do you do with the wood ash that's presumably full of nails?

Its fairly quick to filter (chuck in a garden sieve) and weigh them in with other metal/recycle! My log burner is on 24/7 in the winter. I empty the ash every few weeks so its not a big deal.

 

[fizzy]

Nails into bucket to weigh in later with other scrap.

Ash into rubbish bin.

Yes exactly.
I use a quick release magnet to get most out. In fairness I only empty it about every 10 days. Very little ash and about 15kg of nails.
Swept the chimney last week. First time in 2 years. Only about a sugar bag of soot. I was astonished. I had to sweep the Rayburn chimney in the farmhouse every month or there would be a chimney fire. Usually 2 tesco bags full of soot each time. Burning the same wood!