Domestic Energy Use.
Posted by: George Fredrik on 07 July 2012
It is a always a slight worry when in a new dwelling, just how much gas and electricity is used - even with care - before the first bill arrives!
My first electricity bill covers a 44 day period and came out at £1.05 per day, which I am delighted with. The gas consumption was less than one meter unit. Only the cooker burners on the top are gas, and used only for a rare pan fry, while the oven is electric.
If I scale this up to a full quarter it comes out as roughly £100 for both gas and electricity, which is as inexpensive as I could hope.
I did worry that the only light fitting using a low energy lamp is in the living room, but actualy usage indicates that short use of the incandescents does not risk a huge addition to the cost.
If I compare this to the summer quarters on my last place, I see this is better, partly because there was a gas boiler instead of in-line electric water heating. There the daily cost was something like £1.20 per day. The calorific yield of gas is certaily better for a given spend, but a condensing boiler is highly inefficient on start up, so that unless one is running a reasonable amount of hot water, then the "in-line" electric water heating option is actually the more economic prospect, and more environmentally friendly than a condensing boiler. Also the maintainance of a gas boiler is something to consider when making the choice. Every year it should be serviced and safety certified, which is an additional cost.
Anyway I am well pleased that this place will be economic on fuel, even if the lighting is mainly of the old fashioned incandescent type.
Can anyone match gas and electricity consumption of £1.05 per day!
ATB from George