Cost both £ and energy of running domestic appliances, what is worth the effort.

[ericmark]

The dishwasher, washing machine, and tumble drier, all have multi-programs, and delay start timers. And the washing machine weighs the load, so using a plug in energy meter does not help much, as each time used we get different results, and if something has not washed fully, the cost to wash a second time is likely more than the cost of a longer wash cycle.

Try to compare microwave, air fryer, and fan oven, well can't use the plug in tester on the fan oven, and looking at methods to boil water, and what it seems is the question, is how much extra boiled to what is required, the microwave costs the most to boil water, and the kettle on an induction hob takes slightly more to a standard electric kettle, the cup boiler it seems down to how much water one wants, as it boils a fixed amount every time, even when we can set cup size, it simply bleeds some water back into the reservoir. But I do not measure the amount put in a jug kettle, so likely some always left unused.

And 60 seconds to boil enough water for a cup of coffee or tea, at 3 kW looking at 1.5p to boil a cup of water, at 30p/kWh so is it really worth worrying about?

200–750 watts seem to be my baseline. As to if freezer, fridge, or the smart devices on stand-by, can't really say.

If something produces heat which goes into the room, then summer cost of AC to remove it needs adding, and winter reduction in cost for central heating needs removing. But both heating and cooling to work out cost is hard. If I feel I need the AC on, then normally already too warm for the thermostat to start cycling it. And heating, can we really work out what has been saved?

Is it worth it?

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

so is it really worth worrying about?

You have to balance your own convenience/inconvenience, versus the ease of what can be saved, and the quantity. When our power is especially cheap, or even free, we try to make good use of it, but only if it doesn't inconvenience us.

 

[ericmark]

You have to balance your own convenience/inconvenience, versus the ease of what can be saved, and the quantity. When our power is especially cheap, or even free, we try to make good use of it, but only if it doesn't inconvenience us.

Very well put.

 

[big-all]

Micromanaging only makes any sense iff you enjoy the warm feeling at saving the planet ??
in the past i saved waste water from the bath to flush the toilet all 70L off it because i hate the thought off good clean water being used to flush the toilet whilst others only have foul water to drink
now the effort is massive to save 1/12th off a unit so 20p saved
or a 30w and a 60w solar panel constantly changed position every half hour or so to charge ryobi batteries with the best managed in a day about 22amp so 18x22=400w over the whole day now with a 4ah battery taking about 42wx2hrs to charge off the mains that =2p for 84w at 24p per 1000w unit so all faffing at most saves around 9p a day but making furniture from solar [a good selling point]/cutting grass/lighting the shed in the evening and even powering a tv to use up the surplice does give a nice warm feeling
in my opinion any modern way off cooking will save you quite a lot compared to an electric over as you need to warm the mass off the over before starting with any other cooking method will be nearly finished by the time the oven is up to a usable temperature

and as an aside on british gas on half price sunday 11 till 4 fully charge any spare powertool batteries means 1p for 4ah charge but as the tv uses 10w from the mains so will last for 4hrs for 1p at full cost off the mains because off transmission/convertion losses the same half price 4ah will only last around 3 and a half hours for the same 1p

as i say dont micromanage unless you have loads off spare time and thrive on warm glows as nothing in the house micromanaged will save your life or finances

 

[ericmark]

Once I fitted solar panels, I suppose I wanted to convince myself I had done the right thing, so started to look at what we use. First 18 months rather disappointing as no payment for export, but last 4 months net cost well into the minus, so doing far better, but winter still to come.

But have had some surprises, the cost to run Sky+ was the first one, LNB always powered, so it can adjust to program changes, and still record the whole program, no longer using Sky+ and I have not rechecked what it uses, as would still use it, so what's the point.

Freezers are an argument between me and my wife, we are running four, and I see no reason for so many. The washing machine, tumble dryer, and dishwasher working out what they use is not easy as so many programs.

So I look at the total use during the day, and we have a spike with every cup of coffee, and the shower, and as we get closer to December the worst month for solar, I look at the days when it runs out. The battery is charged with off-peak, and the important bit is the state of charge, and on a bad day will it last until next off-peak time.

this was the 10th, it did make it, but only just, and as we go into winter this will happen more, it is not worth an extra battery for the few days it does run out, but as winter comes reducing those days will help the electric bill. 8.5p to 30.17p is quite a jump, but changes often see only a 1 or 2p gain, I do think the air fryer is saving us money as it takes over from the microwave, as the air fryer is switching the element off, where the microwave using power all the time. But working out how to use it seems to be causing a problem. But more and more food packs are going air fryer times on them.

 

[big-all]

Freezers are an argument between me and my wife, we are running four, and I see no reason for so many.

i have a fridge freezer and a freezer and they are most off my consumption at around 80-100w each when running 'out off the base load off 125w[3kw a day] during the summer

the freezer is probably 7 year old and i am waiting for it to fail as i reckon it will be perhaps 20% more efficient and save about 15-25w an hour or half a kw a day

 

[foxhole]

Once I fitted solar panels, I suppose I wanted to convince myself I had done the right thing, so started to look at what we use. First 18 months rather disappointing as no payment for export, but last 4 months net cost well into the minus, so doing far better, but winter still to come.

But have had some surprises, the cost to run Sky+ was the first one, LNB always powered, so it can adjust to program changes, and still record the whole program, no longer using Sky+ and I have not rechecked what it uses, as would still use it, so what's the point.

Freezers are an argument between me and my wife, we are running four, and I see no reason for so many. The washing machine, tumble dryer, and dishwasher working out what they use is not easy as so many programs.

So I look at the total use during the day, and we have a spike with every cup of coffee, and the shower, and as we get closer to December the worst month for solar, I look at the days when it runs out. The battery is charged with off-peak, and the important bit is the state of charge, and on a bad day will it last until next off-peak time.View attachment 392942this was the 10th, it did make it, but only just, and as we go into winter this will happen more, it is not worth an extra battery for the few days it does run out, but as winter comes reducing those days will help the electric bill. 8.5p to 30.17p is quite a jump, but changes often see only a 1 or 2p gain, I do think the air fryer is saving us money as it takes over from the microwave, as the air fryer is switching the element off, where the microwave using power all the time. But working out how to use it seems to be causing a problem. But more and more food packs are going air fryer times on them.

If you want to save money ditch Sky+ and use freesat.

 

[Murdochcat]

FWIW the only “big” variation to our energy bills is totally reliant on the weather as our gas bills vary a lot.

Cold winter, high bills, mild winter better for my pockets

The appliances won’t make a lot of difference to your bills if you are already being careful

 

[foxhole]

My electric varies from around £80-£110 a month while gas is £5-8 summer months and up to £30 in winter .

 

[ericmark]

I have not done a year yet, so don't know what winter will cost, since moving to Octopus on 10th April 2025 it is £-42.60. But still looking at cost even if minus figures, hard to work out oil costs.

If you want to save money ditch Sky+ and use freesat.

Have looked at Freesat, but the internet and satellite combined is really nice, never sure which I am watching, it just works seamlessly. I have Free-to-air, but the program guide is rubbish.

 

[foxhole]

I have not done a year yet, so don't know what winter will cost, since moving to Octopus on 10th April 2025 it is £-42.60. But still looking at cost even if minus figures, hard to work out oil costs.



Have looked at Freesat, but the internet and satellite combined is really nice, never sure which I am watching, it just works seamlessly. I have Free-to-air, but the program guide is rubbish.

But very expensive.

 

[ericmark]

Some times cost is not the issue, daughter is cat sitting at moment in my house, she asked when to use washing machine, and yes, 8.5p, 15p, and 30.17p/kWh depending on time of day and how charged the batteries are.

But get it wrong and may cost an extra £1, but in the overall scheme of things, not worth worrying about.

@Harry Bloomfield put it well. At the moment in North East England on holiday, not worked out why, as doing nearly the same as when in mid Wales.