electricity usage

[90% by 2030]

Since getting my new energy meter, we've dropped electricity use in our house from 28 kWh a day to 18 kWh a day - which I think is costing about £1.44 a day - a staggering 35% reduction in usage - (mostly through changing the freezer) . We also have gas central heating. The drop is excellent, but is the new level of usage (18 kWh a day) good, bad or indifferent?

Up until this time last week, I couldn't have told you how much I use in kWh - so thank you Fabian for this forum.

[fabian]

It is a pleasure to run the forum with members like you!

And thank you 90% by 2030 for contributing to the forum and giving us a flying start!

This is what this forum is all about in my opinion!

Fabian
(some clarification: -fp- is my username I use for contributing to the forum)

[Martin]

18 kWh per day over the year would equate to 6570 kWh per annum. The average consumption for Leicester (i.e. where i live) was 3937 kWh in 2004 so you're still well above that!

Your reduction from 28 kWh to 18 kWh per day is thoroughly commendable though and equates to a saving of 3650 kWh per annum which using the standard UK fuel mix would equate to 1.6 tonnes of CO2 saved! Well done, and keep up the good work!

[Johnny Electriglide]

A 35% reduction is very commendable, but 90% by 2030 is what you are after.
My main solar electric system is 600 watts of panels on a full tracking pole mount attached to the house overhang and built for 100 mph winds. It is designed for my needs and the maximum winter sun with a three day no sun supply, and Generac 4000EXL backup. 5 hours of winter sun is 3000 W/hrs or 3Kw/hrs. I usually use 1 Kw/hr. from my added on separate garage system for this computer and my guitar amps and power tools (not used much anymore). So that is 4 Kw hrs./ day average, or 1/7th of your original. All without producing any CO2, the system had paid for itself 2 years ago (self built in 1998). Location is important, along with lifestyle changes. Cities are very inefficient and locations away from good hydro/wave, wind, and solar are especially bad. The 8 times sustainable number of people is especially bad, too. Other aspects are super-insulation using strawbales and re-used tires, and thermal mass kept warm by passive solar or wind/hydro type electric heat. I am thinking of a solarium addition to lessen the propane I use for heat. My Earthship outbuilding has the solar heat exclusively, gardens and compost toilet and solar shower with rainwater catchment, and solar power, too. It warms to 70 then goes down to 40 in the winter, 80/50 spring and fall, 70/50 in summer. 39* N Lat. 8,880' elevation.<rockon>

[90% by 2030]

Johnny,

Thanks for this - I've enjoyed reading your informative posts over the past few days. and yes you're right 90% is my target, so 35% is a start but still a long way to go.