Energy Bills

54 watchers

Muttley Aug 2022 2:09pm, 28 Aug 2022 1,788 posts	0 Muttley I'm in Cornwall, Hanneke. The enemy in winter down here is not sub-zero temperatures but wind and rain so tbh going full passive is probably overkill. I don't know how much the eco stuff added to the purchase price (I bought it as a newbuild) and how long that will take to pay off compared against a "standard" newbuild with a B rating EPC rather than an A.
rf_fozzy Aug 2022 3:48pm, 28 Aug 2022 18,149 posts	0 rf_fozzy What is the difference between an air fryer and a pressure cooker? Thinking of getting something to reduce my oven useage, but not sure what the best options are.
EvilPixie Aug 2022 3:57pm, 28 Aug 2022 35,145 posts	0 EvilPixie If an appliance doesn’t have a light/clock eg toaster will it use power when not in use? I’m assuming not
Rosehip Aug 2022 4:19pm, 28 Aug 2022 26,246 posts	0 Rosehip rf_fozzy - There are appliances that do both, eg Ninja foodi, use the right type of cooking for what you want to cook. They’re not cheap, so would take a while to pay back with the difference in energy used but I love mine for the ease and time savings too. A small airfryer for chips or whatever and an electric pressure cooker probably more cash efficient if it’s only for one or two people? Depends if also make bread an yogurt or would use the slow cooker functions as well, maybe?
jda Aug 2022 4:21pm, 28 Aug 2022 13,268 posts	0 jda Air fryer is a small fan oven with a strong fan such that it reaches/maintains a high temp and high cooking speed with relatively moderate power. Mostly used to make things crispy with little fat, eg chips and chicken legs/wings. Pressure cooker is a pan for boiling things that reaches a temperature of well over 100C, which means it cooks many things much faster than a normal pan of water. Some fancy ones have their own in-built heating element and timer, some just sit on your conventional cooker ring just like a normal pan. You can pressure cook things like kidney beans in a few mins, versus 60-90 mins in a normal pan. Also good for making stock from your chicken carcass or other bones. Those are basically the only two things ours is used for, though no doubt there are lots of other things you can do. Both are relatively energy (and time) efficient compared to their more conventional alternatives of an ordinary oven and pan for boiling. (Dried kidney beans need a high temp pre-cook prior to being put in a slow cooker as the latter isn't hot enough to denature the toxins, or so I've heard, though I never came to any harm before discovering this!)
rf_fozzy Aug 2022 4:25pm, 28 Aug 2022 18,152 posts	0 rf_fozzy Some might pull a very small amount of power, but in the mA range, so not worth worrying about. Older phones and similar being left plugged in (NB: not the chargers - the phone plugged into the cable) can draw power (newer phones I think have a cut off). Laptops can draw power when left plugged in whilst charged. TVs/sky boxes and similar do draw huge amounts of power when on standby (even if not "on" and you think only the light is on). If you're feeling v energy concious, if you're going away for a few days, you can turn of the wifi router too - as long as you've not got a complicated setup - as that draws some power, but it's not huge - we're talking maybe £10 per year, so unless you're right on the cliff edge it's not worth worrying about.
rf_fozzy Aug 2022 4:30pm, 28 Aug 2022 18,153 posts	0 rf_fozzy (I was replying to EP btw). In the end, when it comes to appliances, the old advice is best: 1. Turn off what you're not using (e.g. lights/TVs etc) 2. Don't leave stuff on standby 3. Try to use ovens to cook multiple meals at one time and if baking, do so when the oven is hot already 4. Try to run washing machines etc overnight when rates are cheaper 5. Don't use tumble dryers - try to dry outside instead. Those are the things that will make the biggest difference. Everything else is margins around the edges.
rf_fozzy Aug 2022 4:31pm, 28 Aug 2022 18,154 posts	0 rf_fozzy Thanks JDA/RH. I have a slow cooker, but what I was after was an alternative to using the oven for cooking for days when I come home and want to do something in an evening instead of using the oven in a sensible timescale. I don't always have time to prep stuff for a slow cooker.
um Aug 2022 4:37pm, 28 Aug 2022 6,429 posts	0 um There's been a couple of articles in The Times this week. To fozzy's question, a microwave runs at about 10% the cost of a hob or oven. thetimes.co.uk And this one gives a whole host of household stuff thetimes.co.uk Or, the table without the words The surprise to me was the fridge/freezer cost. We've got 2 freezers in the garage and a fridge/freezer in the kitchen. 30-40% of our electric consumption there!
Muttley Aug 2022 4:43pm, 28 Aug 2022 1,789 posts	0 Muttley It's the cost of running the vacuum cleaner that worries me. Obvious candidate for economizing.