Water Heater test

[ceagle]

Currently trying a test for the month to find out the electric costs. Have turned off the electric water heater for the month to do so, (& taking my bird baths elsewhere to do so, not to worry) ;> ... Anyways, with the water heater on (last month) I was seeing about 16 kwh, and with it off so far it's about 5 kwh ... so that thing takes about 1/4 to 1/3 of the monthly power. The refrigerator likely takes most of the rest, since the lights are all CFLs.

So... what to do? I guess consider one or two of those on-demand small water heaters someday I s'pose. And a smaller fridge :>

Comments

[rustyfox.livejournal.com]

Gas has always been cheaper than electricity. Where houses here have stored hot water, the electric heating element is usually only meant as a back-up. If possible, I'd look into installing an on-demand water heater. This idea of stored hot water never made sense to me, unless you have a supply of cheap/free energy, such as solar panels or a solid fuel stove + back boiler (and a ready supply of wood!)

Or unless you have a property where an on-demand boiler couldn't cope with the potential peak load (eg, two bathrooms and the kitchen drawing hot water at once). The only decent solution I know of in that situation (at least over here) would be a sealed (or 'closed vented') stored hot water system. Very expensive, but it'll store gas-heated hot water in a pressurised cylinder and keep it under mains pressure. No need for a header tank, and almost limitless scorching high pressure water anywhere!

I assume that was 16kWh per *day* not per month? I just got my annual energy statement and my electricity usage is just under 10kWh/day - with an on-demand combi-boiler for heating the house and water, a fridge that's probably got a knackered thermostat jammed on cold and a couple of computers.

[c-eagle.livejournal.com]

oooo yep, and thanks for the thoughts n comments! Indeed.. not certain the on-demand one could work with our low water pressure.. we're up high at the very end of the street, and get about 32 lbs, whereas I understand the general *minimum* is about 40 ..
& Yesh.. it were 16 kwh per day I meant.. *whew* ... still, taking measures to reduce it.. in fact, I bought a *much* smaller refrigerator today, which is rated to cost about a tenth of the one currently in use. I just don't have the need for allll that chillin' space of a typical giant refrigerator, so I should get by jus' fine widdit ^v^ .
Good on-ya for the 10kwh happenin'! I feel like I'm making headway with these steps I'm taking too, and am loooking forward to the results with the new little fridge :D .. *hugs*