No mains gas round here. Three out of our five closest neighbours all have heat pumps. Most houses are connected to mains electricity, even in very rural areas. Oil tanks are often close to the road to make it easier for tankers to deliver. There was a spate of thefts of oil from farms in this area a couple of years ago - I imagine that will get worse again. With a few houses in the area now with heat pumps, others are looking at them and deciding it's makes much more sense.
Gardening on the edge of Exmoor, in Devon
“It's still magic even if you know how it's done.”
Skandi, thats interesting. I always thought Denmark, Norway, Sweden didn't approve of fossil fuels and we're all electric. Do you have triple glazing? We went for induction this time,and I'm so glad. All those years of taking gas hobs apart to clean. My kitchen stays much cleaner,and the saucepan handles don't get hot or damaged. Cleaning now,is a dream. Oh God,Fairy,was sitting here, wondering who Alexa Doofer was,you can tell I hate technology!!
I'm pondering my old double glazing again. Has anyone here gone for triple glazing?
Not yet - saving up. We don't have many windows but they are all quite big. Triple glazing has come on a lot in the last 10 years - performance, especially the frames, have improved and the costs have come down. Most new windows can actually accept three panes of glass now, so you're only really paying for extra glass and not for a completely different frame, as used to be the case. They are relatively heavy, so as a DIY you have to have a plan. Finding decent installers for windows is a nightmare - not just triple glazing. They go bust so fast and their staff turnover is horrendous. When we get to do ours, I'll probably buy them from the green building store (I have no connection) and do it one at a time, so not too much money is sitting with the supplier at any time.
Gardening on the edge of Exmoor, in Devon
“It's still magic even if you know how it's done.”
As far as I am aware, Smart meters do nothing to reduce your fuel consumption. If you are "fuel concious" which should be a given whatever your age, you will have a good idea of your daily consumption whether it be oil, gas or electric. Granted you can do little if the price per Kwh/litre etc. rises but you can still estimate your usage and your expected outgoings. I am still surprised by householders who leave various gadgets on "stand by" rather than switching off when not in use. It may not save you a huge amount but it can help over time.
Smart meters do nothing to reduce your fuel consumption.
I find it useful to have easy access to the data on daily and hourly usage, and personal trends over months and years. I certainly never engaged with my usage this way before I had a smart metre. I can also discuss the details on our screens with a call centre, as we both see the same detailed data. I set myself usage targets, and it's been a good motivation to put in (and use) thick door curtains, add more insulation and other straight forward measures. In the spring I will be interested to see how this winter measures up to the last, in Kwh.
The same with a water metre. I found I had a leak that had possibly been outside for decades. I wouldn't ever have known without a metre. I'm more engaged in my monthly water usage because I can see it.
Admittedly these things are only relevant to people who are interested to start with. Human beings are a pretty "out of sight, out of mind" species.
I can understand the point you make @Fire. Like most things, it does depend on your outlook and many of us only start to worry about our consumption when it becomes a big part of our expenditure. I've always been used to metred water ( in Europe ) and more recently in the UK as my properties were/are ex commercial and are therefore metred . Rather like the Council tax, the charges do not take account of the number of people in the household. My NDN's are 4 working adults - their water isn't metered and they quite readily admit that they don't want a meter as they would be paying more. The Council tax is the same - 4 earners paying the same as 2 non earners. I think, given that dreadful phrase in constant use ( Levelling Up ), the Govt may like to start with the basics
As far as I am aware, Smart meters do nothing to reduce your fuel consumption.
The medium term aim, when the roll out is reasonably complete, is that smart meters will allow you to know when is the best time to use electricity. They don't change how much you use, although having a very visible counter clicking along does focus the mind for many people. If you could see your ordinary meter whirring 'round, it would have the same effect, but many people's are out of sight or even outside.
Gardening on the edge of Exmoor, in Devon
“It's still magic even if you know how it's done.”
I suspect the energy companies will be able to up the price in periods of great demand and so we won't be controlling our energy usage, they will. Hope I'm wrong.
Anyway, I'm not too bothered, we don't have a good mobile signal here so I understand we can't have a smart meter fitted.
Water rates are based on rateable value, so generally the bigger the property, the more it costs. It's never based on how many people live there. However, because our property has a highish rateable value, our water bill actually decreased when we had a meter fitted.
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Let's hope that the UK has a very mild spring and heating can be off in April.
“It's still magic even if you know how it's done.”
Triple glazing has come on a lot in the last 10 years - performance, especially the frames, have improved and the costs have come down. Most new windows can actually accept three panes of glass now, so you're only really paying for extra glass and not for a completely different frame, as used to be the case.
They are relatively heavy, so as a DIY you have to have a plan.
Finding decent installers for windows is a nightmare - not just triple glazing. They go bust so fast and their staff turnover is horrendous.
When we get to do ours, I'll probably buy them from the green building store (I have no connection) and do it one at a time, so not too much money is sitting with the supplier at any time.
“It's still magic even if you know how it's done.”
I am still surprised by householders who leave various gadgets on "stand by" rather than switching off when not in use. It may not save you a huge amount but it can help over time.
I've always been used to metred water ( in Europe ) and more recently in the UK as my properties were/are ex commercial and are therefore metred . Rather like the Council tax, the charges do not take account of the number of people in the household. My NDN's are 4 working adults - their water isn't metered and they quite readily admit that they don't want a meter as they would be paying more. The Council tax is the same - 4 earners paying the same as 2 non earners.
I think, given that dreadful phrase in constant use ( Levelling Up ), the Govt may like to start with the basics
“It's still magic even if you know how it's done.”
Anyway, I'm not too bothered, we don't have a good mobile signal here so I understand we can't have a smart meter fitted.
Water rates are based on rateable value, so generally the bigger the property, the more it costs. It's never based on how many people live there. However, because our property has a highish rateable value, our water bill actually decreased when we had a meter fitted.