When I got my power bill this time last year I was alarmed at the power usage during winter. I was using my split system to heat the house during waking hours. But used a small electric heater on thermostat during the nights to take the chill off the air. Such heaters are far from efficient which I have proven as my power saving experiment has come to fruition.
This winter I threw out all my portable electric heaters and used only my split system for heating. Maximum 21 degrees. Mostly it was on 18-20. At nights I left it on with low fan speed and temp set on 16 or 17. I also fitted anti-draught rollers to my two outside doors and installed foam seals around their edges. I should also mention that I took advantage of the Murray Energy scheme which includes free replacement of all globes with compact fluoros. I’m sure the globes would have helped to reduce power consumption, but they were by no means the major contributor.
These changes reduced my energy usage by 619 kWh for the May-August cycle, compared with last year. This equates to a saving of just over $100 for a quarter, which is quite significant.
The graphs don’t lie (pulled straight from the Country Energy website). Compare the three August readings. The first one was before my split system went in and I was using the house’s ancient electric heater. The last two reflect the results of my experiment.
I was truly relieved to see this graph, as using the split system at night was a bit of a gamble. But it has paid off, literally.
While we’re on the topic, I measured the temperature of my hot water out of the tap at 70 degrees C a few weeks ago. What’s yours? Leave it in the comments.
This afternoon, a spectacular hailstorm blew in and out of Deni in the space of 30 minutes. I took some snaps and a video. A warning to sensitive viewers the video unintentionally captured a very disoriented parrot.
Oh yeah, and I totally *heart* iMovie for being easy to use and for having built-in YouTube uploading.
But waaaaah! The power went off and I missed Avatar :’-(
Just a quick blog entry via the unsecured wireless I found at Mum’s :-) Saw an awesome sunset tonight during mine and Sam’s walk on the beach, but didn’t have my camera. I’m so cut, there were *rays* coming out from behind a cloud. It was wallpaper material I tell you! Well, maybe next time. Sam & Mum are playing 500 and I’m about to join in. I had a yummy falafel for lunch with tabouleh and all. Falafel balls were too big though. Weather here is possibly going to be a bit showery, but if we get lightning it will make up for it. There’s a big sand dune we’re gonna go down on boogie boards!
The sequel, as promised. So fun it should be illegal.
Sorry the quality looks like arse, YouTube uses arsey compression. And those clicking sounds if you’re wondering are my camera’s iris opening and closing. More pyromania here.
This week I’ve had a few random thoughts. Observe, as I now proceed to dump them ungracefully into a single post.
Achievement: I got my full licence. Yay! Ritualistic destruction of P plates successfully completed.
Annoyance: Drivers who overtake when you’re travelling at the speed limit and then leave a 0.5 second following gap. If you’re gonna overtake, get away from my car! Don’t force me to slow down and create the safe following gap.
Theory: David Duchovny is only doing that show to make himself appear less old. And possibly to offset Mulder’s extreme sexlessness.
Suggestion: Tony Robinson should start a new show called “Passion 101.” I wouldn’t say I’m hugely fascinated by history but his pure unrestrainedzeal could turn anyone into an anthropoligist.
Ambition: To sell several random bits of junk on eBay before the end of the year.
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