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Disclaimer: Information on this page was last updated on 12/23/2022 at 13:30:22
People talk about reducing energy use, but do you know how much energy you actually use? How much should or can you reduce? Comparing your usage to the national average can help you see if you need to cut back more than you think.
How to calculate energy consumption
Energy use refers to the amount of gas and electricity you use in kilowatt hours (kWh). It is usually calculated monthly or annually, and it is very easy to calculate yours.
To find out your energy consumption in kWh, just click(watts x hours)/1000
For example, if you use a 60w bulb for one hour, your usage will be (60 x 1)/1000 = 0.06kWh. Of course, your usage is usually calculated daily, monthly, or yearly instead of hourly, taking more than one bulb into account.
If you have a smart meter, you can find out your energy use on your home screen. It will show you your gas and electricity usage for the last day, month and year, as well as in real time. You can see it in kWh and monetary terms, which can help you understand where your money is going and how much energy you're using.
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What affects your energy consumption?
There are all kinds of different things that would affect your usage and therefore how much you're paying for gas and electricity. By knowing what affects your energy use, it's easier to see where or if and how you can reduce.
time of the year
Everyone uses more gas and electricity during the winter. According to National Grid, we use 30% more gas and 25% more electricity than in the summer.
The obvious reason for this is that we spend more time indoors with the heating on. However, with the darker nights, we also need more lights on for longer than during the summer.
As we use more energy during the winter, the government has come up with a scheme to help low-income and vulnerable families pay their higher winter bills – the Warm Home discount. If you're eligible for the Warm Home discount, you can receive a one-time payment of £140 to cover your energy bills from September to March.
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Amount of people
The more people living in your home, the more appliances you'll be running, the more lights you'll need, and the more showers you'll take. In general, the more people, the more energy is used.
While its usage increases with each additional person, it won't double just because there are twice as many people. There will be appliances that will be used more than others, but there will also be appliances that will be used in almost the same way as if only one person lived. For example, your refrigerator will stay on for the same amount of time, your oven will stay on every day, and you can easily share appliances like TVs, game consoles, etc.
Home appliances
Large appliances like washing machines, dishwashers, and dryers use a lot of energy every time you use them. How often you use them can have a big impact on your overall energy use.
It's not just the number of times you use these appliances that will make a difference – their energy efficiency will also have a big impact. Older machines tend to be much less energy efficient than newer ones, so they use more power when you use them. Keep an eye on energy efficiency when shopping for new appliances to help you downsize and save money.
Isolation
The amount of insulation you have affects your home's ability to retain heat. Poor insulation can mean your home takes longer to heat up and it's harder to maintain the right temperature, meaning you need to heat more often and for longer.
If you're looking to improve your insulation, there are a number of grants available to help cover some or all of the costs, such as the Green Homes Grant, the ECO Scheme and the Affordable Warmth Scheme.
Number of rooms
Energy companies often ask how many rooms your home has to get a good idea of the size and amount of energy you will use. The number of rooms tends to also represent the number of people in the house, which is another determinant of energy use.
The bigger the house, the longer it will take to heat up, which means the heating needs to stay on longer. There will also be more outlets, meaning more devices can be plugged in and used at the same time.
Night and weekend use
The energy usage estimate will largely depend on nighttime and weekend usage. Since most people will be working, less energy is generally used during the week and more in the evenings and on weekends.
This is especially important to know when using dual rate rates and meters, like Economy 7 and 10, if you can use your power off-peak.
What is the average usage in the UK?
You may hear usage referred to as typical household consumption values (TDCV), but that just means average household energy use.
The energy regulator, Ofgem, uses data from the last two years to calculate average usage in the UK. Compares total energy usage and averages it to create three groups of users: low, medium, and high.
It's worth remembering that these averages take everyone's usage into account, for example, if your home runs on electricity only, you may rank higher than someone in the same circumstances with gas-powered appliances.
What is the average electricity consumption?
Electricity usage is divided into two averages: profile class 01 and profile class 02 (this will be the first number in your MPAN). Profile class 02 is for people inEconomic 7 metersas they use different amounts of energy at different times and tend to use much more electricity than gas.
| level of use | Profile class 01 | Class Profile 02 |
|---|---|---|
| Under | 1800kWh/year | 2400kWh/year |
| Average | 2900kWh/re | 4200kWh/year |
| Alto | 4300kWh/year | 7100kWh/year |
What is the average gasoline consumption?
There is only one average for gas:
| level of use | average usage |
|---|---|
| Under | 8000kWh/again |
| Average | 12000kWh/year |
| Alto | 17000kWh/year |
Theoretically, you should be in the same range for electricity and gas, however this is not always the case.
What is the average gas and electricity bill in the UK?
Using Ofgem's Typical Household Consumption Figures, we can roughly calculate what the average gas and electricity bill is per year.
| level of use | gas bill | Electricity bill | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under | £ 408 | £ 396 | £ 804 |
| Average | £ 588 | £ 576 | £ 1164 |
| Alto | £ 840 | £ 792 | £ 1.632 |
How to reduce energy consumption
Reducing energy consumption is not only good for your wallet, but also for the environment. In a world where improving our environmental impact is vital, we should all think about reducing.
There are several different ways to improve energy use:
- turn down your thermostat– Heating your house consumes a lot of energy, but would you notice if it was 1 or 2 degrees lower? Every grade you drop can save you an average of £80 a year.
- Move furniture and curtains away from radiators.– Having radiators blocked by furniture and curtains traps heat. Make sure your radiators are clear to ensure the room heats up properly.
- Take shorter showers– While showers tend to use much less water and energy than a bath, longer ones may mean you aren't saving anything.
- Turn off the lights when you leave the room.– This is obvious, but it is something that is often overlooked. Unless you're moving into the room again, make sure the lights you don't need are turned off and you could save around £50-90 a year.
- Change for LED bulbs– LED bulbs are more energy efficient than halogen bulbs and are often brighter as well. Have you noticed car headlights getting brighter? This is thanks to the LEDs.
- improve insulation- Improved insulation can retain heat more easily, which means it takes much less time to stay warm. There are several grants available for insulation upgrades to keep it from being so expensive as well.
- Upgrade to energy efficient appliances– The more energy efficient your appliances are, the less energy they will consume. This is especially important for large appliances such as washing machines, dishwashers, and refrigerators, which often use a lot of energy in operation.
- Unplug devices when fully charged– Your charger may still be drawing power, especially if your device or charger has an LED to show that it is in use.
- Use the correct cooking ring for your pan– If you try to heat a large pan in a small ring, it will take longer to heat properly. If you're using a small pot on a large stove, you're not using all the heat it provides.
- Upgrade to a smart meter– Smart meters can help you track and make you more aware of how much energy you are using. It can also help you see how much it costs you to operate each device.
- Invest in renewable energy– Installing solar panels or a small wind turbine on your home can mean you are making money from energy instead of wasting it. If you produce more energy than you use, you may be paid to send unused energy back to National Grid.
- Air dry instead of tumble dry.– Air drying uses no energy, while a tumble dryer consumes a lot of energy, even if it is a more energy efficient model.
- Make sure the whole family cuts with you.– When the whole family is working to reduce energy consumption, much more can be saved than if it were just one person cutting. Educate everyone on ways they can cut back and make the most of their savings.
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