Energy costs make you look at things

[Routy56]

If I show me mine will you show me yours - solar stuff that is

This is my 16 panel, 4kw solar farm, facing almost south. Installed in 2015 and has paid for itself over and over again

And this is my DIY battery storage system. In the summer, we store enough to keep the house going 24/7.
In the winter, we charge it up on cheap rate electric.
Got plans to further add to the capacity.

And finally, here is a summer screenshot of the App showing what's going on

And this is me last week beefing up our loft insulation with 'Itchy and Scratchy'.
Cleared the loft of all crap and the standard 100mm was topped up to 270mm.
Installed some OSB board walks with 100mm of Celotex.
House feels warmer already

So there you go guys, this thread popped up with that new boiler install, but it's really about energy costs.
And with the energy cap changing again in January '26, we all need to review how much energy we are using.
So go on show us all your energy saving stuff

 

[Lancs Lad]

Random aside....I'm back

Bought this battery "generator" a few weeks ago .
So far I'm very impressed. Been running 6 festoons on a job with it to save a Genny.
Then yesterday....had a run out to test my new starlink foc kit.. absolute signal dead spot in the bowland fells. Got a video call np.
Next job to get some panels to charge it

How many Jimny's have Wi-Fi

 

[V8Druid]

If I show me mine will you show me yours - solar stuff that is
View attachment 77635
This is my 16 panel, 4kw solar farm, facing almost south. Installed in 2015 and has paid for itself over and over again

View attachment 77636
And this is my DIY battery storage system. In the summer, we store enough to keep the house going 24/7.
In the winter, we charge it up on cheap rate electric.
Got plans to further add to the capacity.
View attachment 77637
And finally, here is a summer screenshot of the App showing what's going on

View attachment 77638
And this is me last week beefing up our loft insulation with 'Itchy and Scratchy'.
Cleared the loft of all crap and the standard 100mm was topped up to 270mm.
Installed some OSB board walks with 100mm of Celotex.
House feels warmer already

So there you go guys, this thread popped up with that new boiler install, but it's really about energy costs.
And with the energy cap changing again in January '26, we all need to review how much energy we are using.
So go on show us all your energy saving stuff

looks 'spensive

 

[Routy56]

looks 'spensive

Yep but ‘cos I’m a techie guy I saved a fortune going down the DIY route
Whereas lots of people are installing Tesla Powerwall and other expensive batteries. Payback on these are a lot less. Especially when the skys are grey

 

[V8Druid]

Yep but ‘cos I’m a techie guy I saved a fortune going down the DIY route
Whereas lots of people are installing Tesla Powerwall and other expensive batteries. Payback on these are a lot less. Especially when the skys are grey

nice to have the knowledge and be able to apply it Dave .... not something I've ever taken interest in, so know sod all about it

 

[6feetdown]

If I show me mine will you show me yours - solar stuff that is
View attachment 77635
This is my 16 panel, 4kw solar farm, facing almost south. Installed in 2015 and has paid for itself over and over again

View attachment 77636
And this is my DIY battery storage system. In the summer, we store enough to keep the house going 24/7.
In the winter, we charge it up on cheap rate electric.
Got plans to further add to the capacity.
View attachment 77637
And finally, here is a summer screenshot of the App showing what's going on

View attachment 77638
And this is me last week beefing up our loft insulation with 'Itchy and Scratchy'.
Cleared the loft of all crap and the standard 100mm was topped up to 270mm.
Installed some OSB board walks with 100mm of Celotex.
House feels warmer already

So there you go guys, this thread popped up with that new boiler install, but it's really about energy costs.
And with the energy cap changing again in January '26, we all need to review how much energy we are using.
So go on show us all your energy saving stuff

Here's 1 similar to mine

 

[bobthebuilder]

I put 6 kw on the roof last year ,kit cost 1600,,saved about 600 quid this year (might have a meter that might go backwards)
Insulation in attic is full,plus 20 ton of firewood

 

[Routy56]

I put 6 kw on the roof last year ,kit cost 1600,,saved about 600 quid this year (might have a meter that might go backwards)
Insulation in attic is full,plus 20 ton of firewood

Superb a man after my own heart
Now gonna have to show y’all photos of my logs

 

[Stroppymonkey]

If I show me mine will you show me yours - solar stuff that is
View attachment 77635
This is my 16 panel, 4kw solar farm, facing almost south. Installed in 2015 and has paid for itself over and over again

View attachment 77636
And this is my DIY battery storage system. In the summer, we store enough to keep the house going 24/7.
In the winter, we charge it up on cheap rate electric.
Got plans to further add to the capacity.
View attachment 77637
And finally, here is a summer screenshot of the App showing what's going on

View attachment 77638
And this is me last week beefing up our loft insulation with 'Itchy and Scratchy'.
Cleared the loft of all crap and the standard 100mm was topped up to 270mm.
Installed some OSB board walks with 100mm of Celotex.
House feels warmer already

So there you go guys, this thread popped up with that new boiler install, but it's really about energy costs.
And with the energy cap changing again in January '26, we all need to review how much energy we are using.
So go on show us all your energy saving stuff

Fabric First is the rule!

 

[Routy56]

Here's 1 similar to mine

Oi - are you gonna hijack the thread with some sort of fashion show

 

[6feetdown]

Superb a man after my own heart
Now gonna have to show y’all photos of my logs

Noooo don't show me your logs

 

[Routy56]

Fabric First is the rule!

More like the rule of ‘touching cloth’

 

[Routy56]

Noooo don't show me your logs

These are my logs ready to meet Mr. Stihl
Sorry to disappoint you

 

[Routy56]

And these are my split logs ready for the log burner

And these are my logs stored up my back passage also ready for the log burner

 

[bobthebuilder]

View attachment 77686And these are my split logs ready for the log burner View attachment 77687
And these are my logs stored up my back passage also ready for the log burner

I have 16 of these things full of beech, ash and oak.abiut 2 and a bit cube in each one

 

[Grahams]

I've been looking at electricity usage at home to try and work out how I'm spending so much. One thing I have come across is an electric water heater in my office that is on 24/7. Ideally I would like to switch it off when the office is unoccupied, but it is not convenient to get at, so would like to fit a smart plug to control it. It is currently hard wired. Is there any issue with changing this to a three pin plug?

 

[V8Druid]

I've been looking at electricity usage at home to try and work out how I'm spending so much. One thing I have come across is an electric water heater in my office that is on 24/7. Ideally I would like to switch it off when the office is unoccupied, but it is not convenient to get at, so would like to fit a smart plug to control it. It is currently hard wired. Is there any issue with changing this to a three pin plug? View attachment 78055

only 2Kw so'd be fine off a 13A plug --- why not put a timer on it ? only on when you're there/whatever and could set it to just come on for say an hour, every 4-ish hours .. and manually override if need be
and yes it'll be chomping through your leccy, tripping in/out to maintain the water temp. at the set level (prob.s 80+C)

 

[Lancs Lad]

only 2Kw so'd be fine off a 13A plug --- why not put a timer on it ? only on when you're there/whatever and could set it to just come on for say an hour, every 4-ish hours .. and manually override if need be
and yes it'll be chomping through your leccy, tripping in/out to maintain the water temp. at the set level (prob.s 80+C)

Exactly. Prob better hardwired though but you'll be able to get timer...or even better tie it in to an occupancy switch

 

[Canal Navvy]

Looks like you can get wi-fi controlled fused spurs

 

[DaveDCB]

I've been looking at electricity usage at home to try and work out how I'm spending so much. One thing I have come across is an electric water heater in my office that is on 24/7. Ideally I would like to switch it off when the office is unoccupied, but it is not convenient to get at, so would like to fit a smart plug to control it. It is currently hard wired. Is there any issue with changing this to a three pin plug? View attachment 78055

Got the same I’m my office, just switch on when in there.. just move the switch somewhere handy