Power Use Report Card Jan - Mch 2010

It's full disclosure time again, when I castigate myself for using too much power or slap myself on the back for using less than the average bear. Or, usually, both.

There's a new element this year as well - 10:10. I've promised to cut my energy consumption by 10% this year which from a low base is easier said than done!

Gas Stats:

Length of Period: 90 Days

Total Usage: 180 kW/h

Average Per Day: 2 kW/h

If Applied Over The Year: 730 kW/h

Average Yearly UK Household Gas Use: 19000 kW/h

CO₂ Emissions From My Gas Use: 34.20kg

CO₂ Emissions From Gas Use Last Year: 38.38kg

Difference in Emissions: 10.9%

Electricity Stats:

Length of Period: 90 Days

Total Usage: 479 kW/h

Average Per Day: 5.32 kW/h

If Applied Over The Year: 1941.8 kW/h

Average Yearly UK Household Electricity Use: 3700 kW/h

CO₂ Emissions From My Electricity Use: 205.97 kg

CO₂ Emissions From Electricity Use Last Year: 227.9kg

Difference in Emissions: 9.6%


The drop in my gas use looks great but actually it's kind of happened despite me. Once again the boiler is playing up, so that it only works for an hour at a time. If I don't reset it, then the boiler doesn't use any gas, so no water is getting heated up when I'm not there to press the reset button.

As for my electricity use, that continues to follow my shift pattern. One thing I have started doing, though, is switching my computer onto Standby if I'm slobbed in front of the TV. If I need it, it can be switched on in seconds, but it's amazing how little you need the PC if you've got a couple of hours of crapness on the telly to amuse you.

Figures for average UK energy use and CO₂ are taken from the book How to Live a Low-Carbon Life by Chris Goodall