Average household electricity consumption 2014

An older type fridge or chest freezer will be about 4kwh per 24 hours.
Newer models can do around 1kwh per 24 hours, depending on use.

Just remember that a small load, like a PC running 24hours per day, can use way more electricity than any geyser.
300w x 24 hours = 7.2kwh !!!
 
wetkit said:
An older type fridge or chest freezer will be about 4kwh per 24 hours.
Newer models can do around 1kwh per 24 hours, depending on use.

Just remember that a small load, like a PC running 24hours per day, can use way more electricity than any geyser.
300w x 24 hours = 7.2kwh !!!
Click to expand...

Interesting.. Noted a fridge at the store yesterday claiming to use <300 kwh per year (which would work out to 25 a month, or 0.8 a day) which is obviously not going to be minimum usage. Might be worth a shot once the December bonus rolls in
 
could start a whole thread on this!

Debeer165 said:
How much of a consumption difference is there between a modern fridge and a very old one? ie pre-2000 model.
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I had that same thought a few months ago, so I wrote an article on it!
http://blog.homebug.co.za/?p=48

It depends on the size/shape etc. but for a pretty standard 6ft high fridge-freezer
Now = 200-300kWh/yr (depending on how much you spend)
4 years ago = 600kWh/yr
10 years ago = 800kWh/yr
Pre 2000 -- likely over 1000kWh/yr -- but could be higher still.
With those numbers, it's probably not worth replacing JUST for the energy savings unless it's very old (paying R7000+ to save around R400, probably not worth it, but maybe if you'll be saving R1000/yr?!)
Most important thing, if you ask me, is to not bother leaving a 'spare' fridge on for your beers... cuz it will cost more than the beer! That old Pre-2000 fridge above probably costs around R40/week to keep cold. Just go to the pub instead :)

This American guy has written a lot more on it:
http://michaelbluejay.com/electricity/refrigerators.html
and there's also this other stuff from the states:
https://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?fuseaction=refrig.calculator
 
richjdavies said:
I had that same thought a few months ago, so I wrote an article on it!
http://blog.homebug.co.za/?p=48

It depends on the size/shape etc. but for a pretty standard 6ft high fridge-freezer
Now = 200-300kWh/yr (depending on how much you spend)
4 years ago = 600kWh/yr
10 years ago = 800kWh/yr
Pre 2000 -- likely over 1000kWh/yr -- but could be higher still.
With those numbers, it's probably not worth replacing JUST for the energy savings unless it's very old (paying R7000+ to save around R400, probably not worth it, but maybe if you'll be saving R1000/yr?!)
Most important thing, if you ask me, is to not bother leaving a 'spare' fridge on for your beers... cuz it will cost more than the beer! That old Pre-2000 fridge above probably costs around R40/week to keep cold. Just go to the pub instead :)

This American guy has written a lot more on it:
http://michaelbluejay.com/electricity/refrigerators.html
and there's also this other stuff from the states:
https://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?fuseaction=refrig.calculator
Click to expand...

Hmmm. How much would it cost to buy some form of energy meter to test how much the fridge actually draws? I'm assuming you get something that you can just route the power through and it will measure it like so?

But from those numbers, it seems worthwhile to replace them since both main fridges (and one flat freezer) are pre-2000 models.

EDIT: Assuming 1000kwh/y to 300kwh/y, that works out to R959 savings. At purchase price of 5k, it works out to 20% "interest" a year (non compounding obviously), so easily worthwhile compared to general financial investment
 
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Couple hundred bucks. There's an ellies energy plug meter available at builders warehouse.
 
So the first 15 days on the geyser timers and LED downlights... Averaging about 19KW a day now. Looks like the 900KW a month should go down to about 580-700KW and hopefully stay there.

The one geyser timer broke though, and have to replace it. So the 19kw per day should go up to about 23kw there about.

NEVER Buy these MAJOR TEch geyser Timers. They are cr@p! Rather buy the more expensive ellies ones.
 
SFourie_15 said:
So the first 15 days on the geyser timers and LED downlights... Averaging about 19KW a day now. Looks like the 900KW a month should go down to about 580-700KW and hopefully stay there.

The one geyser timer broke though, and have to replace it. So the 19kw per day should go up to about 23kw there about.

NEVER Buy these MAJOR TEch geyser Timers. They are cr@p! Rather buy the more expensive ellies ones.
Click to expand...
It would be funny if your consumption actually went down after your timer broke.
 
Jakes147 said:
It would be funny if your consumption actually went down after your timer broke.
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Got two geysers. The larger one's timer broke so now Flatlet and Kitchen without hot water. Electrician is coming to sort it out this week.

So i reckon when the geyser is up and running again, the consumption will pick up daily from 19kw now to about 23kw a day. Which gives me an average of about 690-700kw for the month.
 
Ok, so what do you all feel would be your maximum consumption at any point. How expensive would it be to replace the majority of this usage, for example 50% solar generation, a solar geyser, gas hob, etc.?
 
phaktza said:
Ok, so what do you all feel would be your maximum consumption at any point. How expensive would it be to replace the majority of this usage, for example 50% solar generation, a solar geyser, gas hob, etc.?
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Taking a wild guess 70k I'd say. 15k for geyser, 10k for gas hob. Leaving 50k for panels, batteries, regulators etc.
 
HavocXphere said:
Taking a wild guess 70k I'd say. 15k for geyser, 10k for gas hob. Leaving 50k for panels, batteries, regulators etc.
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Surely even 100k is reasonable as it's an asset that should be recovered in the sale. Indeed if left long enough you should have already recovered the initial investment?
 
phaktza said:
Surely even 100k is reasonable as it's an asset that should be recovered in the sale. Indeed if left long enough you should have already recovered the initial investment?
Click to expand...
Just keep in mind that you'd need to replace the batteries occasionally.
 
Slight resurrection on this one.

Just wanted to know if someone could tell me whether these readings are high/average. Been having issues with CoJ (as is everyone) with my account, but besides the nonsense I would like to bring my consumption down.

June - Electrivity: -30 day actual reading - used 1,166 KwH (38, 86 average pd)
Water: - 36 day reading - 29, 00Kl (0.806 average pd)

July - Electircity: -34 day actual reading - used 1, 225 KwH (36 average pd)
Water: - 36 day reading - 30, 00Kl (0.833 average pd)

August - Electricity: - 27 day reading - used 1, 084 KwH (40, 14 average pd)
Water: 28 day reading: 30, 00Kl (1, 071 average pd)

This is for two adults and a five year old, 3 bedroom house. Pool pump only runs for like 6 hours once a week. Have two geyers (but one turned off for the flatlet that is empty). All downlights are 3W LED, A++ fridge. My Sammy D550 plasma is probably a killer, but I love her.

Always thought my water consumption is very high. I have checked the meter, it doesn't run if all taps are off. Any tips from anyone to get my consumption down would be appriciated. I read earlier in the thread about a timer on a geyser. Some people were for it and other said it wouldn't make a difference. Whats the call on this? Has anyone put a solar geyser in lately who could tell me there savings and costs?
 
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Those numbers are ridiculous
We're 2 adults, 2 toddlers and 2 dogs - water is less than 8kl per month, electricity is around 450 units. My guess is the water is going into your garden/pool.
 
TRZ214, those readings do look on the high side, but not way out.
1st, get yourself an Energy meter and connect to your mains. This way you can monitor your usage and see when power is used.

A 1000L per day is not very hard a get to.
Start by taking readings every day at the same time to see if you can detect a pattern, like washdays...
Washing crockery by hand in a basin sometimes can use more water than a dishwasher.
Toilets also use a LOT of water.
 
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