Reducing electricity costs

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Salmank

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Boksburg
Hi,

Will appreciate if someone can please help me with this:

We own a filling station and ise about 6000 kwh a month.

Whats the best way to reduce electricity costs? Net-metering, solar panels? Or anything else?

Thanks,

Salman
 
A filling station with a forecourt as well?

Is 6000kwh excessive for such a setup, or do you just want to pay less?
 
Look at your lighting - LED
Air Conditioning - Inverter and Insulation
Fridges - More energy efficient models (check the seals, and if the doors close properly)
 
Solar panels might be worth it to offset some of the power as you probably consume much of the power during daytime. You can always add energy storage later. Ironic really as you sell energy storage in the form of fuel.
 
The_MAC said:
Look at your lighting - LED
Air Conditioning - Inverter and Insulation
Fridges - More energy efficient models (check the seals, and if the doors close properly)
Click to expand...

Its more the pumps that pull, and the flourascents on the canopy.
 
So not sure what you want us to tell you here. The pumps and lighting will use what they use.
 
Firstly you need to figure out where you are using the electricity, get an accurate breakdown. Only once you understand how its being consumed then you start to formulate a plan to started saving.
 
Slootvreter said:
So not sure what you want us to tell you here. The pumps and lighting will use what they use.
Click to expand...

We are using so much, so is it cheaper to just pay the council? Or, will it be better to put solar panels? Or is Net metering a better option?

Same usage, but how do we save on the electricity bill?
 
Salmank said:
We are using so much, so is it cheaper to just pay the council? Or, will it be better to put solar panels? Or is Net metering a better option?

Same usage, but how do we save on the electricity bill?
Click to expand...

Solar Panels will definitely reduce your costs? How is that even a question?
 
One of the petrol stations near me switches off their compressed air at night. I don't know if this is for the noise or the electricity
 
Instead of storing fuel underground and using electricity to pump it up, install a giant tank in the roof and let gravity do the pumping.

Install mini hydropower wheels between the roof tank and outlets to produce power via fuel flow.

When the time comes to refill the roof tank, don't use electricity to pump up, train pigeons and/or eagles to airdrop buckets of fuel.
 
3WA said:
Instead of storing fuel underground and using electricity to pump it up, install a giant tank in the roof and let gravity do the pumping.

Install mini hydropower wheels between the roof tank and outlets to produce power via fuel flow.

When the time comes to refill the roof tank, don't use electricity to pump up, train pigeons and/or eagles to airdrop buckets of fuel.
Click to expand...
Imagine the Hazmat team on standby should the pigeons miss.

On a more serious note, led and solar is the way to go. Maybe even a solar geyser for the toilet although I don't think this will make a big difference.

For a quick fix maybe put some of the lights on PIRs like you see in undercover parking lots
 
bromster said:
One of the petrol stations near me switches off their compressed air at night. I don't know if this is for the noise or the electricity
Click to expand...
The air is already compressed and stored so my guess would be noise. Large tank can pump quite a few wheels before the compressor kicks in
 
1st thing to do is install a power meter.
From this meter you will be able to see when you using power and how much you using at any give time.
That data is extremely important for a solar system.
From that you will know the correct sized solar array to install and how much it would save you.

Netmetering alone will not save you electricity. It is just a meter that allows you to export power back to the grid, but it is much better just to offset your own usage. You get very poor returns on your exported power.

What type of lights do you have in the forecourt? Normally that is Mercury Vapor fittings. Now those things is extremely poor for light output versus power consumed.
Also if they stay on 24/7, cause you might be too lazy to switch off.
Replace those with LED lights and you will see an immediate improvement!!!
 
3WA said:
Instead of storing fuel underground and using electricity to pump it up, install a giant tank in the roof and let gravity do the pumping.

Install mini hydropower wheels between the roof tank and outlets to produce power via fuel flow.

When the time comes to refill the roof tank, don't use electricity to pump up, train pigeons and/or eagles to airdrop buckets of fuel.
Click to expand...

I'm sure there is a pretty good reason why the fuel is stored in special tanks underneath the ground.

Good idea using pigeons though! :D
 
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