Trying to be Green

Took my electricity reading on Saturday and it was 41634, meaning we’d only used 100 units this week.  Giving me a daily average of 14.3kWh.  Only a few weeks ago this was at 23.9kWh.  So it was the kitchen heating and our dodgy old washing machine.  I wonder how much lower I can get it?

My boots have been fixed and they are almost as good as new.  It cost £12 - a lot cheaper than a new pair.  And I get to keep my lovely boots for another year or two.

It is a beautiful day today and cycling was a joy rather than a chore.  I had only a small backpack and wasn’t laden down.  I experienced no scary cars trying to run me over and I’m better at not falling off at junctions.  It felt good

My latest reading is 41407. Which gives me an average daily reading of 16.9 kWH per day. A staggering 5 kWH down per day.

Now I thought at first that this was just the washing machine and I’m sure this has had some effect BUT I changed something else and I think this is far more important (sadly). I turned the electric underfloor heating in the kitchen down 3′ and I think this is what eats all our electricity. In fact I’m sure of it.

Our bills have been getting a lot higher since Christmas. And I remember having a conversation with my mother-in-law that involved her declaring our kitchen floor too cold and recommending we get carpets. And then I turned the thermostat up loads - just to show her!

So I think its our underfloor heating thats the problem. I haven’t noticed it being any colder now that I’ve turned it down but then its warmer now and I’m not sure I’d have welcomed it in the dead of winter. I have turned it back up now for the next week so that I can check its the cause.

I cycled to work for the first time ever this week. The cycling itself was quite easy but the logistics have been anything but.

About a month ago I decided it would be a good idea. So then I spent £55 getting it serviced and getting mudguards fitted. I didn’t want to wear a helmet - no-one else I know wears one - but in the end I bought a cheap one in halfords together with some lovely fluorescent cycle clips and a lock. You definitely can’t be a safe AND cool cyclist.

Then I was all set to go I thought. But when I went to leave on my first morning I packed my bag - laptop, lunch and handbag and I realised it was just to heavy and I would topple off (I’m already a bit wobbly with nothing to carry). My laptop is a big beast - but I can’t work without it so I almost gave up there and then.

After feeling totally defeated for a week I finally perservered and came up with a new plan. I could take an old computer to work and not lug the laptop around at all. This was actually quite a good idea - I don’t really need it to be portable when I’m in the office. So after a day of setting it up I was all set at work.

Finally I did a couple of test runs on a quiet Sunday afternoon - I haven’t cycled for 4 years - I was ready to go.

I enjoyed the cycle itself and didn’t seem to be too much of a chore (when its not raining) but whether it was worth the expense (£75 so far, and I already owned quite a good bike) and effort (have had to completely re-organise the children’s computer so that I can steal bits for work), I will let you know.