Saving energy: facts, figures and ideas required

JohnB · Post by **JohnB** » 07 Aug 2008, 23:40

If cat flaps are such a problem, what about dog flaps

Adam1 · Post by **Adam1** » 08 Aug 2008, 00:54

Vortex wrote:

I was reading Andy's post about a cat in space suit on the previous page and as I clicked "Next", I just knew you would have posted a picture of a cat in a spacesuit.

Adam1 · Post by **Adam1** » 08 Aug 2008, 00:57

On food storage temperatures, 5C is supposed to be maximum for keeping the bacteria growth rate down. I don't think that the curve is linear, although I guess it depends on which bacteria.

Plus, this link gives figures for Scottish households' electricity consumption:

http://www.esru.strath.ac.uk/EandE/Web_ ... fo/hec.htm

tomhitchman · Post by **tomhitchman** » 08 Aug 2008, 12:50

funny, the example bill they had was from winter 2001/2 and electricity was 6.8p/kwhr and am currently paying about 12.6p, I wonder when the current price will look quaint?

RenewableCandy · Post by **RenewableCandy** » 08 Aug 2008, 13:12

tomhitchman wrote:funny, the example bill they had was from winter 2001/2 and electricity was 6.8p/kwhr and am currently paying about 12.6p, I wonder when the current price will look quaint?

When I were a lass you could 'eat a whole mansion in Leeds to 90 Farenheit all year round and still get change from a fiver...

skeptik · Post by **skeptik** » 08 Aug 2008, 14:31

SunnyJim wrote: edit: Also our bloody cat flap seems a weak spot. I don't know what to do about that. Maybe make a cat house in the garden for the cat?

In that it blows open admitting a howling gale when the wind is in the right direction? Buy one that locks, the sort that gets temporarily unlocked by a small widget which you attach to your cats collar. Also has the benefit of keeping stray moggies out of your cats food bowl.

Post by **adam2** » 18 Aug 2008, 14:48

maryb wrote:re the cat flap, you can get flaps which only open in response to a signal emitted by a small transmitter on the cat's collar (assumes your cat will wear a collar, of course). This cuts down a lot on draughts but probably wouldn't stop it being a cold bridge.

Beware the law of unintended consequences, some years ago a neighbour installed a battery operated cat flap that opened when the transmitter attached to the cats collar was nearby.
The cat soon learnt this, and sat just inside the door, thus keeping it open.
The cat could thereby sit in the warm, on carpet whilst observing the outside world.
Not much of a fuel saving there!

RenewableCandy · Post by **RenewableCandy** » 27 Aug 2008, 22:05

Adam1 wrote: Plus, this link gives figures for Scottish households' electricity consumption:

http://www.esru.strath.ac.uk/EandE/Web_ ... fo/hec.htm

Strathclyde researchers wrote: 1. Working Couple - 4,117 kWh electricity
2. Single Person - 3,084 kWh electricity
3. Family with two children - 5,480 kWh electricity
(Parents working, children at school)

Blimey what are they doing?.. I thought we were bad with our 3200 kWh per year...but then perhaps all the poor bods with electric heating have been lumped in with everybody else, that would bump the average up.