My averaged electricity consumption

[Ivan]

I found a note I'd left for myself by my electricity meter - showing the readings on 1st October 2009:

Import: 37901, Export: 311.

I checked the readings this evening:

Import:40058, Export: 2209

Which means that since 1st October 2009, on average I've been a net importer of 0.5kWh/day.

In 2009 I had only 1.3kW of PV. In March 2010 I had a further 2.3kW or so added, so I presume I am now a net exporter. All I've got to do now is find a way of not running a car, being a net exporter of gas, net producer of food and I'm sorted!

[HalcyonRichard]

Hi Ivan,
        Congratulations ! It must be quite satisfying being self reliant for electricity. It's in my plan
 - after I move house. I probably grow/produce 15% of my food requirements and plan to
increase this with more space and time. Transport and heating are the biggest ones though.
I have been thinking about the best way forward. I average about 5000 miles a year and do
not own a car. A car produces vast amounts of waste heat but to capture and use this would
be difficult. I do not know how practical this idea is at the moment but it would reduce
fuel usage and cost.

Using a diesel generator to charge an electric car would allow the waste heat to be used
for space and water heating. This would save the gas requirement. Also as the fuel is not
directly for a road vehicle it should save tax currently 60% + on diesel. So using heating
oil or waste vegetable oil would save cost. By reducing usage it may be possible to be self
sufficient in heating and transport.

Regards Richard

[qeipl]

Ivan,

I'm nearly all electric (heating, cooking, etc.) and the net cost of electricity for January was £1.73.
All thanks to my Navitron 750W hydro generator and a healthy dose of rain.

It's a wonderful feeling.

Malcolm

[jotec]

Ivan
Get the CHP going on veg oil and use that to charge the car - though bio diesel at 20ppl is almost carbon neutral and 'almost' free.

Out CHP is running more electric than we are using and supplying most of mothers, it supplies all the background heat for the house, heats the bio processor and will soon be heating the greenhouse (not all at teh same time!). Both cars are on bio so I claim we are carbon neutral and, when the ROCs are paid, energy free . Just need to make sure that I don't loose any WVO suppliers!
Dick

[mespilus]

being a net exporter of gas,

As a fellow non-meat eater,
I am certain that on a few days a year I am a net exporter of gas.......

which unfortunately just adds to the burden of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.

[Ivan]

Dick, Do you do guided tours? I must come up and see your set up sometime as you're not far away.

Mesphilus, Don't worry the cows that you would have eaten fart far more in an hour than you would during a week.

Malcolm, I wish I had a water supply! A GSHP running from the hydro would quadruple the heat input, if you needed it, but you'd probably need to have the hydro grid-linked in order to cope with the start-up current.

Richard, Growing your own food is a real challenge. I met a couple in Ireland who grew almost all their own food. It was a full time job for both of them, and required a lot of area including a huge polytunnel. Certainly a worthwhile challenge, as I'm sure the food-miles and intensive farming represent a good proportion of our overall CO2 production.

[jotec]

You are very welcome to come and see it.
Just  pm me for the phone number and give me a ring so I can give you the directions for the last few hundred yards.
Dick