Click the image below to receive $50 of free power when you sign up with Powershop, all I need is your name.
For those of you who didn’t see my ‘first impression’ post, here’s a link for you.
Well, as the text in the title implies, it’s just over a month since we joined Powershop and it’s time to write a follow up on how things are going.
Last time I complained about the start up costs (of going from paying in arrears to paying in advance) and this was aweful, with another ~$150 bill hitting us during this period on our credit card. However, in terms of Powershop (and this was the only power company we actually used this month) we managed to spend $200, a drop of about $30. This was more to do with power savings than cheaper power (more on that later) but was still good.
One of my goals is to drop our monthly power bill to $150 per month year round. I plan to do this by buying power in advance during summer and autumn so that we have a big balance to be used during the winter next year. From what I can see, I’m definitely going to be able to do this.
You may also be interested in ‘Final Powershop Review – 1 Year On‘
In terms of power saving, I realised pretty quickly that I needed to know what each of my devices was using. “Why isn’t there a device I can just plug everything into and it tells me on a screen how much power it’s using” I said to Megan. Literally hours later, while going into Countdown I spotted exactly that, a simple meter for $25.
I came home and proceeded to get completely neurotic about measuring power consumption of heaps of stuff. We got power savings from things which used unusually big amounts of power, but also things which we would expect to use quite a bit of power (e.g. our LCD tv) but never really thought enough about to turn off. This has changed.
The two most interesting things for me was the PC (which uses about as much power as our 40″ LCD tv even when sitting idle, we’re now using sleep mode in Win7) and our electric heater.
What was interesting about our heater wasn’t that it used a lot (that was pretty obvious) but the impact of using the different switches. There are two switches that can be used, so three combinations, left only, right only and both. Left turned out to use 822 watts (about 18 cents an hour) the right one used 1346 watts (about 29 cents an hour) and both used 2108 watts, a wapping 46 cents an hour. So I suggested that instead of waiting for it to get really cold inside and then using both switches, we should turn the heater on earlier and just use the left switch, it has made a big difference.
So, what’s my conclusion? Powershop turns out to do exactly what it says it’s going to do. It saves you money, it makes you more aware of how much power you’re consuming and when, and it gives you a desire to use less and less power.
Ari Sargent, head of Powershop made a post a while back to stick his foot into the ‘smart meter’ debate. He advocated power users as the ‘smart meters’ using a company like Powershop. I believe he is absoloutely right, as my experience has proven out. While smart meters still have a place (understanding power consumption on devices I couldn’t get access to and turning off devices according to timings or other patterns) they shouldn’t be seen as the first step to helping people reduce their usage.
It’s pretty scary to think how much less power the country would consume if they were all on Powershop. Pretty exciting actually.
Howdy just wanted to give you a quick heads up. The words
in your post seem to be running off the screen in Firefox.
I’m not sure if this is a format issue or something to do with browser compatibility but I thought I’d post to let you know.
The style and design look great though! Hope you get the problem solved soon. Kudos
I’m really impressed with your writing skills as well as with the layout on your
blog. Is this a paid theme or did you customize it yourself?
Anyway keep up the excellent quality writing, it’s rare to see a nice
blog like this one nowadays.
Hello, I enjoy reading all of your article. I like to write a little comment to support you.
Hi there colleagues, its fantastic post about educationand completely defined,
keep it up all the time.
Hello, i feel that i saw you visited my site so i got
here to return the desire?.I’m attempting to to find issues to improve my site!I suppose its good enough to make use of
some of your ideas!!
I don’t even know how I ended up here, but I thought this post was great.
I don’t know who you are but definitely you’re going to a famous blogger if you aren’t already 😉 Cheers!
I blog quite often and I truly thank you for your content.
The article has really peaked my interest. I am going to bookmark your site and keep checking for new information about once a week.
I subscribed to your Feed too.
Very rapidly this web site will be famous among all blogging people, due to it’s pleasant posts
Attractive section of content. I just stumbled
upon your blog and in accession capital to assert that I get actually enjoyed account your blog posts.
Any way I’ll be subscribing to your augment and even I achievement
you access consistently quickly.
If you are going for finest contents like I do, simply pay a
visit this site all the time because it provides feature contents, thanks
What a data of un-ambiguity and preserveness of precious experience on the topic of unexpected
emotions.
Hello to every one, the contents present at this web page are genuinely awesome for people experience, well, keep up the nice
work fellows.
Your means of telling the whole thing in this article is in fact pleasant, every one be capable
of without difficulty understand it, Thanks
a lot.
Hey! This is my first visit to your blog! We are a collection of volunteers and starting a new project in a community
in the same niche. Your blog provided us valuable information to
work on. You have done a marvellous job!
My coder is trying to persuade me to move to .net from
PHP. I have always disliked the idea because of the expenses.
But he’s tryiong none the less. I’ve been using Movable-type
on several websites for about a year and am worried about switching to another
platform. I have heard great things about blogengine.net.
Is there a way I can transfer all my wordpress posts into
it? Any help would be really appreciated!
This post is invaluable. When can I find out more?
Informative article, exactly what I wanted to find.
My programmer is trying to persuade me to move to .net from PHP.
I have always disliked the idea because of the costs.
But he’s tryiong none the less. I’ve been using Movable-type on various websites for about a year and am worried about switching to another platform.
I have heard very good things about blogengine.net. Is there a
way I can import all my wordpress posts into
it? Any help would be really appreciated!
Very good post! We will be linking to this great content on our
site. Keep up the good writing.
Appreciate this post. Let me try it out.
I do not know if it’s just me or if everybody else encountering issues with your blog.
It looks like some of the written text within your posts are
running off the screen. Can someone else please comment and let
me know if this is happening to them as well? This might be a problem with my browser because I’ve had this happen before.
Kudos
I just like the valuable information you provide to
your articles. I will bookmark your blog and take a look at once more right here frequently.
I’m somewhat sure I’ll be informed plenty of new stuff right right here!
Good luck for the following!
Great goods from you, man. I have consider your stuff prior to and you are
just extremely wonderful. I really like what you have bought right here,
certainly like what you are stating and the way through which you say
it. You are making it entertaining and you continue to take care of to stay it smart.
I can’t wait to read far more from you. This
is actually a great web site.
I like the valuable info you provide for your articles.
I’ll bookmark your blog and check again right here regularly.
I’m somewhat sure I will learn lots of new stuff
right right here! Good luck for the following!
You can definitely see your enthusiasm within the
work you write. The world hopes for more passionate writers such
as you who are not afraid to mention how they believe. Always follow your heart.
Oh my goodness! Impressive article dude! Many thanks, However I am having problems
with your RSS. I don’t know the reason why I am unable to subscribe to it.
Is there anyone else getting identical RSS issues?
Anyone who knows the solution can you kindly respond?
Thanks!!
This is really interesting, You are a very skilled blogger.
I have joined your rss feed and look forward to seeking more
of your great post. Also, I have shared your site in my social networks!
I am really impressed with your writing skills and also
with the layout on your weblog. Is this a paid theme or did
you modify it yourself? Either way keep up the nice quality writing,
it’s rare to see a nice blog like this one today.
Excellent blog here! Additionally your website loads up fast!
What web host are you the usage of? Can I am getting your associate hyperlink for your host?
I desire my site loaded up as fast as yours lol
For newest information you have to go to see web and on internet I found this web site as a most excellent website for hottest
updates.
We stumbled over here different web address and
thought I might as well check things out. I like what I see
so now i am following you. Look forward to checking out your web page repeatedly.
Hey! I understand this is kind of off-topic but I had to ask.
Does building a well-established blog such as yours take
a large amount of work? I’m brand new to running
a blog but I do write in my journal every day.
I’d like to start a blog so I will be able to share my personal experience and thoughts online.
Please let me know if you have any ideas or tips for
brand new aspiring bloggers. Thankyou!
When I originally commented I clicked the “Notify me when new comments are added” checkbox and
now each time a comment is added I get several emails with the same comment.
Is there any way you can remove me from that service?
Bless you!
It’s the best time to make some plans for the longer term and
it is time to be happy. I’ve learn this put up and if I could I
wish to suggest you few attention-grabbing issues
or tips. Maybe you could write next articles referring to this article.
I desire to learn more things approximately it!
Thanks for ones marvelous posting! I quite enjoyed reading it,
you’re a great author. I will always bookmark your
blog and will come back at some point. I want to encourage you to definitely continue
your great writing, have a nice holiday weekend!
?????? ??????? ????????? ?????
What i do not understood is in truth how you are now not really much more
neatly-favored than you might be now. You are so intelligent.
You already know thus significantly on the subject of
this topic, made me in my view imagine it from so many
varied angles. Its like men and women are not fascinated unless it
is something to accomplish with Girl gaga! Your personal stuffs great.
Always care for it up!
This is a great tip especially to those new to the blogosphere.
Simple but very precise information… Many thanks for sharing this one.
A must read article!
What’s Taking place i’m new to this, I stumbled upon this I have discovered It positively useful and it has aided me out loads.
I hope to contribute & assist different customers like its aided me.
Great job.
Incredible points. Great arguments. Keep up the amazing effort.
Stunning quest there. What happened after?
Thanks!
Fantastic goods from you, man. I have consider your stuff previous
to and you are simply too great. I actually like what
you have bought here, really like what you are stating
and the way in which in which you assert it. You’re making it enjoyable and you still care for to keep it
wise. I can not wait to read much more from you.
This is really a wonderful website.
I’ve been browsing on-line more than three hours nowadays, but I by no means found any interesting article like yours.
It’s pretty value sufficient for me. In my view,
if all website owners and bloggers made just right content as you did, the internet shall be much more useful than ever
before.
Its like you read my mind! You seem to know so
much about this, like you wrote the book in it or something.
I think that you could do with a few pics to drive the message home a little bit, but other than that,
this is magnificent blog. A fantastic read. I will certainly be back.
Hello would you mind sharing which blog platform you’re using?
I’m planning to start my own blog in the near future but
I’m having a tough time deciding between BlogEngine/Wordpress/B2evolution and Drupal.
The reason I ask is because your design seems different then most blogs and
I’m looking for something unique.
P.S My apologies for getting off-topic but I had to ask!
you’re in point of fact a good webmaster. The website loading velocity is incredible.
It seems that you’re doing any unique trick. Moreover, The contents are masterpiece.
you have performed a fantastic task in this subject!
Does your site have a contact page? I’m having a tough time locating it but, I’d
like to send you an email. I’ve got some ideas for your blog you
might be interested in hearing. Either way, great site
and I look forward to seeing it improve over time.
Looking for a reliable activation tool? descargar kmspico.
We stumbled over here from a different web address and thought I might as well check things
out. I like what I see so i am just following you. Look forward to looking at your web page yet again.
Excellent blog you’ve got here.. It’s hard to find quality writing like yours
these days. I seriously appreciate people like you!
Take care!!