arkon

The gaps under the doors are supposed to be there. how else would cockroaches and spiders get into the house. Mine before I fixed them were big enough to let snakes in!

arkon

Great! Wish I'd thought of solar panels! What a massive numpty I've been. My house roof A faces the wrong way and B is so badly week that it couldn't take the weight of panels. MY shop is in a shopping Center where I don't have access to a roof to put any on.

MY only options are to rig up some kind of static bicycle and dynamo, or invent some kind of vaccumme energy device that can fit in a cupboard.

So far I've converted everything to LEDS but the cost per KWH is keeping my bills static! I feel like king kanute trying to stop the tide from coming in!

spuddyo

Its the Australian way, pay more , get less.

ozzieeagle

Not sure why you're paying that much Arkon, but I pay about 21C per KWH as I get 35 pct of off the following current Victorian tariffs.

I use about 35 to 38 KWH per day in winter, with 3 TV's and entertainment systems in the house, 3 reverse cycle aircons, which provide all the heating through the house... 2 freezers and 1 420 litre fridge, 2-3 loads of daily washing in 8.5kg washing machine, no tumble dryer thank god....... and all electric cooking, I pay somewhere around 820 dollars peak winter time bill, that for 3 months this year from May through to August .... for those above 35KWH days. My summer bills are usually around 420 to 450 bucks per 3 months as my usage drops to around 20 KWH per day..


https://www.agl.com.au/-/media/AGLDa...ff_1July17.pdf

You need to switch to a fixed rate, and negotiate with a few suppliers Do you have 3 phase power at your business, because that should be even cheaper.

I've noticed that AGL actually offer 36pct off to people they want to entice back to them in mail outs I see at my workplace.

So I'll be going for that figure next time I negotiate with them.

Beoz

I have an inch under mine too. I am hoping that's a good thing come summer.

Meanwhile

http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/feel-the-power-malcolm-turnbull-summons-electricity-retailers-to-canberra-for-summit-20170803-gxotv1.html

GarryP

In the US, the US mind you, houses get tested and they worry about draughts that can come through the holes in power sockets...

A good seal around any exterior leading door is a good bet for saving money. They are easy and cheap to fix and as well as stopping heat loss can also stop insects and vermin from easily getting in. I once had a mouse get under the garage door - which got sealed up pretty quick after...

verystormy

I have always thought that Oz building regs should state that all new builds are fitted with solar.


Hopefully though this will help https://www.tesla.com/en_GB/solarroof


The tiles are actually stronger than normal tiles, more efficient than normal solar and can even clear themselves if snow goes on them. The best bit. They cost the same as a normal roof!

ozzieeagle

AFAIK without checking they are, but that can include Solar Hot Water, so one or the other at this stage. Those regs may also include a fresh water tank as well though. For collecting rain water for toilets and garden etc. So one of those 3 things... could be two of those things. This is in Victoria, the regulations change from state to state.

I aim to get Solar electricity, but I'm not buying in until I can produce at least 7 KWH and only 10 panels so they need to be at least 700 watts each before I make the jump. At least 5 years away. I also don't want to pay any more than 8K Aud, All of those things will happen. Plus I dont want to change my lifestyle.

There is going to be a massive water shortage in Melbourne within 12 years, the desal plant wont keep up with the burgeoning population. So I'm currently planning water tanks as well. Not sure how I can fit in a 110,000 litre tank or tanks to that figure here without digging a whopping great hole(s). But I know I need to if I want to maintain my lifestyle. I can fit about 40,000 litre under my house though. Thats where these tanks need to go and everyone in SE Aus needs to start thinking about this.

Beoz

Seems a lot of effort when they will just build another desalination plant.

These things are being built all the time in other countries. Jobs jobs jobs. Just been up to Singapore to sort their new one out.

spouse of scouse

That's good to hear, you're right, WA is usually the dearest for most things!

Looks like my tariff on Merseyside is around the same, I switched from British Gas to Sainsbury Energy a few months ago, saving heaps. Love how you can compare and switch so easily here. Not sure about how my standing charge compares with Western Power's fixed charges.

Unit rate
13.19p per kWh
Standing charge
33.60p per day

GarryP

Yeah, I live in one of the new houses that meet those regulations. It does have a Solar HW, and a rain tank. Only problem is, the tank isn't connected to anything. There's no connection to the loos (which my last place had and really makes a difference) and the tap on the thing isn't even connected through the side. There is liturally NO way to get water out, it just goes down the overflow pipe.

I'm not sure what numbnuts wrote the standards, and if they made them so bad on purpose (I wouldn't be surprised) but they need total revision.

What size do you think they are going to be?

The efficiency of the panels is capped at about 20-25% and short of a miracle, isn't likely to go higher. So they only way to do 700W would be to make them twice the size, and they are at about the maximum level of unwieldiness as it is.

On the plus side, the cost is homing in on your level already.

As for lifestyle, the cheapest electricity is the electricity you don't use. With decent insulation, LED lights, etc. it's relatively easy to cut usage without changing lifestyle appreciably.

Not sure why you need 110,000 litres, it's Melbourne and the rainfall isn't likely to change, so smaller tanks suffice. I tend to think that more than one is the smarter way to go (no fun if they spring a leak) and turning rainwater into drinkable water is smart.

ozzieeagle

They've already said they won't be building another Desal plant.


As for the 110,000 litres of storage, I do love my garden

I aim to have separate tanks, I'll start with one under the house and see how we go from there. I can see myself having to dig a hole for sure though.

It's ridiculous that your Tank Water isn't connected to anything Gary.

Beoz

Vote for a liberal government and that will change.

GarryP

It's the difference between input metrics and standards, and output metrics and standards. Now metrics are dangerous at the best of time, particularly numeric ones. However it's best to go for output based ones, rather than input, since you are looking for the 'effect', not the tech.

Saying that all houses have to have a rainwater tank is a bad input metric - particularly when it doesn't say it has to be used for anything (or be useable). Better to say that all loos need to be fed from rainwater storage, and that be large enough to last more than 5 days under typical conditions without resorting to mains water. The builder then has to account themselves for rainfall numbers, and the number of people that might be in the house.

You can say similar for insulation, solar PV, noise, etc.

Amazulu

People want to believe the MMGW fairy tale - and this is one of the consequences

All those subsidies paid to windmill owners, we're paying for them

Rising energy costs and less secure energy security are the consequences - with governments in thrall to the green lobby and unwilling to make the tough (right) decisions

Welcome to your future