The Oil Drum: Europe

My total consumption is similar, 750 KWh in 3 months, but details are
different in one or two areas.

All the items I tested on stand-by barely registered on the meter - 1 or 2
watts at the most.  This surprised me, but most of them are only a few years
old.   A lot of gadgets have separate plug in transformers, and these also
use only 1-2 watts when the appliance is switched off.  Clearly, the industry has got a lot better, but I suspect most people leave set-top boxes running and don't even press the stand-by
button most of the time.  That is certainly true in my family (apart from me)!

My big energy burners are the ones you would expect - tumble dryer
(used once a week in cold, wet weather only), large fridge-freezer
(doors constantly being opened by hungry little fingers), kettle
(caffiene-addicted wife) and wireless router (only 23 watts but left on 24/7
in a shut drawer to keep out of range of little fingers...)

We have two bedside lamps rated at 20 Watts DC (but actually consume
40W each - obviously very inefficient transformers!) No, I don't know why we
bought them.

The meter provided no big shocks, but it did confirm we have been on the
right lines in reducing (or not increasing) our consumption.   My bills
have gone up considerably after my household went from one to two to
four people, and I have found it a constant struggle to educate my family and
organise and re-organise the household to make it easy and convenient
 NOT to waste energy.

The major item I have not tested is teh washing machine, also the oldest
applience in the house.  If anyone knows any way of teaching toddlers how
to eat and play without getting all their clothes covered in jam, yoghurt and
mud I would be very pleased to know!