A look at the Energy Efficient House on the ESB website might be helpful:
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Their appliance calculator is also very useful:
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Yes, changing your light bulbs to energy savers would definitely be helpful.
Take a meter reading at roughly the same time every day for a week or so. Subtracting one reading from another will give you your daily usage. Take note of what appliances you have been using. Try cutting down on some and see what impact it has on the usage.
What do you do for hot water? If you use an immersion make sure it is not left switched on all the time. Turn it on about 30 mins before you need it and then switch it off.
How to read your meter:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cmPTlXqhzYc&feature=channel_page
Thanks for the reply Fnergg
i do monitor every day and we are using about 25 units in the winter and 20 in the summer. i must check out the appliances and see what they are using.
i had a feeling the lights might be a big factor, i will have a look and see if we can get any of the energy saver downlighters might buy a few at a time to save money becuase i think they are between €7.50 and €10 each bulb.