The penny drops........

Had nowt to do today, well that's not strictly true as there is always too much that needs to be done in this world but we decided that we would go out for the day. No place in particular so we ended up at a garden centre and a couple of electrical shops. The garden centre was a typical crass affair but I couldn't resist getting some raspberry canes, a red goosgog bush and a thorn less blackberry bush. Two cups of tea later the wife came back from the "Christmas department" which was set up in August by the way, and off we toddled to the electrical shops.

We need a new fridge and freezer purely on environmental and money saving grounds. The separate under the counter ones we have at present still do their job but hey are costly to run compared with the modern A++ versions.
Having worked out the running cost of the ones we have which is around 4 units of electric a day and the new one would be less than 1 unit a day we would save around 33 p a day in running costs.
Now 33 pence a day doesn't sound much and you are probably thinking that I'm a skinflint but over a year it is over £120 in savings. Granted the cost of the one we looked at was the thick end of £400 but just on the savings alone the new Fridge Freezer would have paid back it's cost in 3years and 4 months. Also being disabled the pain involved in getting stuff out of the fridge and freezer at the moment would be negligible. As well as this the current ones we have are over 10 years old for the new one we would then be quids in.

Also in the next shop along in the shopping parade we saw some new televisions. Flat screen, digital do dahs all this and that free cable or satellite boxes and home cinema systems etc. I, of course wanted the biggest TV on display, a whopping 60" jobby at nearly £2000 ( but you did get a free home cinema sound system and it played DJ Tiesto concerts in hi def...... but my wife dragged me away and as we were walking along the line of TVs she said....." but how much energy do they use?"

It wasn't until we were driving home that I realised what she said.... " but how much energy do they use?"For over a year now I've been battling with her to win over her mind and soul with constant talk about energy saving light bulbs, wood burning stoves, solar thermal heating and Photovoltaic panels not to mention how much electric and gas we have used on a daily basis, (I take daily meter readings) how much petrol costs in terms of CO2, Getting her to switch lights off, standby buttons are also banned and cooking is always "eeked out" a bit further such as putting a 1/4 can of water into the pan of soup, adding vegetables and lentils to mince to make it go further and of course reduce, reuse, recycle. Most of it I thought had landed on deaf ears and all to no avail but to my shock and horror she comes out with a blinder of a question " but how much energy do the TV's use?" Amanda, I love you !!

All my work is done....... Now where is that wood burning stove catalogue I need to show her.......