ᐅ Help: Identifying the Causes of High Electricity and Water Bills

Created on: 19 Jun 2018 01:34
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Serina85
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Serina85
19 Jun 2018 01:34
Hello everyone!
You have already helped me a lot before, so I’m giving it another try:
We visited a maisonette apartment for purchase: built in 1993, 4 rooms, 145 sqm (1560 sq ft), ground floor with only stairs from the private entrance to the apartment, bathroom and guest WC on the first floor, attic converted into 2 rooms. Gas-fired individual heating system from 2010 and water-based underfloor heating; hot water supplied by a condensing boiler.
The previous tenant, with 3 people living there, had the following consumption: gas 34,500 kWh (34,500 kWh) with a monthly payment of 220 €, electricity 5,500 kWh (5,500 kWh) with a monthly payment of 130 €. I find the electricity particularly high.
The roof is not insulated, wooden windows according to the building year, energy certificate for the entire building rates it as class E (162 kWh/m²/year) but actual consumption is 240 kWh/m²/year.
What puzzles me are the electricity costs. Could these be reduced by installing a new boiler? Insulating the apartment is difficult since it’s a condominium. We would have to pay for and get approval for interior insulation ourselves. I’ve heard this might not be good due to moisture issues? Would replacing the windows help? I am an absolute beginner in this. This apartment is beautiful, but with monthly building fees of 200 €, plus electricity and heating costs of 550 € only for utilities. Or is this normal for a living area of this size?
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HilfeHilfe
19 Jun 2018 06:54
I find the electricity and especially the gas consumption strangely high.

The heating is always across two floors. The whole maisonette.
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hampshire
19 Jun 2018 06:55
The electricity consumption is rather high and does not necessarily have to be caused by the apartment itself. Such energy use can quickly add up due to a resident’s hobby. For example, just a few computers running continuously can cause this. A pottery enthusiast would have significantly higher electricity consumption due to their kiln.
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Serina85
19 Jun 2018 07:03
Thank you very much! Can such electricity consumption be caused by a gas condensing boiler and a high use of hot water (showers, etc.)? Possibly by the heat pump? Could that be an adjustment option for us?
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hampshire
19 Jun 2018 07:13
I wouldn’t look for the cause there. How much electricity are you using now?
In our case, the electricity consumption increased with the teenage habits of leaving computers on, lights always burning, and heaters running with windows open, which inevitably developed as the boys grew up.
Basti270919 Jun 2018 07:32
I find gas more concerning than electricity... we use 12,000 kWh of gas per year for a 140 m² (1,507 sq ft) single-family house...