ᐅ Save gas or buy it cheaply?

ypg schrieb:

The heating was set to 22.5 degrees, now down to 20.5. Time window shortened.

Do you record the meter readings so you can quantify the savings? I’m really curious about what the final numbers will show.

ypg schrieb:

Firewood is being saved until we get the increase.

Turning off the underfloor heating completely and using the fireplace instead isn’t an option? We paid €30 for a cubic meter of birch (but had to split it ourselves), which roughly converts to 2 cents/kWh. Even if the wood cost was three or four times higher, it would still be worth it.

ypg schrieb:

The floor is cold, I’m using a hot water bottle to keep my feet warm.
PS: work is limited to 19 degrees too 🙁

Cold feet are really uncomfortable, I agree. In our office it’s only 19 degrees as well, but on cloudy days when my hands and feet get cold, I just work from home ^^

Sparfuchs_:p schrieb:

Is completely turning off the underfloor heating and heating only with a fireplace not an option? We paid 30€ per cubic meter for birch firewood (but had to split it ourselves).

Where can you still find prices like that? Around here, you pay 150-200€ per cubic meter for hardwood (dry). At those prices, using a fireplace isn’t cost-effective anymore.

Sparfuchs_:p schrieb:

Do you record meter readings to quantify the savings? I’m curious about the final results.

No, I don’t. I don’t have reference data from previous years on a monthly basis. What I save is visible in the annual statement, where the meter readings and consumption are recorded.
I also find these comparisons fairly inaccurate because it depends on the outdoor temperature; if we have mild winters, the consumption will naturally be lower.
But you’re right: we probably should have recorded meter readings monthly in previous years as well.
Actually, I’m made for this kind of tracking—I enjoy making tables and working with numbers. But then my personality takes over, telling me not to complicate life with these things. I’m not autistic after all—I’d rather spend the time on house plans or other hobbies 😀

Sparfuchs_:p schrieb:

Turning off the underfloor heating completely and heating with the fireplace instead—is that not an option?

No. Our firewood was quite expensive. We save it for special occasions or nice weekends. I think we paid about 150€/cubic meter (150€/cbm). Also, we’re not young anymore, so chopping wood as a pleasant pastime doesn’t appeal to us 😉

Sparfuchs_:p schrieb:

At our office it’s only 19°C (66°F) too, but on cloudy days when my hands and feet get cold, I just work from home ^^

Unfortunately, I have a job that requires presence. The only time I get warm is during business trips with heated seats and foot warmers—or by holding my coffee cup 😉 When I have to work outside for several hours at 2°C (36°F), then 19°C (66°F) indoors feels like a summer vacation 😀
(I’m thinking about leaving a hot water bottle at work)

ypg schrieb:

Our wood was quite expensive. We save it a bit for nice weekend evenings, I think we paid about 150€/solid cubic meter.

Yes, we pay with sore muscles for sawing to length and splitting ^^ We have the wood delivered in 5m (16.4 ft) rolls and do the rest ourselves. Given the current gas prices, it definitely makes sense not to use underfloor heating.

At 20 cents per kWh of gas, we were supposed to pay 360€ monthly installments. At least, that was the amount we were notified to pay. After I filed an objection and submitted the current gas meter reading, the utility company restored our previous lower installment.

If we only use gas for hot water and the rest is heated with a wood stove, the gas cost is about 22€ per month (average across the year with solar thermal support) and roughly 250–500 kg (550–1,100 lbs) of wood for heating, which corresponds to about 15€–30€ per heating month.

So even at five times the price you pay for pre-split and dried wood, it’s still much cheaper than running entirely on gas. Even if you reduce the room temperature to 20°C (68°F) with gas heating, which I find a bit too cold.

Sparfuchs_:p schrieb:

So even at five times the price you pay for the wood already split and dried, it's still considerably cheaper than running everything entirely on gas.

We still have a fixed price guarantee for gas and solar heating for hot water 🙂

ypg schrieb:

We still have a fixed price guarantee on gas and hot water from solar power 🙂

That is, of course, the most ideal. Otherwise, follow the advice from @rick2018 😉

rick2018 schrieb:

Lower the room temperature and dress warmer.