We're All Burning Less Energy

New data shows most of us are trying to use a lot less energy this year. How about you?

My food bills used to be unbelievable due to the huge quantities of meat and vegetables that disappeared into the TARDIS that was my stomach. Thankfully, with older age I now consume less energy, and Fool colleagues no longer stop and gawp at me when I set about eating lunch. I save a lot of money, and thousands of farm animals look at the devastation I caused in neighbouring fields and weep with relief. Crisis averted.

High costs are causing all of us to re-think our energy usage. This is reducing our bills, even if it's not limiting the destruction we're causing to our own planet . Take a look at this table:

Energy Usage Of Fools

Data from Xelector, which powers The Fool's energy-comparison tool. Based on figures taken in February, June and August of each year.

Figures are rounded to the nearest hundred, except in the Year column; that would be plain silly.

The data comes from figures that we Fool users have inputted into the site's energy tool when we've been comparing prices. This means that, on average, we've either been using less energy this year, or we intend to use less energy in the coming year. Either way, we're cutting down considerably on the gas we burn and the electricity we spark.

However, a recent Fool survey found that 30% of our users intend to switch their heating on earlier this year. That large minority is going to have to work very hard to counter the increased price of fuel.

I don't know how we're cutting down or intending to do so, but my colleagues and I have shared all the energy-saving tips we know before. (See the links at the bottom of this article.)

Set yourself a target

Now I'd like to suggest that we set ourselves targets to reduce our usage in 12 months' time.

To do that, we need to know what energy we use at the moment. Considering how many users choose to enter into The Fool's comparison tool the amount they've paid to utility companies rather than their annual kWHs (even though the latter is more accurate), it's clear that many people don't know how much energy they use.

Bills don't tell you more than the last quarter's-worth of the energy you've used, while the clocks on your energy meters reveal nothing about the rate at which you consume energy throughout the year.

The simplest way to find out your energy usage is to get a meter reading and call your supplier. Here are the numbers:

Energy Suppliers' Telephone Numbers

*As revealed by SayNoTo0870. Remeber that 0800 numbers are usually not free for mobiles, so look up alternatives if you have no landline.

Ask for your energy consumption in kWhs. (Whilst you're at it, if you're on direct debit ask if your direct-debit amount is in line with your usage. If you're in credit, ask for a refund. It's not unusual to be owed hundreds of pounds in credit that's accumulated over the years.)

Compare your usage to the average figures shown in the table above. The recent efficiency measures announced by the government place responsibility on the energy providers, so ask about the availability of grants if you think your home could benefit from better insulation.

Finally, consider all the ways you might reduce your usage and set yourself a target and, in 12 months, see how you've done.

Read tips to reduce your bills in:

Ten Ways To Save Energy

4 Original Tips To Reduce Your Energy Bills

Cut Your Energy Bills By 75%

> Now you know how much energy you use in kilowatt hours, you can run a more accurate energy comparison. Fool users currently save on average around £200!