Robust electric bills in hardware-centric studios?

[JoeyM]

The big-time studios with walls of Manleys, UAs and especially large consoles, I've always wondered, what kind of electric bills are they looking at?

Also is it practical for a large studio to generate their own power?

Thanks!

[lordmiguel]

two words

flux capacitor

get one

[Fleaman]

A lot.

Especially since the HVAC has to be huge (all the heat that gear generates) and running constantly.

The actual costs depends on so many factors though...size of studio, environment (Alaska or Las Vegas?), gear, per kw costs (vary wildly depending on location/country, etc.), % of time studio is being used, etc.

There is a big difference in pwr/heat between say an Neve 8068, SSL, etc. and an Audient.

[TTatman]

Two studios. One has an SSL 4048E/G+ turned on 24/7. Significant amount of outboard gear. Building is 22 ft high X 4000 sq ft., super insulated. High efficiency HVAC, but not the highest. Monthly utilities run $700 to $1000 per month, including cable TV and high speed internet.

[lordmiguel]

Figure out your kwH for any given piece of equipment. How much does electricity cost? What is a kilowatt-hour? (kWh)

To see just how much electricity varies in price by area, Electric Power Monthly - Average Retail Price of Electricity to Ultimate Customers by End-Use Sector, by State

[pultech]

Originally Posted by TTatman

Two studios. One has an SSL 4048E/G+ turned on 24/7. Significant amount of outboard gear. Building is 22 ft high X 4000 sq ft., super insulated. High efficiency HVAC, but not the highest. Monthly utilities run $700 to $1000 per month, including cable TV and high speed internet.

That is very good!
One place I worked in, the owner had us replace the lighting with 40 watt bulbs. The clientele complained that they could not see things they dropped on the floor. I was the one voted to explain we needed more light
Then he wanted to shut down the consoles when we were not using them.
This is fine if you have a LOT of down time, but not if there are sessions every day. The fatigue caused among other things the main console PSU to blow during a big session. I was out of town. It cost them SSL tech time (a whole mess of money) and a client to the tune of tens of thousands of dollars. Not much economy there!tutt
I am a big fan of leaving things running all the time, unless you are going to be down for several days in a row or more, which we all hope is never the case!

[Slipperman]

4 control rooms, 3 live rooms, 2 full editing suites, 2 self-contained roaming workstations, Client lounge, Staff lounge, 2 offices, 4 bathrooms, client kitchen, staff kitchen, utilities room, repair shop, 3 storage areas, mic locker, reception area. Hundreds of channels of outboard gear. 8500sq. ft total used space.

3 HVAC systems (2) 15 and (1) 20 tonne.

Avg. Utilities for electric is $3400 monthly.

Desks are never turned off, unless we're repairing them.

The biggest one of them draws 9kW. About $1150 a month last time I calculated.

Nothing like handing $40+k a year to Public Service.

Somebody stab me with a brick.

SM.

[JoeyM]

Wow, enlightening, thanks a million (kilowatt hours)

[pultech]

Originally Posted by slipperman

4 control rooms, 3 live rooms, 2 full editing suites, 2 self-contained roaming workstations, Client lounge, Staff lounge, 2 offices, 4 bathrooms, client kitchen, staff kitchen, utilities room, repair shop, 3 storage areas, mic locker, reception area. Hundreds of channels of outboard gear. 8500sq. ft total used space.

3 HVAC systems (2) 15 and (1) 20 tonne.

Avg. Utilities for electric is $3400 monthly.

Desks are never turned off, unless we're repairing them.

The biggest one of them draws 9kW. About $1150 a month last time I calculated.

Nothing like handing $40+k a year to Public Service.

Somebody stab me with a brick.

SM.

That is what I like to hear!!

[RCM - Ronan]

Single room facility with large analog console (that does get turned off) wall of outboard with some tube gear, live room, office, lounge.. Its about $200 on the peak months.

we turn off the gear when possible and use energy efficient light bulbs where possible. I am about to upgrade the HVAC system so I expect it to go up a little.

[Rick Sutton]

Medium sized analog board, lots of outboard/many tube. Turned on for the day for about 8 hours/off when I'm gone for the day. Usually about $100 a month, higher when very busy and/or summer heat. Air cond runs it up to about $250 tops in a busy summer month.
About 850 sq.ft under 2 air conditioning systems.

[Steffmo]

Two rooms., I dig console, Studer 2", PT lots of outboard. Two HVAC.


I was hitting Ik a month last year.

Signed up for alternative energy, put in all energy efficient bulds and a better microprocessor thermostadt. Looks to be down 30 pc this year.

[Fleaman]

Originally Posted by slipperman

Somebody stab me with a brick.

SM.

Pic of Slipperman at his other day job>



Watched a bit on 60mins about coal plants, they visited one that supplies pwr to about 1 million homes. It uses 2 train loads of coal a day, each train is 100 cars and 1 mile long, so 2 miles/200 cars of coal each DAY

Astonishing.

.

[xj32]

Complete opposite if seasons here.

I am in WI and my bill this past winter in the peak winter months were about $300 per month.

No console, but 12 channels of compression, 10 channels of EQ (some tube some not) and 16 channels of mic pre, plus effects and analog synths, couple that with heat and there you have it.

And I power down about 3 days a week when I work my day gig.