Ways to cut your electricity bill...

[Joebert]

I've been trying to reduce my electrical usage as much as possible.

At some point in the future, I would like to be completely off-grid, which means I can't be wasting power.

From what I've read, every watt you save with conservation saves you twice that amount when buying solar. In other words, if you have to build a large system because you're not conservative with your power, it is much more expensive than if you had just cut back and bought smaller.


Some things I've done:

1: Compact Florescent bulbs. 14-15W instead of 60-90W bulbs.
- Doesn't seem like much, but when you cut 75% of the lighting bill inside the house, that's not bad.
- Add to that that a CF bulb can last 10x as long as a normal incandescent, you save a lot of money over time.
- There are many kinds, I have had wonderful luck with GE CF bulbs. They are a nice color light, and fit in small light fixtures (like the ones where a glass bowl covers the light bulbs)

- I'd recommend buying one first, and trying it in every light fixture. You may find the particular one works in 90% of them, but you may need a smaller one for specific ones. I have 3 different brands in basement light fixtures because they didn't fit anywhere else.


2: Enable any clock-down software available for your computer. If it has a 250W power supply, and you're reading email, you probably only need to be using 50W of it.

- Newer computers have these features, and more and more will have them as time goes on.
- If your computer can't do this, if you upgrade, consider this as a purchasing point. I bought a Mac Mini to use for school work, browsing, and such. My monster machine stays off unless I am playing a game with friends, once a week.

3: If the monitor you use on the computer dies, think very hard about getting an LCD. A normal 17" CRT monitor, that looks like a TV can use 120-150W. A 17" LCD flat panel display can use 15-50W.


4: Find phantom loads, and decide if you need them. Many devices, cable boxes, alarm clocks, VCRs draw a little (or a boatload) of power even when they're "off."

- I bought a Watt-meter and am measuring everything.
- My microwave oven takes 2W constantly just to power the clock.


5: Things that seem like they wouldn't draw much, draw LOTS of power.

- I have a space saver microwave oven. It has a lamp and a vent fan, as it sits over the oven. As you can see, this taught me to keep the lights and vent off unless needed.

- The lights take 70W
- The vent takes 120W
- When it runs, it takes 1500W. HOLY COW.


6: Keep an eye out for the Energy Star label. If you need to buy an appliance or electronic device, there may be an Energy Star rating, which will help you pick devices that consume less power.


7: Depending on the safety of your neighborhood, you may not need to light your house at night. Many houses in my neighborhood leave their lights on all night. That can be 2-5 lightbulbs at 60-150W, for 8-10 hours a day. That's a bunch o' power.


8: On battery related power...

I have a lot of battery powered devices, remote controls, flashlights, etc. I use rechargable batteries so I don't have to throw them away all the time.

I just bought an iSun solar battery charger. We get enough sun, that I can charge 8 AA or AAA batteries in a day by leaving it in direct sunlight all day. Very cool. I've been charging by leaving it on my dashboard at work.


9: I used to use a fan, or the air conditioner to make noise to mask outside noises. I finally figured out that if I would just use earplugs, I didn't need to do that. I've been sleeping with plugs in, and I sleep sounder than I used to.


10: Do you need the electric can opener? Do you need the electric mixer for every job? Do you need the electric knife on a regular basis? Just because it is convenient, may not make it efficient.


Just some thoughts, just some things that I've found as I've been trying to reduce my bills.

Please add ideas, we can all use them.

[BamaGirl]

1. This is what we have done over the last couple of years

1.) Got rid of all the carpet. We put ceramic tile in the common areas of our house and wood floors in the bedrooms. We have 1, sometimes 2 months of cold weather. It rarely freezes here, but for months it is over 90 every day. Not having a carpet makes a big difference in keeping the house cool. In the winter, I open my drapes and the tile absorbs heat all day. At night, it radiates it and unless it's very cold my heater rarely even kicks on.

2.) We got a programmable electric thermostat. Since we have a 2 cycle heat pump ours was the most expensive at $100. I saved that $100 in the first 3 months. It has made a huge difference in my electric bill. I set the a/c at 81 and the heat at 70. Everyone has learned to live with it. Hell, I don't even turn the a/c on until it gets to about 85. I'm hoping next month I'll be able to turn it off!

3.) Hot water heater timers. This thing is great. It's programmed to come on a couple hours in the morning and a couple of hours at night. As long as no one takes a shower, I have hot water during the day too. It was $30 and paid for itself in 3 months also.

4.) We have cf bulbs in all our lights.

5.) I unplug everything not in use like the microwave, coffee maker, cell phone chargers, my kitchen radio, etc.

6.) I got heavy drapes for all the windows. They help quite a bit in blocking out some of the heat in the summer or cold in the winter.

I know there's more, but I can't think of any right now. I'll have to come back and add on. :P

[Joebert]

3. Hey, good ideas!

I did #2 and forgot all about it. It's funny what your thresholds for temperature are. I set my heat to be on at the low 60's, but need A/C at 80. I like it cold.

#3 is something I will look into tomorrow. I never thought of that.

I really need to do #6, I never remember that.

[BamaGirl]

4. I cannot take the cold lol

Last winter it was cold the week of Christmas, in the 80's most of January, and freakin' cold in February! Luckily by March it was warming back up. Lol I set the heat on 70 and still have to wear sweats lol. I could set the a/c higher but everyone whines lol. We went 3 summers with no a/c when I was a kid (think 70s sucky economy ;)). I keep telling my kids and hubby to get over it, they don't know hot lol. Yet. My bill goes again, they'll be losing the a/c lol.

[I_Make_Mistakes]

7. When I was in Bosnia, no AC they also tiled the walls 1/2 way I think

It was amazing how cool it kept the place in the hot summer. I learned from there about the tiles (they use marble which is probably cooler and cheaper based on their location!). If you think about it, when we are sitting and sleeping we are below the i/2 wall level.

I am trying to remember and blanking now, about other observations, in the heat with no AC but, efficient planning.

You are definitely right about the tiles, and the worries about fleas, ticks, dust mites etc., are also greatly reduced. I plan the same when I move, to a southern state.

[Skidmore]

14. Re: outdoor lighting

Install security lights. They'll only come in if someone passes within the range of the sensor, and will stay on for 3-4 minutes before shutting off, unless movement is still detected in the area. We use them over the garage and the back entry way. Gives us plenty of time to locate keys and the light span is a greater arc than the regular light, which we use when we are out in the evening on the deck sometimes.

RE: programmable thermostat. Ours programs for sleep awake leave and return. I program 66 for sleep and leave and 68 for awake and return. On the weekend we leave it at 68.

[eleny]

2. LCD tv question, battery an outdoor lights comments

You mentioned that the LCD monitors use less power than CRT monitors. Do you suppose it's the same for flat screen tv sets?

About lights kept on all night. I think that safety issues can outweigh savings concerns. We installed a motion detector for our front light. But in the back, we have a light on all night. With lots of bushes, nooks and crannies, I feel safer with it. It's the high pressure 70 watt sodium light that gives off a lot of glow. It comes on at dark and off at dawn. That helps.

And on your solar powered battery recharger - I think you just helped with a holiday gift for the hubby! Here's an article about this.

[Joebert]

5. They CAN use less power...

But you need to check.

I have an LCD Projection TV, which looks like a normal TV, but it only about a foot deep, and looks wonderful. It takes a lot less power than my old normal (and smaller) TV.

As you say, safety first. I live in an ok neighborhood, so I don't worry about it as much.

And the solar stuff is way cool. It's made me choose stuff that can use the batteries I can charge with it. I bought several flashlights, and a few LED lanterns to keep in the "power-outtage" box.

[Canuckistanian]

6. Phantom power loads are the key

I made a crude AC power meter from a toroidal transformer and a multimeter.

Then I went around the house to see what was grabbing my energy.

I found out that my TV (an older model) was using about 80W while it was off.

So I switched the power off every night.

Little discoveries like that make a big difference.

The obvious things I've already taken care of. Incandescent bulbs are forbidden in this house.

[preciousdove]

8. Put on or remove clothes, same with bedding...

instead of turning the heat up or putting on the air conditioning.

It would drive me nuts when my teenagers in their oversize baggy jeans, shoes and heavy tops would want to put the air conditioner on when it hit 80 degrees. I manged to get them to take off their shoes in the house and change into a tshirt but couldn't talk them into wearing shorts after they hit 15. Now they have their own houses.

Do keep the temperature above 72 degrees if you have sedentary elderly or infants in the household. Often they cannot maintain body temperature and can suffer hypothermia in an house that has gone too far in saving on the heat. If their metabolism goes down too much their immune system also goes down (had that happen to me when I was really sick for a while).

[I_Make_Mistakes]

9. Yes and pj's are small so you can nuke them in the winter and

chill them in the freezer, to be more comfortable falling asleep. Once asleep, I think temperatures (unless extreme) are less meaningful.

[Delphinus]

10. First of all,

hello to this forum! I can't remember how I found you, but I'm glad I did.

Secondly, in response to your keeping the house at 72°, I keep mine, here in NE Indiana, at 67° and have a blanket in every room. I had to do this a couple of years ago, because of the cost of gas. I can only imagine what's going to happen now. But, I'm going to get a ceramic heater - read that somewhere here on the boards - to help keep the gas off.

With the A/C, I set it for 74°. Anything colder and I'm too cold, but 75° is just not quite enough.

[eleny]

11. Hi and welcome to the forum!

This is the first year that I won't look forward to winter. I already miss running around in cotton summer dresses. So I want a fleece lounger. This will be the winter alternative. If the doorbell rings, I'll still feel dressed but be entirely comfortable.

[anitar1]

12. Thanks, Eleny, for a heads up on this forum. I did not know

it existed. I am always interested in saving energy ect. Now I can come here for more ideas.

[melnjones]

13. effecient electric heater...

http://www.eheat.us/#

check it out, it's awesome.

[politicat]

16. FYI: They're currently out of stock.

Supposed to be back in on Friday.

We've been waiting on #3 and 4 for two weeks now....

[melnjones]

19. Yeah,

Mine is on back order, hoping it will get here next week.

[bluedonkey]

20. I just ordered mine

plain white,since I can paint any way I want to and I will have within 2-5 business days.NAnananan!
I let y'all know if it works.

[BronxBoy]

15. Buy a down comforter...

and flannel sheets.

You can stay mighty toasty in the bed with the heat down

[qanda]

17. A simple suggestion, but...

Remember to turn off all the lights in the house that are not in use. If I got up and went around my house right now I would probaby turn off at least five lights that are not being used and so I guess I'm talking to myself, but perhaps someone else might be guilty also.

[Digit]

18. Lowe's has multi packs of 4 compact fluorescent bulbs for $8.00

They are supposed to each be equal to a 60 watt, but are alittle more dim. I can deal with that as they are only 13 watts and for a low investment of $2.00 each.

[redacted]

21. We use IKEA reflector light bulbs with dimmers

just about anywhere we don't use a compact fluorescent bulb. We have probably 10 dimmers in this house.

So far, I haven't found any store that beats IKEA on prices for compact fluorescents or Sylvania 50-watt reflector bulbs. The same Lutron dimmers that sell for $20 at Bed Bath & Beyond sell at IKEA for about $7 each.