Reduced our energy usage -- but how?!?

**janelane** · 08-26-2008, 03:28 PM

I always get excited when I get the BGE bill to see how our usage is going. We, I thought, got pretty lax this last month, running the AC a lot. I was expecting a much higher bill than last month.

Well lo and behold it's a full 310 kWh less than last month -- and the bill was fifty bucks less. (275 less than this month last year.)

But I didn't change anything, lol. I wish I knew what we were doing so I could keep it up! Maybe we haven't been running the AC as much as I thought. Opposite to usual, June & the beginning of July were much hotter than end of July and August so far. Usually it's August that it's hotter, so maybe that was it?

I don't know how but this seems to be the way anything goes with me. When I'm actually TRYING to do something, it doesn't turn out the way I want it to. I give up and it just happens!

**Greebo** · 08-26-2008, 03:31 PM

Last months BGE bill was a killer - nearly $500. I know this months will be less, simply because it wasn't so hot, so A/C use wasn't as necessary.

**pinkdaisy** · 08-26-2008, 04:35 PM

how many days were in this bill vs. the last one? sometimes bills are not the same amount of days here and that can also make a difference in the bottom line.

**janelane** · 08-26-2008, 05:08 PM

Actually it was one day more. 29 days last month 30 this month.

I'm thinking now it probably has to do with the heat. I have a energy reader on the fridge that I want DH to look at when he gets home (have to move the fridge out.) I'm betting both refrigerators and the water cooler, as well as the AC, were working harder last month. I also realized I stopped watching tv during the day. Still those seem like little things, but I guess they added up!

**MoonMommy** · 08-26-2008, 08:55 PM

Well, whatever the reason....WOO HOO. I am always trying to find ways to reduce our energy comsumption. Why give more than necessary to "the man".

**treeluva** · 08-29-2008, 12:19 AM

My AC is getting to the point where it is really NOT energy efficient AT ALL. However, I am living in Oklahoma and I am not suffering inside with 90 plus degree heat. But just to keep the house at 80 during the day is keeping the unit running a lot more than it should.... this AC unit is at least 20 someodd years old (It came with the house, have had the house for 10 years) and EVERY year since I have gotten the house I have had to get some part replaced on it in the month of May. I can't wait until I can replace it with a newer, more energy efficient model.