I learned something new about Electricity

[kimmy4433]

Just know trying to help on another thread, I was trying to figure out how much electricity my crockpot used and what the cost was. I was looking at my most recent bill and found out that we have a rate for any usuage up to 17 kWh per day and a rate for anything over that. So on my bill I went over and it cost me an extra $10.90. I am going to really have to pull in the ropes and cut out the electric usuage. I am going to unplug my microwave and my stove. The washer and dryer (along will everything else plugged into that surge protector - don't start, we have no wireing in the basement at all, and everything is ran from the light sockets, this summer we are hoping to be able to afford to hard wire the basement) and anything else I can come up with.

I hope you all look over your bills just incase your company does the same. If I continue I will be wasting $130.80 a year!!! That money could have gone to the snowball or a savings account!

[Grainlady]

We had 2 price increases in electricity this past year, and they are asking for another one. Natural gas is also up.

Now you know why I use a Solar Oven as much as possible. Do something a bit "odd" by heating water for doing dishes in an electric kettle, rather than using hot water from the hot water tank. Why would I draw several gallons of cold water into a 30-gallon hot water tank and heat 30-gallons of water every time I do so, instead of heating 5-cups of water.

I "cook" grains, oatmeal, beans, and pasta in a Thermos. I mill pinto beans and black beans into flour so I can make refried beans in 7-minutes and avoid the energy used to cook dried beans the traditional way.

Changed out as many CFL bulbs as possible and replaced them with LED light bulbs which use even LESS electricity than a CFL. Never use the dryer, but hang clothes to dry in the drying room in the basement.

We've covered all the windows with bubble wrap for additional insulation - it's not pretty, but it really works. http://www.builditsolar.com/Projects...bubblewrap.htm I made insulated drapes to cover the front and back doors to keep both heat and cold out.

We enter and exit the house through the garage into the laundry room (closed off to the rest of the house) to maintain an air-lock so we don't let cold air in, in the winter, and hot air in the summer. When you open that front door, you break the "envelope" of air that will cause the furnace or air conditioner to come on.

Every little bit helps!!!

[mombottoo]

Only 17 kwh per day until your rate changes...hmmm...guess I'd better go look & see what our light company is soaking us for.

[mombottoo]

There are so many kwh rates on my bill...who knows what it means!!!

But by dividing the # of kwh used into the bill total it averages .2554 cents per kwh...and that includes all fees/taxes & the like.

[sabrelvssammy]

i keep the breaker on my stove off until i want to use it...

cooking choices are thought thru before i just throw on the stove...can i do this better/cheaper with ANY other appliance..?

my microwave is on a power strip...off it goes when it is not being used....

the washer and dryer are turned off at the breaker/on only when i am using....i only wash completely full loads....90% clothes are hung... (outside in warmer weather...all over the house during winter)...i only dry towels, socks & underwear...about 20 mins max...full load...about once a week...

the tv and all gadgets are on another power strip..we turn it off everytime the tv is not being used...we do keep the cablebox plugged in 24/7 in another outlet coz of the recordings/settings/etc...i no longer leave the tv on in the background for noise...if its not being watched..off it goes...

the tv in bedroom stays unplugged unless we want to watch it....

the fridge/freezer are set at 2 (a temp i played with til i was happy with the temps inside...cold enough in fridge...still frozen in freezer...) its a new unit so you might not be able to go this low...

water heater is set on lowest temp possible to still allow comfortable showers...(is gas..so i can't shut it down til i want to use)....

dishwasher is run only when overflowing/ airdry mode set and i just open the door...

furnace (gas) is set at 50-55 thru the day (blower still uses electricity every time it kicks on)..only bump it up to 60 when the house gets really freezing or we are getting dressed...we use a ceiling heater in the bath in the mornings for heat when showering... electric blanket at night...

have gas fireplace in FR and have hung curtains over doorway to keep the heat in and the room nice & toasty...spend 90% of our time in there....

computer alternates between battery & plug-in...i charge it up...unplug...run the battery down...charge it up...unplug...run the battery down....over and over.....power down at night or when not immediately using....
modem is the only thing that stays on 24/7 coz we had problems connecting when i was unplugging....

use the light of the tv, puter, candles and small 4w nightlight to get around at night...our lifestyle doesn't require much 'light'...most everything that does is done before nightfall... even try to read the paper before dark....

our one big 'energy hog' is our hottub which i don't even use in the winter but dh refuses to drain and winterize...we argue about it every year....i have it turned as low as possible to keep from freezing and ruining it but it still kicks on to maintain 50 degrees when it is 5 degrees outside....

[NcsstyBrdsIngnty]

Grainlady I am always so jealous or your solar oven, just so you know!

[sabrelvssammy]

Grainlady I am always so jealous or your solar oven, just so you know!

i am just jealous of Grainlady all together...she's a smart cookie that contributes a wealth of info here to all of us....thanks Grainlady...

[rudypoo98]

Grainlady,Where did you get the LED's I'm having trouble finding them?

[Grainlady]

Grainlady,Where did you get the LED's I'm having trouble finding them?

We found several affordable styles at Sam's Club.

http://www.samsclub.com/shopping/sea...mpleitemtype=0

They aren't perfect for all applications because they only equal a 40-watt bulb.

For instance, we have 6 lights above the double-sink vanity in the master bath. We had 6 CFL bulbs in there. We keep that end of the house cold, so when you turned the lights on you'd get a ghastly pink glow and little light from the cold bulbs. When we replaced all the bulbs with LEDs, there wasn't enough light to see yourself in the mirror. Now we have 4 LEDs and 2 CFL for more total light (when they finally get warmed up). There is also one recessed light and we replace it with an LED.

We replaced several recessed CFL with LED lights and some lamps, and the lights in the ceiling fans (which are also the overhead lights in the bedrooms).

It will be a few more years until LED technology is improved and priced for general use, but I thoroughly expect them to replace CFL.

[rudypoo98]

Yes, I'm sure they are going to replace CFL's and they will keep making them better.

[Spikey1341]

I guess I could use them in the ceiling fans because we have low wattage CFLs in there. But ouch on the intial price layout.

[Grainlady]

Some really creative ideas have been shared.

We have a large motion-activated LED nightlight in the windowless laundry room (the room is between the garage and the kitchen). When we open the passage door to the garage when coming into the house, it activates the nightlight - stays on as long as there is motion in the room, then automatically shuts off. This is more than enough light to see the door knob on the door to the kitchen, and not have to turn the ceiling light on every time we pass through. Or if you go in there to put a wet towel on the drying rack or get something out of the cabinet. This also saves wear-and-tear on the florescent ceiling light. Tube-style florescent light fixtures that get switched on/off for brief periods of time won't last as long as those that are left on for long periods of time. Our home is 3.5 years old and we have already replaced this ceiling light fixture in the laundry room once - probably due to frequent on/off use when passing through this room.

We have these same large motion-activated LED nightlights in both our bathrooms. Enough light for those "quick visits" and our CFL last longer. Whoever claimed CFL have a longer life than an incandescent light didn't use them in a windowless bathroom....or in other places where they are subjected to brief on/off use.

[shoiji]

Look on the energy boomer website to understand what needs to be unplugged. You need to be careful when unplugging large appliances.

Keep your utility bills after you pay on them. This way you can really track your usage to help understand how you are using electricity. I realize the utility company keeps track some what but it is easier and safer to keep track for yourself.

Powerstrips are really convenient to use. Remember that items that use a remote to operate need to be unplugged to save energy. Using a powerstrip makes it easier and safer when there is an electrical shortage.

[kimmy4433]

LED lights are a great idea, but expensive...You would also think that they would be brighter then any other bulb.(on the Christmas lights they are)

Solar stove...Hum I might have to convince DH to get one of these. Not now though we just bought a new gas stove a little over a year ago. But ya know what is stupid? It is gas and still uses electricty! lol I have it unplugged now because it is not being used. My microwave is always plugged in, because the plug is up the the cupboard and I am short! lol

Our fridge is an older model and will be the next big replacement done in the house, but not until either debt free, or it is not fixable!

My bill stated a 3% savings for the year to come for all customers. HA that is funny they will probably lower the 17 kW per day to 15 kW and make more money!

[NikoSan999]

As I've posted many times ( sorry to be repetitive ) check with your electric company and see if you have peak and off peak hours. Ours is 5 times cheaper after 9 until 7 in the morning. Posted rates were on another thread. Worth a check.