Saving more electricity during heat wave?

**shoiji** · 07-23-2011, 09:51 AM

Can't help but wonder what else I can do to save on electricity during the heat wave.

Last night the electricity went out three separate times. First time was a really long brown out. Really scary since I heard a loud crackle and boom. Last two the power went out for a couple minutes.

Now I am sitting here in the dark, turned both fans off but the ac is on. Only thing making noise is the tower to the computer. AC isn't running so it is pretty quiet.

Turned off the fans since it is bearable in here and thinking I need to conserve as much energy as possible.

Here at FV many of us are very careful to conserve energy. I have to admit I have gotten a little lax by having fans going and tv's on instead of unplugged. So I unplugged the tv and cable box in the bedroom. Yes, I know if I get off the computer I will save even more electricity. Cooked up the sausage early this morning for todays meals.

So I am wondering what people are doing to save electricity during the heat wave. Thought it might be interesting to hear what people are doing that they normally would not do, especially here at the village.

I think later today I will be sitting in the dark with tv's, computer, and radio turned off completely. Will catch up on reading and starting making lists of what I need to get done this summer. Will probably hand wash the dishes instead of the weekly dishwasher cleaning.

Personally I can not believe how dependant I am on electricity.

**Spirit Deer** · 07-23-2011, 10:10 AM

If you have an electric water heater, take navy showers.

Close off unused rooms so you aren't cooling them.

Keep fridges and freezers full so they take less power.

Pay attention to when the weather changes, if it gets cool enough at night not to need AC, then shut off the AC in a timely manner and open windows and/or use fans.

**Contrary Housewife** · 07-23-2011, 10:35 AM

The crackle and boom was the transformer near you getting fried from the overload. It happens. Nothing to be afraid of.

These days I'm not running anything but the AC and the computer (and the appliances like the refrigerators and freezer).

**mh3rdwheel** · 07-23-2011, 06:27 PM

During the day we just run the tv, refrig and freezer, we check outside periodically to see if the air is cooler outside, then we turn off the air and run fans and open windows, our air is usually set around 74 during this heat wave.

**KimZ** · 07-23-2011, 06:35 PM

If you keep your air at 78 you can save even more electric. We live in SW Florida and here we pretty much run air year round. We never put the electric below 76..... It make a big difference with the electric bill believe it or not =)

**NikoSan999** · 07-23-2011, 08:37 PM

We're in Central Florida. We leave it on 77 in summer. Hardly run it in the winter unless it's really cold, which has happened a couple of times.
Just watching the lights a little more is about it. Everything else is already being done. Did wash dishes by hand last weekend and decided that as long as it took, with a well pump, it wasn't exactly efficient.
Not turning the night light on over the stove on until later.
Mainly it was already cut back as far as could cut it. Just things that come up I think whether I could put it off or do different.

**sunshine** · 07-23-2011, 09:46 PM

I'm cooking in the solar oven (works like a crock pot) and just keeping watch to make sure the animals don't raid it.

Placed foil backed insulation panels in our west facing windows to reflect the heat back out!

Not using the dryer at all - keeps out the heat from the dryer, plus saves on electricity from the dryer running too.

**mommy2krj** · 07-24-2011, 02:25 AM

We were actually on top of things a little bit. We grilled up enough food to last us the week before the heat wave hit us so we were only using the microwave at supper time to eat. That was nice.

Other than that I covered all the windows and kept the air conditioner at the same temp and made sure all the lights were kept off as much as possible.

By 4pm our small air conditioner just couldn't keep up so it got pretty stinking hot in here. Only air conditioner we have though so I'm hoping our electric bill isn't too huge.

**suzanimalbil** · 07-24-2011, 06:54 AM

Last year I "invested" (bought at Walmart for 10.00 per panel) in insulated curtains for every window in our house and it has made a huge difference in the comfort level in our house. We keep the curtains closed and set the ac at 80 and turn on fans, it's very comfortable. I try to place fans near vents so they're blowing the cooler air at you.

**Homekeepn** · 07-24-2011, 07:19 AM

We decided to not install the ac this summer. We actually sold two of the smaller ac units that would fit in bedroom windows. IMO it hasn't been hot enough to use one until this heatwave, but even though the hubs tried talking me into it, I refused to have it on. We have the swimming pool to cool off and that is enough electricity use for me.
I finally got the electric bill under $100.00 for the month of June for the 5 of us and the crew of animals. I am hoping that I can keep it that way for a few more months at least.

**ladykemma2** · 07-24-2011, 08:12 AM

Originally Posted by Contrary Housewife

These days I'm not running anything but the AC and the computer (and the appliances like the refrigerators and freezer).

this is me, too. i DO have the cable box on while I DVR like mad all the stuff, like house hunters, to watch during the school year. i turn the cable to "basic" during the school year.