Security light cost?

**Russ** · 10-19-2010, 10:24 AM

Originally Posted by fairydana

Holy Cow Russ!! I am shocked over your utility bill!! I would love, love, love to pay that bill as opposed to my own.

That is a huge difference from not having that light on. I would for sure replace it with something else for when you do need some light out there.

That bill is one of the MAIN reason we opted to stay in our small house years ago when everyone around us was buying the McMansions that were being built. We could have afforded a much bigger house, albiet no property, but niether of us likes to clean what we have.

**Russ** · 10-19-2010, 10:29 AM

Originally Posted by druthb00

Well I just calculated out what my stupid coffee maker did to me when it was on 24/7 for approx. 7 days.

800W = .8Kwh

24 hrs X 7 days = 168 hrs....so, 168X.8 = 134.4Kwh @ 11.5c/Kwh is $15.45

That's about what my bill went up by, so that makes complete sense to me. But man, even if your bulb was 400W, considering it was on maybe, what, 10 hrs a day? (I confess I don't really know how they work)...it still just doesn't add up to your bill being that much lower. Providing I'm calculating this all correctly anyway....I'm no electrician

On the other hand....at least we're trying to figure out why its LOWER instead of the other way around. Yay for lower electric bills! lol...

Maybe there are other things I'm not thinking of. It's all about to change when I start the hot tub back up.

**frugalwarrior2** · 10-19-2010, 12:12 PM

No,we don't run any security light because of doggy #1,2, and 3.
Also apparently all the new neighbors are afraid of the dark. My yard is lit up like chevy chase xmas.
I can't believe that bill. My bill is $161. DTE and $160. consumer E on the payment plan. Settlement month Nov. Oh, and our furnace is only 60% efficient. No hot tub but a cube and upright enery eff. freezers.

**Russ** · 10-19-2010, 12:46 PM

Originally Posted by frugalwarrior2

I can't believe that bill. My bill is $161. DTE and $160. consumer E on the payment plan. Settlement month Nov. Oh, and our furnace is only 60% efficient. No hot tub but a cube and upright enery eff. freezers.

Our house is only 1400+sq ft. and we do have a 90% efficiency furnace.

Here are my bills for the last 18 months. The date is when the bill was paid.

Sep 27, 2010 $70.21
Sep 7, 2010 $114.75
Aug 4, 2010 $121.46
Jul 2, 2010 $113.00
Jun 4, 2010 $131.53
May 7, 2010 $133.65
Apr 1, 2010 $121.09
Mar 5, 2010 $134.53
Feb 8, 2010 $147.21
Jan 4, 2010 $248.17 We redid the garage this month. Had to have elec heaters.

Dec 2, 2009 $103.49
Nov 3, 2009 $69.90
Sep 21, 2009 $93.09
Sep 8, 2009 $100.99
Aug 5, 2009 $110.72
Jul 6, 2009 $114.68
Jun 4, 2009 $72.56
May 5, 2009 $129.21

**frugalwarrior2** · 10-19-2010, 12:58 PM

ok,so my house is 2200.sq. feet plus bsmt. w/ 2 more people for $1400. more per year.
3531./2200 sq. ft.=1.605 mine
2130.24/1400 sq. ft.=152.00 yours
So in rough approx. our bills are quite similar esp. incl. TEENS who are plugged in endlessly. I do have Wallside windows and plastic but this suprises me. No-wrong. I just realized I was doing 12 months for me and 18 mo. for you.lol Now that makes more sense. Definatley. Esp. since DH works in the bsmt. when not traveling.

So you need to go solar and i need a new furnace and to kick the kids out.lol.

**Russ** · 10-19-2010, 01:05 PM

Originally Posted by frugalwarrior2

So you need to go solar and i need a new furnace and to kick the kids out.lol.

If the ROI wasn't so bad, I would.

**McD** · 10-19-2010, 01:24 PM

What about a solar lighting system of some sorts? We have a light that operates that way, and it kicks in every evening shortly after the sunset. Even on cloudy days, it kicks on in the evening.