Comments on: Attacking Your Power Bill http://www.fiscalfizzle.com/2010/05/how-house-uses-power/ Spicy Thoughts on Personal Finance Mon, 06 Feb 2012 17:19:03 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Wojciech Kulickihttp://www.fiscalfizzle.com/2010/05/how-house-uses-power/#comment-1769 Wojciech Kulicki Fri, 07 May 2010 16:18:32 +0000 http://www.fiscalfizzle.com/?p=3999#comment-1769 Wow, talk about calling you out! What they did sounds a little unfair, but what can you do, right? (Install alternative energy, I guess). Wow, talk about calling you out! What they did sounds a little unfair, but what can you do, right? (Install alternative energy, I guess).

]]> By: Jackiehttp://www.fiscalfizzle.com/2010/05/how-house-uses-power/#comment-1768 Jackie Fri, 07 May 2010 03:15:54 +0000 http://www.fiscalfizzle.com/?p=3999#comment-1768 We cut our power bill very successfull, by doing both minor and major improvements. (Things like replacing doors & windows, adding attic insulation, changing to CFLs, unplugging items when not in use, etc.) It appears we were a little TOO successful, because our bill kept going down and down. The electric company came out and installed one of the first smart meters. The next month our bill went up -- their response was that smart meters are much more accurate than the old types of meters. I still wonder if that's true, but haven't gotten around to checking in greater detail. .-= Jackie´s last post: <a href="http://feeds.moneycrush.com/~r/moneycrush/~3/ttELQV2bsHk/" rel="nofollow">Do It Now</a> =-. We cut our power bill very successfull, by doing both minor and major improvements. (Things like replacing doors & windows, adding attic insulation, changing to CFLs, unplugging items when not in use, etc.) It appears we were a little TOO successful, because our bill kept going down and down. The electric company came out and installed one of the first smart meters. The next month our bill went up — their response was that smart meters are much more accurate than the old types of meters. I still wonder if that’s true, but haven’t gotten around to checking in greater detail.
.-= Jackie´s last post: Do It Now =-.

]]> By: Wojciech Kulickihttp://www.fiscalfizzle.com/2010/05/how-house-uses-power/#comment-1767 Wojciech Kulicki Thu, 06 May 2010 02:35:36 +0000 http://www.fiscalfizzle.com/?p=3999#comment-1767 Good point, though I think we can stand to save money in all seasons of the year! Each one presents some unique power challenges. Good point, though I think we can stand to save money in all seasons of the year! Each one presents some unique power challenges.

]]> By: Wojciech Kulickihttp://www.fiscalfizzle.com/2010/05/how-house-uses-power/#comment-1766 Wojciech Kulicki Thu, 06 May 2010 02:34:37 +0000 http://www.fiscalfizzle.com/?p=3999#comment-1766 Wow, thanks for sharing your story in such great detail. Cutting your bill by almost 50% is pretty amazing! Wow, thanks for sharing your story in such great detail. Cutting your bill by almost 50% is pretty amazing!

]]> By: Wojciech Kulickihttp://www.fiscalfizzle.com/2010/05/how-house-uses-power/#comment-1765 Wojciech Kulicki Thu, 06 May 2010 02:33:41 +0000 http://www.fiscalfizzle.com/?p=3999#comment-1765 Me too! We have the side-by-side, which apparently is the least efficient model. I had no idea that there was a significant difference between different setups! Me too! We have the side-by-side, which apparently is the least efficient model. I had no idea that there was a significant difference between different setups!

]]> By: Kimhttp://www.fiscalfizzle.com/2010/05/how-house-uses-power/#comment-1764 Kim Thu, 06 May 2010 00:21:08 +0000 http://www.fiscalfizzle.com/?p=3999#comment-1764 Electricity is around now 17 cents a kwh, but three years ago, it was around 29 cents a kwh and The bill was around $160. I turned off the hot water heater during the day, washed dishes by hand, stop using the vacuum cleaner and swept the wood floors by hand, kept the heat at 60 degrees/cooling at 80 degrees, and switched the light bulbs to lower usage ones. The biggest difference was in the dryer. Hanging the laundry knocked $40/month off the bill during the low usage months. Now my bill is around $100, using the dishwasher and keeping the water heater on. The biggest jump is the heating during the winter. The heat is gas, but the fan is electric, so we get hit twice. Electricity is around now 17 cents a kwh, but three years ago, it was around 29 cents a kwh and The bill was around $160. I turned off the hot water heater during the day, washed dishes by hand, stop using the vacuum cleaner and swept the wood floors by hand, kept the heat at 60 degrees/cooling at 80 degrees, and switched the light bulbs to lower usage ones. The biggest difference was in the dryer. Hanging the laundry knocked $40/month off the bill during the low usage months. Now my bill is around $100, using the dishwasher and keeping the water heater on. The biggest jump is the heating during the winter. The heat is gas, but the fan is electric, so we get hit twice.

]]> By: RJ Weisshttp://www.fiscalfizzle.com/2010/05/how-house-uses-power/#comment-1763 RJ Weiss Wed, 05 May 2010 14:32:13 +0000 http://www.fiscalfizzle.com/?p=3999#comment-1763 I'm shocked by the amount of energy the hot water heater takes up. I would have guessed refrigerator was higher. Thanks for sharing this. .-= RJ Weiss´s last post: <a href="http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Genywealth/~3/Jee9z6ZA84E/how-to-stop-junk-mail" rel="nofollow">How to Stop Junk Mail and Protect Your Identity</a> =-. I’m shocked by the amount of energy the hot water heater takes up. I would have guessed refrigerator was higher.

Thanks for sharing this.
.-= RJ Weiss´s last post: How to Stop Junk Mail and Protect Your Identity =-.

]]> By: Stephanhttp://www.fiscalfizzle.com/2010/05/how-house-uses-power/#comment-1762 Stephan Wed, 05 May 2010 14:29:22 +0000 http://www.fiscalfizzle.com/?p=3999#comment-1762 the first step to saving money on your power bill is to see how much you use in a typical month. Average out the last 6 months, and take into account different seasons. This way you can see which months cost you more, and you can focus your energy on fixing your power consumption in those months. the first step to saving money on your power bill is to see how much you use in a typical month. Average out the last 6 months, and take into account different seasons. This way you can see which months cost you more, and you can focus your energy on fixing your power consumption in those months.

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