So what are you doing to conserve energy during this heat wave????

[sudsmaster]

I line dry year round, so that saves gas and some electricity. I insulated the heck out of the house over the past five years, and plan on extending the insulation under the floor to cover nearly the whole area.

My electricity averages about 500 kWH/mo. I have two relatively energy efficient friges (two kitchens) plus a 15 cu ft chest freezer. That, and the pond filter pump uses an estimated 150 to 200 watts 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. It all adds up. I turn off the computer(s) and UPS system when they are not in use, as well as unplugging the entertainment center etc. when it's not in use. I even put the Neptune washer/dryer pair on a switched outlet, otherwise the set uses 10 watts when not in use. Those measures help a lot, I figure it's equal to at least one fridge's worth of electricity saved by doing that. There is also a well pump; I use the well water to irrigate the front lawn and garden areas in the back. That uses some electricity, but I don't think it's as much as the pond pump, which is lower power but does run continously.

When I moved in here in '97, the energy usage was over 1,000 kWH/mo. Replacing both fridges with more energy efficient models helped a lot, as did turning off the phantom loads on electronics/computers/battery chargers etc.

 

[compactc9]

We haven't really had to do much. The A/C is set at 72, but doesn't turn on untill the hottest part of the day and runs only a few times (good insulation). I personally like the thermostat at 68 all year, because I'm not comfortable untill everyone else is freezing.

 

[geoff]

OH WOW!!!!!

I'm gasping just thinking about having the air above 70 LOL. I keep my bedroom 65 during the day and 62 at night. (Amazingly, when it was 100 degrees out the compressor still cycled on and off as much as it does if it were 80 out, I was shocked.) The rest of the house I keep at 70 degrees 247. I haven't turned my air off in the house in almost 2 months. My last electric bill?? $232... I was absolutely SHOCKED that it was so low considering how low I keep the temp in here. I remember when I went to go visit Toggle last summer and he turned the air down to 69 for me. He must have been cringing and shivering LOL.

 

[knitwits1975]

Up here in the Pacific Northwest;

We are conserving energy during the heat wave by, well, simply not having one. The weather here is great! Come on over!

 

[gadgetgary]

Gary, the load did not look dirty enough for Soak & Scrub. W

Guess I just tend to use that cycle when I really pack that dishwasher....I would imagine that the normal cycle would do just fine.

 

[toggleswitch]

I remember when I went to go visit Toggle last summer and he

LOL Are you not worthy of 69?

 

[scott55405]

Knitwits, what is it usually like there in the summer? Is it really humid?

 

[DADoES]

I'm sitting at my computer at 12:28 PM, outdoor temp is 96°F, indoor ~77°F (may be a touch lower on this end of the house), with the ceiling fan on medium, and I feel a nice chilled breeze. I can't imagine trying to run the A/C at 65°F! Highly unlikely it would ever get that low anyway.

I heard a mention from somebody in town who has to keep cooling below 70°F due to people in the house with respiratory conditions. Their bill runs $700+. Sorry, nope, not gonna pay that.

 

[geoff]

LOL

I was very appreciative of 69 LOL

 

[appnut]

I keep mine at 86 during the day and 79 when I am home after work. ON weekends, I do keep it at 78. I have a programmable t-stat on a Multi-speed air handler and multi-speed compressor on a heat pump with 18 seer. I was replacing 18 y/o heat pump in 2002 because I knew I couldn't afford to run my old inefficient system any more. My last bill was 145 & some change. I will know what my current bill is in a few days. Kinda dreading it. I have my ceiling fans running when I am in a room. My water heater is set at 115-118 right now (all-electric house).

 

[appnut]

ry, the load did not look dirty enough for Soak & Scrub. Wha

Gary pretty much pre-rinses everything when it goes in. S & S would be overkill even with a jammed packed load. Normal may be even pushing it a bit. Light/china may be the best option.

 

[westtexman]

Down in Houston . .

My aunt just received here electric bill, and it was $602 last month. They have a decent-sized home (about 2800 SQ FT), with separate coolers for the upstairs and the downstairs. I cannot IMGAINE paying $602 a month for electric. She says they keep the upstairs at 78*F at all times, and the downstairs at 77*F. They have special screens on their windows to reduce the direct sunlight coming into the house. They even recently had a checkup from the local electric company to inspect their home and A/C units to ensure they are running as efficiently as possible.

I guess if I were her I would just stay in the pool all day long and keep the inside at 85*F! LOL.

Bryan

 

[petek]

No central a/c here since we seldom have days that exceed 85 degs and being so bone dry even when it's hotter than that in the house it isn't all that unpleasant. Having just returned from moms house back east it's a totally different story though. She had a manual Tstat for her central ac so I put in a new digital Honeywell while I was there. Works great, we had it set at 76 the whole time I was there and it was very comfortable in the house. I had Carrier in to install her system 14 years ago after my dad died and they installed a 2 ton unit with a 2.5 ton coil, the idea being the larger coil with the lesser BTU's would give her an increase in dehumidification without the frigid output she didn't want. Seems to have done the trick.

 

[appnut]

I just spent 5 days with some friends in Abilene. They have an 1800 sq. ft. house, all electric. The normally high $300 summer bill has now gone up to $500 & something. I vote for Gadget Gary's au natural approach for sure!! lol.

 

[mrsalvo]

Yes, I'm conserving energy too. A/c during the day at 77F, save leftovers to microwave so I don't have to turn on the stove or oven. The most energy effecient thing I do is use the clothesline for EVERYTHING except socks, and I have enough of those to last
3 weeks so its not a problem.
Have to agree that I would rather deal with colder weather though.
My water usage however is a very different story, I use as much as I want.

 

[seeitrun2006]

Pool timer

This weekend I installed a pool pump timer. Up till this weekend we've been turning on the pool pump but always forget to turn it off. Have it set to turn on then off about every couple of hours. We keep it off at night.

 

[gadgetgary]

I do is use the clothesline for EVERYTHING except socks,

Barry,

Why not the 'socks' on the clothesline?
Inquiring minds want to know.....I showed some white sox on my clothesline a while back.....

 

[tomturbomatic]

78 inside is too warm for me, but I did not want the rest of the house to get too warm with the daytime highs in the mid to upper 90s. The quest for economical personal comfort is the reason for the two window units that can cool the two rooms in which I spend the most time to around 70-72 degrees.

I have the sunscreens on all the windows that are subjected to direct sunlight and the sunscreens on the French Doors have foil between them and the glass. I am growing my secret weapon for shading these doors, big giant pots of bamboo that maybe by next year will be big enough to throw some shade on the doors.

 

[rp2813]

Seamus, here in Calif we have a program that you can sign up for that sounds like what you've got. They're about to roll out a new system that will automatically adjust your rate structure according to the time you use the most juice. But we're all resigned to getting gouged and the economy here is still recovering from getting reamed by Enron.

Sudsmaster sized it up nicely. Heat wave is over here in California, right now at 9AM it's overcast with a nice cool marine layer (it will burn off shortly) but should have near-90 by midweek where I live in the western corner of Silicon Valley where the bay breezes don't quite reach when it's hot. Went camping at the beach the weekend it was 109 out my way, came home and the temp inside the house was 95! No a/c like most homes in the immediate Bay Area so it was ceiling fans going 24/7 and smaller portables in key locations. Re-discovered the clothes line. Absolutely went naked as much as possible, we have a very private front & back yard and are nudists already so that was just business as usual.

Ralph

 

[mrsalvo]

Gary,
I do hang out white socks on the lines but dress socks I dry in the dryer. They are fluffier and a little easier for me to put on as I have some arthritis in my left foot. Maybe I need to buy some new socks that are easier to manage. Darn this middle age thing!