Saving Tips On Utilities

[momma2nathan]

Re: Saving Tips On Utilities

We also have a programmable thermostat and my dh and I have a challenge that once in a while, the other person will change the settings to increase or decrease the temperature to see if the other noticies. We started our summmer with the a/c set at 73 and now we keep it at 77. Neither of us has noticed it being hotter in the house. I may knock it up to 78 and see if he notices. The key here is not to let the other person know the temp has been changed to see if they notice.

[Razzy]

Re: Saving Tips On Utilities

That would never work at our house because both me and my dh do notice when the other has changed the settings on the thermostat. But I am finding out that I can handle the thermostat at 78 during the day ( with fans on) and 80 at night (also with a fans on) so I am getting there.

Razzy

[debanden]

Re: Saving Tips On Utilities

New to the site but wanted to say hello and mention that when I was little and visiting my Granny (who never had a/c) when I was complaining about being hot she would pull my t-shirt off and wet it, wring it out and put it back on me. She said when she was washing, cleaning house, ironing , etc. she did this to keep cool. (With the breeze coming through the house it was really cool and being a kid I thought it was fun.) Our a/c was out for a couple of days and I did this to my boys and myself and they quite complaining and thought it was fun also.

[rdhill007]

Re: Saving Tips On Utilities

We installed retractable awnings around our windows and our electric bill has gone down considerably in the summer. Home Depot sells them and they are easy to install.

[pennywise]

Re: Saving Tips On Utilities

I have just learned that flurescent lights cause cataracts due to the fluctuating light waves. The remedy is to wear tinted glasses. So the choice, save money on utilities and pay the doctor later or leave the regular bulbs in. I say leave the regular bulbs in but lower the wattage. To your health.

[cercis]

Re: Saving Tips On Utilities

Penny, can you cite your source for that?

[flash]

Re: Saving Tips On Utilities

Heat rises, so you want it to do DOWN in to the room during the winter and UP out of the house in the summer.

[flash]

Re: Saving Tips On Utilities

How To Save Money On Utilities:


3. Check for window air leaks and repair them. If at all possible, install double-pane windows in your house. Single pane windows or windows that are improperly insulated can account for up to 15 percent of your heating and cooling costs.

We did this last year, and I was shocked at the savings! Our house is fairly new, but the caulk sealant around the outside of the windows (Exterior) was cracked. We stripped all the old caulk out and recaulked ($50 on sale), and our heating bill dropped 40%! Or as my husband says, the average refill rate on our fuel oil tank went from 29 days to 47 days. In addition, the electricity to RUN the fuel oil tank and air conditioner went down (hubbie could quote Kw's) by about $700 over the year!

[flash]

Re: Saving Tips On Utilities

How To Save Money On Utilities:

10. If you never use your fireplace, have the chimney flue plugged and sealed. Even with the flue closed, most still leave plenty of space to let heated air escape. If you do use your fireplace, check the seal on the flue damper and adjust so that it is as tight as possible.

18. Use your ventilating fans in the kitchen, bathroom and other areas with care. Accidentally leaving one on can clear out a houseful of warmed or cooled air in about an hour. Be sure to turn off these fans as soon as they have done their job.

20. When cooking, it is often unnecessary to preheat the oven. For cooking times less than an hour, 5 minutes of preheating will usually do. For cooking times over an hour, there is no need to preheat.
.

Fireplace is really deceiving, especially if you life in a multi-story house. I love the cozy warmth by the fireplace, but upstairs gets COLD. Hubbie says this is because the fire pulls air OUT of the house up the chimney, and this pulls cold air down through the upstairs bathroom fans, or any other exhaust point. We are arguing now - he wants to seal up the fans for the winter, I think he'll burn the house down!

Ovens, this is a great way to save money. If you use the oven in the winter ALWAYS leave the oven door "cracked" open afterwards to allow the heat you've already paid for to warm the room. In the summer, bake in the morning or late at night, and keep the door closed tight.

[cercis]

Re: Saving Tips On Utilities

MJC, mythbusters explored the idea that a fireplace sucks heat out of the other rooms and found it to be simply a myth.

You do have to watch leaving exhaust fans running because they send the warm air out, but generally that's it.

[jeffrey]

Re: Saving Tips On Utilities

MJC, mythbusters explored the idea that a fireplace sucks heat out of the other rooms and found it to be simply a myth.

can you post the link...Id be interested in reading that

[nate]

Re: Saving Tips On Utilities

I'm guessing there isn't a link. Mythbusters is a tv show here in the U.S.

[jeffrey]

Re: Saving Tips On Utilities

I'm guessing there isn't a link. Mythbusters is a tv show here in the U.S.

Well, that doesn't help me here in Japan

[cercis]

Re: Saving Tips On Utilities

I did find a link but it says it was actually confirmed. Interesting because my memory is so different. It was a strange episode though, so I could have gotten it confused, probably because they were so convinced it wouldn't be true.

http://www.mythbustersfanclub.com/html/second_season.html

I don't have a fireplace and probably won't. It's still in the 90s here. But, I do know that a woodstove will heat the whole house and doesn't seem to suck air from anywhere. I've been in a house with a woodstove and OMG it is soooo hot.

[jeffrey]

Re: Saving Tips On Utilities

Good to know...thought I was going to have to rewrite my articles