Has anyone been shocked by their utility bill this winter?

[Joan.of.the.Arch]

Yes, with little kids, you've got to keep them warm! Once they're older, you can start inching it down if you want.

[PrincessPerky]

Yes, with little kids, you've got to keep them warm! Once they're older, you can start inching it down if you want.

Oh I dunno...I have a (almost) 6yo, 4yo, and 2yo..they don't shiver at 61...they do wear double layers, and socks though...and yes the necks are warm..the human body can adapt to amazing temperatures...infants are the only exception (or other medical issues)

[cookeaj1]

Paying 70% more this year thanks to our Governor.

[cookeaj1]

Oh yeah, and thats with a brand new heat-pump and programmable thermostat!

[PetMom]

Here in Texas this is the second year of my no heater needed challenge for myself with my hubby as a willing participant.

We only turned it on briefly on about three mornings as we needed heat on while bathing - brrr to bathing while freezing. I did learn how to run hot bath water then let that heat up the bathroom (small one) then get in and that was ok.

Also, waiting for hot Texas sun to shine even in winter without any solar paneling we got warmth by pulling open the shades as the sun comes up.

Doing baking in early dark a.m. did double duty for heating (we have small kitchen) food and us.

I also cut scrap wood that we would have relegated to the brush pick up (one year I paid $10.00 to have this hauled off). This past year I tediously and for a bit of exercise cut the wood. We used wood heat on the very coldest nights, lived in sweats while at home, all pets have plenty of blankets, sweaters and are indoor pets.

Little tips like these I have always read about worked this past winter and I love the cold so it was fun for me, plus if our heater were to break - I would say not to replace it.

Now summer looms and all the money saved will go to the super high summer electricity bills - I cannot stand the heat and keep the a/c on
all the time.

[JBinKC]

In January of 2005 I converted to wood heat from propane. A great decision. The payback period of the investment of the stove, installation and harvesting tools ended up to be 2 years and 1 month of burning.

Over the past year my KWH usage also dropped 27% year over year. My electric bill has been averaging $15 per month lower than last year. I cut off ornamental lighting to a minimum and use the stove for a higher portion of my cooking and water heating needs.

Over the fall I also installed an attic fan to reduce A/C costs. According to my calculations I figured the payback period on the cost of the fan and installation will be recovered in around 4 years.

So my heat/electric utility bill has been around $60 / month and about $50 direct annual costs to harvest the wood.

[Seeker]

Oh I dunno...I have a (almost) 6yo, 4yo, and 2yo..they don't shiver at 61...they do wear double layers, and socks though...and yes the necks are warm..the human body can adapt to amazing temperatures...infants are the only exception (or other medical issues)

This got me a bit curious.... because when I was young I was told that the colder air was actually better for me to breathe and to just "cover up" (good old Mom)!

Can any of you Doctors confirm this?
Questions and Answers 03

While living in California is quite an advantage as far as our gas bills and temperatures (I was not born in this state)... so I'm not going to compare my bills with these.

But I can tell you that at my age now... I cannot sleep without a window (locked open) and a fan going (to drown out the noises from outside sprinklers or stray cats). The temperature inside is sometimes 40 degrees (yes, above zero) with the window open and the fan going (DH is adapting albeit slowly).

I do find enclosed air rather stifling to this day.... and prefer to bundle up rather than turn up the heat.

[PrincessPerky]

For a time my father was married to a woman who required the window open to sleep...she lived in PA... a rather cold snowy portion of PA!

Was a rather healthy older woman though, so I don't doubt fresh air is good for you

I keep my windows closed, but I do wonder if turning the heat down has anything to do with less 'snots' in the house these past two years?

I also read a report about mothers in Russia who routinely let their babies (bundled) out in the sunny cold (they wanted the sun, said cold was no big deal).