Tips on saving electricity

[Ladybug76]

Originally Posted by timex

I'm thinking about turning the temp down on my hot water heater to save on my electric bill. What temp should it be set at?
Does anybody else have some energy saving tips?

We keep our thermostats at 66 both upstairs and down. If it gets a little chilly, I will bump it up to 68 for a little while. We keep the vents and doors closed in the rooms we don't use very often (basement, guestroom, etc.) We also try to run the major appliances (washer, dryer, and dishwasher) either first thing in the morning or later at night. The electric company that we used in California had "peak hours" where the rates were higher--in the afternoon and early evening. I don't know if this is the case here, but we are used to doing it that way.

The house we live in has very good natural light, so we don't even need to use the lights that much during the day.

Haven't gotten my SMECO bill yet this month, but from what I'm hearing it's going to be bad.....

[desertrat (Premo)]

Originally Posted by timex

I'm thinking about turning the temp down on my hot water heater to save on my electric bill. What temp should it be set at?
Does anybody else have some energy saving tips?

I think they recommend 120.

[Toxick]

Originally Posted by timex

I'm thinking about turning the temp down on my hot water heater to save on my electric bill. What temp should it be set at?
Does anybody else have some energy saving tips?

I would have said use oil heat. But that was a long time ago....



Nowadays, I think the only solution is for the citizens to form an unruly mob, complete with whiskey, pitchforks, clubs and torches. Then we storm SMECO's parking lot and burn effigies of employees until they lower their rates back to something sensible.

If that doesn't work... the beheadings begin!

[Kyle (Premo)]

Run an extension cord through your window to a neighbors outside outlet.

[desertrat (Premo)]

Originally Posted by Ladybug76

We keep our thermostats at 66 both upstairs and down. If it gets a little chilly, I will bump it up to 68 for a little while. We keep the vents and doors closed in the rooms we don't use very often (basement, guestroom, etc.) We also try to run the major appliances (washer, dryer, and dishwasher) either first thing in the morning or later at night. The electric company that we used in California had "peak hours" where the rates were higher--in the afternoon and early evening. I don't know if this is the case here, but we are used to doing it that way.

The house we live in has very good natural light, so we don't even need to use the lights that much during the day.

Haven't gotten my SMECO bill yet this month, but from what I'm hearing it's going to be bad.....

That can't be right. They do not know when you use power. They barely know how much you use on a monthly basis. Peak hours just get passed on to us no matter what.

[GWguy]

Originally Posted by Kyle

Run an extension cord through your window to a neighbors outside outlet.

:nomoneyshouse:

[Ladybug76]

Originally Posted by Cowgirl

We set our thermostat at around 62. Set it lower during the day when you're not home. Turn off all lights when not in use. Unplug chargers (cellphone, etc), wash your laundry on cold settings, hang laundry to dry, turn off all appliances (TV, DVD players, etc.).

Good recommendations! When my boys were really young, we put up a retractable clothes line in our back yard. It didn't look too junky since I could just roll it back up when I was done. At the time the rates in California were crazy. We had $350+ electric bills for a 1500 sqft house. The house was built in the 70's and still had the old windows, etc. It was awful! We put ceiling fans and floor fans in all of the rooms. Although some days it would be so hot that it felt like the fans were just moving the hot air around.

[poster]

Originally Posted by aps45819

That only works if you don't have a dishwasher

because..........

I thought a dishwasher heats it's own water?

Try setting the temp back 5* each week to find your lowest comfort temp.
Is there an actual temp recomendation for any health reasons or is it a personal comfort/safet issue?

[GWguy]

Originally Posted by Dye Tied

I can see the water heater. It's very old and 5 feet tall but it's a tight squeeze to get to it and I can't move my full size stacked laundry unit. I will try to get to it tonight.

I'll take my phone so in case I get stuck, I can call for a pull out

The settings on the heater aren't absolutely accurate. To see what the REAL temp is, let the hot run for a few minutes and put a thermometer under the tap.

[Dye Tied (Premo)]

Originally Posted by GWguy

The settings on the heater aren't absolutely accurate. To see what the REAL temp is, let the hot run for a few minutes and put a thermometer under the tap.

I do have a meat thermometer