(no subject)

[my_window_seat]

Just got my latest utility bill -

Literally a 25% difference from my last utility bill.

Meaning, my energy conservation efforts actually are paying off.

I'm a little scared about this winter, what with all the threats of natural gas prices going through the roof. I've invested in flannel jammies and warm socks, and I plan to use my free-standing propane heater from time to time.

But even the changes that I've made so far should help to offset the horror, the horror.

I also just ordered a free DVD from my utility company that's supposed to give you all these ways to weatherize your home - all lot of which probably won't apply for a renter in an apartment, but I'm crossing my fingers and hoping that, since they're so effing prevalent in New Mexico, that it just might include some tips on how to weatherize old-fashioned casement windows, 'cuz that's something else that could really help a lot. It was free, anyway.

Man, it's good to occasionally see tangible differences when you work to change something for the better, ya know?

Comments

a 25% difference

[hillbillie.livejournal.com]

What is it that you did?

Re: a 25% difference

[my-window-seat.livejournal.com]

Stopped using my halogen lamps; only using the lamps with the low-watt flourescent bulbs, and turned my water heater all the way down to just 'Warm'.

Re: a 25% difference

[hillbillie.livejournal.com]

Hm.

I had my water heater down to low-hot, and it seemed that I never turned on the cold when I took a shower. This seemed to me to be inefficient, since each shower, consisting only of "hot", would consequently use at least half the tank of heated water.

So, I turned mine up a tad, so that I could use some cold water with each shower..seems like a six of one, half a dozen of the other kind of thing, but who knows.

If the bill's up at all, I'll turn it down again, taking your experience as inspiration.

[ilovescabs.livejournal.com]

That's a big differnce.

I think I'm going to start shutting down my monitor and computer when I'm not using it, see if that does anything.

Not too sure about doing the water heater thing though. I rather like really hot showers.

[my-window-seat.livejournal.com]

I am a JUNKIE for hot showers - and I've noticed hardly anything other than a slightly discernible difference. Try turning it down to just above warm for a couple days just to try it out.

[ilovescabs.livejournal.com]

well, our hot water tank must not be all that big because I run out of hot water in the shower a lot.

So 86 that idea.