real things we can do to lower our electric bills.

[maryjanesdad]

I wasn't sure where this topic belonged, but this seems like an appropriate place. I would some info on what i can do to really lower my electric bill. Maybe if anyone knows of a checklist of the things that can be done. I know there are devices that claim to use the electric more efficiently, thus lowering your bill. Do they work? has anyone used anything like it?



I plan on running 10-12 400w MH and HPS lights in a house with a central air unit. The electrical and hvac are up to date.

thanks for any help

 

[Guest]

replace all of your incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescents. You can test the idle usage of your appliances; without a tester its a safe bet to keep your microwave, desktop pc, coffee maker, television, vcr, dvd, and anything else you can unplugged unless being used. Use a laptop instead of a desktop PC; all of these steps will offset the cost of your lights but 4800 watts is a big footprint. There are other things that can be done like better insulation, but that would cost you.

 

[bounty29]

Incandescent
100w * 12hr = 1.2kwh
1.2kwh * $0.13 = $0.156 per day
30 days * $0.156 = $4.68 per month

Compact Fluorescent
Initial Cost = $5.00 (Random price, I know I can get them for as low as $3)
23w * 12hr = 0.276kwh
0.276kwh * $0.13 = $0.03588 per day
30 days * $0.03588 = $1.08 per month
$4.68 - $1.08 = $3.60 savings each month

After two electric bills you've saved more than you paid for the bulb. Why wouldn't you be using CFLs?That's what I pay for electric, I feel like I'm on the high end of the scale so the ROI would be a little longer for people with cheaper electricity.

If you're using electric heat, get a new heating system! But if that's not an option, turn the heat down, wear more clothes, etc. Also, make sure your windows are insulated. When leaving rooms, make sure to turn off lights. If you walk by a room and the light is on, just turn it off. Takes such a small amount of time, but it saves you money!

http://www.energy.gov/heatingcooling.htm
If you're paranoid about clicking a link to a .gov site then just copy and paste the address into the address bar.
Lots of great info at that site, there's a menu on the left that has tips for saving energy in all aspects of life.

 

[greenhead]

I feel like I'm on the high end of the scale so the ROI would be a little longer for people with cheaper electricity.[/SIZE]

Mine costs more than a dime more than what you are paying per kWH, so yours is not exactly on the high end, you should feel lucky, lol.

 

[Guayaki]

do all your laundry at the laundry mat. dryers take a bunch of electricity. Get yourself a nice barbecue grill. A stove uses around 5000 watts. Im probably the master of saving electricity. Even in the colder snowy months I pack all my food in a cooler and leave it on the back patio. I shut my water heater off every day. I turn it on for an hour before I shower for the day and the water is already hot and is still warm for most of the day.

 

[maryjanesdad]

After two electric bills you've saved more than you paid for the bulb. Why wouldn't you be using CFLs?That's what I pay for electric, I feel like I'm on the high end of the scale so the ROI would be a little longer for people with cheaper electricity.

If you're using electric heat, get a new heating system! But if that's not an option, turn the heat down, wear more clothes, etc. Also, make sure your windows are insulated. When leaving rooms, make sure to turn off lights. If you walk by a room and the light is on, just turn it off. Takes such a small amount of time, but it saves you money!

http://www.energy.gov/heatingcooling.htm
If you're paranoid about clicking a link to a .gov site then just copy and paste the address into the address bar.
Lots of great info at that site, there's a menu on the left that has tips for saving energy in all aspects of life.

the home has gas heat. 2 zone air air/heat, which is GREAT!

These little things that i can do will save $, but what about devices that can use the electricity drawn more efficently? I heard that your not getting all the electricity when something is on, a lot is wasted. your not getting 100% of the electric thats drawn, rather 70%, but you pay for the full amount. something like that, lol

can some shed some light on this? CALLING MEMBER DB2004

 

[greenhead]

the home has gas heat. 2 zone air air/heat, which is GREAT!

These little things that i can do will save $, but what about devices that can use the electricity drawn more efficently? I heard that your not getting all the electricity when something is on, a lot is wasted. your not getting 100% of the electric thats drawn, rather 70%, but you pay for the full amount. something like that, lol

can some shed some light on this? CALLING MEMBER DB2004

You can pick up a kill-a-watt and you can measure exactly what each device is using, even when they're sleeping.

 

[Stoner4Life]

the home has gas heat. 2 zone air air/heat, which is GREAT!

These little things that i can do will save $, but what about devices that can use the electricity drawn more efficently? I heard that your not getting all the electricity when something is on, a lot is wasted. your not getting 100% of the electric thats drawn, rather 70%, but you pay for the full amount. something like that, lol

can some shed some light on this? CALLING MEMBER DB2004

you cannot/will not hide that much of a power draw by using other appliances more efficiently.

btw, standard incandescent bulbs put out 90% heat and only 10% light per watt drawn, or....... 100 watt bulb = 90 watts of heat & 10 watts of light.

 

[genkisan]

Most folks I know of who run 10+ lights don't have to heat much in the rooms they grow in (or those near them), at least in the winter....the lights and ballasts do a fine job of it. They also use a gas stovetop, unplug the electric range and use a timer on the hot water heater, so they only have hot water at certain times of day. A bit of a pain, but saves whacks of juice.

In the summer you have molto problems tho, cuz you don't have the excuse of heating the house, and you have to run A/C to avoid roasting yer grow.

if yer at all isolated, or can build appropriate housing, a veggie oil generator might be an option.....used fryer oil can often be picked up super-cheap or free. A little bit o'filter action and yer good to go. That way yer electric use is on no-one's radar at all.....

 

[ItsGrowTime]

Off the top of my head, in no particular order:

Adjust your fridge/freezer to stay just cold enough to keep things cold. Manufacturers usually set them higher than needed to wear it out faster. If you dont need a light to do it, leave it off. I take most of my dumps in the dark lol. Turn off power strips for home entertainment systems and computer equipment when you are out of the house (after turning everything off properly of course). CFLs everywhere. Remove lightbulbs from unnecessary lights. Most people have more lights in a house than they really need. I have 6 bulb sockets over my bathroom sink! Instead, only one 23w CFL is there now. Wear more/less clothing inside instead of cranking up the heat/AC. Also, change the filter in your furnace/AC often to keep it working efficiently. A dirty filter makes it work harder and wastes juice. Only run big appliances (like dishwashers and dryers) fully loaded. I use nearly every plate and glass in my house before I run the washer and I spend $7 a month at the laundromat instead of a power hogging dryer. Turn on power save features of your computer. That should get you started. I run 2200w of lights and havent had a power bill over $100.

 

[GeorgeSmiley]

Only a few things I've figured out

My computer costs $15.00 a month to run 24/7 now I turn it off when I'm not using it.
Most of our clothes hang dry on a rack in the garage and then we tumble it for a few minutes before we wear (works really good) and the rest of our clothes are done at a laundry(my indulgence, loved pressed shirts)

Turn the hot water heater down to 120º. Cfl's of course...

 

[sneakyninja]

- Use a laundromat or pay someone to do your laundry
- Water heater on a timer
- During summer keep house 7 or 8 degrees farenheit warmer than usual
- During winter keep house 7 or 8 degrees farenheit cooler than usual
- Use only CFL's
- Don't leave lights on in the house
- Use a bbq or other gas cooking device rather than a microwave/oven
- where possible install a gas stove, water heater etc.
- take short showers
- never use space heaters
- unplug appliances when they aren't being used

 

[greenhead]

While it's a good idea not to waste electricity and pay out the ass for it, some of the advice seems to be leaning a bit too much on the frugal side, lol. I like to be comfortable, and there are just certain things that I'd never do, such as being hot in the summertime, or keeping it cooler in the wintertime or taking short showers, but to each his own.

 

[Haps]

I am testing some new fart gas reclaimation liesure pants. I connect the flex tube and my farts are collected, and burned to run an electrical generator, which powers my house. I sell the extra power back to the grid. Have to eat a lot of beans.
Hehap

 

[buzzmobile]

Run your veg lights 16/8 instead of 18/6 or 24/0.

 

[DIGITALHIPPY]

i bought the cheap-ass CFl's from wall-shit and they last less time then the regular inc's.... spend a few dollars and get good ones. ive replaced 2 cf;'s for every one inc' its ok wallmart is replacing them for free.. god i hate walmart

 

[ItsGrowTime]

While it's a good idea not to waste electricity and pay out the ass for it, some of the advice seems to be leaning a bit too much on the frugal side, lol. I like to be comfortable, and there are just certain things that I'd never do, such as being hot in the summertime, or keeping it cooler in the wintertime or taking short showers, but to each his own.

You must be running a 400w personal use closet. Growing larger in a residential setting means cutting corners on the power bill.

Or are you one those commercial hater types?

 

[Guest]

Exactly what is the reasoning behind "cutting corners"?I certainly wouldn't be hot in the summer,cool in the winter,blind in the dark lol.If you are trying to save a few bucks because your poor,you're not growing successfully.If you're trying to save money to fool the lectric company you are wasting your time.I've run 5K in a small home for over six years now and my electric bills normally triple those of my neighbors.I pay the bill the day it comes and my utility remains happy.The only measure I take electricalwise is to shut down once a month while my meter is being read.You dont particularly want the wheel spinning like a frisbee on crack

 

[Youareborg]

How do you know what day the meter reader is coming by?

 

[Guest]

It says on my bill the next read date,yesterday was the day.The dogs in the neighborhood let me know when he's near.I havent missed him in years.Different guy every time usually