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Ophelia
she's baaccckkkk ;)
Member since 5/06 23378 total posts
Name:
remember, when Gulliver traveled....
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Energy and money saving PSA
so, this year we decided to take a "how low can you go" approach to the heat when we aren't home.
we turn down the hot water heater, and set the thermostat to a balmy 45, down 7 degrees from what we did last year.
over the coldest three months of this year, dh told me we saved AT LEAST $500. and that was just a conservative guestimate...we saved close to $300 last month alone.
YES, $300 (this is for natural gas and electric)
we don't do balanced billing, so we were averaging $500 - $600 bills each month starting from Thanksgiving to mid march.
now, we don't live there every day, so the temp IS down much longer, I can only imagine that for the 8-10 hours a day your home is empty during the work week it would have to save something.
my house warms up to 65 in about 30 minutes after we turn up the heat...but I deal with the chilly temp for the savings no problemo!!!
anyway, I just wanted to share our experience. any extra ching saved is good news to be.
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Posted 3/24/10 2:01 PM  |
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HeatherRose
Life is Good :)
Member since 11/07 6605 total posts
Name:
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Re: Energy and money saving PSA
wow! $500-$600 in just one month combined for electric and gas? can I ask what the sq ft of your home is? that scares me!
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| Posted 3/24/10 2:16 PM |
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eddiesmommy
best buds!
Member since 5/09 11524 total posts
Name:
Melissa
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Re: Energy and money saving PSA
Posted by HeatherRose
wow! $500-$600 in just one month combined for electric and gas? can I ask what the sq ft of your home is? that scares me!
LOL, I was thinking the same thing
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| Posted 3/24/10 2:19 PM |
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Ophelia
she's baaccckkkk ;)
Member since 5/06 23378 total posts
Name:
remember, when Gulliver traveled....
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Re: Energy and money saving PSA
our home is about 2000 sq ft.
and again, in the summer it hovers around the $100 mark.
some people pay a fixed rate all year (balanced billing) we don't, that's why it's so high in the winter.
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| Posted 3/24/10 2:32 PM |
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GoldenRod
10 years on LIF!
Member since 11/06 26792 total posts
Name:
Shawn
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Re: Energy and money saving PSA
I'm hoping that when DD starts going to Kindergarten, DW can be out of the house for a few hours a day, and we can turn the temps down. Right now, someone (namely DC) is almost always in the house, so we can't drop it too low.
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| Posted 3/24/10 2:52 PM |
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JldDolphin
Member since 1/07 6929 total posts
Name:
Jen
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Re: Energy and money saving PSA
Our home is about 1800 sq ft and are highest bill for gas heat was $325 I believe. We also use the gas for cooking and dryer. $500-600 sounds really high. Good for you guys that you brought your bill down. 
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| Posted 3/24/10 2:59 PM |
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Ophelia
she's baaccckkkk ;)
Member since 5/06 23378 total posts
Name:
remember, when Gulliver traveled....
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Re: Energy and money saving PSA
Posted by JldDolphin
. $500-600 sounds really high.
tell me about. hence this experiment. it was for gas AND electric though not just gas. plus our house is upstate so it gets colder there at night.
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| Posted 3/24/10 4:23 PM |
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HeatherRose
Life is Good :)
Member since 11/07 6605 total posts
Name:
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Re: Energy and money saving PSA
Posted by Ophelia
our home is about 2000 sq ft.
and again, in the summer it hovers around the $100 mark.
some people pay a fixed rate all year (balanced billing) we don't, that's why it's so high in the winter.
 our house is 2700 sqft... I hope I don't see bills like this, we just moved in less then a week ago. we are not doing the balance billing because we are out of the house at work all day most days, and the balance billing was going to go based on the previous owners who kept the house a warm 80 at all times and were also home all day.
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| Posted 3/24/10 4:48 PM |
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KLSbear
LIF Adult
Member since 1/06 1908 total posts
Name:
Karen
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Re: Energy and money saving PSA
Setting the thermostat that low can put you at risk for frozen pipes. The recommendation I've seen has been anywhere from 53 to 58 degrees minimum. Our plumber said to stay around 55 when we're on vacation, or a little higher if bitter cold is predicted. It may be 45 degrees at the thermostat but any pipes that run along outside walls like a kitchen sink could be at risk for freezing - it's not going to be 45 degrees under your sink if it's sub-zero outside.
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| Posted 3/24/10 6:09 PM |
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CAMCaps
Live Laugh Love Run
Member since 6/07 4922 total posts
Name:
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Re: Energy and money saving PSA
Posted by Ophelia
Posted by JldDolphin
. $500-600 sounds really high.
tell me about. hence this experiment. it was for gas AND electric though not just gas. plus our house is upstate so it gets colder there at night.
That is a high bill if you are not there all the time. You should definitely get an energy audit.
I live further upstate then you and our highest bill combined (gas and electric) was $360. We keep the heat at 58 during the day and night. In the evening, when we are home, we keep it at 63-64.
ETA: Our house is 2300 sq feet and we are not on balanced billing.
Message edited 3/24/2010 7:37:08 PM.
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| Posted 3/24/10 7:36 PM |
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firstbun
LIF Zygote
Member since 10/09 36 total posts
Name:
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Re: Energy and money saving PSA
Be careful with your pipes. I have heard it is not safe to set the temp below 55 or they can freeze. Good job on the savings though.
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| Posted 3/24/10 7:50 PM |
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itkocak
Member since 7/07 7639 total posts
Name:
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Re: Energy and money saving PSA
Message edited 11/28/2011 4:23:32 PM.
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| Posted 3/24/10 8:28 PM |
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rkoenke
my little piggys
Member since 3/08 4315 total posts
Name:
rachel
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Re: Energy and money saving PSA
she may have her pipes wrapped?
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| Posted 3/24/10 8:40 PM |
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CrankyPants
I'm cranky
Member since 7/06 18178 total posts
Name:
Mama Cranky
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Re: Energy and money saving PSA
Good job on the savings.
We had our pipes freeze when we were on vacation once. Thank goodness they didn't burst. We didn't have the thermostat set that low but we hit a real cold spell and the pipes were on the outside wall. In any case, the plumber gave us a tip to leave cabinet doors open to the sink, etc. This way whatever heat there is in the house flows into the cabinets to warm the pipes a little.
Sorry to highjack, congrats on the savings.
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| Posted 3/25/10 9:18 AM |
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Ophelia
she's baaccckkkk ;)
Member since 5/06 23378 total posts
Name:
remember, when Gulliver traveled....
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Re: Energy and money saving PSA
Posted by KLSbear
Setting the thermostat that low can put you at risk for frozen pipes. The recommendation I've seen has been anywhere from 53 to 58 degrees minimum. Our plumber said to stay around 55 when we're on vacation, or a little higher if bitter cold is predicted. It may be 45 degrees at the thermostat but any pipes that run along outside walls like a kitchen sink could be at risk for freezing - it's not going to be 45 degrees under your sink if it's sub-zero outside.
we researched this extensively and our pipes have been and will be fine. this was my initial fear but for various reasons we are all good.
I don't necessarily recommend that temperature to everyone, more of a general saving tip.
I don't do ANYTHING without research just to save a buck...not worth saving $500 if you have extensive pipe damage down the line.
ETA: we do plan on doing an energy audit b/c we are definitely still paying too much.
I never thought I'd post a tip for others and get more tips myself  
Message edited 3/25/2010 12:08:54 PM.
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| Posted 3/25/10 12:07 PM |
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MrsPornStar
Partners in crime
Member since 10/05 14656 total posts
Name:
Mama
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Re: Energy and money saving PSA
Awesome Jess!
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| Posted 3/25/10 12:30 PM |
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