Author Topic: Energy usage poll (Read 398 times)

Gunslinger · « **on:** September 08, 2006, 08:32:42 PM »

Ok here's the question and maybe this is one for mythbusters.....

What uses less electricity?

A. Using the A/C sporadicly in a house (IE turning it off in the morning and turning it on in the afternoon)

B. Leaving it set at a specific temprature and only turning the thermostat up at night and such

DiabloTX · « **Reply #1 on:** September 08, 2006, 08:49:23 PM »

What's the idea behind turning the A/C off in the morning and turning it on in the afternoon? Good god man, you're in Texas!!!!

rpm · « **Reply #2 on:** September 08, 2006, 08:52:38 PM »

Sporadic use. You use more keeping the house cool while it's not in use than you spend to cool it back to the comfort zone. There's a lot of variables in the equation, i.e. outdoor temp, a/c rating, insulation, ect. The bottom line is time the unit is running.

rpm · « **Reply #3 on:** September 08, 2006, 08:53:37 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by DiabloTX
What's the idea behind turning the A/C off in the morning and turning it on in the afternoon? Good god man, you're in Texas!!!!

I actually have the windows open and it's kinda chilly.

DiabloTX · « **Reply #4 on:** September 08, 2006, 08:57:53 PM »

Yeah, been below normal here lately as well. But we both know that's going to change soon. I mean, it IS global warming, right???

bj229r · « **Reply #5 on:** September 08, 2006, 09:08:37 PM »

Starting a motor consumes an enormous amunt of current--(as opposed to just RUNNING it) I've installed systems whose ONLY job was to stagger the timing of start-ups in the morning of the dozens upon dozens of airhandlers in office buildings--apparently, more wattage consumed in 'peak' hours multiplied cost exponentially (this is a couple decades back, before such things were all run by software packages specifically designed for such use) The facility managers seemed quite sure they were saving money

Gunslinger · « **Reply #6 on:** September 08, 2006, 09:15:50 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by bj229r
Starting a motor consumes an enormous amunt of current--(as opposed to just RUNNING it) I've installed systems whose ONLY job was to stagger the timing of start-ups in the morning of the dozens upon dozens of airhandlers in office buildings--apparently, more wattage consumed in 'peak' hours multiplied cost exponentially (this is a couple decades back, before such things were all run by software packages specifically designed for such use) The facility managers seemed quite sure they were saving money

Well that's kinda what I'm thinking. I've also heard it takes alot more energy to cool down a house than it does to maintain a temp.

also keep in mind the house is pretty much occupied 24/7

storch · « **Reply #7 on:** September 08, 2006, 09:38:09 PM »

keeping the house at a constant temp is the better way to go. if the house is in the high 80s in the PM that compressor will run for hours without cycling to drop the temperature to 72. it's rougher on the equipment and the net consumption will be about the same.

buy a 14 seer or higher efficiency unit. the costs of upgrading may be partially covered by your local power company and the net savings will more than pay for a new unit. I replace my central A/Cs every 5 years.

paint your roof white. Lanco/harris makes a great product that will waterproof and cool your house down. it will reflect 60% of the sun's rays. insulate the attic and the walls. if you replace your roof spend a few extra dollars on that aluminum foil sht that apllies with an adhesive directly to the plywood, the combination of the three will reflect 90% of the sun's rays away.

even with the A/C on install ceiling fans in every room and leave them on. the added circulation of the air helps the A/C to cool much more efficiently.

clean the evaporator and condensor coils every year, if you are a little handy it could be done with no special tools. a garden hose a degreaser and a shop vac is about all you need. lastly replace the filters every 30 days or if you live in a dusty area every 15 days.

another easy way to reduce home energy expense is to put your water heater(s) on a timer. have them fire up 20 minutes before you normally shower or bathe. for those of you that have aversion to personal cleanliness you may even select which days it doesn't fire up at all.

wash small loads instead of huge ones and get a gas dryer.

having said all of that and having done all of that and more my home energy bill was $797.87 last month and it's pissing me off.

LePaul · « **Reply #8 on:** September 08, 2006, 09:46:29 PM »

$797! Just in electric?

Yeesh! Heating oil is $2.79 up here, thankfully its summer and Im only using it to heat the water up for showers, etc....but my electric bill runs between $54-$80...depending on the weather and if it requires me to fire up the A/C

Course ask me again in Feb when its freezing out and Im cursing the furnace

DiabloTX · « **Reply #9 on:** September 08, 2006, 09:53:38 PM »

I'm with Jack on this one. Work your prettythang off and then still have to pay out the nose. Sounds like a plan!

Gunslinger · « **Reply #10 on:** September 08, 2006, 10:11:44 PM »

My electric bill this month topped $325. I just think that's excessive, but I could be wrong. Unforturnatly we don't have gas running to the house and due to the fact we have small children my wife does a ton of laundry. For what ever reason she refuses to run the ceiling fans in the house when the A/C is on and painting the roof white is definatly out of the question (HOA).

I'm just trying to find ways to get the bill down to the mid $200s.

storch · « **Reply #11 on:** September 08, 2006, 10:13:59 PM »

how many A/C units? window shakers or central? knocking a third off of the bill is tough. I should have added the house is 5300 sqft of living space under A/C

Gunslinger · « **Reply #12 on:** September 08, 2006, 10:24:33 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by storch
how many A/C units? window shakers or central? knocking a third off of the bill is tough. I should have added the house is 5300 sqft of living space under A/C

mine is central, 2300 sf. It's not that I'm knocking off a third but for what ever reason it spiked this month and I can't figure out why because we've been using it (and the pool filter pump) alot less.

rpm · « **Reply #13 on:** September 08, 2006, 10:26:10 PM »

My electric bill was $140 last month and I ran the a/c everyday set at 76f. I did crank the temp up to 90f while I was at work. A programmable thermostat is the way to go.

A great way to save on electricity is to use a solar water heater in tandem with your regular electric or get on-demand heaters. Both are easy installs and can save $$$ in a short time.

rpm · « **Reply #14 on:** September 08, 2006, 10:31:40 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Gunslinger
mine is central, 2300 sf. It's not that I'm knocking off a third but for what ever reason it spiked this month and I can't figure out why because we've been using it (and the pool filter pump) alot less.

Was it the usage that went up or the pca/fca? That's the surcharge they bill you for fuel cost recovery. It's way, way up around here.