...when it comes to energy efficiency.
I've been living in this all-electric house for about ten years. About 2000, when I first started learning about PO, I began to make some efforts to better manage my home energy use.
I'll let the electric utility numbers start the story:
Year kw-hrs
1995 12,639
1996 12,200
1997 13,571
1998 14,755
1999 11,306
2000 12,288
2001 9,781
2002 7,857
2003 5,913
2004 5,162
PeakOil is You
I Must be Doing Something Right...
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I Must be Doing Something Right...
by PeakOiler » Sun 24 Jul 2005, 10:08:46
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PeakOiler - Intermediate Crude
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Awesome Progress
by SolarDave » Sun 24 Jul 2005, 13:28:59
Congratulations!
That is awesome progress. If everyone could reproduce your success we would not have to worry about electricity shortages for a long time.
Can you still go lower, or are you at a plateau?
This is a bit off topic, but when Alt Energy suppliers say "first cut your use, THEN install the alternate energy system" this is exactly what they mean. You would have doubled the effectiveness or cut the cost in half for such a system to "break even."
That is awesome progress. If everyone could reproduce your success we would not have to worry about electricity shortages for a long time.
Can you still go lower, or are you at a plateau?
This is a bit off topic, but when Alt Energy suppliers say "first cut your use, THEN install the alternate energy system" this is exactly what they mean. You would have doubled the effectiveness or cut the cost in half for such a system to "break even."
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SolarDave - Coal
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by PeakOiler » Sun 24 Jul 2005, 13:58:26
$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('gt1370a', 'W')hat actions did you take to accomplish this? Spend a ton of money on insulation and storm windows? Or just cut back on energy use?
The largest energy consumers in a house are:
1. Heaters.
2. Air conditioners.
3. Water heaters.
4. Clothes dryers.
5. Ovens.
6. Refrigerators.
So to address each of these areas, I either replaced the item with a more energy efficient one, supplemented each item with an alternative, and/or practiced better management of each item.
I purchased a wood stove on 10/21/1995, but did not use it too much the first few years, but more so in the last five.
I had to replace the air conditioner's compressor on 8/15/2001. So I bought a much more efficient one.
I had a solar water heater installed on 11/20/2002.
I started hanging clothes out to dry more often.
I bought a small toaster oven instead of using the large oven for a lot of cooking.
I bought a solar oven and these have the added benefit of not heating up the house in the summer months which saves on air conditioning.
I bought an Energy Star rated refrigerator in November, 2003.
Nearly all the lights are now CFBs. Since 2000, I've only had to replace four since that time.
Energy management is crucial. This includes a lower thermostat setting in the winter (I set the thermostat at about 60-65 degrees F in the Winter and at about 80 F in the Summer.) I also wait as long as possible each year before I start using the A/C in the Summer and the heater in the Winter. I only heat/cool those parts of the house that I use the most. Why heat/cool a room if one's not using it?
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PeakOiler - Intermediate Crude
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- Location: Central Texas
Re: Awesome Progress
by PeakOiler » Sun 24 Jul 2005, 14:53:14
$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('SolarDave', 'C')ongratulations!
That is awesome progress. If everyone could reproduce your success we would not have to worry about electricity shortages for a long time.
Can you still go lower, or are you at a plateau?
This is a bit off topic, but when Alt Energy suppliers say "first cut your use, THEN install the alternate energy system" this is exactly what they mean. You would have doubled the effectiveness or cut the cost in half for such a system to "break even."
That is awesome progress. If everyone could reproduce your success we would not have to worry about electricity shortages for a long time.
Can you still go lower, or are you at a plateau?
This is a bit off topic, but when Alt Energy suppliers say "first cut your use, THEN install the alternate energy system" this is exactly what they mean. You would have doubled the effectiveness or cut the cost in half for such a system to "break even."
Repost: I don't know what happened to the earlier reply.(?)):
I think I'm at a plateau now. I don't think your post is off-topic at all. You are correct that alternative energy technology suppliers suggest to practice energy efficiency before using solar PV or small wind turbines, etc. Find out how much energy you've been wasting compared to how much you need. Perform that home energy audit!
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PeakOiler - Intermediate Crude
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- Joined: Thu 18 Nov 2004, 04:00:00
- Location: Central Texas
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