Saving money on electric bill

[EatenByLimestone]

The next thing I'd like to get in a new fridge. Ours is older. But fridges cost so much money. I often wonder if the savings would justify the expense.

Swapping my Montgomery Wards branded fridge to a new Frigidaire cut me from 90 kWh a month to between 30 and 40. I can't remember exactly, but I think upper 30s. I really think the savings is the improvement in life that it brings. There is a LED light on each side which brightens it up so much more than the old fridge. I also like the large shelves on the door. It paying for itself quickly was just a bonus.

 

[English BoB]

Ha, I found my transformer by accident while doing my basement re wire project. It was in the joist bay in the same area where most of the outdoor wiring leaves the house.

Do they make an updated efficient model?

Its called a door knocker.

bob

 

[blades]

I will have try the disconnect on the ac unit to see if that helps some, I am at around 194 kw for this time of year. just me and 2 dogs in a 60's 2k sq ft house. Note on Power vent units. My particular hw unit did not have a back draft damper on the exhaust- that let a lot of cold air constantly blowing into the basement and down the central flue of gas hw unit. I installed a back draft damper and it made a see able difference on the gas bill which is also very miminal. Refridge and Oven are electric everything else is ng. Seldom use oven- so main draws are likly ref. and old school tube TV. I have a LCD unit but not hooked up or plugged in at present. read that some of these new flat screens can add a fair size load?

 

[English BoB]

Biggest item that dropped my bill was the clothes dryer. Have only used it for emergencies in the last 2.5 years. Dry outside in the summer or when weather permits and during the winter in front of the wood stove. Ran a clothes line on the porch to help out.
Next was the washing machine - set to cold wash and rinse.
Then change all the light bulbs to curly style.
My average budget payment is $56 - currently running $10 less.

PS....why is that light on behind you ?????

bob

 

[mass_burner]

Its called a door knocker.

bob

Right, huh. I have 3 entry doors with push buttons I just replaced, wiring is still in place.

 

[EatenByLimestone]

The fridge was pretty big for me also. I replaced that and the stove (gas now) and I'm 100 kwh lighter/month.

 

[seige101]

I have a LCD unit but not hooked up or plugged in at present. read that some of these new flat screens can add a fair size load?

It is much more efficient than running an older tube tv

 

[brenndatomu]

I jut saw on the news that the new "smart" TVs are hogs though...

 

[blades]

I jut saw on the news that the new "smart" TVs are hogs though...

What I have sony lcd unit from a few years back- Heard/read about some other, irritating to me, habits of those units.

 

[begreen]

I jut saw on the news that the new "smart" TVs are hogs though...

Some are. It depends on the features and how they're implemented. Our Panasonic is pretty miserly in standby mode.

 

[peakbagger]

My 2 year old Sony 40" LED is quite good at standby load. I have an energy setting enabled so it powers down the processor. When I first turn it on, its defaults to the last channel and then takes about 30 seconds for the volume and channel selector to work.

My remaining energy hogs are actually water related. I have deep well pump that draws a lot of power and a 20 year old standard flow toilet. I expect I could cut my power use down further by putting in a water miser toilet and a variable speed drive on my pump but its hard to justify spending money to save power when I generate more than I use.

 

[maverick06]

One I found was my FIOS internet connection, if you open up the box, and unplug the lead acid battery you save something like 12watts. I guess it is always trickle charging. The battery is for "emergency" use of a telephone over fios. I am not paying for a landline, so could never use it anyways.

I will also concur to the load of the AC unit. Mine pulls a lot of power when not in use. But since it is a heat pump in the winter, I can never just shut the breaker.