Trying to cut down electricity use and save money
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Thread created 06-01-2012 by calnbs
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Turn off the water heater when you don't need hot water. That will save energy and is easy.
Trying to cut down electricity use and save money
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Thread created 06-01-2012 by calnbs
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If you have an audit done by a pro, be sure you get actual energy savings numbers for each improvement (insulation, caulking, better windows, A/C or heater upgrade, solar or heatpump water heater,...
Trying to cut down electricity use and save money
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Thread created 06-01-2012 by calnbs
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Thank you everyone for all your great input. After reading up one the window a/c vs portable a/c, looks like the window a/c have the edge unfortunately, I have a horizontal sliding window which only...
Trying to cut down electricity use and save money
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Thread created 06-01-2012 by calnbs
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https://www.google.com/webhp?complete=0#hl=en&safe=off&complete=0&site=webhp&q=how%2Bwindow%2Bair%2Bconditioner%2Bhorizontal%2Bsliding%2Bwindow&oq=how%2Bwindow%2Bair%2Bconditioner%2Bhorizontal%2Bslidi...
Trying to cut down electricity use and save money
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Thread created 06-01-2012 by calnbs
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This makes sense, but depending on how often you need hot water to shower, do laundry, and do dishes etc, won't turning on the water heater again, (lighting the pilot light if its gas) waiting for it...
Trying to cut down electricity use and save money
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Thread created 06-01-2012 by calnbs
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- CFL - I bought a ton of CFL's a year ago when the state had massive rebates on them making them comparable to incandescents. Although I don't have direct metrics, the "budget" amount (electricity)...
Trying to cut down electricity use and save money
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Thread created 06-01-2012 by calnbs
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^ I would do that.
Also depends on where you live and what kind of temperatures you will be dealing with. For me, being in TX, we get 100-110 degrees summers. Trying to keep a house at around 78...
Trying to cut down electricity use and save money
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Thread created 06-01-2012 by calnbs
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If you can, start planting tree and bushes around your house to block the sunlight.
Trying to cut down electricity use and save money
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Thread created 06-01-2012 by calnbs
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I can second this. I used this film. Me and my wife installed it in 1/2 a day and it works wonders in the room facing the morning sun.
Only tip I can offer, do your research online first and don't...
Trying to cut down electricity use and save money
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Thread created 06-01-2012 by calnbs
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I use my whole house A/C really just to dehumidify the whole house and cool down my downstairs area to 78. I use a window A/C in my bedroom. Before I got my window unit, I used twice as much...
Trying to cut down electricity use and save money
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Thread created 06-01-2012 by calnbs
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(This might be New York only), but how about those companies that call you – in this case, it was citizens choice, saying that they can save you on your (Con Ed) electric bill. I know I did this once...
Trying to cut down electricity use and save money
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Thread created 06-01-2012 by calnbs
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Thanks for all the inputs/advices.
Trying to cut down electricity use and save money
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Thread created 06-01-2012 by calnbs
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Sorry you got scammed and also cool story, bro but I doubt suggesting the OP get scammed in the same way you did would save him any money.
Trying to cut down electricity use and save money
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Thread created 06-01-2012 by calnbs
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They do change the temp. I do not have one but should. My house is always about 10* warmer than the outside temp in the summer with the windows open. If i could suck out the hot air what will fill...
Trying to cut down electricity use and save money
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Thread created 06-01-2012 by calnbs
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See above :D
Trying to cut down electricity use and save money
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Thread created 06-01-2012 by calnbs
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I wouldn't tape up the vents inside your house. It puts alot of strees on you duck works and hvac. When you tape up the vent you tend to have more leaks because of the pressure in them. You also...
Trying to cut down electricity use and save money
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Thread created 06-01-2012 by calnbs
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I got a whole house energy audit done by a pro and would say u should do the same too
The insights they gave were amazing
Trying to cut down electricity use and save money
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Thread created 06-01-2012 by calnbs
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Sounds a lot like the ROI on your "improvement" jobs is going to be negative.
1) Buy a portable air conditioner or Window A/C for our bedroom. We have no kids so no point of turning on the Central...
Trying to cut down electricity use and save money
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Thread created 06-01-2012 by calnbs
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One more thing, if you get a window A/C unit for use in a bedroom, get one with a remote. Mine doesn't have that and I wish it did.
Trying to cut down electricity use and save money
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Thread created 06-01-2012 by calnbs
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Most are from breathing in the steam from a hot shower into your lungs, most cases I have read about cite individuals who shower with the fan off and/or window closed. But good point mixing valves...
Trying to cut down electricity use and save money
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Thread created 06-01-2012 by calnbs
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Central air, what i do is i tape up all the vents going to the living room, dining room and kitchen. The only rooms that get it are the bedrooms. That way, it only takes minutes to cool down the...
Trying to cut down electricity use and save money
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Thread created 06-01-2012 by calnbs
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This is what I'm planning to do to further cut down on energy use and put money in my pocket. This is what I've done so far, I usually leave my thermostat at around 80 degree. I installed ceiling...
Trying to cut down electricity use and save money
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Thread created 06-01-2012 by calnbs
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have you considered thermal curtains?
Trying to cut down electricity use and save money
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Thread created 06-01-2012 by calnbs
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So if it's 60 outside and 75 in your house sucking in the 60 degree air through other windows and pushing out the 75 degree air in your house isn't going to make it cooler. Clearly an expert in...
Trying to cut down electricity use and save money
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Thread created 06-01-2012 by calnbs
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This is fantastic advice.
Trying to cut down electricity use and save money
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Thread created 06-01-2012 by calnbs
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Air Conditioning pretty much obsoleted whole house fans. Yes, they are still sold and a few people use them, but there is a very small window where they are useful between spring and summer/summer...
Trying to cut down electricity use and save money
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Thread created 06-01-2012 by calnbs
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A whole house fan sucks the air from the house and forces it into the attic, forcing the hot attic air out through the vents. New air is drawn from outside into the house. Thus, if the outside is...
Trying to cut down electricity use and save money
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Thread created 06-01-2012 by calnbs
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The window tint works well, I put it on some windows and you can tell the difference just by the temperature as your installing it. I put in the GILA Heat-Control Window Film from Lowe's.
...
Trying to cut down electricity use and save money
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Thread created 06-01-2012 by calnbs
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IMHO the biggest thing that AC does is dehumidify a space; IOW you will feel much better from the dehumidification than you will from an actual temperature drop.
I want to add insulation to my...
Trying to cut down electricity use and save money
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Thread created 06-01-2012 by calnbs
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Dam eight hours shit I bet you humidity level was super low after that nascar run for you hvac. Mine is just the opposite unfortunately. When I replaced my ac in my home the old unit was a bit...
Trying to cut down electricity use and save money
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Thread created 06-01-2012 by calnbs
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My update:
Since my original post. I've installed the window tint through out my house. Bought the reflective one at Home Depot. Easy to install but never had much luck putting it on perfectly....
Trying to cut down electricity use and save money
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Thread created 06-01-2012 by calnbs
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And could send you to the hospital!
http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/37933/title/Science_%2B_the_Public__The_Case_for_Very_Hot_Water
“The number one cause of waterborne disease...
Trying to cut down electricity use and save money
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Thread created 06-01-2012 by calnbs
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Could also see how much your neighbors are paying as well, supposing that their home is of similar size as yours. You can get a good average cost and see if you should switch electric companies or...
Trying to cut down electricity use and save money
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Thread created 06-01-2012 by calnbs
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The biggest savings will be achieved by not using the HVAC or water heater. Now if this is too drastic, just find your point of acceptance.
For HVAC, I would say summer time settings in the 80+...
Trying to cut down electricity use and save money
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Thread created 06-01-2012 by calnbs
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Dam eight hours shit I bet you humidity level was super low after that nascar run for you hvac. Mine is just the opposite unfortunately. When I replaced my ac in my home the old unit was a bit...
Trying to cut down electricity use and save money
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Thread created 06-01-2012 by calnbs
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paint house white reflects heat,buy cfl bulbs,get 20-23 watts for good lightng.get plug strips turn off tvs phone chargers when not in use,dry clothes outside,have you 2 Refrigerators,get rid of one,...
Trying to cut down electricity use and save money
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Thread created 06-01-2012 by calnbs
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That's great to hear you're saving all that money!
Trying to cut down electricity use and save money
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Thread created 06-01-2012 by calnbs
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If you have a really big house or a really outdated hvac then running one portible unit at night will save you money. In my case my portible if ran just at night would cost me $40 more a month....
Trying to cut down electricity use and save money
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Thread created 06-01-2012 by calnbs
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+1 to the return vent. My first house was built in 1970 and every single room in the house had a return vent. It was the most even cooled house that I have ever lived in. I could kick the A/C from 75...
Trying to cut down electricity use and save money
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Thread created 06-01-2012 by calnbs
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painting a house will take a lot of work....
