Kill a Watt ~ A Tale of Two Power Bills...

Last months power bill was a real shocker. The excessive summer heat + my nonchalant attitude toward energy consumption = a real doozy of a light bill. Yes, my urinary tract as a "tad" upset, but then, being upset can be a good thing.    

Kill a Watt...This past month I was on a seek-and-destroy mission. Ferret out unnecessary or power wasting habits and implement changes.    

CF's are a great place to start, but they are only the tip of the iceberg. If it's warm, if it glows, if it rotates, it's consuming energy. The trick is, what is important and what isn't.

Timers became my new best friend. A timer and insulation blanket on the water heater was a great place to start. Water heaters are just under HVAC systems as major power consuming appliances.

Computers, monitors, laptop power supplies, power supplies for speakers all went on a timer. Tracking down electronic equipment with "phantom" power loads was a bit tricky. No stone was left unturned. The koi even survived my scrutiny and experimentation. 

Extreme? No, not really when you think about it. How much TV do you watch or how many hot showers do you take when you are sleeping or away from the house? That was the key. I turned off ALL unnecessary power hogs while I was away or checking the eyelids for holes. After all, few hours in "time out" never really hurt anyone - especially the hogs.

While everyone will not go to the extremes I did, everyone doing a little can accomplish a lot. As I stated in my original post "Make My Day - Kill-a-Watt" the whole premise was to accomplish a means to accomplish generational giving. Let's all do our part so that our kids and grand kids won't run out of the fossil fuels that power our world.

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66 Comments on Kill a Watt ~ A Tale of Two Power Bills...

20 Most Recent Comments Displayed Show All

OCT
09
2010
312,771 Points 3 Featured Posts

Thanks for sharing your post with us.

Wishing you continued success.
2:37pm • #47
2 Featured Posts Called Shot Master

I'm not a fan of the energy saving bulbs, but one way I have cut down on my utility bill is replacing my water heater with a tankless model.  Instead of constantly heating 75 gallons of water it instantly heats it as it is being used.
2:46pm • #48
1,241,621 Points 158 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

I will rethink the tankless water heater too when mine goes. I am still doing some research - initial cost vs savings to see what the payback is going to be...   
2:54pm • #49
433,565 Points 2 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Hit Router Called Shot Master

Michael - Great blog. I am one of those husbands/father that runs around the house chasing my family's tendency to turn everything on! Thanks for the great ideas!
2:58pm • #50

Great Information. Thank you for sharing!
3:31pm • #51
7 Featured Posts

Michael did you know that even leaving a charger plugged in that isn't charging anything still consumes electric - I was floored!  Did you also know that (at least here in MI) that the more electric you use the higher your rate!  That just stinks!  I about his the floor when we got our August bill in September - are you serious---$350!!  wholly crapola!  Pool-air- well now pool is closed and I refuse to turn on the heat yet!
4:46pm • #52
Outside Blog Called Shot Master

Your chart for Last Year versus This year was pretty impressive.

I admire your efforts.

Jen Wing
5:17pm • #53
286,657 Points 12 Featured Posts Called Shot Master

I love this post.  I watch the usage and got the idea when I went to Kinkos and used their bathroom.  The light went on the moment you stepped in and shut off as you went out the door.  I believe in energy efficiency ... If you are not using it, then unplug it.  From what I understand that freezers are more energy efficient when they are full... have you heard that one?
6:58pm • #54
1,499,232 Points 353 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog Hit Router Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Michael...

We discovered that we could stop running the air conditioner upstairs. #0 minuted before going to bed, I opened the windows and turned on a fan, and the house was cooler on a lot less power,
7:22pm • #55
905,565 Points 93 Featured Posts Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

I'm an energy miser. The only lights on in my home are the ones in the room I'm in. And, every time a bulb burns out, I replace it with a CFL. My theory is the more I save on my electric bill, the more I have for the things I want.
7:34pm • #56
142,363 Points 9 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

I've even gone so far to monitor the cell phone charger, ensuring it's unplugged once the battery is charged. Now that's being a miser!
8:37pm • #57
1,178,351 Points 3 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp

The water heater is a great place to start! Showed a million dollar home today where the water heater was outside, exposed to the elements and not wrapped (or blanketed).
8:53pm • #58
412,593 Points 13 Featured Posts

Also keep in mind that in many areas homeowner associations try to tell you that clotheslines are not permitted. But check your state laws. In many states this action is not allowed. A lot of state try to promote less dependence on electric energy and one easy way is to dry your clothes using the sun and wind. When I lived in Spain, even the rich used clotheslines, normally strung in the large air shafts at the center of most buildings. A dryer was almost unheard of. When I started drying my clothes on the line, my electric bill went down $30 per month! Clothes smell great too! So even if your HOA says "No", check with your state's laws. Their deed restrictions may not be enforceable. Electric dryers are huge electric hogs. Gas ones are not much better. The sun and wind are free!

They also have been using tankless water heaters for decades. Here they cost a fortune, there they are very reasonably priced. The US is great in many ways, but I dislike those people that insist we are superior in every way. There are a lot of countries we could learn from.
9:00pm • #59
463,855 Points 1 Featured Post

This is a good idea for sure.

I see them quite often when showing homes.

Patricia
9:06pm • #60
653,042 Points 49 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog Called Shot Master

These bulbs won't fit in my ceiling fans and some of my table lamps. So, I do what Craig does. No lights are on except for the room I'm in. Gotta do something in lieu of the bulbs that won't fit, lol.
9:30pm • #61
447,561 Points 57 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

This is a great post.  I too have been really wise with my energy consumption and have greatly decreased my bill!
9:46pm • #62
274,254 Points
Michael, first off, great picture! And thanks for the article. My wife got a $350 bill when she lived with a roomate in downtown Sacramento. I thought that was just ridiculous. Turns out the water heater was turned up so high but since it was a fourplex the girls didn't think to look at something like that. They were just robbed!
10:29pm • #63
1,325,852 Points 37 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Michael

Electric cost have really gone up thanks for sharing your thoughts, great post.

Good luck and success.

Lou Ludwig
10:58pm • #64
OCT
10
2010
422,472 Points 7 Featured Posts Called Shot Master

All I did was to have a new central air system put in.  This summer was a record setter.We did not use the old window units anymore.  My kilowatt hours went down, but my bill went up.  Extra charges and higher rates increased my bill. Even though the cost of fuel went down from last year.    Now it's time to work on my elected officials.
8:14am • #65
544,097 Points 120 Featured Posts Called Shot Master

Michael:  We just got notice of another increase in the electrical rates.  Your post was timely (for me) as I was turning off the computer printers last night (those little lights showing that the power was on were shining enough for me to see in the darkened room).  Now I have to take a good look at some of the other wonderful suggestions in the comments.  Thank you and the drop in your bill is amazing.
8:17am • #66

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Michael Thornton - Nashville, TN area Home Inspector - 615.661.0297

Brentwood, TN

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