What's your monthly home energy bill?
02-06-2009, 07:07 PM
#23
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Damn. Yeah, that's me living on my own. I say average. I run 350-400 kw*h /month in the spring and fall. Summer 400-450, winter 500-550. Average is around 450, maybe a bit lower. I swear I think my stereo system is sucking down 100 kw*h/month. My consumption used to be lower. Also, do you have electric heat and hot water heater?
Also 1 square meter = 10.76 square feet. So you live in a a 3229 square foot apartment and use less power than me?
Also 1 square meter = 10.76 square feet. So you live in a a 3229 square foot apartment and use less power than me?
Heat is only to heat the water and it's gas based. I use a gas heater for showering which is what's used in Europe. The great advantage is that I only consume gas when I turn on the hot faucet. And we also use stoves based on gas and not electricity like in the States.
No central A/C in these parts of the world. Ceiling fans ftw! I do use a 24,000btu A/C about 9 hours a day on average.
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02-06-2009, 07:13 PM
#24
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I bought and installed 1 of their units more than a year ago and it has made a difference in my kwh consumption.
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02-06-2009, 07:15 PM
#25
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Average electric rates for the US by state:
Electric Power Monthly - Average Retail Price of Electricity to Ultimate Customers by End-Use Sector, by State
We are way down in the bottom 10% of the US with sub-$.08/kwh rates.
Electric Power Monthly - Average Retail Price of Electricity to Ultimate Customers by End-Use Sector, by State
We are way down in the bottom 10% of the US with sub-$.08/kwh rates.
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02-06-2009, 07:18 PM
#26
No, I use around 1,100 kwh/month but there's 4 of us living here. But, basically, I do use less power than you
Heat is only to heat the water and it's gas based. I use a gas heater for showering which is what's used in Europe. The great advantage is that I only consume gas when I turn on the hot faucet. And we also use stoves based on gas and not electricity like in the States.
No central A/C in these parts of the world. Ceiling fans ftw! I do use a 24,000btu A/C about 9 hours a day on average.
Heat is only to heat the water and it's gas based. I use a gas heater for showering which is what's used in Europe. The great advantage is that I only consume gas when I turn on the hot faucet. And we also use stoves based on gas and not electricity like in the States.
No central A/C in these parts of the world. Ceiling fans ftw! I do use a 24,000btu A/C about 9 hours a day on average.
When I did a small remodel on this house I stuffed R19 in all the walls we exposed, it's sitting on a 10" thick slab, and I have 28" of blown insulation in the attic. My bedroom has new double pane windows too I got on clearance for $88 bucks. And I only heat my room in the winter. One heater on 500W keeps it toasty most of the time. Got a 14,000 BTU window unit in the living room that keeps the entire house cool in the summer. Probably runs 9 hours a day as well. Ceiling fan in every room of the house. Still cheaper than living on campus and I have no roommate. So I can't complain.
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02-06-2009, 07:30 PM
#27
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Ah, gotcha. Yeah, I have my hot water heater in my kitchen. So any energy it uses to produce heat that radiates out just heats my house. I'm guessing your got that fancy on demand one. Those are nice.
When I did a small remodel on this house I stuffed R19 in all the walls we exposed, it's sitting on a 10" thick slab, and I have 28" of blown insulation in the attic. My bedroom has new double pane windows too I got on clearance for $88 bucks. And I only heat my room in the winter. One heater on 500W keeps it toasty most of the time. Got a 14,000 BTU window unit in the living room that keeps the entire house cool in the summer. Probably runs 9 hours a day as well. Ceiling fan in every room of the house. Still cheaper than living on campus and I have no roommate. So I can't complain.
When I did a small remodel on this house I stuffed R19 in all the walls we exposed, it's sitting on a 10" thick slab, and I have 28" of blown insulation in the attic. My bedroom has new double pane windows too I got on clearance for $88 bucks. And I only heat my room in the winter. One heater on 500W keeps it toasty most of the time. Got a 14,000 BTU window unit in the living room that keeps the entire house cool in the summer. Probably runs 9 hours a day as well. Ceiling fan in every room of the house. Still cheaper than living on campus and I have no roommate. So I can't complain.
A problem with local building methods is that we use cement blocks instead of the frames used in the States. It works perfectly in case of hurricanes but there's no insulation and the roof transfers too much heat inside (I live in the last floor).
About the water heater; no it's not a fancy one. I'll try to get a pic and show you. Everyone uses it in Europe. They are as cheap as it gets. First time I used one was at my parents' apartment in Madrid way back when I was a teenager.
BTW, I like the fact that you're straightforward and call them as you see them
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02-06-2009, 07:46 PM
#28
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Flipped through a year's worth of bills. Looks like I pay $.09 per kw/h and use 800 to 1500 kw/h per month, depending on climate. Though I did find a bill from 07 for 2100 kw/h which was just under $200 with tax. Average monthly power bill is probably $125 or so. I do not have gas, house is all electric. In fall, early winter I pay only around $70 per month as I have a heat pump. However when it gets really cold out the electric heater comes on and that costs as much, if not more, to run as the a\c.
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02-06-2009, 08:17 PM
#30
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When I lived in Carlsbad CA, my electric bill was typically around $25 per month. That was for an 800 square foot first-floor apartment. I never used the heater or A/C at all.
In Florida, I seem to recall that the bills have been in the $50 range. Large house, but I only turn on the A/C occasionally, and never the heater.
Unfortunately, I don't have records with me of what the actual kw/h consumption was.
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02-06-2009, 08:19 PM
#31
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Flipped through a year's worth of bills. Looks like I pay $.09 per kw/h and use 800 to 1500 kw/h per month, depending on climate. Though I did find a bill from 07 for 2100 kw/h which was just under $200 with tax. Average monthly power bill is probably $125 or so. I do not have gas, house is all electric. In fall, early winter I pay only around $70 per month as I have a heat pump. However when it gets really cold out the electric heater comes on and that costs as much, if not more, to run as the a\c.
I'm also impressed by the fact that your house doesn't have any gas appliances and you still manage to keep the total Kws used pretty low.
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02-07-2009, 07:59 AM
#33
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FWIW, I was so impressed with what happened in my house that I talked 2 friends into buying their own. Since their consumption was higher than mine; they had better results. I bought their $299 unit.
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02-08-2009, 07:40 PM
#34
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Rafa -
I'll have to check the rates per Kwh and cubic-ft, but Jan's bills were $63 for electric and $54 for natural gas. Water heater and interior heat are gas, all other power consumption is electric. The house is ~2600 sq/ft, 5yrs old, 4-bdrm w/2 adults and 2 teens within.
- L
I'll have to check the rates per Kwh and cubic-ft, but Jan's bills were $63 for electric and $54 for natural gas. Water heater and interior heat are gas, all other power consumption is electric. The house is ~2600 sq/ft, 5yrs old, 4-bdrm w/2 adults and 2 teens within.
- L
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02-09-2009, 12:59 PM
#37
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I can't think of anyone who lives anywhere in the World who pays around 34 cents per kwh. Could you please doublecheck that?
Thanks
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02-10-2009, 07:31 AM
#40
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