Archive for: #energysavings

Energy Savings Tips … part 5

Energy Savings Tips … part 5!

What happened to spring?  Summer is in full effect!

I cannot remember the day (this week) that this video was taken, however, the “light show” was fantastic!  Staci had just taken the dogs out. She came back in and said that I had to see this. I got out of the recliner, and I didn’t notice anything different at the front of the house.  She then directed me to the back of our home.  I have seen “heat lightning” before, but this was special.  The lightning was behind some really dark clouds.  Take a look at this video.

 

I think this went on for about an hour… maybe more! What an amazing light show!

 

moneyNow, on with the Energy Savings tips … part 5.

I guess you could say that the main gist of these tips is to avoid heating your home with lighting and appliances. Here is how you can unintentionally heat up your home without realizing it.

 

  • Try to not use the oven on hot days. When you are ready to cook, use the stove top, use a microwave, or (my favorite) break out the grill!
  • hot thermometersInstall those weird looking bulbs in your lighting fixtures. Those bulbs, in most cases, use less electricity and produce less heat! Energy efficient bulbs also use about 10 – 15% of the electricity that incandescent (regular) bulbs use.
  • Use the daylight instead of artificial lighting. Just be sure to avoid the direct sunlight.
  • When washing clothing and dishes, only wash full loads. Air drying both will help reduce heat and save on your electric bill.
  • Try to minimize activities that produce heat.  For example, using computers, burning candles (or other open flame items), running the dishwasher, clothes dryer, hair dryer, or curling irons.  Televisions and stereos can also add to the heat load of your home.

TGIF! The weekend is here.  Father’s Day is Sunday… I cannot wait to have my dad and father-in-law over for a feast. I hope those whose father have passed on, can look back with fond memories and remember the good things about your dads!

Enjoy the weekend!

Mike

How I saved almost $50 on my electric bill!

Hello Everyone,

This is the true story of how I saved $50 on my last electric bill!

programmable 7 day thermostatThis weekend Staci and I received the dreaded electric bill from SCE&G. With all of the super cold weather that we have had in the month of February, we were bracing ourselves for the bad news.  I have spoken to several people, and they have reported $400 – $500 electric bills.  Uggh!

Staci and I have lived in our home for about 5 years.  In a previous blog on thermostats (click here to ==> see that blog), I mentioned that we were installing a new digital thermostat made by Honeywell.  The thermostat that we installed is the Honeywell Prestige IAQ 2.0 Comfort System.

remote control thermostatThis thermostat is definitely technologically advanced, yet super easy to use.  With the touch screen, adjustments and programming are super easy.  In addition, we added the portable thermostat.  Now, when we go to bed or are upstairs, we allow the portable thermostat to control our air conditioner.

We had this thermostat install on January 31, 2014.  Troy, one of our technicians, installed it for us.

honeywell mobile siteI must say that I am a bit of a geek when it comes to technology!  I love being able to use my phone or ipad to control the thermostat.  The ultimate in convenience (and laziness).  Yes, I can be sitting in my recliner with my ipad, and adjust the thermostat!  Totally Awesome (in my opinion)!

Just after Troy installing the thermostat, I programmed our “schedule” in myself.  Again, it was super easy!

Now all of that is great, but I only expected to have a “cool” thermostat, and the ability to adjust it from my cell phone or ipad.

I have my electric bill in hand, and this is what I saw…. (account information cropped).

 

sce&g comparison

The savings is about $50!  Just by putting a schedule in place and letting the thermostat control it.  I will also admit, there were times in February (remember the two ice storms) that the thermostat was actually adjusted to warm our home a little more!

I am not sure that everyone will experience the same savings, but this is a great place to start. And to think, this is just the first month!

Give me a call (843-821-0937), if you would like to see about getting your new thermostat installed and programmed.