Irritated with questionable information

[Vandy Terre]

So today I receive my power bill. First
celebration because it has really dropped with the
air conditioners no longer in use. Then
irritation with the money saving power tips.
Quanted, the tips offered would save electric use.
But they would also, for the most part, cost more
than the savings.

One tip was to replace all appliances over a given
age with new power star appliances. Yes, this
would save electric power use, but the expense for
any one of the suggested new appliances would
probably cost more than that savings.

Another tip was to replace the water heater with a
new power star unit. This would save power use,
but again cost more than the power savings. Not
suggested was less expensive things like an
insulation jacket for the water heater that would
save money year around. Or possibly just
replacing an old set of temperature controls and
heating elements with new clean ones. Or possibly
just flush the tank and get rid of any settlement
that is a waste to heat.

Of course they also offered the old standard of
open curtains by day and closed curtains by night.
What they did not mention was using heavier better
insulating 'winter' curtains with at least one set
of proper sheers. I am considering at least two
layers of sheers, more if I have them available.
Maybe a blanket over the curtains. I expect this
winter to be really cold for us.

Then again most of these 'wonderful' hints on
saving electrical power seemed aimed at people
heating with electricity. I don't. I heat with
wood. That really saves on the electricity. LOL

[j]

On 10/27/2013 1:44 AM, Vandy Terre wrote:
> So today I receive my power bill. First
> celebration because it has really dropped with the
> air conditioners no longer in use. Then
> irritation with the money saving power tips.
> Quanted, the tips offered would save electric use.
> But they would also, for the most part, cost more
> than the savings.
>
> One tip was to replace all appliances over a given
> age with new power star appliances.

Energy Star, I believe. Makes a big difference with AC's. A non Energy
Star AC runs the fan all the time.

Yes, this
> would save electric power use, but the expense for
> any one of the suggested new appliances would
> probably cost more than that savings.

Or used, but newer appliances.

>
> Another tip was to replace the water heater with a
> new power star unit. This would save power use,
> but again cost more than the power savings. Not
> suggested was less expensive things like an
> insulation jacket for the water heater that would
> save money year around. Or possibly just
> replacing an old set of temperature controls and
> heating elements with new clean ones. Or possibly
> just flush the tank and get rid of any settlement
> that is a waste to heat.

Aside from the blanket, I don't think cleaning the tank will do anything
other than make it last longer, which is not a bad thing. I wrapped my
water heater in a fiberglass blanket, cheaper than the commercial
product and a higher R value.

>
> Of course they also offered the old standard of
> open curtains by day and closed curtains by night.
> What they did not mention was using heavier better
> insulating 'winter' curtains with at least one set
> of proper sheers. I am considering at least two
> layers of sheers, more if I have them available.
> Maybe a blanket over the curtains. I expect this
> winter to be really cold for us.

I'm big on inside storm windows. Wooden frame a half inch thick with
mylar or heat shrink on each side. You don't have to remember and you
can still use the curtains. You can bubble wrap the windows if you don't
need clarity.

>
> Then again most of these 'wonderful' hints on
> saving electrical power seemed aimed at people
> heating with electricity. I don't. I heat with
> wood. That really saves on the electricity. LOL

A lot to be said for comfort, regardless of the heating method.

Most savings tips are really designed to make someone else money.
>