Everyday it seems that Green is becoming more and more mainstream for Home owners so I thought I would take this time to update everyone on my Home Energy Usage Reduction over the past 9 months.
Some of you remember my Insulation Experiment where I had a company come out and and Blow in Dry Cellulose to R-38 in my attic last June?
Well, that was the beginning of Greening up my home. I tracked some of my Usage Reductions on AR, but I wanted to compile everything...
On top of Insulation, I also changed out the Light Bulbs that I use most in my home to CFL's. Believe it or not, I really did see a small reduction on my bill.
Also, just a few minutes ago I posted about Houston's Amazing Green Secret! The company that comes out and Seals up your home to have less air leaking out of your home...here in Houston that would be the cool air. :)
Well, the company came out and put new Weather Stripping on my Front and Back Doors, did some Caulking, Sealed up my A/C vents where I was getting hot air from the Attic...and the thing that I still can't get over...
When these guys did the Blower Door Test they realized that the way my HVAC system was designed it was actually circulating air from my ATTIC, not my HOUSE! My A/C was pulling air from my attic and dumping it in to my home, wreaking havoc with my allergies...and killing my electric usage. AND YES, they fixed that.
Not only did it help tremendously on my bill, it was..if you read the post...FREE!!!
Now, how has all of this over the past 9 months translated in to dollars?
Let's See. I just received my April Electric Bill and I switched companies to get a Lower Rate recently so I have to go off of kwh usage to be accurate here...but one neat thing this new company does is put a really neat chart to track my usage for 12 months back. I don't have to go searching through files.
It shows that my April Bill in 2007 I was billed for about 2300 kwh. (Holy cow!)
This month.... Ready? 1177 kwh! From April last year to April this year that is appx. 1123 kwh Reduction...for the average Electric Rate in Houston that alone is $168 difference!!!! FOR ONE MONTH!
Now I have to say that I am SO curious as to exactly how low I can get my Electric Bill. I'm wondering if I can get it close to back in the day when I had an apartment...and rates were 1/2 what they are now.
What's next on the agenda for Reducing my Energy Usage? I'm looking in to a Solar Attic Fan to lower the Temperature in my Attic Space to help my HVAC cool better. Stay Tuned. :)
Hi Stephanie - well, I'd say that FREE audit and that FREE work the company did for you has really paid off big-time. Interesting that you have choices in electric company. We have only one that services the area, and that's who we get stuck with. No say at all.....wish we did.
Way to go on that lower electric bill!!
Ann
Stephanie,
I know I have been tracking my usage of gas for my pool heater and although I needed to turn it on a few times since the temps were still a bit too cold for the solar to kick in I have probably saves $800 instead of having to fill up the tanks by using my solar panels.My electric bill is around the same as the panels use absolutely no electric other than the pump which does not effect my heating of the water.
Good going on your bills!
Hi Neal, Actually...the Hotter it is outside the less efficient Solar Panels can be. So during winter months they may actually produce more energy when it is sunny outside. You should consider it. Besides Solar Water Heating...Solar Pool Heating has the quickest ROI for solar applications.
If you do it...let me know. :)
Hi Stephanie,
I've been looking into doing the same thing for my rental houses and home. How did you find your contractor. I haven't been able to find anyone in my area yet!
Thanks!
Hi Cree, I asked around and did some online research for the insulation...for the Energy Audit I used the program that I mentioned above. Most Handy Man companies can do this work...and for and energy audit/rating company in your area you can look at this site.
www.natresnet.org It will have all of the licensed Raters in your area. You may have to call around to find one that does existing homes though. Good Luck!
Stephanie,
Before I invested in 'fans' I would try 'passive' things like installing a 'ridge vent' or several passive attic ventilators that use no power at all...then upgrade from there...if necessary! Thanks, Fran
Hi All, I'm working on more posts since I'm so far behind...but wanted to address Fran.
Hi Fran, :) I actually had Ridge Vents put in with my new roof 4 years ago. I can't tell a difference. The way my roof is I think it would be more difficult to do passive vents. I have had folks out to look at it....plus, the solar attic fan is considerably cheaper. :)