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Content that I'm doing just about all I can to reduce oil consumption in my vehicles, I've turned to reducing oil consumption in my house. Since I live in Houston, the grid is owned by one company, so no matter how much clean energy I buy, it still goes into the the general municipal grid. All my purchases do is raise the mix of renewables in the CenterPoint Grid.

So I figure the CenterPoint grid is probably 10% diesel (perhaps less). So for each kW I consume, 100W are made from devil juice. So I gotta cut back on as much electricity as possible. So I need to hypermile my house.

Basic tenants of Hypermiling:


Understand your technology (car).
Work to keep your technology healthy (maintenance).
Look for sweet-spots in your technology.
Plan how you can meet your needs while aiming for that sweet-spot.
Learn how to increase efficiencies while inside and outside of your sweet-spot.
Watch for new technology to optimize your use and needs moving forward.
Share your findings on CleanMPG and ask to see if you missed anything.Well, these work on any technology that runs (in part) on devil juice.

So I'm on step 1 and 2 for my house. I'm starting with the AC unit since it's the biggest target. Here's some simple stuff I'm starting with:
http://www.buyerschoiceinspections.com/AC-Maintenance-Tips.

We are also:

Sealing all the leaks in the unit the builder (Perry Homes) left when he built it.
Fixing the poor workmanship of the last guy that came out to work on the unit.
Sealing up electrical outlets and light switches.
Caulking.
Weather-proofing.
Investigating how to seal up the AC registers in the ceiling.
Hiring an HVAC tech to re-box some our our ducting junctions.

I'll keep you guys posted on how it's coming and ask you give me some tips on how to further my efforts.

11011011

For an idea of how your regional electricity is generated, check out this link (http://www.epa.gov/cleanenergy/energy-and-you/how-clean.html) at the EPA. For more localized data (from 2004), wade through the information in the zip file available here (http://www.epa.gov/cleanenergy/energy-resources/egrid/index.html) and find your electric company.

Some other tips:
* Do you have a programmable thermostat (or a heating/cooling system that will benefit from one)?
* Consider extra insulation in the attic
* Switch to CFLs if you haven't already
* Take a look at the Kill-A-Watt (http://www.p3international.com/products/special/P4400/P4400-CE.html) for assessing how much electricity home electronics use

Good luck!

Excellent tips fanamingo. It looks like I still need to do one of the things on your list.:o How much is a good price for a Kill-A-Watt? Are there different models and if so, which ones are recommended?

Dan, an off topic comment: I noticed that your post count just now was 1234.:)

- Have a timer put on your water heater and set it so that it runs only for an hour or two in the mornings and again in the evenings. No sense heating water all day while you are at work & at night while you sleep.

- Install solar screens, window film or awnings, especially on south and west facing windows.

- Plant regionally appropriate shade trees , especially on the south and west sides of your house to keep your home cooler.

- Provide shade for your outside A/C unit without limiting air flow. The compressor doesn't have to work as hard when it's in the shade & the surrounding air is a few degrees lower.

How much is a good price for a Kill-A-Watt? Are there different models and if so, which ones are recommended?

There are two models available, the standard Kill A Watt 4400 (http://www.p3international.com/products/special/P4400/P4400-CE.html) and the newer Kill A Watt EZ (http://www.p3international.com/products/p4460.html). Newegg and Amazon both carry the 4400 for $23 and the EZ for $40 shipped. The standard model reads Volts, Watts, Amps, Hz, Voltage Amps, Power Factor, total kWh, and running time. I haven't used the newer model, but it seems to do all that, calculate cost, and it has a battery backup (the standard model loses the data as soon as it's unplugged). I have the cheaper model and find it does everything I need it to do.

It's especially good for finding phantom loads (electronics that use electricity even when turned off). The worst offenders can always be controlled by plugging into a power strip and turning that off. The Kill A Watt is also useful for estimating the electrical cost/savings for things like a new refrigerator or TV. Measure your current appliance and compare to manufacturer values of potential replacements.

Another neat product to control phantom electrical consumption is the Smart Strip (http://www.smarthomeusa.com/Shop/Smart-Energy/Smart-Strip/). It's a power strip that allows the power state of one appliance to control whether or not power is supplied to others. As an example, I use one with my computer and related accessories. When my computer is on, all my computer accessories have power supplied. Those same accessories (router, monitor, printer, scanner, speakers) normally draw about 20-25 Watts even when off. By plugging them into the Smart Strip, they're completely off whenever my computer is off. The Smart Strip is also available at Amazon. See above link for differences between models.

Warning, reducing electrical consumption can be addictive (although perhaps not to the extent of hypermiling ;)).

Another neat product to control phantom electrical consumption is the Smart Strip (http://www.smarthomeusa.com/Shop/Smart-Energy/Smart-Strip/). It's a power strip that allows the power state of one appliance to control whether or not power is supplied to others. As an example, I use one with my computer and related accessories. When my computer is on, all my computer accessories have power supplied. Those same accessories (router, monitor, printer, scanner, speakers) normally draw about 20-25 Watts even when off. By plugging them into the Smart Strip, they're completely off whenever my computer is off. The Smart Strip is also available at Amazon. See above link for differences between models.

I second the SmartStrip! Got mine at Menards, one for the computer desk and one for the television media cabinet. They work great.

[QUOTE=Dan;92862
So I figure the CenterPoint grid is probably 10% diesel (perhaps less). So for each kW I consume, 100W are made from devil juice. So I gotta cut back on as much electricity as possible. So I need to hypermile my house.

Dan actually elect. produced by diesel to the grid pretty much nil. I know of no power plants in our area that use diesel (fuel oil) anymore to put it in the grid. Yes there are a some in the state and I don't think they run much using fuel oil, more like emergency use. Most of the plants that burn oil are natural gas plants and some coal plants that can burn oil but even with the high cost of gas it would be cheaper than fuel oil. I can't comment what it costs to produce elect. at our coal and natural gas units but let me just say that with diesel at over 4.00 a gal., the heat rates that small generators have and the price for power on the open market they would have to sell it for a loss. kevin

The FF steam plant where I work has natural gas ignitors with a redundant set of oil backup ignitors. In the past we have had trouble purchasing enough gas for a start-up from the pipeline when the gas load was high due to the weather. Oil is only used as a last resort because it contaminates the flyash and makes it worthless for an additive to cement. It has been several years since oil has been used.

For an idea of how your regional electricity is generated, check out this link (http://www.epa.gov/cleanenergy/energy-and-you/how-clean.html) at the EPA....Very cool. According to their data, I'm 0.5% diesel powered. So for each kW, 5W comes from (in effect) oil. So I figure (WAG) that a gallon of diesel nets them 25 kW. So 5W translates to 0.00020 gallons. So each kW I use, consumes 0.00020 gallons diesel. So last year I used 3.12 gallons of diesel based on electricity usage (not bad I guess).

So next year I'll have to shoot for < 2.0 gallons ;)

11011011

Dan, for your elect. use do you use the green power choices that are available from most of the choices we have in Texas? Although you probably won't get the green power at your house it is dumped into the statewide power grid saving power that would have been produced at plants like where I work at. kevin

Dan, for your elect. use do you use the green power choices that are available from most of the choices we have in Texas? Although you probably won't get the green power at your house it is dumped into the statewide power grid saving power that would have been produced at plants like where I work at. kevinI'm considering it, but I see it a bit like snake-oil (no offense). I don't get to use the green power, it's just works as a subsidy for the green power plants to stay in business. If I could actually get the green power to my house, I'd be all over it.

I have no problem with giving to charities I believe in, and with the fuel surcharges I'm paying now, green electricity is almost cheaper. I may switch over as an act of charity, but I'll have no illusions that I'm somehow reducing my homes "carbon footprint" because of it.

I'm kinda frown on carbon credits for the same reason. Doesn't really do anything (since these aren't Kyoto credits and the US isn't on Kyoto) other than finance the carbon credit company. They are pledged to finance R&D in alternative energy, which is good, but there is something about it that seems kinda open-ended to me.

In my book, the guy who's on an 80% coal fired grid and only uses 2MW/year is doing more than the guy on the who's on an 80% renewable grid but using 5MW/year. Sure the second guy is "directly" responsible for less CO2, but the other first guy is responsible for less collective emissions.

First make it efficient, only then do you dicker on what kinda fuel it uses.

Again, just my beliefs here, and I know it smacks in the face of what some of you feel, so please... no offense intended.

11011011

Dan, no offense taken. I was reading in the Chronicle a few weeks ago and had a architect that designs green houses say that we should first look into making our houses more efficient before looking into putting solar or wind turbines at our homes. I read where putting out one dollar in making our homes more efficient will save something like 3 to 4 dollars in the energy that would take to run the house. kevin

By chance, we had to purchase a new AC this month, so we got a 15 SEER with programmable thermostats. The programmable thermostats have been an eye opener for me for a lot of reasons. Obviously, they are helpful in that you'll never "forget" to change your temps when you leave. But in addition to that they are a great monitor to realize just how well or poorly a house holds its temps amidst the threat of outside temps. Your weatherization would show up in a thermostat that sits and sits and sits at 78 even when it is 60F outside.

We've come to realize that hypermiling our house is mostly about us. Yes, we're all CFL now, and we have an efficient AC, and Energy Star appliances may follow over time (definitely not till the AC is paid off........ugh). But the main thing is that we are adopting lifestyle changes.

No bulbs on during the day. We open shades. I trimmed some bushes and one tree to increase passive solar light.

Efficient laundry & dish washing. Only full loads. We may make the leap to hand washing & drying at some point. We'll see.

More grilling, less kitchen. I don't live in the Yukon. I should be outside. :)

Water. We hop right in, don't dilly dally. No more leaving it on for teeth or shaving. We just use what we need.

We are lucky to live in Austin, as Austin Energy has a generous & progressive solar rebate program. We've done back-of-the-envelope calcs and have come up with a goal. If we can get our annual electricity budget down from 14k Kwh to 7k Kwh, then we could conceivably install a $22k solar array tied to the grid that would supply all of our energy needs. And believe it or not, but Austin Energy would foot the bill for most of it; we might only pay $8-$10k.

The thought of potentially becoming a (very small) solar energy producer for the community is exciting.

We are still awaiting our first bill after CFL switch, new AC, and new habits. It's actually fun. Who knew?

I'll keep you guys posted on how it's coming and ask you give me some tips on how to further my efforts.

11011011

Here are the three biggest things we did to reduce electricity usage. (in order of impact):

1. Replaced electric clothes dryer with a clothes line. Line is under porch for inclement weather. (this was giant, since we ran 5 - 7 loads a week)
2. Replaced aluminum windows with dual pane inert gas vinyl.
3. Replaced all incandescent lights with flourescent.

I'd say with these we are running at less than 40% of previous usage.

Larry

IF anyone is considering changing their hvac, what % efficiency for the gas furnace and what seer for the AC?

R410A or R22???

Here are the three biggest things we did to reduce electricity usage. (in order of impact):

1. Replaced electric clothes dryer with a clothes line. Line is under porch for inclement weather. (this was giant, since we ran 5 - 7 loads a week)
2. Replaced aluminum windows with dual pane inert gas vinyl.
3. Replaced all incandescent lights with flourescent.

I'd say with these we are running at less than 40% of previous usage.

Larry
1) is doable
2) is $5k so I'd initially say not on this house.
3) done (for the most part).

11011011

IF anyone is considering changing their hvac, what % efficiency for the gas furnace and what seer for the AC?

R410A or R22???

the higher the seer the better but as several a/c people have told me going above 16 seer it probably will never pay for itself. On the house we are building going from a 14 to a 16 costs over 7600.00 dollars in itself. kevin

Efficient laundry & dish washing. Only full loads. We may make the leap to hand washing & drying at some point. We'll see.

From Consumer Reports: (http://www.greenerchoices.org/products.cfm?product=dishwasher&page=WhyItMatters)
Consumer Reports tests have found that washing by hand can actually consume more water than running an efficient dishwasher.

I was thinking of starting a thread on this topic, but I got beat to it! What are your daily or monthly usuages? I have been trying to use minimal electricity in the past few months to see what I could do. This past month was my lowest since I've been in this house - I only used 184 KWH (6.13 KWH/day) and my bill was only $30 and change. My neighbor's was nearly $200! I had been thinking of getting solar panels (maybe someday), but I'll wait since my usuage is so low. I do live by myself, so that's part of the reason. But I also work from home so I'm on the computer all day.

Some things I do to save electricity:
-My entertainment center is all hooked up to a power strip, and I turn it off unless I'm going to use it. I think this is significant since the cable box has a fan that remains on, and it stays warm even if it's been off for a while.
-My home office is also connected to a power strip that I shut off every night. No need for my wireless modem to be running if I'm not using it.
-I hang dry my clothes. I only use the washing machine at night.
-Almost never use HVAC. Might need to soon though since i'm in Florida. For now I just use ceiling fans as needed and open/close windows/shades.
-I try never to leave anything on that isn't being used.
-Most of the lights I use on a regular basis are flourescent.

I was away for 5 days recently, and I think the only things that were running were the fridge and water heater. Those alone amounted to about 2-3 KWH per day - so it's going to be tough to improve considering I'm only using about 6 a day now. I saw the idea about putting a timer on the water heater and may try it some time.

Phil

This is a great topic and something I am very commited to in my apartment. Kind of hard to make big modifications, but just being conscious of what lights are on, and if something really needs to be on is important. CFLs and power strips on electronics are a huge saver for me. Bill went down about 25% just with these.

A/C is extremely hard to live without in Texas though. When I use it I never put it below 85 degrees, maybe need to increase that to 90. A great solution is to get out of the house more often and go to the park or walk to the grocery store.

Hang drying clothes seems like a good idea, especially things like towels and sheets and large items. Luckily most of my appliances are energy star, and I keep all the energy wasting settings off on them.