How to Save Money on Electricity (Even in Summer)
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- Опубликовано: 18 июн 2024
- In this video, we’ll talk about how to keep cool while using less electricity. We also share some shocking examples that show how well these tips work.
It’s “fry an egg on the sidewalk” hot. So, how do you keep cool without winding up with a huge utility bill at the end of the month?
It’s such a “catch 22” situation, isn’t it? - we all face it every summer: Do you set the central air so you’re comfortable - when you know that means receiving a huge utility bill?
There are some strategies which we have been using to avoid the “big bill” at the end of the month. We reveal how lowered our energy and projected bill in just two weeks
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We're Hope and Larry and we love practical frugality. We raised our four sons, debt-free, including paying cash for our home when our income was well under the national average. For tips on saving money, budgeting, paying off debt, and setting goals (while living with a spirit of joy and abundance), subscribe to us here on RUclips and visit us at our website and on social media.
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I just recently lost my mother I had implement ur emergency fund budget I can attest that it really works and though I’m heartbroken I’m still watching you so I may learn. From the bottom of my heart I thank the Lord for you both.
I’m sorry for your loss. If I may, grieve counseling helps. I’m NOT a dr or work for any counseling company. I’m just speaking from experience. Losing a parent is devastating. Please accept my condolences.
@@gizmosworld5855 thank you so much for your kind words.
God be with you, both of my parents have passed. I know your pain.
Gentle hugs, friend.
God Bless and Comfort you at this painful time
When I air dry my clothes after doing laundry, I like to stick it in front of the fan. The fan dries the clothes a bit faster, and the water evaporating off the clothes keeps my apartment that much cooler in a heat wave :)
We tacked up old blankets over the windows to block the sunlight and block drafts.
We. Use fans to move air around.
A/c is only on during the hottest part of the day,set at 76 degrees .our electric bill went from almost $300 two months ago to $40
Wow..add aluminum foil covered cardboard to reflect more heat
Cheap feather blankets from IKEA attached to windows with peel and stick Velcro strips from IKEA make a cozy, quiet apartment or home.
A few quick tips for keeping heat out of your home: Most solar gain in a house happens early in the morning on the east side (NOT the south, which is what most people think). Hang cheap white plastic 'matchstick" roll-up blinds from the eaves of your house covering every window the east side. I specify white because it lets in a lovely pearly diffuse light, but any outdoor blind will do. The blinds should be about 4" away from the window to maintain air circulation. Your secondary targets should be covering windows to the south and the west (in that order of priority). Just preventing heat gain from the east will drop the temperature in your house by between 5 and 10 degrees (and improve the efficiency of your a/c to a similar degree). My dad was an architect who was obsessed with solar design - that tip comes from him. For important view windows or windows on the front of the house, use the heat shield "low-E" mylar window films available cheap at any Big-Box home improvement store. You can get them reflective (trust me, if you live in Arizona, you're gonna want the reflective type) or just smoke- tinted for more discrete protection. The neutral grey tone of the film tint doesn't distort color in the house. Finally, close your blinds and window curtains on the sunniest side of the house. It helps confine the heat to the window well. Hope this helps - I love your content!
Great info!
@@greenerpastures1000 You're welcome!
Tip: if your home has a finished basement, sleep down there during the hot summer months. Always cooler in the basement. Unfortunately mine is not finished.
Slowly monthly start finishing it. Eventually you will be able to sleep there
Just got mine…$47! I live in a one bedroom duplex. Keep a/c at 78-81…have ceiling fans in in the rooms that I am in only. I’m pretty comfy. I’m Single…I run around the house in just a tshirt and undies…and that helps a lot! This is one reason I force myself to stay in a small place. And..I don’t own a clothes dryer. I hang dry overnight. Windows are shaded. Heat side windows closed completely.
A/C turned off around 9-10pm…usually. and fan in bedroom. I live in Kansas. It’s horrible here!
Very smart. My bill is just a little higher than yours, and I am in a one bedroom apartment with a small dog. I keep the A/C on 76 at all times. I run the ceiling fan in the living room during the day and in the bedroom at night. Never watch TV, and unplug most appliances etc unless they are in use. My bill is lower than most in the building.
P.S. I put a “wetsuit” on my pup when I take her out. It is a lightweight shirt that I soak with cold water before putting it on her. She loves it! 🐶 👕 💦
@@returnofthereasoner3200 That is such a great idea for dogs!
Great pet idea. I removed my microwave..focusing on meals that don't require electricity.
I hear u! I live in NW Missouri! Depending on what part of Ks u live in, we might not live too far apart!! I live in a one bedroom apt. with just east windows. I keep the blinds on them closed till 4PM every day. Need to get some cardboard and put aluminum foil on them. That way I can put them against windows and then take them off, easily. Otherwise I do just about everything, this channel suggests. Oh, I live on the first floor, so it’s pretty cool. I hardly ever turn my air conditioner on! And pretty minimal heat in the winter. Don’t use much!
I have turned off my hot water heater, no clothes dryer, dish washer, no lights on at night. I have lined curtains when sun comes on the hottest part of the day. No using my a/c only ceiling fans in room I am working in. No ising oven. Since Social Security stopped any payments from my husband for me since my husband died in May. Trying to keep from loosing my home.
So sorry about your husband passing and your financial situation. My financial situation is bad also!!
Are you not drawing ss or can from his?
Love listening to you and all your facts that you have my electric bill and a two room studio went from $35 a month to $75 a month. I watched a show listen to you and here’s what I came up with. It was my oven because I stopped using it and started using my electric air fryer and my toaster oven and my electric dropped $25 stopped using my air conditioning constantly and put a box fan in the window to draw hot air out of the apartment and and the electric has been holding at $33 a month. Thank you for all your advice.
I've adapted the thermostat according to weather, house and my health circumstances for years. Last year I tried leaving it at one spot. Last year my bills were higher than in previous years, so now I'm back to adapting the thermostat to circumstances. So far, my bills have been low-ish. Very fortunately, the house I own came with a ceiling fan in almost every room.... and even one on the front porch. I use them almost all the time. As a rule, I've got the AC turned off at night (with a bedroom ceiling fan on). When I get up, I turn off the fan in the bedroom and turn the kitchen ceiling fan on, because that's where I am most of the time. When I leave the room, I turn it off and turn the one on in the room I'm going to. I do that, as well as, turn blinds to open for light but toward closed to keep the sun out. At some point, probably in the afternoon, I'll turn the AC on, although there are a lot of days that I don't need to turn it on at all. If it's on, I turn it off before going to bed. I'm just very fortunate to have all these ceiling fans.
Oh my goodness! I think I told you about what happened when I first started unplugging: electricity bill went down 76%!! I got all excited about that and found more things to unplug, and the bill went down another 11%! It was astounding to me!!! I'm a big believer in unplugging! It makes a HUGE difference!!
Both my Mother's and Sister's homes in southern California have ceiling fans in each room ( not the bathrooms) and on the patios. Best cooling ever.
I love listening to you two talk about anything! The fact that I am learning great information on how to save money is a bonus. 🎉🎉🎉
You are so kind. Thanks, Debbie.
I enjoy watching your videos. Don’t take this the wrong way but I always wonder why your videos end so abruptly. I feel like you just hung up on me Lol!!
We also keep our blinds and drapes shut, living in the dark :)
It’s amazing how much heat comes in from the glass
We leave our ceiling fans on if the AC is running. We have split systems in each room. The fans help circulate the cool air throughout the room. I live in the tropics in Australia. In fact, our ceiling fans run most of the year.
I use a solar oven on sunny days. Never have to heat the house with cooking. I use my clothesline for drying. As you mentioned, I use frozen water bottles in front of fans for a cool breeze. I turn off A/C during high rate times ( for us it's 3pm - 7pm). I use a pressure cooker when possible for certain meals.
Great ideas!
What company of solar oven do you have ? I’m looking to get one. Thank you.
@@mermaidlight5710 I've used SUN OVEN for about 10 years. Still working great. You can also build one. I think you can find the instructions here on youtube or on the internet. It's actually pretty simple.
I made sun ovens with tin foil and pizza boxes with 8 yr olds in day camp (I’m a counselor). The pizza boxes were free when I explained what we were doing.
Here in Sweden we don’t have problem with hight temperatures . It is raining almost every day but I could use some other advice on how to lower my energy expenses . Love your hair Hope . You guys look great and you give very useful tips and advice . ❤
Thank you for video ! I like how excited Larry is to take out the kilowatt meter every time 👍😊
I super cool my house between dusk and dawn when wattage is cheap and ac works more efficiently. All the windows are covered. I have fans strategically placed around the house. I have 12 foot high ceilings. I don’t use ceiling fans because they force hot air from the ceilings down to where people are. I have a chest freezer in my kitchen. I unplug it from noon to 9p. The freezer always is full, sometimes with bottles of water to occupy space, so I don’t worry about things melting. A tub full of cold tap water will absorb heat in the bathroom. Plant deciduous trees to south and west, evergreens to the north. Exterior awnings, solar screens or ceramic window coatings are helpful.
Many houses in my area have applied white stucco over brick veneers.
What a great idea❗️ Could you get a extension cord with on/off switch To stop wear and tear of unplugging. Blessing from Jill.
I've lowered my light bill by 38% for the month of July 2023 compared to that of Jully 2022 bill.
I've done all you have suggested. I keep my temp set at 75 degrees. And use fans. Cook on outdoor grills, use an instant pot, etc.
Lol, the power company came out to the house to inspect/investigate the meter.....I suppose bc they thought I was stealing electricity 🤣
They put a new meter on...lol.
I'm not stealing, I wouldn't even know how. BUT I am taking my power back 😉 on what I owe the power company.
I listened to your recent podcast on Behind Our Smiles.
I enjoyed it so much.
Your marriage story is both sweet and funny and while entertaining to learn the mountains and valleys of your relationship, I was so impressed with how focused you both were on the path that led to honoring God. You both are really good communicators. Warmest regards.
Thank you so much!
In Britain we have switches on each plug,so we dont need to unplug. I religeously switch appliances off after use. Its a habit now,I dont even notice.
Yes, the UK have a wonderful way of turning off plugs and switches...I wish we had those here.
We have on/off switches on each power outlet in Australia too.
I'm in the UK. I'm sure I read in the newspaper that even if you turn off the switch. The electrical item still draws phantom energy. You need to completely unplug the item
We use a fan at night and in the rooms we use in the daytime. We have our air set at 74-76. We run a fan in the room with our freezer too. It does help a lot.
One thing I didn't hear you mention is to cool/heat yourself first! Dress appropriately for the weather conditions. I will be wearing sandles and lighter clothes when the heat is in the high 80s tomorrow. When I add layers in the winter, if that isn't enough, I use a blanket, electric blanket if need be (much cheaper than my whole house heater. You get the idea.
I’ve thought of adding layers of clothing , when it’s cold, but then u just have more clothes to wash and dry. Thus u are useing electricity in THAT WAY! U trade one for another.
@@foofookachoo1136 respectfully disagree. I don’t wash any outside clothes unless they get dirty.
@@foofookachoo1136 plus in the summer you just dress down. That doesn’t cost more.
We use fans and air conditioning. That way, the air can be kept at 78 sometimes. Kitchen fan is a 5 inch fan that really helps. We have one that sits right in front of the register to blow out the cool air. Thank God for air conditioning though.
Wet a sheet and hang it up in a room with a fan and it cools down the room. Especially out here in dry Arizona heat.
THAT would just give me more humidity, here in Missouri!! I’m trying to get RID of humidity!! (But glad it helps u!!)
By closing your curtains,blinds,shutters...during the heat of the day in rooms that get alot of sun then,open the windows in these areas at night to cool the house down.this will keep your home cooler naturally.
I put white based cling film on my windows AND use dark brown black out curtains!
Year over year, in July, I used fewer kw hours this year than in July 2022 yet have a 16 percent increase in my bill due to higher electricity and fuel charges. Sigh. Thank you for your content -- you always have great tips!
We cook mostly with our electric skillet. Soups, burgers, etc. We also use our instapot, crockpot, microwave and sometimes toaster oven.
I recently got an electric skillet bc I have a gas stove, and the gas rates have really increased. Huge difference in my energy costs. I too use the same other appliances as you.
@@sharons4611 Good job! That should save a bunch.
It was 102 here today. There was plenty of 🌞 sun on the solar panels to run my window air conditioner. I checked my oven with my kill a watt. EZ, and it uses 1 watt when it's off. My system made 8.34 kWh today. There is dust from the Sahara and the smoke from Canada, are affecting output. It's really nice not to have a bill. I have a couple of DC fans that use five watts each that I leave on most of the time.
Ooooh-NICE!!!!!
We exit through exterior doors that don’t have direct access to the main part of the house (ex: through washroom to garage rather than front door that opens to the living room.
Thanks for this video
I'm single now my children are grown and gone I live in a big three bedroom two bath two car garage house 2010 square feet I leave my thermostat at 78 and in the winter time I don't turn on the Heat unless I absolutely have to I live in Florida I use one little heater in my bedroom during last winter and that's it and my electric bill was like $40 sometimes 50 I do cook but I don't cook all the time I make sure that everything that I don't use is unplugged my dryer I unplug my dryer unless I'm using it I also at the fuse box‼️ turn the breaker off on my dryer and my water heater‼️ very important your water heater comes on all the time and I have like a 30 gallon water heater and it comes on like all the time and I don't need it to do that so I turned the breaker off I have saved so much money by leaving the breakers off I hope this helps someone I only turned the breaker on to heat up the water when I take a shower and when I do laundry then I go back and I turn the breaker off...I can take a shower for 3 days after the water heats up if I keep my shower temp at body temp not to cold not to hot 🤷♀️❤GOD BLESS✝️
Many electric companies have a ‘power manager’ program where they tap into data from your Wi-Fi thermostat or meter or put a device on your system/meter to reduce usage during peak community use (high temperatures mostly affecting how your air conditioner cycles). This program gives a start up $75 credit and annual $25 credit plus reducing costs during peak months.
These tips have helped me lower my electric costs. The electric company charges cheaper rates after 8pm. That's when I do all my cooking & laundry. I use my Instant-Pot to make meals and I only do large loads of laundry. I used to do about 24 loads a month, now I'm only doing 12 loads. I set the thermostat at 75° it hardly kicks on. I bought a chargeable fan & use that in the bedroom at night when needed.
Love to you both ❤️❤️❤️
Very nice info on this video.
yes my instantpot i got for xmas love it
Commenting from Texas! What is a “cool summer day”? That does not compute for me! 😂Thank you for all the tips and for always having a smile and positive attitude for your viewers.
I keep my central air at 78 during the day and down to 72 at night. I sleep in the hottest room in the house so I keep the ceiling fan in the living room (small house) running all day. Thermal curtains on the livingroom windows to keep the southern sun out during the day. Around supper time I open them up to let some light in. Always put a lid on the pot! Helps thing warm up quicker.
It can be 110deg outside … my wife is a woman with a very cold shoulder! Even on the hottest days I have found our home to be frosty cold !
It’s quite amazing !
No air conditioning needed at all !
Although in the winter.. her cold shoulder raises our heating bill by quite a lot.
With all kidding aside … your research, suggestions & practically is quite helpful
A damp cloth near me to add moisture on your skin..very cooling
good info
I cool just my bedroom with a floor/window A/C. My new house I built with pass through air flow front to back, full garage screen door insulated garage open to house air flows out the back through 3 sets of 9 foot sliding doors (I live on a lake). Using Vornado high power fans the air flow through the house is tremendous. I only needed A/C 5 days this year when temps here in Indiana were over 95 degrees because the humidity would make my tile floors sweat. I do need a cool bedroom. I’m all electric (no gas) my electric bills for March through November (new build just moved in) average $140 total. My highest monthly all electric bill in a heatwave of 90s to 100 for weeks was only $180. 2000 sf with 9-ft ceilings.
We’ll see what winter brings but I always keep furnace at 65 degrees and use an electric fireplace heater in my bedroom. I make sure my dogs have cozy beds, piles of blankets to burrow in and sweaters.
I realize I have new construction better insulation and technology. I lost my prior home to a housefire. God has restored my life according to Romans 8:28 and I have healed from burns and I’m so grateful. 62-year old woman with no family.
My electric bill hovers around $80 for my all electric ( no gas/propane) 1200 square foot home. Temps high of 103. I keep the thermostat between 76 and 81. Lots of fans. Keep the hot water heater turned off. No clothes dryer..everything goes on the clothes line. Cook with a hot plate, toaster oven, slow cooker and microwave. No garbage disposal or dishwasher.
Do u only turn hot water heater on, when u shower and wash dishes?? I suppose THAT could be done, but I would want hot water on, so I could wash my hands after useing the bathroom, and when fixing food , and wiping off my kitchen counters. So turning off my hot water heater is one suggestion I just couldn’t do.
@foofookachoo1136 once the tank is full and hot I have enough water to bathe, wash dishes and in between times to wash hands wipe down counters etc.
We are in a second heat wave hitting 103 today. Last months Entergy bill was $427 ! I’ve been hang drying most clothes. We do have a pool and the pump runs 12 hours a day.
We live in the midwest and have very high electric bills with AES Indiana. 103 is sooo hot, take care! In January we had a $900 electric bill, thank goodness we are on a budget ($450)that spreads it over the year, but that was a real eye-opener to the raising rates they keep implementing and to get that bill down ASAP. I don't see the prices going down anytime soon, if ever.
Our bill is 300 second month in a row and it is good to listen to you guys
When we had a pool our bill was consistently 450 per month during the summer. Were getting rid of the pool, yay... Kids are out of the house now so I can lower some of the expenses. Except our dogs like AC, Ugh....
@@jackiemozingo4435 We just paid to have our Hot Tub removed because of the energy prices. It was a nice hot tub given to us for free by a relative many years ago but the cost to run sadly is too high for us now. Pets are worth every penny to love and keep comfortable. If they're happy we're happy, bless you for thinking about the furbabies!
I got rid of 2 of my window ACs and bought a small swamp cooler. I have a small house. I use fans to circulate the cool air. This has dropped my utility bill by $60 a month. The small swamp cooler has well paid for itself several times over.
WHAT is a swamp cooler?? I haven’t NEVER heard of this!!
Hi! Hope and Larry, I got 2 brand new air conditioners installed about 2 months ago.”
My old air conditioners went out , I had a Lennox 5 ton from 2009. And a Goodman 4 ton from 2018, I now have 2. Goodman air conditioners.”
Downstairs 3.5 ton and upstairs 5 ton, my old Lennox air conditioner wouldn’t cool under 80. Now I’m keeping cool my upstairs a/c set temp.”
Lake y’all have your thermostat set to 79 I’m comfortable in the 70's not 80’s. I also run my ceiling fan on high and my lasso fan on medium while my upstairs a/c is running!!
Great video, excellent info. You two are just wonderful together. Congrats on your very successful relationship! PS, Also really like your channel.
In the southwest many of us use evaporative coolers, and with our dry air, it’s pretty effective, and not too expensive to use.
We also have set our thermostat at 79⁰ for the firat time ever. We used to keep ir at 76 but this year our rates have gone way up. Sooooo.... we have celiing fans for large areas and small fans in smaller sections
If you're raising temps on the thermostat, try sleeping on an inflatable mattress. (I don't mean the Sleep Number kind, I mean the kind you might use in your home for guests. )I am a warm sleeper. Sleeping on an inflatable mattress seems cooler. (A hammock might work, too, but I haven't tried it.)
Beware, it's colder in the winter.
I use fans instead of my two ac units. Really saves money. I also decrease the amount of tv I watch so that lowers my electric bill . In winter, my landlord heats with natural gas through radiators. I still keep one fan going at night to provide air flow not just for me to breath but also to move the heat around.
Thank you for sharing. I was wondering how much you saved
Our utility company started putting the usage on our bill and also included vs last years usage.
My hubby and I have found that on crazy high temp nights we’ll lightly mist some water on our top bed sheet (no blanket in summer) and then turn on the fan! Sometimes we get too cold doing that, when it’s 85 in the room!
We do not have a/c once we moved to NH and live in a 130 yo home with poor insulation, so fans have become our life blood!! 😂
lol you two are funny with the fan😂
Potential caveat on the fan usage? My family is from Northern Michigan, and my parents do not have AC, while my grandparents do not have AC or a furnace (just a wood stove, no forced air). We *do* leave strategically located fans running when we aren't sitting in front of them to circulate warm air in the winter, or to pull cooler air upstairs from the basement in the summer. I live near Chicago now and have both, but I find my 2 story townhome to have very uneven climate control. I adjust my vent openings seasonally, and use a small, powerful fan tilted up on the landing of the stairwell to help balance things, as well as setting the fan on my furnace to run for a minute or two a couple of times an hour. Otherwise the downstairs is freezing or the upstairs is roasting, and we have necessary living spaces on both so we can't just pick one let the other go.
Instapot used outside is my thing.
Make a sunoven. Free plus
I'm always so jealous when you talk about your ability to check your energy usage by the day and by the hour. We do not have that ability to do that online at all. 😢 I get a monthly statement with our total usage and that is all they offer. I have had people suggest that I could go outside and look at my meter everyday, but I am not very likely to do that.😂 Hopefully one of these days my energy company will update its system and allow us access to that kind of real-time data.
Maybe it is helpful to check your meter once a week, e. G every Sunday
You must remember that you don't make cold you remove the heat. It's only able to remove so much heat before your unit will freeze up.
Nooks & crannies ~ the thermostat in my home is located in an alcove that has no air circulation. So when it’s hot, the AC cycles on constantly, and in cold weather the heat does the same. Using a fan to circulate the there air helps keep the heat & AC from running unnecessarily, and causing uncomfortable temps in the other rooms.
Instead of blowing my hair dry and using an electric curling iron, I use old fashioned hair rollers.
I let my hair air dry. I have to do it that way, because the dryer would make my hair , even frizzier than it already is!!
My colleague asked me what my electricity was last month , she knows mine is always low. Mine was $110 and hers was $922 😱😱😱!
Yikes, I thought ours was bad.
GOOD GRIEF!!!!!!!
And that's Cayman Island Dollar, so that's US$ 1152
@@asavannah7439 I'm glad I was sitting down for that.
185 is my bill in Canada. There are so many fees and charges that what we can do is very limited. $7 on a bill with an $18 difference from the previous month.
Our electric utility offers whole-house surge protectors for $48 including installation. Nope, it’s not advertised. I called and asked about any offers available. $48 is a lot cheaper than having a lightning strike fry our electronics. Installation took 15 minutes. Also, we pulled the oscillating fan out of the attic and set the thermostats to 78F. Our bills are quite a bit lower (like $17 [April] to $267 [January]) thanks to these two UTM tips and our generally increased awareness about use. Thanks! Ken and Sophia, The Doppelgängers.
Just to clarify: Our electric cost was down by $17 in April and down by $267 in January compared to the same months in 2022! Our 2023 bills were $115.43 and $298.61.
We have fans in all our houses, ceiling fans, table fans, and whole house fans. They really help move air around. We have also insulated our connected garage, planted trees strategically to shade the house, and installed insulating shades on all the windows. To help lighten up dark areas of our home we have solar tubes. They really help bring light in, especially on dark winter days without using any electricity. We also keep frozen containers of water in empty spaces in our freezers. We have always bought homes with overhangs that prevent the hot sun from coming in during the summertime but let the lower sun shine in to add warmth during cold months.
Hanging my laundry has been a GAME CHANGER! mixed with a few of these, plus that, our electric bill has been about 15% cheaper than last year at this time! 🎉
Yes-I’ve heard that clothes dryers pull a lot of electricity!! I live in an apt. , so I put all my washing on racks to dry, except for my tops and pants I put those on hangers to dry.
I'll bump the temperature up when I leave to reduce compressor time. I don't turn off unless I'll be gone for awhile.
Our location keeps freeze frequency lower.
Doubled in PA also
I like to dry clothes outdoors. However, I avoid drying shirts and bedding outdoors because they collect pollen. During the summer, I dry clothes on the air setting. It takes more time, but it doesn’t generate much heat in the house.
You might like a portable drying rack if you have the space. I dry for just a few minutes to get out wrinkles, then hang on drying rack inside. I've used it for years and love it.
Our electric consumption has been consistently 12- 15% less each month from the previous year. Even with the increase in prices, we are paying less this year than we did the previous year. Not really sure why that is, other than we have been taking some steps to use less electricity. We even retired this year so we are home every day.
11 days in 360 ouch😢. I'm about to make some changes. I've got a freezer that hasn't been opened in 6 months. Time to dump it and just unplug it.
Last month 322 kWh < $50. For one person that's probably ok but I know I can do better.
Having 100°+ outside few days in a row. I try to keep it at 72° but my area is so small that it's difficult to keep it 72°.
Hand washing clothes hanging them up to dry really saving money and it's a useful chore to learn.
Almost $250 for the last bill; thus included the five days I was without due to a major storm! My 1100 sq ft house has 2 bedrooms already shut off, ceiling fans are on almost all the time, and, now that our Oklahoma weather is over 100 degrees every day, the house still gets up to 83 degrees. We get no details of our usage from our very expensive power company. 😢
Are you using cardboard covered by aluminum foil in your windows when the sun is shining on that side? I cut the card board a bit smaller than the window to allow enough light to not need to turn on a light
Yep I'm in southern eastern Oklahoma.
@Joce123 - always thought this was a Midwest thing only. It does help keeping the house temp lower.
Ditto here, we have a very high rate Utility company
@@Joce123 That's a great idea. I've used a window quilt in window in winter.
I live in an apt. , so just have windows on one side. Mine are all on the East, I keep my blinds shut until 4PM everyday. I really miss not being able to enjoy looking outside, but that’s just the way it is. If u are poor, U ARE POOR!!
Need more testing but AC time & setting that have lowered my bill.
*Time to set temp changes:*
Morning: 2:30am (lowest temp/ drops)
Day: 7:30am (raise temp nlt 1deg)
Evening: 3:45pm (raise temp nlt 1deg)
Night: 11:30pm (raise temp nlt 1deg)
_At first I was making it cooler as the day got hotter but after setting it to get warmer as the day got hotter, at these times, there seemed to be a difference._ Trying to break myself of keeping it 69deg year round so, the times I picked were what I discovered helped my body adjust the best without getting too hot…. I can’t go above 75 ever and 74 is pushing it… idk how yall live (but also im in the pits of hell in texas) 🥵
You are talking about how your central air conditioner has never been at 79 until now and I heard that and thought that sounds so cold. I live in Florida and I am always cold. My AC 2 weeks ago when this video was posted was set for 82 and mid week I got cold and changed it to 84. It has now been at 84 sense but my parents heard what I have it set for and my father understands (he too is also always cold) but my mom says that it is to hot for a human and that she doesn’t understand how I can keep it that hot. I have only one fan and it stays in my bedroom because I turn off the AC at night.
Love you all.
I dry some of my laundry in front of my fan. It cools and dries the laundry. Win-win.
It has been so cold over Here,that people are Putting the heating on. We had a Lot of Rain,storm,etcetera
Sorry I'm running late but I'm here now
Our ac is at 80. We live in Florida and the ac just runs and runs. I wanna walk around naked but I live with ppl. 😅
Im new to and have been enjoying your channel. I’m your next state over neighbor, Indiana. Based on this video I contacted my electric company and was able to find out where I can get my day to day usage along with how much I’m charged per kilowatt hour. Thank you for the information!
Love the solar power videos as well. Looking into those because I just came through a 30 hour power outage while the temps were in the 90’s.
I have a question regarding the kerosene heaters. (I do have a kerosene heater myself.) - in your video it appeared that you were getting kerosene from the gas station kero pumps. It was my understanding this type of kero is not to be used indoors because it’s toxic. Is that incorrect?
I used to use it too but switched to the 1K clean kerosene I purchased from Home Depot.
However sometimes incorrect information is put out there for marketing reasons. At the pump it’s much cheaper then to buy at the store ie $5.00 per gallon vs $14.00 per gallon.
Thanks so much for your wonderful and informative videos! 😊
The kerosene sold at the gas station near us is K1, not K2. K2 kerosene is much higher in sulfur content and is meant to be used in heaters with an external flue. However, we are not experts and you need to do your own due diligence in asking the gas station near your home about whether their kerosene is K1 or K2.
@@UndertheMedian Thank you.
I have a question is it a good thing to shut your breaker right off during the night and then switching it back on? Is that saving or is that harder on everything because I shut everything off at night so that I sleep better but I’m also trying to save Money, but I’m not sure this is a good thing to do. I would appreciate your answer. Thank you.
Our bill won't be much. No AC SINCE Tuesday. AC 18 yrs old. Lots of fans are going. New AC going in on Monday. Budget for major home replacement. Florida!....sleeping in the living room with 3 fans going. Yes, air circulation 😊 house was so hot & stuffy, opened sliding door, put fan in the opening, letting heat out and the breeze in. 😷😰
I don’t use my air conditioner. Ceiling fans and room darkening shades work for me.
I use smart light bulbs and try to use the lighting at a lower level than 100% Usually 20%. Is this saving electricity?
My husband and I are on night meter we wash at nite we save 40.00 a month in electricity also we are a month ahead on our bill
. . . I know this is irrelevant, but, as I am a visual learner, just gotta comment on how you two have much improved your looks...both look much cuter & younger & carefree, yet, still very helpful & valuable...God Bless... 🥰🥰🥰
I use window AC units. I have an oscillating stand fan sitting across the room the one in the living room. It helps move the cool air around. I’ve noticed that the AC unit doesn’t work as hard to keep the room cool.
I keep the drapes pulled on the east side of the house in the morning to keep the heat out, then on the west side of the house in the afternoon for the same reason. That also makes a big difference in my house.
Excelent suggestions as always, unforunately our utility company sents us a bimontly bills, hoping when they install electronic meters with wifi this will change, monitoring is the key to lower everything, expenses, utility bills etc
I would say 'Never Underestimate the Power of Window Coverings!' We bought a new home 6yrs ago with Big Beautiful Windows. The whole West side of the house is floor to ceiling window after window. We enjoy them in the AM! And they might as well not be there after noon, because every day I close the blinds and pull the insulated drapes. These things are ENERGY Suckers! Whoa. The 'vampire energy'? Is a Real Problem. Multiple things in the kitchen are the Worst. I wish there was a master 'kill' switch! Oh wait!! There is!! The fuse box- except for the fridge/freezer, I don't need ANY energy there. Ugh.
I cook with a crock pot outside in the summer.
Make a sun oven. Free
We got to swimming hole a lot in summer so no ac on saving on power
To me my bills during the summer aren't too bad!!! But, winter is another story! Ive had it at $100 but Id rather have the heater on than get sick😷🤢. Sometimes, it's been like $205. But, it's a 3 bedroom place. And I turned off my gas heater because the furnace didn't work properly. And made my apt HOT during the summer. So turn off the pilot. Does anyone know if it is bad to turn off the pilot???
Unplugging makes a difference trust me. 😂 power strips are life safer...idk about the energy company giving them away if your a low income person. I do qualify but usually buy them a value store. Thanks you 2
Try 95+ with a wet Tshirt and a fan, evenings doors open to let the breeze through, that's how I've been doing it all summer long, best part is that in still intact🎉
South Florida over 100 !!!!! 🥵
Does anyone know if those new gadgets that plug into your outlet actually work in lowering the electricity costs....the ones that help with spikes.
The ones they advertise on UTube?? THAT is what I’d like to know!! Right now, they are saying they are free!!! I wonder if it costs for shipping, though. I would like to know, also!!
So tired from sitting 8 month old gran sll week, had stove top stuffing. Babies arn't meant for seniors.
No grandchildren and I don’t babysit any children period. No thanks. Just not interested in that at all. But good for you.
Hi guys ❤
👍👍👍
My electric bill was $410 last mont F. So Cal So. EDISON
How about mobile homes?