I admit I love my dishwasher. There are those who say that the newer ones are greener to use than washing dishes by hand, although I have a hard time believing that. Still, I indulge in the convenience provided by my Frigidaire.
I do, however, have a compromise. I don't use the "dry" feature - instead I air dry my dishes. As in, I have a dish rack by the sink (for the items that are not dry yet when I empty the dishwasher). My husband thinks we're the only house anywhere with a dishwasher AND a dish rack, lol. (One of these days I'll convert him and make him more green ;)
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Showing posts with label hydro. Show all posts
Showing posts with label hydro. Show all posts
Are New Windows Really Less Drafty?
You bet!!!!
Since having our new windows installed, I can leave the heat turned off all day, and the room temperature will dip by only .5 to 1 degree (10 degrees colder outside). With the old glass, the house would have gotten down at least 3 or 4 degrees, if not more.
In fact, last night when Heat Junkie Hubby came home, I forgot to turn the furnace back on (usually I scoot over to the thermostat when I see his car pull in the driveway ;-) He gets home at about 5:30, and it wasn't until the kids' bedtime that I realized I'd forgotten. Meanwhile DH hadn't said a word, 'cause he was still comfortably warm.
Now the unfortunate part is that we have to pay for the windows (not like we can return 'em!!). Over the long term, though, they will save us money (plus the house looks so much nicer :-) !!
Since having our new windows installed, I can leave the heat turned off all day, and the room temperature will dip by only .5 to 1 degree (10 degrees colder outside). With the old glass, the house would have gotten down at least 3 or 4 degrees, if not more.
In fact, last night when Heat Junkie Hubby came home, I forgot to turn the furnace back on (usually I scoot over to the thermostat when I see his car pull in the driveway ;-) He gets home at about 5:30, and it wasn't until the kids' bedtime that I realized I'd forgotten. Meanwhile DH hadn't said a word, 'cause he was still comfortably warm.
Now the unfortunate part is that we have to pay for the windows (not like we can return 'em!!). Over the long term, though, they will save us money (plus the house looks so much nicer :-) !!
Two Tiered Triumph
Wow... nickle and diming really does add up. I've been obsessive about conserving electricity, and this month's hydro bill shows our consumption at roughly half of what it was last time I checked, putting us within the low rate category for BC Hydro's proposed two tier rate system.
Now if only we were on the brink of warm and bright summer, instead of cold dark winter...
(sigh!!!)
Now if only we were on the brink of warm and bright summer, instead of cold dark winter...
(sigh!!!)
CFLs, Here We Go!
Today at Costco we bought some compact fluorescent light bulbs.
Recently we've installed some dimmer switches in a couple of rooms (as well as two new bathroom fans complete with timers... LOVE the timers :-) We were looking forward to replacing our old light bulbs with the new CFLs, but apparently you can't use the type we bought with dimmer technology.
However you CAN use them in recessed fixtures, so they'll be going in our hallway. I can probably put the rest in various locations in the basement as well (we bought a package of ten).
Hopefully tomorrow I'll get them installed, and we can start saving more energy :-)
Recently we've installed some dimmer switches in a couple of rooms (as well as two new bathroom fans complete with timers... LOVE the timers :-) We were looking forward to replacing our old light bulbs with the new CFLs, but apparently you can't use the type we bought with dimmer technology.
However you CAN use them in recessed fixtures, so they'll be going in our hallway. I can probably put the rest in various locations in the basement as well (we bought a package of ten).
Hopefully tomorrow I'll get them installed, and we can start saving more energy :-)
Two Tiered Panic
Yikes!!! Just checked our hydro bill, and our consumption is about TWICE the upper limit for tier one. How on earth can I cut our electricity use in HALF? Sheesh.
I already hang most of the clothes to dry, and I'm the "turn the furnace down" drill sergeant. Hmmm. I guess it's going to be a nickel and dime adventure...
I hereby accept the challenge!!!
(wish me luck!! eeek!!)
I already hang most of the clothes to dry, and I'm the "turn the furnace down" drill sergeant. Hmmm. I guess it's going to be a nickel and dime adventure...
I hereby accept the challenge!!!
(wish me luck!! eeek!!)
Two-Tiers, Anyone?
My ability to make lemonade out of lemons with this one will be tested: BC Hydro is about to implement a new billing system whereby they charge for services on two different levels based on the customer's energy consumption.
Tier-one power could be priced at about 6.15 cents per kilowatt hour, as opposed to tier two power, at 7.21 cents per kwh in October, increasing to 8.27 cents per kwh in April. The BC Utilities Commission has proposed that tier one have a maximum usage limit of 1,350 kilowatt hours per two month billing period, down from Hydro's original suggestion of 1,600.
I like a challenge.
It is a good idea in that it encourages people to use less electricity, although according to the the survey they've done of average consumption levels, as a detached home owner I'm sunk and destined to pay the higher rate of tier two.
To be honest, I have no idea how many kilowatt hours we consume every two months, but I'm going to pull out the bills and have a look. It's going to be tough because we're heading into shorter days and I'm a bit of a light junkie, but I'm willing to give it a try.
Tier-one power could be priced at about 6.15 cents per kilowatt hour, as opposed to tier two power, at 7.21 cents per kwh in October, increasing to 8.27 cents per kwh in April. The BC Utilities Commission has proposed that tier one have a maximum usage limit of 1,350 kilowatt hours per two month billing period, down from Hydro's original suggestion of 1,600.
I like a challenge.
It is a good idea in that it encourages people to use less electricity, although according to the the survey they've done of average consumption levels, as a detached home owner I'm sunk and destined to pay the higher rate of tier two.
To be honest, I have no idea how many kilowatt hours we consume every two months, but I'm going to pull out the bills and have a look. It's going to be tough because we're heading into shorter days and I'm a bit of a light junkie, but I'm willing to give it a try.
5 Things I Can Unplug While Not In Use
A refresher for me! (Since starting this blog, I've noticed that I pay much more attention to all things green :-)
Here are five things I can unplug when they're not in use:
1) Cell phone charger
This one is easy to remember because it's in plain view on the counter.
2) Coffee maker
I used to leave this one plugged in because it has a clock. I did set the clock once, only to have my husband unplug it to use the outlet for something else. I never bothered to set the clock again, but continued to leave the coffee maker plugged in (presumably so I could see the flashing zeros???).
3) Computer
This is an easy one - with the flick of a switch (on the power bar) I can turn off a lot of peripherals, and then simply unplug the power bar.
4) Microwave
We never reset the clock after power failures anyway, so why not unplug it when it's not in use?
5) Kettle
There are more of course, but this a good place to start. I find I'm more successful at keeping new habits if I make small changes rather than large...
Here are five things I can unplug when they're not in use:
1) Cell phone charger
This one is easy to remember because it's in plain view on the counter.
2) Coffee maker
I used to leave this one plugged in because it has a clock. I did set the clock once, only to have my husband unplug it to use the outlet for something else. I never bothered to set the clock again, but continued to leave the coffee maker plugged in (presumably so I could see the flashing zeros???).
3) Computer
This is an easy one - with the flick of a switch (on the power bar) I can turn off a lot of peripherals, and then simply unplug the power bar.
4) Microwave
We never reset the clock after power failures anyway, so why not unplug it when it's not in use?
5) Kettle
There are more of course, but this a good place to start. I find I'm more successful at keeping new habits if I make small changes rather than large...
No Heat Dry
This is my latest "it all adds up" green habit. My dishwasher never seems to dry the dishes properly anyway, so why use up the hydro? Now as I start each load, it's become habit to press the "no heat dry" button...
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