$500 Monthly SDG&E Bill (How to reduce?)

[jficquette]

You can figure out how much each appliance costs you per hour of use. We had a discussion on the cost of a Pool and I found a site where you can figure it.

If you wish, you can post the wattage each appliance uses and I can run the numbers.

If you want to do it yourself then here is a simple exercise.

Say an appliance takes 100 watts and you run it 1 hour a day and the cost per kilowatt hour (on your sd&g) is 20 cents per hour.

So 100 watt burning for an hour will cost 1/10 of a kilowatt hour (100/1000) x the rate of 20 cents or say .02 per hour, or 48 cents a day. So if you left if on for 24 hours and 30 days that 100 watt light bulb would be about $15 bucks a month.

Let me know if you want help with it.

John

PS Actually you could set up an Excel spreadsheet to make it easier. Make the columns Appliance, wattage, Hours of use, Kilowats used, cost per Kilowatt, total cost.

[poway_seller]

Our billing cycle resets the 16th of every month, so we agreed (wife and I) to start Feb 16th and really go over the top to cut down on as much as possible for 1 month to see what happens (just the easy things, I’m not going to start off by adding extra insulation between the exterior walls and the master bedroom).

shutting off lights, unplugging TVs that aren’t used, unplugging chargers, turn off computer and monitors, all the “easy” stuff.

depending on the outcome we may just go back to old ways if it doesn’t save that much, or go to next phase (whatever that means I don’t know yet)

It’s not the money per se, but more the principal of not wanting to waste it, and perhaps being more environmentally responsible in some small way. (I tried hypermiling my 2004 yukon for a full tank once and it only made mileage about 1-2 mpg more, which only saves me about $1-2 for every 100 miles I drive, hardly worth the extra effort)

Okay, now I’m expecting smart-a$$ comments about driving a yukon (kid, dogs and boat, so necessary), the big house (not necessary but my choice), and now a boat (haven’t used in over a year).

[poway_seller]

Our billing cycle resets the 16th of every month, so we agreed (wife and I) to start Feb 16th and really go over the top to cut down on as much as possible for 1 month to see what happens (just the easy things, I’m not going to start off by adding extra insulation between the exterior walls and the master bedroom).

shutting off lights, unplugging TVs that aren’t used, unplugging chargers, turn off computer and monitors, all the “easy” stuff.

depending on the outcome we may just go back to old ways if it doesn’t save that much, or go to next phase (whatever that means I don’t know yet)

It’s not the money per se, but more the principal of not wanting to waste it, and perhaps being more environmentally responsible in some small way. (I tried hypermiling my 2004 yukon for a full tank once and it only made mileage about 1-2 mpg more, which only saves me about $1-2 for every 100 miles I drive, hardly worth the extra effort)

Okay, now I’m expecting smart-a$$ comments about driving a yukon (kid, dogs and boat, so necessary), the big house (not necessary but my choice), and now a boat (haven’t used in over a year).

[poway_seller]

Our billing cycle resets the 16th of every month, so we agreed (wife and I) to start Feb 16th and really go over the top to cut down on as much as possible for 1 month to see what happens (just the easy things, I’m not going to start off by adding extra insulation between the exterior walls and the master bedroom).

shutting off lights, unplugging TVs that aren’t used, unplugging chargers, turn off computer and monitors, all the “easy” stuff.

depending on the outcome we may just go back to old ways if it doesn’t save that much, or go to next phase (whatever that means I don’t know yet)

It’s not the money per se, but more the principal of not wanting to waste it, and perhaps being more environmentally responsible in some small way. (I tried hypermiling my 2004 yukon for a full tank once and it only made mileage about 1-2 mpg more, which only saves me about $1-2 for every 100 miles I drive, hardly worth the extra effort)

Okay, now I’m expecting smart-a$$ comments about driving a yukon (kid, dogs and boat, so necessary), the big house (not necessary but my choice), and now a boat (haven’t used in over a year).

[poway_seller]

Our billing cycle resets the 16th of every month, so we agreed (wife and I) to start Feb 16th and really go over the top to cut down on as much as possible for 1 month to see what happens (just the easy things, I’m not going to start off by adding extra insulation between the exterior walls and the master bedroom).

shutting off lights, unplugging TVs that aren’t used, unplugging chargers, turn off computer and monitors, all the “easy” stuff.

depending on the outcome we may just go back to old ways if it doesn’t save that much, or go to next phase (whatever that means I don’t know yet)

It’s not the money per se, but more the principal of not wanting to waste it, and perhaps being more environmentally responsible in some small way. (I tried hypermiling my 2004 yukon for a full tank once and it only made mileage about 1-2 mpg more, which only saves me about $1-2 for every 100 miles I drive, hardly worth the extra effort)

Okay, now I’m expecting smart-a$$ comments about driving a yukon (kid, dogs and boat, so necessary), the big house (not necessary but my choice), and now a boat (haven’t used in over a year).

[poway_seller]

Our billing cycle resets the 16th of every month, so we agreed (wife and I) to start Feb 16th and really go over the top to cut down on as much as possible for 1 month to see what happens (just the easy things, I’m not going to start off by adding extra insulation between the exterior walls and the master bedroom).

shutting off lights, unplugging TVs that aren’t used, unplugging chargers, turn off computer and monitors, all the “easy” stuff.

depending on the outcome we may just go back to old ways if it doesn’t save that much, or go to next phase (whatever that means I don’t know yet)

It’s not the money per se, but more the principal of not wanting to waste it, and perhaps being more environmentally responsible in some small way. (I tried hypermiling my 2004 yukon for a full tank once and it only made mileage about 1-2 mpg more, which only saves me about $1-2 for every 100 miles I drive, hardly worth the extra effort)

Okay, now I’m expecting smart-a$$ comments about driving a yukon (kid, dogs and boat, so necessary), the big house (not necessary but my choice), and now a boat (haven’t used in over a year).

[CBad]

To give you a comparison, we are a family of 5 (2 adults, 3 kids) and SDGE is in the 60’s-70’s until we turn on the heat and it can jump up to around $120 as a high. But we have either 1 or none of the things you listed, we can fit 3 of our houses into yours, and live where we don’t need AC.

Personally, I find the overhead recessed lighting to be inefficient. It seems to me like you need more of them to create the same light compared to just your basic overhead light.

[CBad]

To give you a comparison, we are a family of 5 (2 adults, 3 kids) and SDGE is in the 60’s-70’s until we turn on the heat and it can jump up to around $120 as a high. But we have either 1 or none of the things you listed, we can fit 3 of our houses into yours, and live where we don’t need AC.

Personally, I find the overhead recessed lighting to be inefficient. It seems to me like you need more of them to create the same light compared to just your basic overhead light.

[CBad]

To give you a comparison, we are a family of 5 (2 adults, 3 kids) and SDGE is in the 60’s-70’s until we turn on the heat and it can jump up to around $120 as a high. But we have either 1 or none of the things you listed, we can fit 3 of our houses into yours, and live where we don’t need AC.

Personally, I find the overhead recessed lighting to be inefficient. It seems to me like you need more of them to create the same light compared to just your basic overhead light.

[CBad]

To give you a comparison, we are a family of 5 (2 adults, 3 kids) and SDGE is in the 60’s-70’s until we turn on the heat and it can jump up to around $120 as a high. But we have either 1 or none of the things you listed, we can fit 3 of our houses into yours, and live where we don’t need AC.

Personally, I find the overhead recessed lighting to be inefficient. It seems to me like you need more of them to create the same light compared to just your basic overhead light.

[CBad]

To give you a comparison, we are a family of 5 (2 adults, 3 kids) and SDGE is in the 60’s-70’s until we turn on the heat and it can jump up to around $120 as a high. But we have either 1 or none of the things you listed, we can fit 3 of our houses into yours, and live where we don’t need AC.

Personally, I find the overhead recessed lighting to be inefficient. It seems to me like you need more of them to create the same light compared to just your basic overhead light.

[poway_seller]

“So 100 watt burning for an hour will cost 1/10 of a kilowatt hour (100/1000) x the rate of 20 cents or say .02 per hour, or 48 cents a day. So if you left if on for 24 hours and 30 days that 100 watt light bulb would be about $15 bucks a month.”

sounds like my biggest issue may come from lighting as well.. nearly all recessed. I should check the wattage on all. problem is all are on electronic dimmers, and most CFL lightbulbs fail on electronic dimmers. The only ones that I’ve found that work on dimmers are Phillips bulbs and they are $12 each. So multiply that by 100 lights and it gets expensive! Cost vs. savings needed on that one…

Forgot to mention also have 2 40 pint per day capacity dehumifidiers that run 24 hours per day on 1st floor (which is below grade and back wall has moisture to pull out). I guess I need to find the wattage on those.

[poway_seller]

“So 100 watt burning for an hour will cost 1/10 of a kilowatt hour (100/1000) x the rate of 20 cents or say .02 per hour, or 48 cents a day. So if you left if on for 24 hours and 30 days that 100 watt light bulb would be about $15 bucks a month.”

sounds like my biggest issue may come from lighting as well.. nearly all recessed. I should check the wattage on all. problem is all are on electronic dimmers, and most CFL lightbulbs fail on electronic dimmers. The only ones that I’ve found that work on dimmers are Phillips bulbs and they are $12 each. So multiply that by 100 lights and it gets expensive! Cost vs. savings needed on that one…

Forgot to mention also have 2 40 pint per day capacity dehumifidiers that run 24 hours per day on 1st floor (which is below grade and back wall has moisture to pull out). I guess I need to find the wattage on those.

[poway_seller]

“So 100 watt burning for an hour will cost 1/10 of a kilowatt hour (100/1000) x the rate of 20 cents or say .02 per hour, or 48 cents a day. So if you left if on for 24 hours and 30 days that 100 watt light bulb would be about $15 bucks a month.”

sounds like my biggest issue may come from lighting as well.. nearly all recessed. I should check the wattage on all. problem is all are on electronic dimmers, and most CFL lightbulbs fail on electronic dimmers. The only ones that I’ve found that work on dimmers are Phillips bulbs and they are $12 each. So multiply that by 100 lights and it gets expensive! Cost vs. savings needed on that one…

Forgot to mention also have 2 40 pint per day capacity dehumifidiers that run 24 hours per day on 1st floor (which is below grade and back wall has moisture to pull out). I guess I need to find the wattage on those.

[poway_seller]

“So 100 watt burning for an hour will cost 1/10 of a kilowatt hour (100/1000) x the rate of 20 cents or say .02 per hour, or 48 cents a day. So if you left if on for 24 hours and 30 days that 100 watt light bulb would be about $15 bucks a month.”

sounds like my biggest issue may come from lighting as well.. nearly all recessed. I should check the wattage on all. problem is all are on electronic dimmers, and most CFL lightbulbs fail on electronic dimmers. The only ones that I’ve found that work on dimmers are Phillips bulbs and they are $12 each. So multiply that by 100 lights and it gets expensive! Cost vs. savings needed on that one…

Forgot to mention also have 2 40 pint per day capacity dehumifidiers that run 24 hours per day on 1st floor (which is below grade and back wall has moisture to pull out). I guess I need to find the wattage on those.

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