Conserving energy? Saving money?

[Hillary Black]

I was at the International Builders Show last week. I love, love, love vintage/refurbished stoves (in fact, featured in the Feb/March C&B issue). But there are some clever, new offerings that turned my head, too. How about a double oven where the second one is only 1/3 the size/less space to heat--perfect for baking a casserole or sheet of cookies? Nice.

Do you have any green appliances on your wish list? I love the water-saving, stackable washers, and the dryers with a big storage drawer underneath and a built-in, pull-out hanging rod. Good thinking!

What are some of the steps you've taken to conserve energy/resources (= hard-earned money) in your home?

If you had a home energy audit, was it useful? What did you find?

My favorite energy saver: hanging out the laundry. Timeless, human powered, solar energy partnership. Ha! Best scent never recreated by humans, machines or those pesky dryer sheets. :)

Hillary

[Heather]

Hi Hillary, great thread! We upgraded our home and applied to the EcoEnergy Retrofit and received grants from our Federal Government. We insulated the house and bought a new furnace among other things and the bills have been much lower this winter! On the wish list is a new washer & dryer....

[cheapdiva]

HB -

I just had dinner at a friend's last night and she had one of those stoves - how handy to heat up the pan of lasagna my other friend contributed. We bought a convection oven with the idea that we'd use less energy but so far haven't read how to use it!

We're in a 100 year old condo building so there isn't much we have done in the way of energy efficiency. Though our annual meeting is Sunday and we will be talking about how much energy we use and water!

[ChapterTwo]

I read an article stating that over 50 million people in the U.S. are not allowed to dry their clothing outdoors, due to the majority of Homeowner Associations banning it. That's downright un-American!
I cannot wait until the weather gets nicer and I can hang the clothesline in my new yard; it's a family tradition. Furthermore, chemicals in dryer sheets can be hazardous.

Here is a website promoting cold water washing and air drying: http://www.laundrylist.org/

[Heather]

Do you know the name of those stoves? I'm interested and would like to read more about them!

[Nikki]

We bought a new wood-burning fireplace insert last year, and try to use it as our primary heating source. Firewood is cheap and easy to get here, about $125-$150 a cord. It really keeps our electric bill down in the winter.

If we do use the electric heat, I turn it off completely at night. I actually sleep better when it's cooler in the house, and I love being able to snuggle under my big, fluffy down comforter. Its a bit cold in the morning, but since I'm only up for about an hour before I leave for work, its manageable.

And yes, I've seen those double oven stoves! They have a couple different ones at Sears. I'm definitely going to keep that in mind when its time to buy a new range for the bungalow. For now, I find that our toaster oven works great to cook many things for the 2 of us, like a small tray of roasted veggies, potatoes, small homemade pizzas, etc.

BTW.....great thread....we're always trying to find new ways to conserve energy :)

[memmey]

~* LOL*~:)

I have been hanging my things out for years on a little clothes line my son built for me when he was about 13...the total truth.

One day a little girl he dated in high school leaned over to him and smelled his shirt and startled said, " your shirt smells like the outside!"
We laughed and laughed and I explained that IS the smell that dryer sheets are trying to copy....LOL:p

Oh my..... are the things are grandmothers did because they HAD to gonna be lost forever on the little ones coming up??????

[ChapterTwo]

Oh my..... are the things are grandmothers did because they HAD to gonna be lost forever on the little ones coming up??????


It's what I fear too, Memmey.

If you have a minute to go to the website I noted, above, and scroll down to the video clip from CBS Sunday Morning, you'll have to laugh. Someone who objects to her neighbor's washline is so outraged that she should have to look at LAUNDRY, hanging on a line. It's laughable, it really is. Since when is that something so terrible?

[memmey]

Oh my gosh!!!! That lady with the OVERsized glasses is so snippy....not a very pretty attitude.

Look remember glass bottles? Now we have plastic, polluting the ocean. Go look at your electric meter when your dryer is running.... whu who!!!
I know everyone cannot dry on a line and honestly I don't do it in the winter BUT having said that, anytime that you can do even a little it helps.
Awwwh everyone knows that fresh grown veggies taste better and clothes off the line smell better and cleaners that are natural don't damage your lungs. I think that because women have to help support the family nowadays that there is little time for the extra work that the old days required.
I guess time saving ease comes with a rather large price tag to the enviorment.
Hey whatca gonna do????? Shall we add ironing to this lament?

[yarborough house]

Okay I live in an area that doesn't allow outdoor clothes lines. Call it an oxymoron- but we live in a historic district that does not allow it as it is not an aesthetically pleasing thing to look at. Seriously? isn't hanging clothes to dry historically accurate?
Anyway we have the stackable w/d with the steam cycles and I tell you they do use way less water than before.
Also when we redid the kitchen we got all energy star appliances and insulated when we gutted it.
We need a new HVAC unit but the cost of those scares me. Our heating is the old boiler- gas heating unit- very costly in the winter. And my windows leak..but again - not allowed to get new ones so need to find a way to build storm windows.
I will say my floors on the first floor are cold so need to insulate there this summer..

[CohenCottage]

This is such a good thread! Thanks for starting it Hillary...

We had an energy audit last year and implemented about half of the suggested list. There was an immediate drop in our bill (20-40 per month). We have a programmable thermostat and keep it on 60 for most of the winter. We also fixed some weather stripping on the doors. We still need to fix the seal on our windows, add some insulation to the attic pulldown, etc.

When we moved into our house, my inlaws got us a set of LG HE washer/dryer with the steam cycle. They use much less water/power, and the steam setting is addicting. We may add a clothes line when we cover the porch, but we have too many birds in the yard to hang our clothes out completely. I'm planning on using cloth diapers too.

The hubs has tried to switch us to CFL light bulbs, but I really hate the light they cast. We do have them outside, and all of our outdoor lights are either motion sensor or on timers.

[memmey]

Does your utility company let you use levelized billing?
I am on Entergy and they offer a plan whereas you pay the same amount every month and depending upon your usage you get a credit or a debit. The last bill I recieved showed I have a little over $500 in credit. If the winter doesn't use that up this year then they will divide it by 12 and lower my bill by that much.
Every year since I joined the plan I see my bill coming down.
My house is old and has NO insulation and my bill is $137.86 a month year round. I know that is not great but for an old house on piers, again.... did I mention it has NO insulation:(
If I can ever get it below $100 a month I will be so excited. I guess I could sit in the dark:rolleyes:

[chyna]

I would love ot get the foam insulation that you see Mike Holmes use all the time on his show. Like a giant can of Greatstuff blown into the walls. :p

Using the sun to warm your home is a good idea too, if I was home more often I'd do it even more. Unfortunately my dh is clueless with opening/closing curtains. When we add to the back of the house and make the laundry room and pantry we'd love ot get the stackable front loaders. The town I live in keeps raising our water rates with the excuse they need the money to repair all our pipes. Will believe that when I see it, that was the excuse 5-6yrs ago and my basement still gets flooded by broken pipes. :rolleyes:

I detest my clothes line, that monster is out of here as soon as I can find someone to pull it out. I do want a line out there but would like the type that pulls out and then when done you wind it back up. Out of sight and out of mind when not in use. ;) Mine is going to bust someone's head open with the sharp edged arms.

[shabbychick]

Well, I guess I'll be the lone voice here saying that putting laundry out to dry on a line does not appeal to me at all. I have no objection to other people drying their laundry outside, as I don't really consider it an eyesore, but I am not that thrilled with the way things look or feel when they've been hanging outside.

I do want to get a new washer and dryer at some point, probably front-loading. I don't know about stacking them. Last time I had a stacked set I couldn't see into the dryer for stray socks. I'm not that tall. But a stacking set would save space in my very small laundry closet. When I moved into this place six years ago, I had to buy a washer and dryer. I got a set of two, used, for the same price I'd have paid for each of them new. But the dryer won't shut itself off anymore with the door closed, and I suspect the washer is ripping holes in some of my clothes, so I need new ones at some point.

I have a few cfl bulbs in lamps, but I don't like the light they cast, either, and they're ugly. I use them at work in all the lamps there, but at home, I like the good old-fashioned incandescents.

I use my electric heat only occasionally, and usually only till the place warms up. My gas fireplace warms the condo pretty efficiently on all but the coldest or dampest of days. It's kind of a toss up whether the gas is more or less expensive than the electricity around here, but since it's just me living here, and I'm gone all day, I don't pay a whole lot for either one most of the time.

My only other sustainable practice is Freecycling. I do like to give things to people who want them, and Freecycle has been a good way to do that.

Does it count that I save up my dirty dishes till the dishwasher is full?

[yarborough house]

shabby chic- I save up my dishes till I need to run two loads :) You are doing good I am lazy. :)

[ChapterTwo]

My house is old and has NO insulation and my bill is $137.86 a month year round. I know that is not great


Oh, Memmey...that IS great! In the dead of winter I can pay almost $400 a month for heating this drafty old house! :( That's what I get for living in the Northeast.

[vintage girl]

Don't feel bad Shabbychick, I cannot stand the feel of clothes that have been line dried. They smell ok, but the feel of them drives me nuts. I use the CFL lightbulbs, and I also don't use my dishwasher until it is completely full. Try to be good about heat and AC. We do not have central heat or air. Have a wall furnace and window air units. Don't use either unless we have too. Unfortunately I do run a bird rescue and I have to use an electric heater in the birdroom at this time of year. My electric bill definately goes up, but normally only for a couple of months. I recycle like crazy and I am the queen of repurposing and reusing items. I also will not pay full price for anything if I can avoid it. I buy off craigslist, go to thrift stores and also will bargain/trade services for things. I think that as a whole we are a very wasteful country. Always buying new, trading up, etc., when we can get the same bang for our buck and usefullness out of repurposing and reusing. We do all our own maintenance on our vehicles and all our own home maintenance also, even electrical. Leave the big things, like roofing to the professionals, but I even made a deal on that. I traded housecleaning services for a reduced price. Hubs is the gardener and we have tons of fruit trees and have a very large garden and grow our own lettuce, carrots, tomatoes, onions, broccoli, beets, watermelon, squash, peppers, cabbage, etc etc. At one time we raised our own beef, but it broke my heart to slaughter my pet cows, so stopped doing that. We also help raise our neighbors chickens, so we get fresh eggs for doing that. Would love to convert to solar power, but the amount required up front would not be seen for about 20 years. When we retire, if we move, we will buy a home that already has solar. Hubs also put in solartubes which helps cut down on leaving lights on and is a really nice soft, yet bright light. We also have air vents on our roof and an attic fan to help with keeping our house cool. All of our appliances are energy efficient, except for my 1950 Wedgewood stove. Water heater is due to be replaced within the next year and we are thinking of getting one of the smaller more efficient on-demand ones.

[shabbychick]

It's been hard for me to find experts who agree on the on-demand water heaters. A few have told me it wastes water because what's already in the pipes doesn't get hot before it runs out (though I think that's no different from a regular water heater) and that if you are taking a long shower, or more than one person is bathing, the unit can't keep up with the demand. But there are an equal number of experts who think otherwise. It is an expensive option, but if it would increase my condo's value and make it easier to sell when the time comes, I might be willing to make the investment up-front. Plus I could use that extra space in the garage.

[vintage girl]

I have heard the exact same thing about the on-demands also. We are kind of on the fence about them. But the extra space would be nice. I have been looking around and have found new ones on craigslist for just a little bit more than a regular gas water heater. You may want to check out your local craigslist. Could save you a few bucks.

[yarborough house]

I can offer some info on the on-demand water heater.
They are not what they claiim to be. They work well for washers and dishwashers but not baths. We had one in this house when we moved in. But as you took a shower it would vary - cold, hot, cold, hot. It could not heat up the water in enough volume to keep the shower hot. Also, I take baths and I'd turn on straight hot since it kept fluctuating and always ended up with a luke warm bath.
We took it out and got a big hot water heater. We figure it would do great for dishwashers and stuff but if it couldn't keep up with one shower there was no way it would work for this family. It is sitting in our basement. The people before us put it in when the hot water heater broke - cost them about 1500 and she said she hated it.

just my own personal tidbit..

[Nikki]

Add me to the list of people that just can't use CFLs. At night they seem to give me a headache for some reason. Sorry, but I won't sacrifice my health and well-being to save a couple of dollars!

The other thing that bothers me is trying to recycle or safely dispose of them. My mom had a few to get rid of, and she took them down to Home Depot where they accept them for recycling or safe disposal or whatever. She said that you have to put each bulb in a plastic bag before you put it in the collection bin. Now, I can see with the mercury issue why they'd want you to do that, but in a way it bothers me. Another bag thrown into the landfill. So, overall, I don't find CFLs to be as "green" as the industry is claiming them to be.

[vintage girl]

Thanks for the info on the on-demand heaters Tammy. I have heard similar stories also, and that is why we have not purchased one yet. I think we will stick with the old-fashioned ones. We only take showers and very short ones at that, so we are doing our part to conserve anyway:)

Interesting about the CFL's. I had no idea that they had to be disposed of in that manner. You are right, it doesn't really conserve at all if we are adding more plastic to the landfills!

[ChapterTwo]

I also find the claims about the longevity of CFLs to be highly overrated. They seem to burn out at a pretty quick clip.

[ChapterTwo]

I learn so much from you all! Never in my life have I heard of "on demand water heaters", so it was interesting to read your descriptions and comments!

[chyna]

I'm with you on the line dried clothing, I hate how stiff they are. Add to it that my mom would use the line to dry our clothes even in the winter. There is no such thing as freeze drying!!!!! We would end up having to drape clothes all over the livingroom for the the fireplace to hopefully dry. We'd all sneak in the dryer when my mom wasn't home. :p Plus my parents line is under cottonwood trees, if you have any around you then you'd understand how nasty they are in the spring. Nice clean clothes not spotted with bright yellow sticky spots.

Yep, blame my aversion to my mom. :D

[RoseMary]

I have heard the same things about the on-demand water heaters. My SIL's father has one and loves it, but he lives alone.

I personally love to hang out my laundry. As for the feel, they are usually stiff because all of the soap does not get rinsed out--especially towels and wash cloths. I always use vinegar as my laundry softener and they turn out just as soft as if they were dried in a dryer~plus they smell better because of the fresh air:).

[mac78]

I just took the time to read thru this whole thread. Interesting. We live in a 1968 brick ranch. We did blow in insulation about 20 years ago, I am sure it could use another layer. My brother-in-law was here 2 Sundays ago, and he told us that if when it snows, and your roof is one of the last ones to have snow left on it, then you are insulated well. (Heat is NOT going out the roof to melt the snow). So, we do have snow on our roof a lot, so maybe not as bad as we thought. We do have newer windows (10 yr old) but the guy did a crap job at putting them in and they do have issues. We use the shrink window kids on some windows. Our appliances have all been replaced in the past 5 years. Yea$$$$$$$.

CFL Bulbs, I have tried to switch to them in all the light fixtures. But, hubby does not like them and I really don't either. They cast off a strange light. I have tried soft white, daylight, and what ever else they might have. We had put 2 in the kitchen light in the last 6 months, and one of them has went out already and had to be replaced. That was a $3 or more $ bulb. Hmm, it is not the first one to go either. We have a dimmer switch in our living room, so have regular bulbs in that. They are ugly too. I did put CFL in outside lights. We have a regular gas water heater, and if you are the second one in line for a shower it is going to be a cool one.....I'm sure that needs replaced too.

We use a ventless gas fireplace daily. Keeps our inefficient furnace from coming on near as much. Especially if it is above 30 degrees outside. The part of the house we use most is toasy warm, the rest is chilly. We use an tower ceramic heater in the front room if someone is sitting out there to keep off the chill, instead of turning up furnace and heating rooms we aren's using.

Does anyone have one of those heaters advertised on tv all the time.....about $297 to $450 each, the EDEN PURE heaters? I have thought about getting one, but not sure worth it. I know the reports say it cost about $1 per day to run. My mom has one and it really heats her living area well, but she likes is WARM! I have heard the Amish Fireplaces are a joke....I personally think it is funny.....Amish don't even have electricity. (I do know many get electricity thru a generator though).

Our electric, water, sewage, trash pick up bill is about $200 per month. Gas is budget of $100 right now, and that goes up and down some each year.

[RoseMary]

Marie, I don't like those CFL bulbs, either. I really think they are a bad idea and I don't like the fact that they may phase out these old ones.

Not only do I not like the 'light' that they put out, they are supposed to be dangerous if they break. It states that on the package. Who hasn't had a light bulb break before? I've also heard of problems with these starting to 'smoke' while they are on. I wonder if they've caught anything on fire.

We use light bulbs to heat our well house in the winter and to raise my chicks every year. They love the light and heat from the bulbs. How will we save or conserve anything if we have to buy heaters for these things? I'm fairly disgusted over the whole issue:mad:~in case none of you could tell:p.

[Carrie]

I brough all energy star appliances when I first brought my home. I wanted to start right. I have glazed energy efficient windows and a storm door. I put thermal blankets on both bed to go under the quilts and comforters, so I can turn the heat in the house down to 65 every night and not be cold. I have throws on the sofas and everyone was given slipper socks so the thermometer doesn't have to go up and down because someone is cold. I have ceiling fans in the bedrooms and main living area to cut down on air conditioning. I know you can use them to blow heat down as well when you flip the way the blades turn, but doing that makes me cold.
I use a small convection toaster oven and microwave oven over the large range oven, because it cuts down on energy use as well as cooking time.
I am getting ready to instal a tankless water heater in the very near future. I hate wasteing water waiting for the hot water to come out. In the meantime I have a water heater blanket on the water heater.
I open my windows in spring and fall to let air in, so I don't use conditioned air so much. I also pull back the thermal curtains to let light in. In winter that warms the house, and I have natural lighting.

[ChapterTwo]

What I do not understand is why there is not a mandate that all appliances must meet the energy star guidelines.

I had to buy a certain size refrigerator to fit in the rather small spot in my kitchen and, try as I might, I could not find one with the energy star rating.

It certainly sounds as if you're doing all the right things, Carrie! :)

[mac78]

From what I have seen on TV of how people in China live, I don't want nothing to do with that. I have seen the little "dorm" type rooms employees live in when they work for various employers. I am all for doing what I can to conserve energy and keeping the landfills down, and recycling. But in the end, it needs to start from the top, windmills making electricity, hyropower, etc. Car companies actually allowing vehicles to get 50 mpg, yea they can do, but won't......it is all political and it is sad.

[CohenCottage]

We've been using cloth diapers and wipes on G, and we also just got more insulation to go on our regular hot water heater. I know some people say cloth diapers are just as wasteful as disposables because of the power and water required to wash, but we end up only doing 3 extra loads of laundry per week. And the cloth diapers sure are cute! One of my clients gave me her stash, so we have enough to last a week! Tammy- i save up my dishes until we have two loads too. Now I'm going to tell DH that it is part of my plan to be more environmentally friendly :p We also try to get as many things as possible that are locally grown or made. My favorite is honey from some of my clients that have an organic farm!

[farmgal67357]

We bought new energy efficient appliances when we moved into our little cottage last Summer. We keep the thermostat set at 68 degrees right to save energy, and have quilts available on the sofa if we get a tad chilly. We are lucky that our little place is well insulated, thanks to the previous owners!

[mac78]

That little guy is a real cutie!:)

[ChapterTwo]

CC...I somehow missed those photos that you posted here...the baby is so adorable and has really grown! I can tell his little legs are moving like crazy...I see a blur on them in the photo! ;)

[CohenCottage]

Thanks! I just wanted to show off my cute diapers and wool covers! That picture was actually taken almost two months ago, so now he's HUGE. That wool longie cover doesn't need to be folded over now and the legs are high waters!

[AmyBrown12]

Geothermal heating/cooling was what my husband and I decided to do for one energy saving idea for the home we just built. A couple San Francisco Plumbers (http://www.angieslist.com/companylist/san-francisco/plumbing.htm) gave us the idea and we went with it! :) (Initial cost was pretty large, but over the long run it definitely saves money and energy!) When you combine that with 6-inch studs on the outside of the home in order for more insulation, you have quite the energy efficient home. Plus we went with energy efficient fridge and washer/dryer. Overall I think we're headed in the right direction! :)