Friday, July 23, 2010

Electric Bill

I just got my highest electric bill in the new house (still not as high as the $300 bills I used to get in my all electric apartment years ago.) The bill is $210.33. This is almost 3 times my normal bill (without central air.) We are home a bit more with no co-op and doing at least one no drive day weekly, but still I can't believe running the central air is so high.

Don't get me wrong, I am going to continue to run the central air as I can not stand the heat, just commenting on how high it is.

Maybe I can get by with raising temp a degree or two during the day to reduce the cost a bit.

Plus in August we will be away a few days so that will save a bit more.

The problem is although it may be 72 around sensor it will still be closer to 80 upstairs.

I have to invest in some fans.

What do you keep your central air on in day? At night? I keep ours at 72 degrees all the time we are home and raise it to 75 or 77 when we are gone (but I can't turn off completely because of the bird.) I just raised to 75, let's see if I can handle that.

-Becky

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

We turn it off when we go to bed and just open the window. We live in SoCal, so it gets SUPER hot during the day (90s and 100s), but cools off to the 60s at night. Since we both work during the day, it's always off, but usually my boyfriend will turn it on when he gets home (about 7pm-12pm). If it's just me, I keep it off, because the price is so insane! I snuck the dial up to 75 degrees though, and he hasn't noticed. He had it on 68.

Becky R said...

Unfortionately here (central NJ, near bay) it is very humid and still pretty hot at night (in 80's.) I can deal with the heat but I hate feeling wet from the humidity, especially while I am trying to sleep. I would love 60 degrees at night.
I would freeze at 68 though. BRRR!!!
Thanks for your comment

Becky said...

Most summers we barely use our central air, but this has been a *really* hot, humid summer for us here in Wisconsin. Add to that the fact that I'm 9 months pregnant and we've been running the AC a lot!!!
I keep it at 75 during the day and 74 at night with a fan on me. If it's supposed to cool down to the lower 60's on a certain night, then I'll turn the AC off for the night.
We don't have an upstairs, though, so that helps. Also, our house is well-insulated and has really deep eaves, so that all helps to keep the house feeling cooler.

Anonymous said...

I'm actually from Boston originally, so trust me, I know how awful humidity is!!! When I was there we had an AC but it jacked up the bill SO SO high it wasn't worth it. Sometimes I would turn it on for 20 minutes or so and close the windows just to get the heat out though. We just had a fan blowing directly on us at night, and although there were definitely nights where it was next to impossible to sleep, it got us through.

Sisters of the Blog said...

Becky,
A house fan may help. You can install it in the attic (or even in an upstairs hallway window, i think).

The way it works is that it tends to draw the hot air out that tends to rise, so the upper story isn't so blinking hot.

You might also think about running a dehumidifier, although the one i ran in the cellar really added to the electric bill.

You can also get drapes if you don't have them, and close them during the day upstairs to keep the heat out. We got one of those for our patio slider at Bed, Bath, and Beyond, and it made quite a difference.

yes, all of these things cost some $$$, but if it saves in the long run, it may be worth it.

megan

Becky R said...

I do need to get some fans. I especially want a working ceiling fan in my bedroom. I think that will help.

Cheryl said...

WOW. I live in central gulf coast Florida and I don't keep my A/C that low!
It's in the high nineties here daily, with a heat index over 100, and very high humidity - and we have not even reached our "hot" months! Mine stays at 78 while i am here, and I bump it up to 79 when I leave for work.
Of course, it is Florida - we have ceiling fans in every room.

Becky R said...

I think my central air works great but with an upstairs plus older house (older windows, older insulation, etc) the cool air leakes outside. Plus it will be so nice in my room (close to thermastat) but hot in other parts of the house (especially Jason's room.)
Only another month and it will go off, so I will deal with the high bill.
I have been more carefull to raise temp. when I leave house now though.

Becky R said...

And fans are on my list!

HS @ Our Debt Blog said...

Here in the south, you have to keep them around 78 all the time. Our bill was 244 last month to cool a 2400 sq ft home. Keep in mind it gets in the high 90's with lots of humidity.