Semi O/T They NEVER Listen to Us!
So for YEARS I have been telling Chef that we use a LOT of electricity and that it is the most expensive of all our utilities. He REFUSED to believe this and always cited the propane bill as the highest. He wouldn't know...he never looks at the bills. I just receive them and pay them.
Well he thought he might want to do a DIY solar project and was STUNNED when the solar companies recommended a 20-22KW solar system! We use over a two year average 1745 kwh a month. Now before this Chef didn't give two hoots about the electric bill. He would leave radios blaring, lights on, air compressors turned on, heat pump/ac mini split roaring away at 65F aka refrigerator temperatures! He would lower the temp on the frig as well so his beer would be ICE COLD. In all fairness, I have a home office with lots of electronic equipment, network stuff, NAS, everything on wireless and all my robots/gadgets. He has cordless tools charging all the time as well.
Now that several solar companies have told him that yeah, we use a lot of electricity, he is keeping the A/C off (it went up to 78F yesterday--shocking) and turning off all the lights after use, etc etc.
I also told him that we will need to economize as the Girhippo is still on the payroll and I just bought my first rental, a duplex, in YeArS which will need some updating (electric, hvac, paint and clean) which will be a vacancy on the book until we can get apt #1 up and running.
ARGH!
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The big think is the A/C or heat pump
Change filters frequently (is he doing this himself). Keep temperature moderate. Vacuum under frig or wherever coils are.
A/C Heat pump
Yes, he installed them himself. By trade "Chef" is a contractor and HVAC guy. He gets the Chef moniker because he loves to cook and so did his father whom he regularly "channels."
If you just
Unplug battery charges, as cell phone charges, turning off thing as computers, power strips, when not in use. Going to LED light. Good deals at Costco for light bulbs. You can save some money and not notice abyrhunf difference. Turning off lights when not in the room. Turning off TV if not watching it . Ect. Just give it some thought, just say do this really have to be on.
Doing full loads of wash instead of two small loads.
Good Advice
I do everything listed (LED lights, full loads etc) except for the battery charging which is on a bit. i do have several UPS units for my sensitive computer equipment. we also have a whole house standby generator 22w. Plus I love my automated cat litter boxes and roombas!
Been there
for skid related things and others. Of course my idea, solution, advice, recommendation or flat out knowledge on a subject means less than anyone else’s. I cannot tell you the number of times I’ve wanted to smack DH up side his head when he comes to me with a way to do something that he came up with after talking with someone else who said EXACTLY what I had said. And he doesn’t even remember.
I'd let him do his thing and
I'd let him do his thing and you keep doing your thing. Let him drop the bill by HIS efforts. I swear that's the only way to teach a man. Or put him in charge of that bill only.