FROM CHEAP TO STEEP by: John Avenson Date: May 2021
TOU = "Time Of Use" = Electricity rates from any power supply company will vary between cheap and expensive, usually during the afternoon and evening.
Your life style can have a big impact on TOU and it can be your advantage, or disadvantage. It will soon be VERY important to totally avoid afternoon hours of high rate charge due to high rates.
Below are some life style changes to consider:
CHEAP: The cheapest energy is using NO energy at all. This can be accomplished by:
1) Hang your clothes on the drying rack, 2) Eat foods that don't require long oven and stove times, 3) Use cold water for your laundry which will avoid re-heating the water in your hot water tank, 4) Keep the refrigerator door closed, 5) Keep lights off however LED lights draw very very little, 6) Use a laptop computer (17 watts) instead of a Desktop computer (200 watts), 7) add insulative foam panels to the back sides of your refrigerator “freezer” (not over the refrigerator portion where heating escapes), 8) Place warning signs around the kitchen for reminders of new habits, 9) Ensure front and back doors and all windows are closed , 10) Open shades on the south side of the house in the winter and close the shades on the shaded side. 11) Don't use any resistive heating if possible, You can turn on your oven with the door slightly open but set a timer for safety) 12) Inspect and add Weather striping around front door, 13) Caulk leaks around windows,
14) Add “outside” thermometers on 4 sides of the house to become aware when to close windows and save heat in the house,
15) Use motion sensors on wall switches and a Timer on bathroom fan, 16) Give Training to all household occupants for new habits, 17) use light whitish wall colors to reflect light rather than dark colors which absorb light,
18) Purchase a Kill-a-Watt meter $25 and measure the watts used by your refrig (s/b about 100 watts), TV (70 watts), computer, toaster, lamps, etc. It is fun to educate yourself.
19) Use a TV antenna and do not use an always-on Cable TV box. 20) Close doors and heater ducts to rooms that are not used. 21) Replace the furnace air-filters for better flow, 22) Free Education = Attend Youtube wibnars from CRES, attend CRES meetings.