how wasteful are you?

[MikeyIs4Dcats]

Add office towers to that list. No point in having those lights on at night when the workers have already gone home.

some commercial buildings rely on lighting and equipment heat loads for heating. I've worked on buildings where they have to run AC to cool while people are at work, then need heat after hours.

 

[SparkyJJO]

Managed to save about $30 a month on electricity between the s3 and the cfl's.

Yeah but how much did those CFLs cost to buy in the first place, how long does it take to recoup the initial cost :hmm:

They do last longer of course, unless you put them in lights you turn on and off often. CFLs don't like that and will burn out relatively quick. Better to use a standard incandescent bulb in a light that gets turned on and off a lot.

Something to think about, if you haven't already. Location matters for the CFLs. We use one in the light at the bottom of the steps that is on most of the day (finished basement that we use a lot), one in the lightpost outside that turns on at dark and is on up until 10:30 PM or so, and a few other lights that are on a lot. For others like occasionally used lamps next to chairs and such we use the incandescent because the CFL would burn out a lot and cost more in the long run.

 

[2Xtreme21]

Only have on what I use at one time. I'm not an ignorant, selfish jackass.

 

[shortylickens]

I buy diamonds and grind them up. Then I compress the powder into lumps and BBQ my steak with them.

 

[Modular]

Well, I have the heat at 62 when I'm not home or am sleeping (67 or 68 when home). I have CFL's in pretty much every major light (not closets and lights that aren't on that often) and have my HTPC set to go to sleep when not active.

I guess I conserve a little more than the average person, but I'm not crazy about it. My wife and I spent a few days in the attic adding rolls of R-30 insulation to the R-19 (!) that was up there. I think this has made the most significant difference in heating bills. What kind of idiot only uses R-19 blown in insulation in a Northern climate is beyond me...our next step is to install bats in the walls. Should be a blast!

I just moved into this house about 6 months ago and am still trying to gauge the overall costs of energy here vs. our 700 sq foot apartment. Things are certainly different here!

 

[lxskllr]

...our next step is to install bats in the walls. Should be a blast!

I recommend these. They're big and warm :^)

 

[Inspector Jihad]

Only have on what I use at one time. I'm not an ignorant, selfish jackass.

:thumbsup:

 

[Capt Caveman]

Walking around my house I took note.

1st floor - almost all lights are on, including outdoor ones, plus a stereo and two TVs. Washer and dryer going full steam. Dishwasher washing a half load of dishes from dinner.
2nd floor - another TV, bedroom lights, hall lights, office lights
Basement - TV, console games, home theater
Heat? 72 degrees

what the hell use is modern technology if you aren't using it?

And you wonder why you can't afford that dream house. 4 TVs on at the same time is asinine.

 

[spidey07]

And you wonder why you can't afford that dream house. 4 TVs on at the same time is asinine.

I just did another count tonight. It's just me tonight.

Home theater audio and display, game console, lights in basement, 1500 watt space heater
1st floor - TV, stereo, lights and more laundry
2nd floor - just lights
Outdoor lights

And electrcity/gas is still under 200 a month (well with cold spell maybe 240). Then again, it's not a weekend night, only weekday.

 

[Bignate603]

And you wonder why you can't afford that dream house. 4 TVs on at the same time is asinine.

I didn't even remember that he was the one that posted this thread. Complaining about not being able to afford what he wants, and then talking about how being careful about using resources was for poor people is a pretty big fail.

 

[spidey07]

I didn't even remember that he was the one that posted this thread. Complaining about not being able to afford what he wants, and then talking about how being careful about using resources was for poor people is a pretty big fail.

Please, I'm talking about 50 bucks difference on the very high end in energy bills. BIG difference between many thousands a month in mortgage payments.

 

[HamburgerBoy]

Because surely your wastefulness is confined to just that.

 

[Bignate603]

Please, I'm talking about 50 bucks difference on the very high end in energy bills. BIG difference between many thousands a month in mortgage payments.

I'd be pretty confident that if you're throwing money away like that without thinking twice you're wasting money in many other places.

You might want to give this sort of philosophy a try.

 

[jagec]

I buy diamonds and grind them up. Then I compress the powder into lumps and BBQ my steak with them.

That's not wasteful, diamonds are worthless. Your only crime is paying money for those diamonds that gets back to De Beers. If you stole the diamonds instead you would be my hero.

Me, I conserve water by never showering, not flushing the toilet until it is all the way full, and only using the weak light that gets emitted from my dim computer screen. I eat all of my meals out of the dumpster and encourage others to share in my frugal ways by slashing tires at night so that people have to take the bus or walk. They'll thank me eventually.

 

[Mike Gayner]

In some ways I'm wasteful - my PC is on 24/7 though often self-sleeps if I'm not downloading/whatever. I'm not good at turning lights off, though I try. I hate the cold so I use excessive heating. We try not to waste food, but still throw some out most days.

On the other hand, I walk to work most days and try not to use the car much.

But as long as energy is cheap there's little incentive to make me be really conservative.

 

[Ksyder]

Yeah but how much did those CFLs cost to buy in the first place, how long does it take to recoup the initial cost :hmm:

well, they were $8 for a 6 pack at wal-wart, so $16 total. they are really cheap now.

 

[highland145]

Pretty damn wasteful. The beer goes in and the piss comes out with a few brain cells. What a waste.