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my family just got it's energy bill...

W

wfbberzerker

Lifer
and its a lot (or so my parents tell me, i dont pay the bills). so i was wondering, aside from turning off lights and stuff like that, what can we do to cut down on energy? i'm going to assume that having three computers on 24/7 can't help, but how much energy does a computer use just sitting there?
 
What saved me a lot of money in my apartment was not using any major applicances (washer/dryer, dishwasher, etc.) until AFTER 7:00pm.
 
Originally posted by: The_good_guy
A 300W PSU uses 300W per hr.
Click to expand...

Actually, mosy PSU's are only 60% efficent, so at full capacity, a 300 watt PWS actually pulls 480 watts.

<edit>
which would be 480 watt/hours. ( the unit of energy that you are billed by.)
 
Originally posted by: KEV1N
What saved me a lot of money in my apartment was not using any major applicances (washer/dryer, dishwasher, etc.) until AFTER 7:00pm.
Click to expand...

WTF? You mean there's peak times to use electricity? Since when did Verizon start managing for the power company?
 
Originally posted by: Beau
Originally posted by: KEV1N
What saved me a lot of money in my apartment was not using any major applicances (washer/dryer, dishwasher, etc.) until AFTER 7:00pm.
Click to expand...

WTF? You mean there's peak times to use electricity? Since when did Verizon start managing for the power company?
Click to expand...

he's right, electric companies charge less during off-peak hours (at night), as thats when they have a surplus of energy.
 
Originally posted by: wfbberzerker
Originally posted by: Beau
Originally posted by: KEV1N
What saved me a lot of money in my apartment was not using any major applicances (washer/dryer, dishwasher, etc.) until AFTER 7:00pm.
Click to expand...

WTF? You mean there's peak times to use electricity? Since when did Verizon start managing for the power company?
Click to expand...

he's right, electric companies charge less during off-peak hours (at night), as thats when they have a surplus of energy.
Click to expand...

Since when? How does the meter on the electrical mast know what time it is?
 
I think the peak hours is only for business. My electric meter does not know what time of the day it is.

wfbberzerker
There have been threads on this subject before, but the basics are.
Some ideas to get you started.

Insulate your house if it isn't. Cover leaky windows with plastic film, caulk and insulate every hole. Add insulation to the attic.
Buy and install florescent light bulbs.
Turn your hot water heater temp down.
Use a programmable thermostat and set it lower at night and when people are not at home.




 
Originally posted by: Antisocial-Virge
Originally posted by: wfbberzerker
Originally posted by: Beau
Originally posted by: KEV1N
What saved me a lot of money in my apartment was not using any major applicances (washer/dryer, dishwasher, etc.) until AFTER 7:00pm.
Click to expand...

WTF? You mean there's peak times to use electricity? Since when did Verizon start managing for the power company?
Click to expand...

he's right, electric companies charge less during off-peak hours (at night), as thats when they have a surplus of energy.
Click to expand...

Since when? How does the meter on the electrical mast know what time it is?
Click to expand...

Yeah, that "off-peak" crap is just to avoid rolling blackouts and whatnot. Our bill this month was astronomical as well and we pretty much only use major appliances during off-peak times and have mostly energy star appliances anyway.
 
Originally posted by: Evadman
Originally posted by: The_good_guy
A 300W PSU uses 300W per hr.
Click to expand...

Actually, mosy PSU's are only 60% efficent, so at full capacity, a 300 watt PWS actually pulls 480 watts.

<edit>
which would be 480 watt/hours. ( the unit of energy that you are billed by.)
Click to expand...


true, but thats only if your pulling the whole 300w. an idling computer isnt going to pull much, especially if you put it to 'sleep'.

only 60% eff? i figured a little higher than that.
 
I thought that comp power supplies didn't necessarily draw their peak wattage at all times. Am I wrong here?

Ryan
 
Only if you get put on that type of plan. They have plans wheere you can pay less for electricity during the night but pay more for day usage. I'm not sure how they can tell, probably a different type of meter. My grandparents have that type of plan. Their heater is some type that builds up heat at night and then lets it go throughout the day without having to use much electricity.

KK
 
Originally posted by: wfbberzerker
Originally posted by: Beau
Originally posted by: KEV1N
What saved me a lot of money in my apartment was not using any major applicances (washer/dryer, dishwasher, etc.) until AFTER 7:00pm.
Click to expand...

WTF? You mean there's peak times to use electricity? Since when did Verizon start managing for the power company?
Click to expand...

he's right, electric companies charge less during off-peak hours (at night), as thats when they have a surplus of energy.
Click to expand...

Now will you explain how the utility knows when you're consuming the most energy night or day from your meter? I bet you can't.

Also, the power rating on a computer power supply is the maximum rated load it can carry. I doubt most users are pushing more than 100W; the OEM power supplies from DELL, Compaq, HP etc are between 130-250W and they operate the computer just fine. The CRT monitor is what consumes the most power. The only thing about computer power supplies is they aren't linear loads. If you put significant switching load on a distribution transformer, it must be rated for inverter duty, derated, or have a sufficient K factor rating.
 
Originally posted by: rgwalt
I thought that comp power supplies didn't necessarily draw their peak wattage at all times. Am I wrong here?

Ryan
Click to expand...

No you aren't. The PSU might be capible of Pushing out 300W but rarely does. It will just sit there at that potential if the power is needed. Turn that monitor off is the biggest an idle computer uses very little power.
 
Originally posted by: The_good_guy
A 300W PSU uses 300W per hr.
Click to expand...
Negative. Even if it was running under a perfect 300 watt full load, you must factor in that it does not have 100% efficiency.
 
In NorCal, if you're a PG&E customer, PG&Ewill give you a preferential rate if you let them put a "smart" meter on your service. It tells them about your usage and lets them keep your AC from cycling during the summer. Addressable meters are coming soon to more of us I'm sure, if the utilities can figure a way to slip it by us.
BTW, I keep the Thermostat at 66* and wear sweat sox and a sweat shirt when it gets colder.
 
Originally posted by: AlienCraft
In NorCal, if you're a PG&E customer, PG&Ewill give you a preferential rate if you let them put a "smart" meter on your service. It tells them about your usage and lets them keep your AC from cycling during the summer. Addressable meters are coming soon to more of us I'm sure, if the utilities can figure a way to slip it by us.
BTW, I keep the Thermostat at 66* and wear sweat sox and a sweat shirt when it gets colder.
Click to expand...


why would anyone ever let them put a restriction on a/c? Also 66 is to cold.I never put my lower then 70 and im from california.
 
$400? That sucks ass. My gas bill last month was $100 and that's high for me. My electric was only $23. Ahhh nothing like living where the cost of living is nice and low.
 
Do you have electric heat, hot water, dryer or cooking? Those will run up the bill, especially in the winter. 3 computers would not do that to your bill.

Edit,

How many square feet is your house? It sounds like there is a residentially large motor (10-20HP) running continuously. Maybe a well pump that is not cycling on/off?
 
Originally posted by: wfbberzerker
Originally posted by: Ylen13
when u say big bill how much do u have to pay.
Click to expand...

around the neighborhood of $400
Click to expand...

not bad. I usually get around $200 but i don't watch how much electricity i use at all.

Do u have alot of old appliances that are not power efficient?
 
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