Heating costs! It's cold everywhere!
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From: Smalltown
Originally Posted by tof,Jan 13 2011, 12:49 PM
Pretty cold here on the Gulf Coast as well. Today's high is expected to be in the 30s which is about 20 some degrees colder than average for this time of year.
When we shopped for the house we now occupy one of the search criteria was gas heat. I wouldn't even look at anything that relied on an electric heat pump. As a result, our house has gas heat, gas water heater, and gas range.
Of course our biggest utility bills come from the electric company in the summer. We increased the house's insulation after Katrina since all the old blow-in insulation ended up in the kitchen, living room, den, dining area, and bedroom floors anyway. That helped. But getting a new a/c unit a couple years ago made an even bigger difference. Updating the A/C, combined with better insulation cut our cooling bills by at least 40%.
When we shopped for the house we now occupy one of the search criteria was gas heat. I wouldn't even look at anything that relied on an electric heat pump. As a result, our house has gas heat, gas water heater, and gas range.
Of course our biggest utility bills come from the electric company in the summer. We increased the house's insulation after Katrina since all the old blow-in insulation ended up in the kitchen, living room, den, dining area, and bedroom floors anyway. That helped. But getting a new a/c unit a couple years ago made an even bigger difference. Updating the A/C, combined with better insulation cut our cooling bills by at least 40%.
We replaced the AC unit this fall.. We'll see what cooling costs are, and how much they differ from last summer. However, it will be a while before I report back on the AC usage.
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In the arctic you learn to set your thermostat down when you are not home or are sleeping. A programable thermostat is what we are encouraged to use.
For me, single, 1050 sq ft house my equalized payments per month including the warm months is $66.00 I have no other natural gas appliances, just the furnace.
Today it is -20 with a -31 windchill
My electricity is $118.00 per month equalized.
For me, single, 1050 sq ft house my equalized payments per month including the warm months is $66.00 I have no other natural gas appliances, just the furnace.
Today it is -20 with a -31 windchill
My electricity is $118.00 per month equalized.
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From: West Deptford NJ
We have been up with our gas bill over last year, but our usage would have been up with oil as well. The local price of oil is 3.30-3.75 using my calculation from last year of a savings of ~60%, I'm figuring we saved so far this year about $1200-1300.
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From: The (S)Low Country
This is our first winter in SC. Last month's electric bill was $355. The month previous is was $110. We have electric heatpumps which create a very cool heat and we're having a hard time adjusting since we came from having natural gas hot forced air, which is a very warm heat. Anyhoo, the price for heating and electric here is about the same as the combined cost of gas + electric in Virginia, so I'm not complaining. We have a propane fireplace which we turn on from time to time and it cost $146 to refill the tank last month, but we only get it refilled every 6 wks, so I have no idea what that cost will be. We mostly use it for its beauty so its pretty irrelevant. We keep our thermostats on 69 deg and do not change them throughout the winter. We set them at 74 in the summer. That's the same thing we did in Va. We spend a lot of time in the upstairs den in which we keep an oil filled radiator.
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From: Smalltown
We always turn down the thermostat when leaving the house for the day and to sleep at night. I don't sleep well if the house is too warm.
I've heard different schools of thought on how much energy is saved by turning down the heat. A recent segment on the news continued to encourage it. They reported that it is a myth that you are using more energy to warm the house when you get home.
Generally, we are within an 8-10 degree range with the temperatures set on the thermostat.
I've heard different schools of thought on how much energy is saved by turning down the heat. A recent segment on the news continued to encourage it. They reported that it is a myth that you are using more energy to warm the house when you get home.
Generally, we are within an 8-10 degree range with the temperatures set on the thermostat.
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From: Smalltown
Originally Posted by Conedodger,Jan 13 2011, 08:34 PM
I have a 2000+ square foot house. Almost every room has a cathedral ceiling. December's gas bill was $162. Electric was $72.
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From: Medina, OH
I am on a budget with the gas company. I pay $57/month year round for heat, hot water and cooking. Just recently they dropped our rates so I expect that come August the monthly payment amount should drop.
Last months electric bill with all of the Christmas lights was just $52.
Last months electric bill with all of the Christmas lights was just $52.