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momwise
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Location: Colorado
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| Posted: Jan 20 2006 at 9:29pm | IP Logged
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Our heat is forced air and both heat and hot water are natural gas. Last month's bill was not a surprise since we knew in advance it would be 40% higher than the same month last year. Still, it was a small shock when I saw it. What I didn't know was that the bill was going to go up another 15% in Jan, and that was for a really warm month.
A while back we discussed thermostat settings ; well, I've turned ours down to 59 at night and after dh leaves for work (he sets it at 68) I turn it down to 66.
I really don't think we use that much hot water but I'm wondering if solar panels would help. Has anyone converted their hot water to solar? How much did it cost and was it worth it?
Any other hints would be appreciated!  (smiley isn't cool..... he's cold) BRRRRR!
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Gwen...wife for 30 years, mom of 7, grandma of 3.....
"If you want equal justice for all and true freedom and lasting peace, then America, defend life." JPII
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BrendaPeter
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| Posted: Jan 21 2006 at 9:12am | IP Logged
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Hi Gwen,
We recently moved to a new house that is perfectly situated for solar - i.e. southern-facing with full sun exposure. We contacted a local solar supplier & had someone come out & do an estimate. The estimate came to (are you sitting down?  ) $25,000! That would have covered 1/2 of our electric costs (not heating - we use oil) and the payoff comes in about 12 years. BTW - our house is about 3200 sq. ft.
I can pull out the estimate if you want specifics. Hope that helps!
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Blessings,
Brenda (mom to 6)
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JennGM
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| Posted: Jan 21 2006 at 10:02am | IP Logged
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Brrrr Gwen! I keep mine at 67 during the day and 64 at night and I thought that was chilly! We've had almost spring-like temps this month, but still, the bills are high. I could endure colder temps for the thermostat, but worry about ds whose room is colder and he doesn't stay covered during the night. He's always waking up cold. I do dress him warmly, but that doesn't solve the whole problem.
Of course, this doesn't address your question. Have you thought of a wood stove? Not knowing how your house is set up, I don't know if it would work. My sil has a smaller house with a wood stove in the basement. All they have to do is keep the stove burning, open the basement door, and the house stays very warm, almost too warm sometimes. So the cost is for firewood. She rarely has to supplement with the heat. And this is in PA, where it's a bit colder than here.
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Jennifer G. Miller
Wife to  & ds1  '03 & ds2 '07
Family in Feast and Feria
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momwise
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| Posted: Jan 21 2006 at 6:11pm | IP Logged
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BrendaPeter wrote:
| The estimate came to (are you sitting down? ) $25,000! |
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Wow! That may not be what I was looking for
Jenngm67 wrote:
| My sil has a smaller house with a wood stove in the basement. All they have to do is keep the stove burning, open the basement door, and the house stays very warm, almost too warm sometimes. So the cost is for firewood. |
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Do you know how much wood they use in a winter?
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Gwen...wife for 30 years, mom of 7, grandma of 3.....
"If you want equal justice for all and true freedom and lasting peace, then America, defend life." JPII
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Amanda
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| Posted: Jan 21 2006 at 6:50pm | IP Logged
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Hi,
We are looking into solar water heating. I seem to remember that the approximate price quoted to us was about $4000. There is a federal tax credit available this year for solar (and maybe other renewables; I'm not sure) improvements to one's home.
I would definitely look into it further, although whether or not it would be worth it would certainly depend on how long you expect to be living in that house.
We are also looking into corn stoves, as they burn a fuel that's more easily replenished than wood, release very little particulate matter, and are not hot to the touch. The only problem with them is that they require some electricity to run a fan; we often lose power here in the mountains.
HTH
Amanda
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mom to ds '97, dd '03, ds '07, and dd 1/11
St. Margaret Clitherow Homeschool
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teachingmom
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| Posted: Jan 22 2006 at 12:13am | IP Logged
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Hi Gwen,
I had a conversation with my mom on the topic of solar water heating just this past week. My parents switched to solar water heating when my brothers and I hit the teens and were all showering every day. I am already having trouble having enough hot water for 3 or more showers at a time here, so I was asking my mom about the solar option. She mentioned that she wondered if it was sort of a 70's fad, since she rarely sees solar panels on homes anymore.
I read a story on a water heating system that is electric (I think) and heats the water immediately as you need it, so you never run out. Do any of you have this or know anything about how expensive that sort of system would be?
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~Irene (Mom to 6 girls, ages 7-19)
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Topic: The Heating bill and solar
