For a single person in a small apartment, my electricity bill is really high. I can't figure it out. I do what I can to conserve electricity. I have electric heat so I know that is a factor but it doesn't account for all of it. I don't know how much electricity my computer uses, it's running alot, but still...
I'm wondering how much my bill is hot water because I have a big old claw foot tub that I love to soak in.
This is the beast.This apartment building was built in the late 1920's, so the wiring is probably old. Would that make a difference? Does anyone know?
I got a call yesterday from the director of the play I had auditioned for this year . I had auditioned in Febuary, but then called the director the day after auditioning & told her that, because of everything else I'm involved in I couldn't possibly follow through with the commitment & asked that they take my name off the list. A move I'd regretted ever since because I really did want to be in the play this summer.
To make the story short....I'm Back in!
I'd already committed to putting together the program for this year so I know the name of the character & a little about the role I'll be playing, but I haven't even looked at the script. (I hope there is NO singing parts) The cast has been rehearsing for 2 mths. already so I'll have to play catch-up. But, I'm not going to dwell on that!
More later....
(Well, at least I won't be talking about newspapers all the time. :)
One more thing....I have an art project I'm working on with some of the local kids.
My idea is to take the space on my apartment building (above) & build a large advertisement for the theatre which is right across the street. We are going to start small by plastering up a couple of hundred simple posters in this style...
Actually, it has to be simple, cheap & it has to be able to be washed off. But imagine the possibilities...
posted by Rita @ 6:27 AM
11 Comments
11 Comments:
Back when I lived in a duplex, the guy living in the other half of the duplex told me his electric bill was about $150 a month even though he didn't even spend much time there (he spent a lot of time in his girlfriend's apartment). Of course something with that much exposed wall space costs more to heat, but still, it was ridiculous. So billing errors do happen.
Computers are power hogs -- computation is an energy-intensive activity, which is why your brain gets 20% of the blood supply despite being just 3% of body mass. But if your computer use didn't go up at the same time the energy bill started being high, that probably isn't it.
Your bill should have a meter number on it -- compare with the meters outside the building and see if you can tell if it's the right one. Or call the electric company anyway, and tell them you think there might be an error. Who knows, if they've screwed up you might be due a refund.
About the meter Infidel mentioned, if you are able to locate yours - turn off everything in your apartment, unplug the fridge, the computer, every single thing that is plugged into an electrical outlet, unplug it. Then also turn the heat all the way down so that the heaters do not come on. Once it's all off, go check the meter and see if it is still spinning. If it is, you have a latent load somewhere that likely you should not be paying for. If it isn't spinning then it becomes more involved research to see which of things you are using is using the most. Get yourself a watt meter. This will allow you to plug something into the wattmeter which you then plug into the electrical outlet and then you can see if what you have plugged into the wattmeter is the energy hog.
Good luck!
Buenos Dias Senorita Rita!
Wow! That is a unique looking bath tub ... an actual "marble" wall? It remind's me of in the movies or something ... you know ...one of them scenes of a gal relaxing in one of them tub's. But I actually havent seen a tub like that in person since I stayed in London back in the late 80's, I dont even think I used a tub since then. I do have a combination tub and shower in one bathroom..and a shower in the other bathroom...that is just walk in with the glass door's. You get billed for water at your apartment's?(hot water too?)I just never heard of apartment's in Dallas where you are billed for water. Mr.Infidel has a point about checking the meter number. The base wiring is probably old, but I would figure that maybe they had updated alot by this day, of coarse again you would have to go behind wall's and such.I do know that there is alot of electric utility milking in California, and it is Texas companies being investigated for it...supposedly...Texas was selling power to California I guess and ripping them off...but got made. Have you tried also other electric companies?,to see how competitive their rates are? And what they call "average annual billing"? to where they average out all your electric over the year to pay the same every month? The heat cold factor's are alway's to consider...they are big eater's, and how energy efficient are your heating and cooling system's? I live in an apartment, considered old in this part of Dallas...being it opened in 1968. But ...I got a new energy efficient central air conditioning unit installed about 5 year's ago, which actually dropped the electric by 50% compared to the older unit which was 15 year's old...what a difference, and this place can get like a meat locker in a matter of a couple hour's in the middle of summer if I want. Also consider your structure, your wall's and what type of insulation's are used in them(very important), and remember that heat rises, consider if you live upstair's or downstair's...and where the sun set's and rises at what part of the unit... being that when the sun set's...will be the warmest of the two in temp...and where does that radiation hit at what time. An upper flat/apt will also get the heat and cold more, and consider the wind factor in such...you have a nearby ocean known for cold current's and I am sure can get a hefty breeze from it, and if upper...consider if there is attic space... because it effect's your ceiling temp's...and what kind of heat exhaust ventilation on the roof to release heat build up.Understand also...if your place is old like that.... what kind of window frames it has...which has ALOT to do with utility efficiency...meaning when were they updated and what type of modification's were done, that has alot to do with climate confinement within.Whenever the meter reader comes by also...perhap's you can get a lil friendly conversation going, and pump them with question's on reading the meter's...which I done. But there is also alot of false reading and mix up's similar to what Mr.Infidel pointed out, dont trust anything, question everything(politely) and keep a vigilant eye on that. Some of the crap that has been going on in California I heard especially from my family member's who all live in the LA and Oceanside area's is a goddamn crime as far as utilities is concerned. And these Texas energy provider's who been playing these poor folk's should be put on trial...their no different then crook's. I had my electric usage rigged... so mine is very low...but I cant get into detail's here of what I did, and dont know enough about Oregon's energy/utility work's/system's to try to give insight on how to work that system.
You want to be in the play but cant? As I have told my daughter's, "Make what you want in your heart happen...because ...you later in life may ask yourself...what reason you didnt?... and was it worth it?"
The ad/mural thing sound's cool and alot of that stuff look's good. Assuming the property owner say's it's cool.
Later Senorita Rita...
Let me just add...that Phil Plasma just said a mouthful and hit the nail on the head...yes...go for it!
It is a range of possible causes. The big power hogging appliances are going to be the computers, electric water heaters, AC Units, freezer/refrigerator, and etc like you were saying. 100+ watt lightbulbs take up more energy than the replaceable fluorescent bulbs, and I suspect that unbalanced or wobbley fans can take up more electricity too.
Computer energy use can be significantly cut with Standby Mode when it's not in use. If the AC units are constantly running, it's possible that you have an issue with insufficient or shotty insulation in the walls, and if the fridge/freezer keeps running then it's possible it's not closing completely.
For the bathtub, I've got a (preferably top secret) halfbaked idea involving the wrapping of a loose shower curtain around the tub like a blanket to better insulate those and hold the heat in longer. There might be better materials for that, it might require some experimentation before it becomes more workable full baked idea.
As for the old wiring, I do suppose it is concievable. The wires would be hotter to the touch if there were an excess of electrical resistance due to having higher gage wires than the circuits are designed for or putting too much of a current load on the circuits (do you have to reset the circuit breakers often?). I'm not an electrician though.
From what you say, I think it is electric heater and the tub...I remember, when I was living in Paris, all friends told me that I am happy to get a flat with a central heating system and with no possibilities of tub (as shower consumes less water and hence electricity for hot water).
I am looking forward for more posts on your theatre stuff this summer... I remember seeing some pics and reading posts here last year and even before.
One question, regarding the ad on the wall ? who owns the wall ad ? you have to pay somebody ? just curious to see how it works...
I'm reading all the suggestions & taking them into consideration. Today I'm going to locate the meter box & turn everything off like Phil suggested & go from there.
Ranch chimp No it is not marble & yes I am in the play.
prash the wall is owned by the owner of my building. The "Ad" is an art project that will be done by myself & some local kids for the Theatre.
I am interested to know who you are going to make that wall more sexy...pls keep us posted.
I like the idea of illusion - check out some examples on the web for 3D street art for ideas.
Things that use the most electricity are those that make heat and perform work. Refrigerators use a lot of power, so do washing machines, but electric heat can be very expensive. Check to see if you are being billed correctly or that others are not using electricity that you are being billed for. I once lived in a carriage house and someone from the main house used to plug his car into my system to keep the engine warm in winter (hey, its MN), It really added up and i didn't find ut about it until months later.
Oh, and don't worry about old wiring. You are not going to be "leaking" or "burning" electricity that way - bad wiring wont waste energy, but it can cause fires, short out or cause bad connections and electrocution hazards. Fuses are there to prevent wiring from burning up.
I like Phil's idea of turning off stuff and unplugging things and looking at the meter - the faster the wheel spins the faster you are burning energy, but a Watt meter would be a bit much for most people.
Thanks rev I still haven't located the meters I might do that this morning if I have time. I think I know where they are
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