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I've never used AC living in Boise; it really isn't a big deal. I usually start opening my windows this time of year, closing them after I get home from work, and sleeping under a down comforter.
In July/August, when it is really warm, I keep my windows open at night, then shut them during the day and close the blinds on all of my windows. Having a ceiling fan really helps.
The temps go between 65-80* during the summer at night, which is probably good enough to cool the house if you have decent shading and window covers.
I would say my house stays around 60* from Nov-May, and then around 70* in May and June, and 75* in the hottest weeks of July and August, and back to 65-70* through the fall.
Power bill is about $30/month, too!
I couldn't do that. I have a pretty energy efficient house, including a shared wall (I'm in a townhouse), and ceiling fans, and the day my A/C was out, it hit a high of 92 in my house. After having the windows open, fans going, and sweating in bed all night, not really sleeping, the house was still over 80 when I got up to go to work the next morning. I can't sleep when it is that hot in the house.
Granted, it doesn't stay that hot for long, but we have had one recent year that had, I think, 26 days that it topped 100 degrees. That is 26 nights I wouldn't sleep at all if I didn't have AC.
If the daytime temps are in the low 90s, then opening the windows at night would likely be sufficient.
That itself makes me want to move to Boise! We live in the Phoenix area and will be getting ready to have our $400 plus power bills for the next couple of months.
That itself makes me want to move to Boise! We live in the Phoenix area and will be getting ready to have our $400 plus power bills for the next couple of months.
Well, consider that in Boise you'll have 2 months of AC use, and 7-9 months of heater use, whether it's electricity, gas, or firewood. It will add up.
(As a note, my electric bill the ONE month I ran my electric heater in the winter the first year I had my house was $350... but that is mostly due to having a very inefficient furnace)
That depends on the size and energy efficiency of your house.
My house is about 1250 sq.ft. and relatively energy efficient, and I just looked at my last 3 years payments to Idaho Power. Looks like I usually have 2 bills a year that are $100+ and one more that peaks around $160. I think that is fairly normal usage for a house my size and age. To have a peak summertime bill of $30 would require some fairly atypical measures. My cheapest power bills in the last 3 years were around $50, and I already take some energy saving steps.
My mom's house is about 3300 sq.ft. and relatively energy efficient, and I think her power bills are around $300-$350/month in the peak months.
My grandma's house, which is in eastern Idaho is about 6000 square feet and old and energy inefficient, with all electric heat and power, has power bills around $600 winter and summer.
I figure for my house, gas and power combined AVERAGE about $150-$175/month. Winter and summer are somewhat higher, while spring and fall are substantially lower.
Also, remember that we have very long days in the summer time. Boise summer evenings are very pleasant. It stays light until almost 10:00 and is usually a very nice temperature in the evenings.
True, mainly due to Boise being in the extreme western part of the Mountain Time Zone. It evens out, though, with mornings being darker in the summer, than places like Denver or Salt Lake. Then again, there is more evening daylight during the winter than Seattle or Portland. Everything evens out in the end at this general latitude.
Idaho in general is known for its short Springs. It can seemingly go from winter to summer in just a couple-three weeks.
True, mainly due to Boise being in the extreme western part of the Mountain Time Zone. It evens out, though, with mornings being darker in the summer, than places like Denver or Salt Lake. Then again, there is more evening daylight during the winter than Seattle or Portland. Everything evens out in the end at this general latitude.
Idaho in general is known for its short Springs. It can seemingly go from winter to summer in just a couple-three weeks.
Pfft, who cares about mornings...mornings are for sleeping, or if necessary, for working. Evenings are for fun.
There is way to Vastly Improve the Hot And Cold V/S energy costs and comfort levels for those that are willing to be open minded and also spend some money doing the most efficient and relatively easy retro fixes.
They are now doing these things in Arizona, California, and New Mexico where it can get even hotter and for longer periods.
This technology works equally well in the Winter Cold months.
Very substantial improvement in Comfort year around and also big savings for most homes in energy costs year around.
Once your home has been properly retro fitted, there will only be more comfort and everyday savings going against the initial investment.
Aside from the above if I were building a new home today it would most likely be a SIP Panel home with the panels used on all areas from roof to floor. With either 6 1/2" Or 8 1/2" panel thickness only.
This type of construction will solve all the issues mentioned in this Thread and save you nothing but money going forward.
Seasons in Boise? Hmm, Winter and Summer and then a few weeks of Spring and Fall in between the two.
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