4000 kWh Electricity??? (appliances, how much, big house)

[fbf2006]

Please tell me what we're doing wrong. We live in a 2 story 4,000 sq. ft home built in 1998. We work from home so are pretty much here all the time. We use nest thermostats and keep it at 79. We use Cirro Energy and are being charged $0.109 kwh.

Are we doing something wrong to get to 4,000 kWh? Is this normal?

[Aliana926]

Is your home energy efficient? Double-pane windows, radiant barrier, etc?

[descovy]

That’s a pretty big house and it’s been pretty hot. So that might explain it. I live in a house half your size and can get up to 2000kwh if I’m not paying attention. Especially if you don’t have shade trees.

Keep windows covered with blinds and make sure lights and ceiling fans aren’t running in rooms you aren’t using. Are your windows single pane? They might be letting a lot of heat too.

[timlot]

Get on a average/balance bill plan. I've given up on trying to be "energy efficient" in these hot summer months. Bill is going to be high or your going to burn up without ac.

[Texascrude]

Originally Posted by timlot

Get on a average/balance bill plan. I've given up on trying to be "energy efficient" in these hot summer months. Bill is going to be high or your going to burn up without ac.

I drive a 13 year old car and cut my own hair, but I decided a long time ago that I make enough money for 2 things:

1) To have my house at whatever temperature I want, and

2) When I go to Mexican restaurants, I'm getting fajitas

[kreeyax]

Originally Posted by fbf2006

Please tell me what we're doing wrong. We live in a 2 story 4,000 sq. ft home built in 1998. We work from home so are pretty much here all the time. We use nest thermostats and keep it at 79. We use Cirro Energy and are being charged $0.109 kwh.

Are we doing something wrong to get to 4,000 kWh? Is this normal?

Original A/C units or have they been replaced? What's the SEER rating on them? How is your ventilation in your attic? Do you have radiant barrier decking?

[fbf2006]

Originally Posted by Aliefland

You just said you live in a 4000 sqft house. That’s your utility bill problem right there.

Not really. I read old posts and it doesn’t look like that’s the answer.

[Texascrude]

Originally Posted by fbf2006

Not really. I read old posts and it doesn’t look like that’s the answer.

Your house is large and if it was built 20 years ago chances are that it isn't very efficient. Do you have foam insulation? New appliances? Energy efficient windows? A new AC unit? Vaulted ceilings? Lots of factors contribute to how much electricity you use, so nobody can tell you if you're usage in your house is normal or not.

[MaryleeII]

You say you both work from home. Are your home offices upstairs? Is it possible to move them downstairs? You might want to try living in the downstairs portion, at least during the day, and close off the upstairs rooms. Hot air, of course, rises, so the upstairs is harder to cool. Are your other appliances electric, such as stove, hot water heater? I cut off my electric hot water heater during the day and just turned it on for a few hours at night.


Like another poster suggested, try to keep the other electric appliance usage down, such as --


don leave lights, fans, turned on when not in the room


don't flick lights on/off as you go from room to room if you have enough light


don't use hot water unless absolutely necessary, if you have an electric heater. Don't turn on hot water to was hands, shave, brush teeth, wash face. The hot water barely draws, anyways, for short usages, and the HWH kicks in and runs.


Don't use hot/warm water to wash clothes, except for towels, really dirty items
If you have an electric dryer, try to limit its usage. I found it helpful to double spin a bulky load in the washer before using the dryer.


If you haven't already, replace bulbs with low-wattage, LED bulbs

Limit the usage of the dishwasher, and use the air dry option or open when it reaches the dry cycle.


Realize its HOT in Texas, and suck it up!

[Dopo]

I bet $1000 that your house doesn’t have roof attic fans to get the hot air out of your attic
I have that problem right now .... it’s like having a huge oven above your house.