Cost of Electricity Revisited

[lh_newbie]

Galore -

You are absolutely correct - energy volatility is certainly an unknown variable. My math was certainly based on a steady price. At the current price point, I feel there are better places for us to put our money. If prices continue to rise - then we can certainly re-prioritize.

Also, I would love to shine some more light on your choice. Prices went up, you moved to a smaller house with shade trees. I personally believe that more and more people are going to be making this same decision as energy prices climb. I commend your choice.

Our house has 80+% of our windows facing north/south. We also have large shade trees on the southern side - so we basically get VERY LITTLE solar heat gain from the wnidows. It is absolutely amazing how much this simple concept will affect your energy bills.

To anyone looking at building a home - DO NOT UNDERESTIMATE how much your lot will affect your energy prices. From a pure siting perspective, look for this:

- Most of your windows should face north/south
- Large shade trees on the south side - shading your house and windows will cut down on heat gain in the summer. Preferably, they would be deciduous (drop leaves in the winter), as that will allow the sun to reach and warm your house in the winter (read: free heat).
- Evergreen trees on the north side. This will help to block the winter winds from the north, decreasing heat loss from your house.

Follow these rules, you'll drastically lower your energy bills.

[KBilly]

Originally Posted by loves2read

SEER ratings often don't represent the savings people anticipate--SEER efficiency goes down the hotter the outside ambient temp is--so on hotter days like 100+ which we might still see this summer--the SEER effectiveness if cut to almost half--so that in realtity a/c is operating at less than half of what you expect---

SEER rating is tested at 80-85 degree temps in laboratory--optimum operating conditions--not in real world situation--A/C units that have some type of water cooling/misting to cool compressor will maintain and even allow more efficient operation so that SEER effiecency is increased not decreased--

this is not a "Swamp cooler" like they use in El Paso or Arizona but more of what commercial HVAC units employ---right now there are almost none going into residential construction--they are expensive and newer concept that most builders aren't aware of or most HVAC intallation companies---

but there are places on internet where plans/descriptions for making an add-on type of water mister are available and a COMPETENT HVAC technician could probably construct one...needs a water source close to the unit and water usage would increase but there is probably still a savings to be had...

right now people have to have a 13 SEER for code in new homes or replacements but people are buying upgrades to 14-16 SEER thinking they will save money on electricity but it really does not work like they anticipate--they just don't know it...

Very true -- good stuff! The difference bewteen a 13 SEER cost and a 16 SEER cost would take years and years to make up. If replacing an old unit, it's wiser (and more comfortable inside) to put in a 13 SEER and spend the money saved on a variable speed furnace.

It will effectively bump the unit up 1 SEER in efficiency and greatly increase the latent heat removal (humidity removal) inside the home.

Someone upthread mentioned assuming 5 months of summer in Dallas. It's more like 7 months for required cooling each day - May thru Oct.