History has shown us that energy costs will keep rising. When I bought my townhouse, it was 16 years old with original appliances and a 3.5-ton heat pump. It is three levels and approximately 1,880 square feet. Since I am in Georgia, winters are milder than many other parts of the country, but it gets quite hot during the summer peaks. Faced with higher bills over the years, I decided to make some changes to help better manage energy usage and costs.
Windows
There are fourteen (14) windows and two exterior doors – all of which were wood and drafty. I have replaced half of the windows, and this reduced my heating bill by about 20%.
HVAC Heat Pump
I knew I would have to purchase new equipment sooner rather than later. Every few years I would add freon to extend its life, but I knew its days were numbered. However, with the changes in code, the cost of new HVAC units kept rising as well, so I kept putting it off. I finally replaced the unit and am so glad that I did. My home is now around 74 degrees when in the past it could not get much colder than 77.
Electric Rate
Since I have an electric car, I went with Georgia Power’s Overnight Advantage rate, as structured below.
| Rate | $/kWh |
|---|---|
| On-Peak (2 pm – 7pm) Only during summer weekdays June-Sept | $0.298 |
| Off-Peak (7 am – 11 pm) | $0.102 |
| Super Off Peak (11 pm – 7 am) | $0.022 |
The key to this rate is limiting as much usage until after 7pm. Since I am away from home M-F until 6/6:30, it is not so hard. My car is set to only charge after 11pm, and I don’t run my dishwasher until after 11pm. My bill ranges from $200 in the peak of summer and winter, and around $70 during spring and fall.
Gas Rate
My gas rate has stayed consistent over the years, at around $0.57 a therm. I have a gas stove, water heater, and fireplace, and my bill stays around $50 a month.
Water Heater
This has been replaced, but there was no efficiency improvement with the new model to reduce my bill. However, I make it a point to adjust the setpoint twice a year. I have one temperature for winter and another one for summer.
Where does your home fall? Are there changes you can make to reduce your consumption? As you replace appliances do you look for ENERGY STAR logos and eco features? Would a tankless water heater make sense? Have you been putting off replacing your HVAC unit? Planning ahead is critical and can help avoid even higher replacement costs down the road when units fail or emergencies happen – and you can start benefiting from saving energy usage and costs as well.
