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You are here: Home / Indoor Projects / …and the First Power Bill

…and the First Power Bill

April 2, 2012 By Chelsea Lipford Wolf 2 Comments

If you’ve never lived in Mobile, Alabama, during the summer (March-October), it can be pretty brutal on your sweat glands, air conditioner, and makeup. Granted I’ve lived here my entire life, but I’ve never had to pay an electric bill before. So the first month I lived in my house, I kept the temperature cool when I was home, slightly warmer when I was sleeping, and even warmer when I was gone. I turned it up when I left in the mornings for work and down when I got home in the afternoons. I was feeling pretty good about my energy consumption, seeing as how I like to be warmer than the average human anyhow.

Magnifying glass over power bill.Then one day I was innocently checking my email. I had previously signed up for paperless billing for all of my utilities. And on that fateful day in June, there was a new message in my inbox from Alabama Power. Anxious to see how much I was in for, I signed into my online account and clicked on the latest billing cycle. My heart sank when I saw the $220 price tag on my comfort for the previous month. $220 to keep an 1100-square-foot home semi cool for a month. I thought I was doing everything I needed to be “energy efficient,” but I guess there’s always something more you can do.

Having been around my dad’s TV show and his other projects concerning energy efficiency, I was well versed and knew what to do. I started with my 70-year-old metal windows, which were basically giant holes in the side of my house pouring out my precious, and expensive, cooled air. I bought a nine pack of window insulation film for about $12.

I’ll be the first to admit it’s not the most attractive option, but boy did it work! The window insulation kit came with double-sided tape and the plastic film. My window openings were a little odd, so I wasn’t able to seal the film 100%, probably only 90%. (After you apply the tape and plastic you “seal” it with a hairdryer).

At the same time I bought the film, I also invested in some magnetic pads for my floor registers and a programmable thermostat. The magnetic pads were used in two of the rooms in my house that I kind of inadvertently made storage rooms. My sunroom had two A/C vents (floor registers) and my “office” had one. I decided to effectively closed off those vents with the magnetic pads and keep the doors to those rooms closed as well. That way the air would be redirected to the rooms I actually used, and there would be less square footage being cooled.

The programmable thermostat was really just a back up to what I was already doing manually. But I wouldn’t have to remember to turn the air up when I left because it was already programmed to a certain temp at a certain time of day. I also increased the “away” temperature by a few degrees.

My fingers were crossed for the whole next month. Would my bill go down? It was getting hotter outside, so there was a chance it would only stay the same. Just please don’t be any more expensive!!!

*Bing* New message in my inbox from Alabama Power. Due this month: $150! That’s right, $70 less than last month with only $30 invested. I’d call that instant savings! I was beyond thrilled and knew that as the weather cooled off, so would my power bill. And happily (for me and my virtual checkbook) my power bill continued to decrease each month into the fall, when it was time to revamp my fixer-upper and turn it into a remodeled home.

Read more of my musings as a first time homeowner in my next blog-from first power bill to exterior facelift (on my house, not me!)

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Comments

  1. Jozzee says

    November 1, 2013 at 10:10 am

    I just purchased an OLD OLD home and so I too am going to be looking for tips on energy efficiency. I make it a point to get up early on Saturdays (in my area your dad’s show comes on at 5:30a.m.) just so I can watch it. I have not even moved in yet because of work I am having done to the home. The home has antique stained glass windows that are originals (there are 6 ) so keeping heat in and cold out of those will be my biggest challenge. I had someone quote me $4K to replace old windows so I have to find a cheaper way!
    I look forward to reading all of your blogs! Josie

    Reply
  2. carol newman says

    July 12, 2015 at 7:18 am

    I use as little electric as I can to keep the bill within my budget. Read instead of watching TV, don’t run the TV as background noise, use a radio. Make sure your attic is well insulated it will hold your inside temperature better and save on heating and cooling bills.

    Reply

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Pure joy! I put her in the crib so I could do some Pure joy! I put her in the crib so I could do something to her window and she was happy as a clam in there!
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All of her windows have been blacked out for good sleep purposes. It was refreshing to open all the curtains and see my favorite room in the house aglow with daylight for a change!🙌🏻
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Happy Monday!✨
Life keeps going and babies don’t keep! We enjoy Life keeps going and babies don’t keep! We enjoyed a quick little trip to New Orleans to meet up with family.🥰
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I hope they remember these little trips like I do from my childhood. I’m definitely a more fun mom on vacation🤣You want candy? Sure! Beignets for breakfast? Let’s do it! Happy memories all around!👏🏻
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#sundayfunday #sundaybest #nolalove #neworleanslife #ourbackyard #siblingsgoals #babiesdontkeep
BRB, going to close my curtains. It’s true! Clos BRB, going to close my curtains. It’s true! Closing your curtains during the day while you’re away can keep the heat of the sun from warming up your house and costing you money. Less heat coming in means less energy used to run your air conditioner!👏🏻
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Check out my profile for the rest of the summer hacks I put together with @theduckbrand, including one for a window AC if you’ve got one!
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Which room in your house is the hottest during the Which room in your house is the hottest during the summer? It's the baby's room for us.😕
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Luckily we can just pop an air conditioner in the window to supplement our HVAC system on the hottest days and keep her comfortable!
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And you might as well make it as efficient as possible by installing AC insulating seal from @theduckbrand at the same time. You only need scissors to install!
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#sponsored by @theduckbrand #summerhacks  #savemoneylivebetter #duckbrand #itshotoutthere
It also keeps the boogie man out!🤣 I'm a big pr It also keeps the boogie man out!🤣 I'm a big proponent of doing little things that add up to make a big difference.
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Locking your exterior doors when you're home is one small way that doesn't cost you any money but can help keep your home more comfortable this summer.
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Check out @theduckbrand if you need to replace your weatherstripping and follow for more quick and easy summer hacks!
#sponsored by @theduckbrand #summerhacks  #savemoneylivebetter #duckbrand #southernsummer
My dad always played this song for us on our birth My dad always played this song for us on our birthdays and what a fun tradition to carry on!🥰 Happy Birthday to the most delightful baby I’ve ever known! This has been the best year of my life knowing and loving you!😘 Here’s to many, many more!🎉
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