Energy saving - biggest scam since Madoff?

[HexenLord]

Galaki said:

HexenLord said:

I really don't see the problem with it. Global energy prices are going to continue to rise as long as power plants are being powered by something thats not in infinite supply. 

 

Do you pay your own electric bill or do your parents still pay it? Last time I checked, my entire house was electric. I have no gas, no propane in my house. My heat comes from electricity, all of my appliances are electric. ELECTRICITY IS MORE EXPENSIVE THAN GAS, EVEN WITH SHORTAGES. 

 

So what do all of my energy saving bulbs, small solar panels, and custom made solar heaters add up to? A whopping $130/month electric bill in the dead of winter with a foot of snow on the ground. And thats in my 1500 square foot house /w 2 floors, 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, family room, walk in closets, kitchen and dining room, and attached 2 car climate controlled garage. I REALLY can't complain about the rewards of trying to save energy when my parents spend $400 /month  on their gas/electric bill in the dead of winter.

830 square foot. 1 floor. 2 people, 2 bedrooms.

My bill came out $142.29 for the month of August.

You know how many games I could have bought with that money!?

Honestly saving money on your bills aren't nearly as hard as everyone thinks. 

 

The bulbs I have were bought in bulk, so I didn't pay any more for them than regular 60-80w bulbs. When I moved into the house, I didn't have any bulbs at all so I needed all new ones. So for the energy saving ones, I actually came out way on top from the get-go.

 

Solar panels were from Harbor Freight using some of their coupons. 40W solar panel for $129. I bought 3 of them after taxes for less than $500. In the daytime they probably counter most of the electricity I use in my house (assuming no heat/AC). 

 

As for the solar heaters, search pop can heater on youtube or google. Just a bunch of aluminum cans that I would have otherwise thrown away, placed inside of a wooden frame and covered with glass. Paint them with black BBQ paint and drill holes in the bottom so air can flow through multiple cans lined up in a string. The sun superheats the air in the cans and I have it blowing into my garage. Keeps my garage heated in the winter as long as there is sunlight. When the garage gets heated, I usually open the door going into my family room and let the heat seep into the rest of the house.

 

Total cost for all of this, I think no more than $600, and $500 of that was the Solar Panels.