Massive Blackouts!

Oh, yes, let's blame it on Ohio. I'm still living in Ohio (for a couple more weeks), so feel it is my Buckeye Patriotic Duty to take offense. How about you, Gina?

Fortunately, where I live, we are supposedly on the New Jersey power grid. Only a few miles away in Akron, however, they were without power. People in Cleveland were without water, too.

Gas is on line. Water is on line. Nearly everything we do is on line. No doubt the terrorists are watching this story. Big time.

 

Hiya everyone. I new around here, besides the welcome thread this my only post so far. Those poweroutages almost got me, I was up north visiting some friends, luckily I came back home a day or two before they happened. Its amazing that three little lines could take out so much electriciy.

 

Well, Gina, when you put it that way...

 

I think everyone needs to be like me. Okay, maybe not entirely, but I took some very simple steps to save energy.

First, I replaced most incandescent bulbs in my home wiht compact flourescent ones. Second, when my fridge dies, I speant a little extra and got one of those energy star ones. I was going to replace my hot water heater, but learned it's in good shape, so I'm having a thermostat timer ordered, which will allow me to shut off power consumption at off peak hours (between midnight and 4 am).

My electric bills have been cut in half, from $95 to $45. My last bill, with the AC running, came in at $36. At this rate, I anticipate that these things will pay for themselves in three years or less. After that, it's money in my pocket!!! And these things were just basic. I could probably same more money if I replace my inefficient windows, insulate, or replace my 30yo HVAC systems.

 

Gina, those timers have to be 'hard' wired on by an electrician for your specific water heater. You can buy them at Home Depot, Lowes or any electrical house. We had an electric hot water heater before and had one installed. I had mine shut off at bed time and not come back on until 5 a.m. I had it also shut off during the middle of the day when I would have already done my laundry, etc. I saved quite a bit too. We lived in Fla. at the time so I didn't have to worry about frozen pipes!

Diane

 

I'm gonna close this after 4 pages since it seems to have run it's course.

Thanks,
SheEagle
Moderator