It has been months since my last posting.  But I wanted to update on the recovery from the Hurricane and updates to our home.

On Sept 9 the last new replacement window was installed. During the the installation the crew where schocked how easy the windows came out and explained if the Hurricane does come in our direction we could have had a big problem with the windows not being able to handle much wind and we could would not have been safe, They called and checked on us after the storm.  

So new windows may help on the elc bills but also your safety. 

Please understand on Sept 13 we had a Hurricane in my area,  many had clocked the winds at 120 mph at the peck of the storm in Magnolia TX. 

Our home has 23 windows and what we learned was the avg home has around 10-12 windows. Windows in every room, except the closets.  

During the storm we could barley hear the storm.  And no rain or wind damage at all. 

But the big news the amount of KWH we have used in the last few months.  This home is all electric and very exp to heat at 2800 sq ft.  This was our 2nd winter in this house and the first one was not even as cold.  Here are our stats

Dec 2007  2200 KWH    Dec 2008  1730 KWH    difference 470 KWH savings

Jan 2008  2660 KWH    Jan 2009  1360 KWH    difference 1300 KWH savings

Our programmable thermostat is set on 60 and we move it to 65 when we are in the house and need some heat. We do use a heating blanket at night.  And I will use a space heater in my home office when I am working.

We moved in to our house Aug 2007 and these are things we have done. 

1) 2-08  Installed Radiant Barrier and new blown in insulation-New Ac/Heating Duck work.  Something lots of people do not check

2) 6-08 Installed a Power Save Unit (saw a avg of 200 KWH savings per month)

3) 9-08 Installed 23 replacement windows - Double Paine/LOW E/Orgone Gas

And the biggest is conservation we have done all the items we have been hearing about . Changing the air filters on a monthly basis, Emptying the lint out of the elc dryer, turning off anything we can,  turing the elc water heater down (have not missed the 190 heat at all. turned it down to 120) Recycling anything we can at the local drop off center,  Buying items packaged using recycling materials, Changed out the light bulbs (33 of them) it took several months  a few at a time. Updating light fixtures that where not safe and did not work. 

Spending 25K is one way,  but the real savings is on KWH would not have been as impressive without the conversation.  Turn it off Turn it down and you will see a difference

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