Peakster's House Efficiency - Page 11

Daox · 10-19-15, 04:07 PM

Yikes, $140 in water seems like a ton. I have well water but city sewer and pay about $55/mo.

7kwh per day is pretty great. My best ever month was 6.6 kWh, during summer running basically nothing. I average just under 12/day since owning the house. I can hear the off gridders laughing, but once you get under 10 it seems a lot more difficult to find the big-uns.

Peakster · 10-20-15, 03:44 PM

I'm definitely going to keep a closer eye on the water meter as something feels amiss. My water bills at my old condo were around the $50 range on average. I pulled out a February 2014 invoice & I only used 16,400 litres (16.4m3) that month & the bill was $44.41. This time in September I somehow used 27,579 litres & it was $140.56.

Now, prices have gone up - that's for sure. Back in 2014 water+sewer in my condo was $2.56 per unit with a $2.43 base charge. In Sept 2014 it's $3.26 per unit with (get this) a whopping $51.04 in base charges!! Maybe it's based on roof surface area? Oh, & there's a $7.25 curb side recycling fee too (but I'm ok with that).

I'm pretty pleased with the ~7kWh/day. The old 14.8 cu.ft. fridge alone used ~3.5kWh so getting my 18.0 cu.ft. energy star model that uses ~1kWh/day was an awesome improvement

EDIT: I just found a November 2013 water bill - I used 27,200 litres that month & the bill was $74.21. Clearly it's just the pricing that's changed in these 2 short years.

Peakster · 11-24-15, 06:59 PM

October 2015 housing costs:

Natural Gas - $84.41
Electricity - $83.21
Water - $75.77

Other expenses:

Telephone - $39.97
Wifi - $71.45 (6 month introductory pricing expired)
Netflix - 8.99
Insurance - $143.43
Water Heater Rental - $9.63
Property Tax - $310.17
Mortgage P+I - $1,083.08

Total October '15 Housing Costs: $1,910.11

Rent collection from housemates: $1,200.00

Monthly Deficit: $710.11
----------------------------------------------

Basement bracing is now completed so I'm ready to start framing the 2 extra bedrooms & basement bathroom addition. Water bill decreased significantly - I think it was from a slow leak in the ensuite toilet which is now fixed.

Electricity was estimated this month so I've used less kWh than what the city thought. It should correct itself the next time they do an actual reading.

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natethebrown · 11-25-15, 12:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Peakster

October 2015 housing costs:

Wifi - $71.45 (6 month introductory pricing expired)

My internet service provider (ISP) does the same thing. My 1 year promotion expired, I waited 2 months, called them up and asked to get on a new promotion. They were able to get me back on one, not as good but still saving $15 a month for 6 months. Of course it helps that there are other competing ISPs, so that is a bargaining chip I have. You might be able to do the same.

Peakster · 11-25-15, 06:34 PM

That's actually a real good idea

I'll try that. The worst they can say is 'no', right?

Peakster · 12-21-15, 08:20 PM

November 2015 housing costs:

Natural Gas - $124.17
Electricity - $72.90
Water - $88.81

Other expenses:

Telephone - $40.78
Wifi - $71.45
Netflix - 8.99
Insurance - $143.43
Water Heater Rental - $9.63
Property Tax - $310.17
Mortgage P+I - $1,083.08

Total November '15 Housing Costs: $1,953.41

Rent collection from housemates: $1,200.00

Monthly Deficit: $753.41
----------------------------------------------

Natural gas bill is starting to rise with the colder weather (although it's still pretty mild for Canadian standards). Still have to call the wifi provider about the higher bill - just haven't got around to it yet.

On an unrelated note, I had my rotting back deck replaced just before the snow hit & did some more designing of what I want the basement plan to be like:

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natethebrown · 12-22-15, 10:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Peakster

On an unrelated note, I had my rotting back deck replaced just before the snow hit & did some more designing of what I want the basement plan to be like:

Depending on your ingenuity and scavenging abilities, you might be able to acquire a number of your basement materials for cheap or free. We have a place in my city called "The Restore". It is a charity where companies/individuals can donate their scrap building materials and the sale/use of those materials goes to building low income homes. If you have something like that, it would be a great place to acquire some of your materials. Also, I am a big proponent of dumpster diving, especially construction dumpsters (Here in the States, it is 100% legal to dig through trash as long as you are not trespassing on the land. I never ask or get permission and if someone asks me to leave I will do so immediately). You can get quite a bit of quality lumber from construction dumpsters, dramatically reducing the whole project cost.

EDIT: Don't forget Craig's List for building materials, like "pinballlooking" did.

Peakster · 12-23-15, 10:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by natethebrown

We have a place in my city called "The Restore".

We have the ReStore here in Regina too (a part of Habitat for Humanity) & I often check it out. I find that it's a great place for things like furniture & hardware but a lot of their stuff can be pretty overpriced. I never really considered them for things like lumber or drywall though... I'll take a closer look next time I'm there

Thanks for the tip!

Peakster · 01-23-16, 11:59 PM

December 2015 housing costs:

Natural Gas - $168.05 (Cold Canadian weather!)
Electricity - $59.11
Water - $94.81

Other expenses:

Telephone - $44.10
Wifi - $40.93 (went down a speed rating & saved money)
Netflix - 8.99
Insurance - $123.45 (cancelled the disability insurance on the mortgage)
Water Heater Rental - $9.63
Property Tax - $310.17
Mortgage P+I - $717.31 (decelerated my mortgage to the original 29 years, 2 months amortization & focusing the extra money on the stock market right now. Buy low!)

Total December '15 Housing Costs: $1,576.55

Rent collection from housemates: $1,200.00

Monthly Deficit:$376.55
----------------------------------------------

Lots of changes with my finances lately. I was going hard on the mortgage but I've decided that I want to use my funds elsewhere as the mortgage is only at 2.69%.

Nothing to report with renovations right now. It's been crazy busy at work & I've had no time to really do anything.

Peakster · 02-27-16, 11:49 AM

January 2016 housing costs:

Natural Gas - $144.42
Electricity - $93.65
Water - $93.33

Other expenses:

Telephone - $39.41
Wifi - $60.45
Netflix - 8.99
Insurance - $123.45
Water Heater Rental - $9.63
Property Tax - $310.17
Mortgage P+I - $717.31

Total January '16 Housing Costs: $1,600.81

Rent collection from housemates: $1,200.00

Monthly Deficit: $400.81
----------------------------------------------

Pretty basic month. Currently I'm having 1 housemate struggling to pay February rent in full, but I'm optimistic that they'll pull though. The weather is turning nicer and the daylight hours are getting longer. I'm looking forward to spring basement development (which is still on hold, for now).

10-19-15, 04:07 PM	#101
Daox Administrator Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Germantown, WI Posts: 5,525 Thanks: 1,162 Thanked 374 Times in 305 Posts	Yikes, $140 in water seems like a ton. I have well water but city sewer and pay about $55/mo. 7kwh per day is pretty great. My best ever month was 6.6 kWh, during summer running basically nothing. I average just under 12/day since owning the house. I can hear the off gridders laughing, but once you get under 10 it seems a lot more difficult to find the big-uns. __________________ Current project - To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. & To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

10-20-15, 03:44 PM	#102
Peakster Apprentice EcoRenovator Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Regina Saskatchewan Canada Posts: 146 Thanks: 0 Thanked 22 Times in 21 Posts	I'm definitely going to keep a closer eye on the water meter as something feels amiss. My water bills at my old condo were around the $50 range on average. I pulled out a February 2014 invoice & I only used 16,400 litres (16.4m3) that month & the bill was $44.41. This time in September I somehow used 27,579 litres & it was $140.56. Now, prices have gone up - that's for sure. Back in 2014 water+sewer in my condo was $2.56 per unit with a $2.43 base charge. In Sept 2014 it's $3.26 per unit with (get this) a whopping $51.04 in base charges!! Maybe it's based on roof surface area? Oh, & there's a $7.25 curb side recycling fee too (but I'm ok with that). I'm pretty pleased with the ~7kWh/day. The old 14.8 cu.ft. fridge alone used ~3.5kWh so getting my 18.0 cu.ft. energy star model that uses ~1kWh/day was an awesome improvement EDIT: I just found a November 2013 water bill - I used 27,200 litres that month & the bill was $74.21. Clearly it's just the pricing that's changed in these 2 short years.

11-24-15, 06:59 PM	#103
Peakster Apprentice EcoRenovator Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Regina Saskatchewan Canada Posts: 146 Thanks: 0 Thanked 22 Times in 21 Posts	October 2015 housing costs: Natural Gas - $84.41 Electricity - $83.21 Water - $75.77 Other expenses: Telephone - $39.97 Wifi - $71.45 (6 month introductory pricing expired) Netflix - 8.99 Insurance - $143.43 Water Heater Rental - $9.63 Property Tax - $310.17 Mortgage P+I - $1,083.08 Total October '15 Housing Costs: $1,910.11 Rent collection from housemates: $1,200.00 Monthly Deficit: $710.11 ---------------------------------------------- Basement bracing is now completed so I'm ready to start framing the 2 extra bedrooms & basement bathroom addition. Water bill decreased significantly - I think it was from a slow leak in the ensuite toilet which is now fixed. Electricity was estimated this month so I've used less kWh than what the city thought. It should correct itself the next time they do an actual reading.

11-25-15, 06:34 PM	#105
Peakster Apprentice EcoRenovator Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Regina Saskatchewan Canada Posts: 146 Thanks: 0 Thanked 22 Times in 21 Posts	That's actually a real good idea I'll try that. The worst they can say is 'no', right?

12-21-15, 08:20 PM	#106
Peakster Apprentice EcoRenovator Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Regina Saskatchewan Canada Posts: 146 Thanks: 0 Thanked 22 Times in 21 Posts	November 2015 housing costs: Natural Gas - $124.17 Electricity - $72.90 Water - $88.81 Other expenses: Telephone - $40.78 Wifi - $71.45 Netflix - 8.99 Insurance - $143.43 Water Heater Rental - $9.63 Property Tax - $310.17 Mortgage P+I - $1,083.08 Total November '15 Housing Costs: $1,953.41 Rent collection from housemates: $1,200.00 Monthly Deficit: $753.41 ---------------------------------------------- Natural gas bill is starting to rise with the colder weather (although it's still pretty mild for Canadian standards). Still have to call the wifi provider about the higher bill - just haven't got around to it yet. On an unrelated note, I had my rotting back deck replaced just before the snow hit & did some more designing of what I want the basement plan to be like:

01-23-16, 11:59 PM	#109
Peakster Apprentice EcoRenovator Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Regina Saskatchewan Canada Posts: 146 Thanks: 0 Thanked 22 Times in 21 Posts	December 2015 housing costs: Natural Gas - $168.05 (Cold Canadian weather!) Electricity - $59.11 Water - $94.81 Other expenses: Telephone - $44.10 Wifi - $40.93 (went down a speed rating & saved money) Netflix - 8.99 Insurance - $123.45 (cancelled the disability insurance on the mortgage) Water Heater Rental - $9.63 Property Tax - $310.17 Mortgage P+I - $717.31 (decelerated my mortgage to the original 29 years, 2 months amortization & focusing the extra money on the stock market right now. Buy low!) Total December '15 Housing Costs: $1,576.55 Rent collection from housemates: $1,200.00 Monthly Deficit:$376.55 ---------------------------------------------- Lots of changes with my finances lately. I was going hard on the mortgage but I've decided that I want to use my funds elsewhere as the mortgage is only at 2.69%. Nothing to report with renovations right now. It's been crazy busy at work & I've had no time to really do anything.

02-27-16, 11:49 AM	#110
Peakster Apprentice EcoRenovator Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Regina Saskatchewan Canada Posts: 146 Thanks: 0 Thanked 22 Times in 21 Posts	January 2016 housing costs: Natural Gas - $144.42 Electricity - $93.65 Water - $93.33 Other expenses: Telephone - $39.41 Wifi - $60.45 Netflix - 8.99 Insurance - $123.45 Water Heater Rental - $9.63 Property Tax - $310.17 Mortgage P+I - $717.31 Total January '16 Housing Costs: $1,600.81 Rent collection from housemates: $1,200.00 Monthly Deficit: $400.81 ---------------------------------------------- Pretty basic month. Currently I'm having 1 housemate struggling to pay February rent in full, but I'm optimistic that they'll pull though. The weather is turning nicer and the daylight hours are getting longer. I'm looking forward to spring basement development (which is still on hold, for now).