Does it make SENSE, to monitor your homes energy. - Page 2

Wanna Beco · 08-11-20, 05:24 PM

Sooooo... this month has been a true test of other mods I have been doing. Air sealing and using timers ETC. The results have been great. The Sense app lets me know when my kid leaves the bathroom light on even. My fellow inmates (my family) are starting to think of me as the electricity Nazi and my son is turning the table on me, reminding ME when I leave something on.

I finally was able to view my Aug. bill.Big savings. Saved $109 and had 4 more days on this months billing cycle and the temps were higher this year than the previous year. Pretty happy with the app so far.

Wanna Beco · 09-27-20, 07:06 PM

This months bill was $115 buck less. In case you are still following along

Daox · 09-27-20, 08:20 PM

Very impressive! What have you done recently to continue improving things?

Wanna Beco · 09-27-20, 09:52 PM

Good Question Doax. But to be honest, not a lot. I have been crippled by the heat this year. It has been mostly above 110 this summer. It just takes the fight right out of me.

Before summer I had replaced some fluorescent bulbs with LED bulbs. I replaced the receptacle with that kit from Costco. With each one replaced I airsealed them up as I replaced them. I replaced My rear door as it had a bad leak and no matter what i did, I could not get it to close easily and correctly any longer. ( the door had water damage at the bottom that I had fixed many times). I fixed a large window next to the door that also leaked. Sealed vents in rooms where I could get to them easily.

When the fall is finally here I have some big plans. I am going to fix all insulation in my attic. I got a quote of 2500 to that... and it looks like doing it myself I can save about 2k of that. I will also cover my garage with spray insulation as I plan on installing a mini split in the garage so I can make it useable in the summer.

The clink in my plans though is I am recently laid off, but I have enough savings to at least get the work in the attic done. Hopefully find an inexpensive mini split for the garage.

Daox · 09-29-20, 08:33 AM

Sounds like all good stuff. Look forward to any updates! I was just talking with my wife about re-evaluating our power usage. We have mostly CFLs in the house with LEDs in higher use areas. I don't think we have any incandescent bulbs left, but its been quite some time since I even looked.

Wanna Beco · 12-02-20, 01:13 PM

Now sure how many are interested in this thread but the Sense is on sale. I recommend if you want an easy way to monitor your electricity usage. As with any tool, it is only as good as your usage.

I paid 250. It is down to 240. Camelcamelcamel says that is the lowest price. Good luck with yours!

https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B075K6PH...v_ov_lig_dp_it

One thing I recently discovered is shutting off my coffee maker after the brew is a surprising amount of savings.

Wanna Beco · 12-02-20, 01:34 PM

Can anyone point me to the steps on how to embed a YT video instead of just link it. Anyway, here is the coffee maker info.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ttCG...ature=youtu.be

Daox · 12-03-20, 06:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wanna Beco

Can anyone point me to the steps on how to embed a YT video instead of just link it.

Just copy the URL from the browser and paste it into the post. its automatically recognized. No code needed.

pawanranta · 12-23-20, 01:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wanna Beco

So, In an effort to save money, I decided to start with bulb replacing and using LED's to get going. The results are dramatic.

What color temperatures those LED lights have?

Wanna Beco · 12-23-20, 11:50 AM

Here are the lights I ordered.

https://www.costco.com/energetic-lig...100568811.html

The color temp is 4k.

08-11-20, 05:24 PM	#11
Wanna Beco Helper EcoRenovator Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Phoenix Posts: 69 Thanks: 10 Thanked 12 Times in 9 Posts	Sooooo... this month has been a true test of other mods I have been doing. Air sealing and using timers ETC. The results have been great. The Sense app lets me know when my kid leaves the bathroom light on even. My fellow inmates (my family) are starting to think of me as the electricity Nazi and my son is turning the table on me, reminding ME when I leave something on. I finally was able to view my Aug. bill.Big savings. Saved $109 and had 4 more days on this months billing cycle and the temps were higher this year than the previous year. Pretty happy with the app so far. Attached Thumbnails

09-27-20, 07:06 PM	#12
Wanna Beco Helper EcoRenovator Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Phoenix Posts: 69 Thanks: 10 Thanked 12 Times in 9 Posts	This months bill was $115 buck less. In case you are still following along Attached Thumbnails

09-27-20, 08:20 PM	#13
Daox Administrator Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Germantown, WI Posts: 5,525 Thanks: 1,162 Thanked 374 Times in 305 Posts	Very impressive! What have you done recently to continue improving things? __________________ 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.

09-29-20, 08:33 AM	#15
Daox Administrator Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Germantown, WI Posts: 5,525 Thanks: 1,162 Thanked 374 Times in 305 Posts	Sounds like all good stuff. Look forward to any updates! I was just talking with my wife about re-evaluating our power usage. We have mostly CFLs in the house with LEDs in higher use areas. I don't think we have any incandescent bulbs left, but its been quite some time since I even looked. __________________ 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.

12-02-20, 01:13 PM	#16
Wanna Beco Helper EcoRenovator Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Phoenix Posts: 69 Thanks: 10 Thanked 12 Times in 9 Posts	Sense is on Sale! Right now. Now sure how many are interested in this thread but the Sense is on sale. I recommend if you want an easy way to monitor your electricity usage. As with any tool, it is only as good as your usage. I paid 250. It is down to 240. Camelcamelcamel says that is the lowest price. Good luck with yours! https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B075K6PH...v_ov_lig_dp_it One thing I recently discovered is shutting off my coffee maker after the brew is a surprising amount of savings. Last edited by Wanna Beco; 12-02-20 at 01:55 PM..

09-27-20, 09:52 PM	#14
Wanna Beco Helper EcoRenovator Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Phoenix Posts: 69 Thanks: 10 Thanked 12 Times in 9 Posts	Good Question Doax. But to be honest, not a lot. I have been crippled by the heat this year. It has been mostly above 110 this summer. It just takes the fight right out of me. Before summer I had replaced some fluorescent bulbs with LED bulbs. I replaced the receptacle with that kit from Costco. With each one replaced I airsealed them up as I replaced them. I replaced My rear door as it had a bad leak and no matter what i did, I could not get it to close easily and correctly any longer. ( the door had water damage at the bottom that I had fixed many times). I fixed a large window next to the door that also leaked. Sealed vents in rooms where I could get to them easily. When the fall is finally here I have some big plans. I am going to fix all insulation in my attic. I got a quote of 2500 to that... and it looks like doing it myself I can save about 2k of that. I will also cover my garage with spray insulation as I plan on installing a mini split in the garage so I can make it useable in the summer. The clink in my plans though is I am recently laid off, but I have enough savings to at least get the work in the attic done. Hopefully find an inexpensive mini split for the garage.

12-23-20, 11:50 AM	#20
Wanna Beco Helper EcoRenovator Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Phoenix Posts: 69 Thanks: 10 Thanked 12 Times in 9 Posts	Here are the lights I ordered. https://www.costco.com/energetic-lig...100568811.html The color temp is 4k.