I love your cooling tips for both the house and the car. Trying to be more aware of where I park so I don't melt before I get moving and get the air flowing through the windows.

As someone else said, here in northern Indiana it is humid. DH has emphysema so we have to keep the AC on if it is at all humid.

Debbie, do you have any decent box or window fans? I think you could get rid of much of the stuffiness, by using cracking the right windows (get a cross breeze and use windows that do not face the south especially), and putting the fans in the right place (one to help draw in cool breezes from a north facing open window, and one on your work area whether it's the computer, bedroom or kitchen). Also keep shades and doors drawn during the day, and open at night.

Fans use <i>tremendously</i> less watts than AC units, so this could really help with electric bills.

Not that you have to do this, of course, but it could be fun to experiment with temperatures! Say you had a goal of not needing the AC until it becomes 75 instead of 70. Just for a fun research project. I know, I am such a nerd.

Lynne, i wonder if a dehumidifyer would help your hubby, so on some days you won't need the full AC?

Good thought. We will have to consider that.

I just learned to read my electric meter today and am so excited!!! I used about 126 kwh this month - which is a tremendous difference from last month's 457 kwh!

I attribute the change from last month to this month to:
1. Dan leaving and taking his many, many electronics with him
2. Unplugging the electricity to my RV and the RV fridge
3. Switching out the appliances I use now with lower watt ones i am finding on sales, at thrift stores and at garage sales
4. Switching all energy vampire appliances over to power strips and making sure to keep them off when not in use!

Probably in that order. I am documenting all this in various threads in here. I'll collect those links and add them here. So i am serious about decreasing my energy use.

It will be exciting to see just how low I can get this electric bill. I was told the minimum for a house with the circuit breakers off is $10 a month (service fees and taxes). Let's see just how close I can approximate that...

I'm also not using the AC yet. So far my Fan Plan is working well. I am very comfortable inside, even though it's 90 degrees outside.

On the phone, APS told me that most people start seeing a big jump in their bills around this time, due to AC use. So for me to get a large decrease makes me deeply happy. This is such a fun game! And honestly i am very comfortable.

Wow Jilly.....you are doing great! You are very organized and detail oriented. Let us know how you make out....I am intrigued!

Thank you, Debbie. I find this all very fun. It's like a game, but i actually get a prize for this one: my own money saved!

It's also an education to see just how tied we are to the utility grids. We so easily forget what a luxury instant-on electric power is.

Today it's 91 degrees and I still feel comfortable. I have two fans on - one in the window, and one by my face at the computer. I had the door open a little bit and it was a mistake - a lot of heat came in. It's closed now and i have the curtains mostly drawn.

Tomorrow will be 93 and then i have several days at 97...that is where the real test of my resolve will come through!

Here is a handy set of links for my forum posts about:
learning to read your electric bill

A few radical electricity saving ideas - take a look in this thread

Here is another: What fans have the least watts

What watts are you using right now?

using power strips to save money

my small scale solar ideas

And for people in the winter zones: make a low watt heat bubble

I welcome discussion on these threads!