What are you doing to cope with the current energy prices?

Question

How are you staying warm? Are you compensating to keep the bills low or are you just paying what it costs to keep your house warm?

If you don't mind answering, what are you paying each month to heat your place?

Answer 1

1. Install a more efficient heat pump. We replaced our old 8 seer rating with a 13 seer rating.
2. Install double pane windows. This knocked down our util bills about 8%.
3. Keep thermostat setting at 68 in winter and 77 in summer.
4. Drive less. Carpool. Plan trips. Walk or ride a bike ( good exercise too)... :>)
5. Add insulation in attic.
6. Solar oven

Our avg util bill is $65 in winter and $120 in summer (We live in Az.)

Answer 2

There really is not too much we as individuals can do to lower our energy bills. Think about it, the money you spend to lower the cost, explodes the overall cost! If you spend $5,000.00 to insulate your home, that's $5,000.00 additional cost to stay warm, and most people take out a loan to do the insulating and wind up in debt! Crazy, ain
t it?
The problem is that we as citizens have never learned of the power to control that we posses. We are mostly followers and not leaders. Some small groups have attempted to form boycotts against the oil companies. Most have failed.
That is not to say that boycotts will not work. It's just that we don't stick together to make it effective.

Just suppose for a minute, that we had a very strong unity, and we all agreed to boycott Exxon corp. No one in the nation would buy any gas or oil or any other product of theirs. They could not live with that! Just as Ford and Chrysler and all of the other automakers must submit to Union demands., Exxon would be forced to lower their prices,(or take a loss in other ways).

If this was accomplished, all of the other gas and oil companies would stop gouging for fear they would be boycotted. That is the power we as the customers have! It would result in a gas price war.

But, it will never happen, because we are all followers and not leaders. We don't take charge of our own destiny. We all are whimps.

Look at the potential that possible solution could have. The Medical profession is just as guilty of price gouging as the oil companies. The reason medical costs are skyrocketing is because we don't do anything about it but moan and groan.

Answer 3

My home is all electric. I also have a fireplace which I know is not the most efficient thing in the world but with the central heat and air, it is costing me around $140.00 a month for heat. We just had all the windows replaced in the home which was built in 1964. We automatically get a $500.00 tax cut by doing this also and we got the Low E windows with the double pane. We didn't get the Argon gas because of where we live and the builders don't recommend it. It doesn't get cold enough here for the Argon insulation features.

Answer 4

I'm 14- my parents keep the house at 58*, and I prefer to walk and ride my bike. I also made my parents get an aerodynamic car that gets better mileage than the last car.

Answer 5

i am seeing a psychiatrist on how to control my anger. seriously, i couldnt give a good answer on cost, cuz each house and family are different. i want to be warm, so i pay it. begrudgingly .==and====i got my love to keep me warm.

Answer 6

we've allready started using air conditioners in Houston...just starting our expensive time that can last 10 months!

compact florscents bulbs - screw algore - they are cheap to use
cool ply/tech shield - radiant barrier
low -e windows insulated
6" wallls to hold in the cool

Answer 7

I have declared war on lightbulbs.

If I see one, I blow it up with a bunkerbuster.

Those lightbulbs need to be shown who's boss!