Lowering My Home’s Energy Consumption
Back in October of 2009, I installed a TED-5000 Powermeter that ties into the Google Powermeter reporting system. This allowed me to get a much better feel for what was chewing up energy in my home and do something about it.
We made a few changes around the home, including installing a few more CFL bulbs. However, the biggest energy improvement came from swapping out our refrigerator for a new model.
So, had it paid off? Here is a look at the first 7 months with the power meter installed vs. years two and three:
For those keeping score at home, that’s a 23%+ decrease in energy consumption. It’s also worth noting that the monthly costs include paying for the Xcel Energy Windsource program, where Xcel is required to acquire energy from wind related sources in proportion to the number of people who participate in the program.
I’m not quite off the grid yet, but less than a dollar a day electricity bills aren’t exactly breaking the bank.
