Stijn!!

[Zeke]

Originally Posted by RKDinOKC

Just got an email telling me the SmartHours electricity rate go from June thru September.
From 7pm to 2pm, 19 hours and all weeken it is just 5¢/kWh.
From 2pm to 7pm weekdays the rate is 5¢, a standard 10¢, high 22¢ or critical 41¢ per kWh depending on how hot it gets.

They gave me a thrermostat that cools the house 4° at 11am and shuts off the A/C at 2pm. Then it kicks back on if gets too hot to be comfortable. Mine goes from 72 to 68 then starts cooling again if it gets to 78. If I run a ceiling fan in my office, I don't even notice it get warmer. They also say not to do dishes or laundry from 2pm - 7pm while the rates might be higher.

During the regular rates ie fall/winter/spring, my electric bill runs between $90 and $100/mo. With this SmartHouse thing it stays below $100 throughout the summer with the A/C running as well.

When I started they gave me 10 60 watt equivelent LED bulbs and 2 powerstrips.

They also did an evaluation tha told me I could save 40% off my electric bill if I put in new windows and better attic insulation. Lets see, 40% of $100 is $40 a month, and $8000 minimum for windows and insulation would take me 200 months or over 16 years for windows and insulation pay for itself. And it may take longer, don't have any windows in the afternoon sun.

There is so much misinformation out there about windows. Insulation is a no brainer.

[Jim Richards]

I had double pane windows put in when we remodeled our house. All exterior walls and the attic were insulated then, too. Our utilities are pretty reasonable.

[flipper35]

Originally Posted by Porsche-poor

that may end up being a problem. They are not VHS but 8mm (tape I think) and I don't know if I even have the camera any more.

You can pick up a camera pretty cheap these days used. The card will work with those also.

[flipper35]

Originally Posted by Zeke

There is so much misinformation out there about windows. Insulation is a no brainer.

We got a quote once for replacing all our windows with low E blah blah blah. $21k.

We only had 4" of insulation in the attic so we blew in 18". Then we replaced the oil burner furnace with a geothermal heat pump. Paid for itself in 6.5 years. The RoI with the windows would have taken lifetimes.

[Zeke]

Originally Posted by Jim Richards

I had double pane windows put in when we remodeled our house. All exterior walls and the attic were insulated then, too. Our utilities are pretty reasonable.

Do you have at least a year's base line utilities cost before the remodel?

I'm not nit picking. I sold and installed windows (and doors) for 25 years. Most windows represent about 5% of the energy envelope in their immediate surrounding in terms of conduction and radiation control. (They represent 15 to 20% of wall area, but you have to consider attic and under-house area.) However, insulation can represent the entire left over 95%. Not often does it, but far more than a window. Furthermore, a really energy efficient window has an R factor of 5 or less. Windows are not rated in R factors and in fact offer a great deal more in performance such as much, much less convective energy loss. Every house is different and needs a before and after energy audit before any claims can be made.

I never ever sold windows with exaggerated energy claims. Instead, I focused on the quietness and cleanliness of new windows and let the savings fall where they may. So ROI isn't all there is to window replacement.

[GH85Carrera]

Our house was a custom house. The couple that had it built did some great thing and some weird things. All the windows are double pane easy to clean windows with marble sills. They are nice. Outside the house they put in electrical outlet in the soffits every 10 feet, handy for the few times I am out there needing electricity. The bathroom in the garage and the workspace along side the one bay, I love. Overall the garage is deeper and just oversize. That is the feature I fell in love with and wanted to buy the house. My wife loves the master bedroom closet. Walk in 8 feet and turn left for a nice long stroll. All the walls are lined with shelves and clothes racks. Crazy big closet but the wife would say it is just right.

The kitchen faucet looked like something from the bargain basket at Wal Mart. The old kitchen counters were cheap looking. But really nice cabinets, and a the kitchen is huge. The stove is a 5 burner, gas range, and the separate oven that is electric, self cleaning, high end GE signature edition appliance. They had ugly wall paper on every wall. The living room is 14 foot ceilings, a fancy crown molding. Funny blue-grey carpet was down. All of those things have been upgraded.

We for sure could use more attic insulation. Someday I will tidy up things up there, and have a lot of insulation blown in.

[Porsche-poor]

Originally Posted by flipper35

You can pick up a camera pretty cheap these days used. The card will work with those also.

Let me do some looking around the house. I might just send you the stuff and insure the crap out of it.

[flipper35]

Whatever you are comfortable with. I can send the card your way, assuming you have a non-laptop to drop it in. Probably only cost $3 to mail it (if it fits, it ships). If that doesn't work you will always have the option sending the stuff our way.

[Porsche-poor]

I'll have to see if the desktops have any empty slots.

[GH85Carrera]

David, ship the tapes is separate packages, spread the risk of a lost tape. Pack them in a plastic bag, to be waterproof in case they get dropped into a wet place. Pack them carefully, and don't hand address them, have a computer printed label, and get tracking info. All of that is likely overkill, but it will make you feel better. Also pack your contact info inside with the tapes. In case of some sort of weird conveyor belt damage to the labels, they can open it and still find ownership information.

Belts, suspenders, and hold on with both hands overkill.

[Porsche-poor]

all good plans. Thanks

[GH85Carrera]

Three days in a row of nice weather! Unfortunately this afternoon is supposed to bring rain. And. Good chance of rain all week. Dang it.

[GH85Carrera]

Phew. The nice weather has ended, the rain is back. The bosses wife and the bosses mother in law drug me away from the house. The MIL’s lazy-boy recliner broke. She had some grandkids come over to load it in her SUV. I was forced to go with them to go inside, show the receipt, sign my name twice and they will repair it under warranty. It was so simple a 12 year old could do it. Then I got to buy lunch.
I got home and had to do a hurry up mow job. The storm hit just as I finished. Phew.

[porsche4life]

Aloha gents! Terrible view from our hotel balcony, but with enough coffee and malasadas I’ll find a way to get by.

[Jim Richards]

We’re at the SD zoo. It’s fun, but Sid’s location looks like a winner, too.

[GH85Carrera]

Sid, what island are you on? I guess all of them are pretty, but some places are just overrun with people.

Use lots of sunscreen!

[porsche4life]

We are on Oahu glen. Lots of people here for sure. Got a rental car and planning on getting out of the city for a few days while we are here.

[porsche4life]

And the stinging on my back is a reminder that I didn’t get a good application of sunscreen the first day here.

[RKDinOKC]

Sidney, that pic looks like you getting close to Australia, it's just sideways.

Dropped my laptop off...hope they get it fixed.

Started a new neuropathy drug. Thought it made my side hurt, but turned out to just be gas. Did Sleep all night and all day with nothing hurtin though. It is supposed to be for nerve pain, I wonder if it is somehow derived from duck billed platypus venom.

[GH85Carrera]

More calendar slippage her. It is 67 degrees on June 2nd. No complaints, just weird.