# Explanation for low residential energy use? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 12, 2020, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explanation-for-low-residential-energy-use/855531 "2020-06-12T13:50:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2020, 11:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explanation-for-low-residential-energy-use/855531/21 "2020-06-18T11:57:10Z")
A few years ago we got a very low electric bill in the mail. Typical bill was $58, we got a bill for $1. My gf assumed she’d overpaid the previous month. The next month our bill was eighty five cents. A call to the power company found the glitch. Due to an error by the electric company we were getting a seperate bill for our barn, which has its own meter for some reason, and the bill for our home use was added to a neighbors bill, which they’d paid for two months without question. ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21906_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2020, 12:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explanation-for-low-residential-energy-use/855531/22 "2020-06-18T12:21:20Z")
Some years back, we had a large salt-water aquarium. When we sold it all off, our electric bill was cut almost in half. I was amazed it was such a power-sucker. I’ve known people who leave their TV on 24/7, not to mention lights. We had neighbors who either had heat or a/c running all the time - I had to wonder if their windows even opened! And if someone is using their electric oven a lot more due to being home, then using the a/c because of the oven… And then there’s exterior lighting, whether for security or looks, and I expect there are other things that haven’t occurred to me. You just never know what’s going on in other houses. I’m frequently amazed at the wasteful ways of some folks. ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2020, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explanation-for-low-residential-energy-use/855531/23 "2020-06-18T15:38:17Z")
> [@beowulff](#): > > OK, people - Let’s do some back-of-the-envelope calculations on power consumption. > … I remember when I had a classic car and talked w/ guys about heating their garages. On thing folk said was how much heat a simple flourescent light bulb let off, for VERY little cost. If I get around to it, I’ll delve a little more deeply into our bill. But I’m happy to assume it largely reflects out preference against AC. Our rule of thumb is generally that we use AC if it gets well over 80 for several days in a row, and also does not get below 70 at night. Often I’ll have my windows open with a cool breeze coming in, and not understand why our neighbor has their AC running (unit right under our bedroom window.) ---
**Author:** ![LivingGhost371](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/b9e5f3/32.png) [@LivingGhost371](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LivingGhost371)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2020, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explanation-for-low-residential-energy-use/855531/24 "2020-06-25T03:00:00Z")
Yes, I’d agree it’s your AC usage, or rather lack of. I don’t think it fits the pattern for most people. Mine I set to 76 as soon as it’s time to switch from heat to cool for the year, and it stays at 76 until it’s time to switch from cool to heat, so it turns on whenever the house reaches 77. I will open windows on a cool day, but it seems a security hazard to leave them open overnight as well as interfering with my sleep when I hear noises. I also don’t really use LED bulbs. I have a few in the hallways and outside where I don’t care about their terrible light quality, but I won’t have them in the main living areas of the house. ---
**Author:** ![Balthisar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/balthisar/32/2825_2.png) [@Balthisar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balthisar)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2020, 11:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explanation-for-low-residential-energy-use/855531/25 "2020-06-25T11:02:46Z")
Does your energy company have an app? For example, in my part of the country, DTE is large, and they have a free app that shows your daily energy usage, which might give you a good idea of what’s you’re doing right or wrong. And for an extra buck a month, they’ll loan you device you can put on your home network that pairs with your meter, and gives you instantaneous energy readings. It’s really quite neat to walk around powering things on and off so see just how much energy things use when you’ve not previously though about it. My particular device also broadcasts MQTT, so when instantaneous usage gets high enough, I can have Alexa shout at my wife, “Turn off some of the damned lights!” ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2020, 12:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explanation-for-low-residential-energy-use/855531/26 "2020-07-10T12:34:00Z")
Got this month’s notice. It says that last year, AC made up 56% ($134) of my energy use. This month we were only 33% less (452 Kwh) than our efficient neighbors. I’d imagine that with it having been quite hot, and both of us working from home, we’ve been using the AC more than we usu do. ---
**Author:** ![california\_jobcase](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9d8465/32.png) [@california\_jobcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/california_jobcase)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2020, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explanation-for-low-residential-energy-use/855531/27 "2020-07-12T02:08:14Z")
Are you in the middle, floor and unit wise? For example, a second-floor unit in a three floor building between two other second-floor units can benefit from the outer, upper, and lower neighbors’ thermal mass and HVAC. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2020, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explanation-for-low-residential-energy-use/855531/28 "2020-07-12T02:52:36Z")
> [@Dinsdale](#): > > Got this month’s notice. It says that last year, AC made up 56% ($134) of my energy use. Wait, how can they know how much of _your_ power usage is due to _your_ AC? ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2020, 7:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explanation-for-low-residential-energy-use/855531/29 "2020-07-12T07:07:17Z")
> [@california\_jobcase](#): > > Are you in the middle, floor and unit wise? For example, a second-floor unit in a three floor building between two other second-floor units can benefit from the outer, upper, and lower neighbors’ thermal mass and HVAC. Yes, that actually is the case. ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2020, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explanation-for-low-residential-energy-use/855531/30 "2020-07-13T13:42:12Z")
> [@needscoffee](#): > > Wait, how can they know how much of _your_ power usage is due to _your_ AC? Good point. I assume the “your” is general, based on averages. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explanation-for-low-residential-energy-use/855531.md?page=1)