One-FIFTH the water!

[skyl4rk]

The mixer valve on our shower is not working, it only runs cold, so I am going to experiment with not doing the morning shower, and just using a wash basin and washcloth for a while. We do have a bathtub and a small pool, so I can get totally clean that way when necessary. I know my grandparents used a washcloth and washbasin during the week, with one bath a week on Saturday evening.

[rmay635703]

Originally Posted by Frank Lee

Plus I have a gas water heater and it uses so little that during the furnace-off months practically the entire bill is for the monthly service fee.

P.S. Looking at a recent gas bill shows $4.22 worth of gas but then add in all the B.S. (7 different items that even the person I called at the gas company didn't know what they were) and it triples to $13.09.

It would be interesting to see how much electricity the well pump uses. I put a nice big surge tank on the system years ago so it doesn't kick on/off until a fairly decent pressure drop occurs.

The biggest electricity consumer in my house is the fridge, with over half the useage every month. I suppose I could do away with it and eat out a lot more.

If I were you, I would consider

1. Convert to LP (no monthly fee if you don't use a lot of gas) The increased cost of the LP is more than made up by the monthly hookup fee if you conserve. Insulate your LP water heater well if you do it to save more.
2. A fridge can be had or made in very efficient setups and is available in LP and 12v varieties. Get a chest freezer, convert it to a fridge (thermostat mod) and instant savings, if you can get the chest fridge to run on LP no more electric necessary.

The above suggestions are items I am considering quite strongly if I ever bother building/buying a plot of land.

Cheers
Ryan

[Peter7307]

Originally Posted by Frank Lee

I'd wager I don't use 2/3 hot water. Plus I have a gas water heater and it uses so little that during the furnace-off months practically the entire bill is for the monthly service fee.

Looking at a recent gas bill shows $4.22 worth of gas but then add in all the B.S. (7 different items that even the person I called at the gas company didn't know what they were) and it triples to $13.09.

Looking at some billing statements... the actual electricity I use/month at 9.6 cents/kwh is only 1/3 of the total bill, the other 2/3 being facilities charge, renewable energy surcharge, and tax.

Frank,
I know exactly what you mean.
My recent gas bill tells me for every one dollar of gas I use it costs me two dollars to get it there.
I don't know how much "service" a pipe in the ground actually needs but I am guessing it is not a lot.
Same with the electricity bill. 1/3 product costs and the rest is "charges".

Water usage for my place is 66 litres/day so for each month it is 66 x 30 = 1980 divide by 4 to get US Gallons and it is about 500 or so for everything...showers , flushing the toilet (damn criminal waste in my opinion but a legal requirement here) , washing the clothes and the dishes (the clothes washing water is used on the garden so that helps).

Peter.

[Frank Lee]

Yeah, that gas pipe has been sitting there undisturbed for 43 years so far... the meter was too until last year when they replaced it with an identical old-school meter. Why? Because someone at the head office decided there is no way I could use that little so the meter must be defective. I should call them up and ask how that new meter is working out for them.

[Frank Lee]

Now, of course, that's an average. Some people use more, some people use less. We have 3 persons in my household, some houses will have 6, some will have 1.

But think about it. What if we all used 80% less water? What if we all used 80% less electricity? 4 out of 5 power plants wouldn't be needed!

What if we used 80% less gasoline?

What if we had 80% less kids?

[CFECO]

"80% less kids"...ahhhh peace on Earth.

[slowmover]

Guess you boys don't want to know about my 30,000-gl/month usage for a huge lawn, eh? Or feel compelled to offer answers to unasked questions (of which I'm not ever guilty, ha!). Texas is on fire and out of water is pretty much my signature on e-mails to family and friends these days due to the latest record drought. I'll be happy to be rid of this house (any non-income producing property) and it's attendant overhead. Soon, very soon, I hope.

And is my lawn green? Relatively, not at all.

Good related article in yesterdays NYT. Or, as Michael Hudson has it (roughly), tollcollectors at every necessity.

.

[JasonG]

With an RV/Marine toilet you will use less than 30 gal per month flushing.
And that is laundry water at that !

[bennelson]

Hey, that's actually a really interesting concept!

[slowmover]

Or, try a composting toilet. Hu-manure, anyone?