Wasting@Home - Confessionals

[RH77]

In the summer, I refuse to water my lawn -- I'll let natural selection sort it out. The back is a bog anyway -- plan to install a rain garden in sections.

Getting hot water to the upper floor takes a while. I usually run the hot water while brushing, which offers immediate warmth for the shower. Shaving is cold water only.

I have 8 computers running the Stanford Gene Folding Project. Somewhat of a power draw, but it seems worthy to put old machines to a good purpose.

I never know when I'm going to leave the house for the day, so the EBH may be plugged-in longer than necessary. I'd rather err on the side of getting the car warmed first (the grid is more forgiving).

Frivolous drives: I am a rehabilitated performance car enthusiast. With that moniker comes the tradition of hopping in the car for a good, old-fashioned drive. I hypermile while doing so, and plan to drive less -- baby steps.

RH77

[NoCO2]

If I have had a long day I will take a longer then necessary shower to relax.
I own a computer that is far more then I really need because I'm a technology geek.
I leave my electronics plugged in when I'm not using them.

[dremd]

Originally Posted by RH77

I am a rehabilitated performance car enthusiast

RH77

I wonder how many of us fall in to that category?
I'm not out of re-hab just yet 2 Supras, but less than 300 miles between them this year.
I find that I get my "fix" by watching the scangauge and thinking about how efficiently the car is operating at the moment. . . When all else fails I drive about a gallon or so in a Supra, Guilty pleasure.

[Gone4]

Originally Posted by RH77

In the summer, I refuse to water my lawn -- I'll let natural selection sort it out. The back is a bog anyway -- plan to install a rain garden in sections.

I'm not sure about where you live, but I know a lot of people in my general area keep a barrel just for collecting rain water to water gardens with. I've never actually experienced a water ban or shortage, so I can say this is just normal to reduce waste or save money.

[Ryland]

I figure if I normally use less gasoline then most Americans then I should try to keep my quota up by doing things like starting bon fires with gasoline, maybe I'll dig a hole and just dump it in.

[Harpo]

Over the last year, I've tuned our utility bill down from average $220/mnth to about $165/mnth. As compared to our neighbors and friends, $220/mnth was already 70% of their bills.

-Tune the water heater (cleaned and set to 120°)
-Time the water heater (on at 0500 / off at 1900)
-Intelligent TStat (Summer 80°Day/76°Night)
-Every room has quality ceiling fan
-Intelligent TStat (Winter 68°Day/62°Night)
-Moved TStat sensor to center of main living space
-Low volume shower heads (I've got killer H2O pressure)
-Intelligent lights (Turnoff w/ no movement)
-Very few incandescent lights
-Run washer water to landscape (2-3x week)
-Added more landscape that requires no water
-Capture rainwater for deck plants / veg garden
-Hybernate two workstations when not in use


Less than $600 for all mods. The rest was personal effort. The spousal unit and boys find it all intriguing since I made it a science project. I'm ashamed how much I didn't try to do previously.

[Ryland]

you might be able to cut back on your water heater even more, we have ours set to come on around 5am off at 8am on again 2pm off at 4pm, with a manual over ride, this gives us 50 gallons of hot water that is still warm enough to shower with 3 hours after the timer has turned off, this is on a powered vent gas water heater, so it's just a Christmas tree light timer, but when we added the timer our gas usage dropped in half, our range is the only other user of gas and we cook alot.

[boxchain]

I waste gallons of water just trying to get hot water in the morning. The water heater is outside, travelling through uninsulated pipes in a crawlspace. Not the best design, but it's how they do it here, since you can't built basements. I can't wait to move out of this uninsulated crap apartment and into my own house (with the water heaters in the attic)

I leave my laptop on constantly, and a single CFL desk lamp...which finally blew just today. It was the first one I purchased 3-4 years ago. The bulb, not the laptop

[extragoode]

I love taking really hot showers. I know it wastes a ton of hot water, but I figure I make up for it elsewhere. And I leave my laptop on all the time, but it's a centrino and the backlight goes off after only 10 minutes and it's almost always idle, so I figure it's only burning 20-25 watts. Less power per day than my wife burns in 15 minutes drying her hair with her 1800 watt hair drier.

[jjackstone]

Here is a product I've run across to help alleviate wasted water. I haven't purchased one myself but the idea seems reasonable.

http://www.chilipepperapp.com/?darelldd

JJ