Green Savings

We got our electric bill yesterday. This bill was for the first full month that we have been really trying to save money. Our bill took a big jump in the cost per KWH in Febuary so I really wanted to decrease our electric usage. I have been comparing our KWH usuage to the same month last year. This month we came down roughly 25% from the same month last year. We even had snow during the month.

How did we bring it down? First we traded some of our light for CFL's. Mainly the ones in the kitchen and playroom. Changing the bulbs in an ongoing project for us because the CFL's cost so much.

I think the biggest change is putting in cellular blinds and then keeping them closed when it is dark or cloudy outside. When it is winter and a sunny day I open the blinds up to let the light and heat in.

We also changed the temperature on the heat pump. It was not much of a change because we keep it cool anyway in the winter.

We started insulating the hot water lines. That is something we will keep doing as time and money permits.

This month we are working on our garden. We are trying the Square Foot Gardening. It took a long time to find the vermiculite. This afternoon we should get our very first plants started! It should be good for our budget and tummies!

Also this month we will be getting more blinds. We have a half circle window that lets in great sunlight. In the summer that room bakes though! At Lowe's they sell cellular blinds at the best price we can find both locally and online.