So, as you might recall, in a recent column I whined about the weeks I recently spent as an adult child living back at her parents’ house. My father had the annoying habit of setting the thermostat on, oh, HELL, while I sweltered upstairs in the summer heat.
Well, I’ve been in my new and own house for about three weeks now, and I have been enjoying temps that range between 72 during the day and 78 at night. Moderate ranges, I thought.
Last week, I got my first utility bill for just 20 days of service. Total amount: $220.86. Granted, that includes a $40 connection fee, but that’s just for 20 measly days! I live alone and I am fairly certain that my dog, whose paws are too big to manipulate the thermostat’s small buttons, has not been turning it down to 65 while I’m away!
I am going to have to do what I dread - and that’s become my father and turn up that thermostat as high as I can stand. How high can I go, though, without melting into a mocha puddle on the sofa?
The Guest Diva and metro columnist,
Wendi C. Thomas
Responses to “The Guest Diva and her thermostat”
August 9th, 2006 at 12:51 pm
I live alone in a 950 s.f. home built in 1958 w/single pane windows. I installed a programmable thermostat that automatically sets the temp at 78 from 6-8AM and 4-10PM, 82 from 10PM-6AM, the rest of the time its at 85. I only deviate from the program at night when I set it to 80 and when I’m away for a few days at which time I set it at 85 and “hold” it there. The house is dang hot when I get home but cools off quickly enough. I use a lightweight bedspread and keep the fans going. My MLGW bill came yesterday…$93 for July…and that’s the highest one this summer. Not bad when you consider that $20 of that is trash pick-up. Someday, I’ll tell you about the winter routine.
August 9th, 2006 at 5:23 pm
I hate to break it to you, but 72 degrees during the day isn’t “moderate” if you are trying to conserve energy and save money. As hot as it has been lately, your air conditioner would use major electricity to achieve and maintain that temperature. Programmable theromstats are definitely the way to go. I also keep mine set warmer when I’m away and start the cool down right about the time I’m on my way home in the evening.
August 9th, 2006 at 7:21 pm
Mine for July? $503–just a few dollars short of double for the same period last year! So I got on the phone to MLG&W and the nice woman I talked to explained everything to me. When we were done, I realized that it was a valid bill, but that we had to figure out why it’s so high for a 2500-ish square-foot house.
Turns out the filter in one of the units was filthy, so we changed it and cleaned both the units. When we’re at work, we’re turning the air off, we bought a programmable thermostat (but haven’t installed it yet, so it’s really helping), and we’re having someone from MLG&W come out for an energy assessment. I’m hoping for a reasonable bill at the end of the month.
In perspective, I believe that $500 is more than I paid in rent, utilities, phone and cable combined for my first apartment. OK, so it wasn’t yesterday. In fact, it was back when gas was about 50, maybe 75 cents a gallon…
August 9th, 2006 at 7:23 am
We have a digital thermostat that my husband keeps at 78. He blows a gasket if I move it even one degree lower, which I sometimes do when I’m cooking or getting ready in the morning. God help me if I forget to punch it back up. He tried to put it at 79, but I told him I refuse to be uncomfortable in my own home. Somehow that one degree makes a big difference. But I’m pretty used to 78 now. We keep it at 68 in the winter. Chilly, but good to sleep in.