Anonymous wrote:1800 sq ft Colonial (plus finished basement) built in 1939. Pretty old house and not too efficient.

Keep thermostat at 77 during day (I work from home), 78-79 overnight.

Electric was $84 for July.

I think a lot of you keep your houses pretty cold! Are you really uncomfortable at higher temperatures, or do you just set it at 72 or whatever because that's sort of the "norm"? PP who sets it to 68 at night, why don't you dual-zone or get a window unit so you're not wasting so much electricity cooling your whole house?

We have two zones. (actually two HVAC units in the house).
One handles lower level and 1st floor. The other the second and 3rd floors.

Sorry, I just didn't go into that much detail above.

After work, while we are downstairs cooking, eating dinner, reading, watching the Nats on tv, etc. the lower zone is cool.
Meanwhile, the 2nd and 3rd floors are set at the warmer "we're at work" temp.
Just before we head upstairs for bed *click* the upstairs begins to cool and the lower levels turn off for the night.
The upper level will go down to 68-70 (depending on set) and then basically will be off for much of the night b/c by then it's cooler outside and the cooler temp has held inside (and the moisture has been taken out of the air inside). We put an overnight cap of let's say 73 until the morning.
Once we wake up, the upstairs cools as we get ready for work (hot hairdryer for instance), then shuts off for the day, and we go downstairs, which is cooled if needed for breakfast before we leaving the house.

It's actually quite efficient and easy once you get your M-F routines down and programmed. Obviously anything can be easily overidden with a simple up or down temp arrow. And the weekends are adjusted as our schedules are set.

2000 sq ft rambler + 1900 basement - all windows replaced and insulation in the walls and blown-in in the attic

gas - $39
electric - $99

keep the AC at a constant and very comfortable 72 all day (I know, even when no one is at home). maybe ran the ceiling fans at night on the really hot days

Not sure what area you're in but Pepco may still provide a free energy audit. Only caveat is I suggest using a different company to do any recommendations rather than the auditing company due to potential conflict. Also, Pepco has an online tool that allows you to see how your home compares to neighboring homes. Just make sure you update your home information. Also, how old is your HVAC? Older units have a tendency to pull a lot of electricity.

1200 square feet, part of a dc rowhouse, built in 1902 and have bad windows (renting). Everything electric, 68 at night, 75 during the day (two-stories) and it was 260 for July.

1,100 sq ft apartment with window AC units. Bedroom is on a timer/thermostat; living room is an older unit with no thermostat.

Our power costs in summer run around $120/month; in winter, about $40/month. We have the AC on all day because we host our nanny share.

5000 sq feet built in 2003
Gas stovetop and water heater
Lousy insulation and windows judging by road noise.
Temperature set to 75 during the day, 69 at night, not programmable so I forget to switch temps sometimes. Set at 70 all weekends and holidays (hot blooded husband :lol

Bill was a hair over $315. Had some unearthly expensive part replaced in the unit this spring, which must have done some good as the bill was roughly $100 lower than last year's.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:1800 sq ft Colonial (plus finished basement) built in 1939. Pretty old house and not too efficient.

Keep thermostat at 77 during day (I work from home), 78-79 overnight.

Electric was $84 for July.

I think a lot of you keep your houses pretty cold! Are you really uncomfortable at higher temperatures, or do you just set it at 72 or whatever because that's sort of the "norm"? PP who sets it to 68 at night, why don't you dual-zone or get a window unit so you're not wasting so much electricity cooling your whole house?

Your temps will be just too warm for me. I think I could do 73-74 at night but DW like it as 71. We have dual zone and the night temps run the upstairs rooms only. the main level and basement are set for 75 at night and really don't come on since the upstairs cool air naturally sinks down to the main level.

What are you and DW wearing inside? I guess my frame of reference is that one of my friends keeps his house very cool, but is always dressed in jeans and a t-shirt plus a dress shirt inside. Of course you need it cooler if you're wearing layers in summer

tee shirt and shorts sans underwear! We must be just used to it.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OK so we are doing something terribly wrong. We have a split level. It's about 3000 square feet. Built in the late 50's and windows replaced at some point (80's?). We set the AC at 75-76. Last month, our electric bill was $370!!! Gas was about $30.

older AC unit (less efficient maybe?)

Older homes may not have insulation in the wall or enough in the attic, house wraps or house envelope sealing.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:1800 sq ft Colonial (plus finished basement) built in 1939. Pretty old house and not too efficient.

Keep thermostat at 77 during day (I work from home), 78-79 overnight.

Electric was $84 for July.

I think a lot of you keep your houses pretty cold! Are you really uncomfortable at higher temperatures, or do you just set it at 72 or whatever because that's sort of the "norm"? PP who sets it to 68 at night, why don't you dual-zone or get a window unit so you're not wasting so much electricity cooling your whole house?

Your temps will be just too warm for me. I think I could do 73-74 at night but DW like it as 71. We have dual zone and the night temps run the upstairs rooms only. the main level and basement are set for 75 at night and really don't come on since the upstairs cool air naturally sinks down to the main level.

What are you and DW wearing inside? I guess my frame of reference is that one of my friends keeps his house very cool, but is always dressed in jeans and a t-shirt plus a dress shirt inside. Of course you need it cooler if you're wearing layers in summer

Anonymous wrote:OK so we are doing something terribly wrong. We have a split level. It's about 3000 square feet. Built in the late 50's and windows replaced at some point (80's?). We set the AC at 75-76. Last month, our electric bill was $370!!! Gas was about $30.

older AC unit (less efficient maybe?)

OK so we are doing something terribly wrong. We have a split level. It's about 3000 square feet. Built in the late 50's and windows replaced at some point (80's?). We set the AC at 75-76. Last month, our electric bill was $370!!! Gas was about $30.

Anonymous wrote:1800 sq ft Colonial (plus finished basement) built in 1939. Pretty old house and not too efficient.

Keep thermostat at 77 during day (I work from home), 78-79 overnight.

Electric was $84 for July.

I think a lot of you keep your houses pretty cold! Are you really uncomfortable at higher temperatures, or do you just set it at 72 or whatever because that's sort of the "norm"? PP who sets it to 68 at night, why don't you dual-zone or get a window unit so you're not wasting so much electricity cooling your whole house?

Your temps will be just too warm for me. I think I could do 73-74 at night but DW like it as 71. We have dual zone and the night temps run the upstairs rooms only. the main level and basement are set for 75 at night and really don't come on since the upstairs cool air naturally sinks down to the main level.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Curious how efficient my house is. make sure you post caveat like no gas or electric water heater etc... gas bill

5800 sqrft inc basement
Built 2012
gas range all other appliances on electric (water heater)
temp set at 73 at night 75 during the day
gas bill $18
Power $320
Total energy cost $338

5800 sqft including basmt
built 2011
all appliances gas except 2nd floor heat pump
71 at night, 75 during day. programmable thermostat
gas $43
power $262. last months bill.

That's pretty good , do you have the base level builder grade non argon?

Windows

I'm the 2nd poster. I have the regular Anderson 300 series windows. 2X6 wall framing.

1800 sq ft Colonial (plus finished basement) built in 1939. Pretty old house and not too efficient.

Keep thermostat at 77 during day (I work from home), 78-79 overnight.

Electric was $84 for July.

I think a lot of you keep your houses pretty cold! Are you really uncomfortable at higher temperatures, or do you just set it at 72 or whatever because that's sort of the "norm"? PP who sets it to 68 at night, why don't you dual-zone or get a window unit so you're not wasting so much electricity cooling your whole house?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Curious how efficient my house is. make sure you post caveat like no gas or electric water heater etc... gas bill

5800 sqrft inc basement
Built 2012
gas range all other appliances on electric (water heater)
temp set at 73 at night 75 during the day
gas bill $18
Power $320
Total energy cost $338

5800 sqft including basmt
built 2011
all appliances gas except 2nd floor heat pump
71 at night, 75 during day. programmable thermostat
gas $43
power $262. last months bill.

Looks like our newer homes are in the same ballpark

Built 2005
5800+/- incl basement and a finished 3rd floor (playroom, bathroom, bedroom)

all appliances gas
3 gas fireplaces (so pilot lights stay lit all year)

gas $42
elec $258

2 programmable zones.

75-76 during weekdays while we are out.
68-72 in the morning/evenings
72-73 weekend days