Lai lai lai, let's all help each other to save $$ on utility bills. Beat the heat, beat the bills back.

Here are some tips I've been following:

> Run your dishwasher and clothes washer before 11 am or after 7 pm.

> Turn off unneeded lights, computers and appliances when not in use.

» Set your thermostat at 78 degrees F when you're home and 85 degrees F when you're away.

» Use major appliances after 7 p.m.

» Unplug small appliances when not in use.

» Use ceiling fans to help circulate air throughout the house.

» Check weatherstripping around doors and caulking around windows. Properly sealed doors and windows help prevent warm outside air from entering the home.

» Close blinds, shades or drapes during the hottest part of the day to block the sun's heat.

» When leaving your home each day, turn off all unnecessary lights.

oh ....

I was thinking of skinny dipping in the lakes or something ...

neways my rent includes heat and hydro ... so I tidak apa ...

Save water! Take shower with your partner!

wind chimes…i’ve heard that hearing them makes you think think it’s cooler.

Originally posted by skid:

wind chimes...i've heard that hearing them makes you think think it's cooler.

wind chimes are evil ! ... they are damm freaky at night ...

Originally posted by Fatum:

wind chimes are evil ! ... they are damm freaky at night ...

U believe the myth that wind chimes attract evil spirits?? Haha

Originally posted by SpeedStar:

U believe the myth that wind chimes attract evil spirits?? Haha

my neighbour's japanese ... he has a whole forest of wind chimes in his back yard ....

sometimes at night with no wind ... they'll start ringing .......

Eeewww.....Fatum..............that's freaky. I'll definitely freak out!!!

Well, I run the dishwasher after 8pm. After 8pm, the rates are lower.

For laundry, I try to dry them out in the deck....floor mats, comforters and sheets. Clothings? I hang them in the basement, laundry area.

Although it's been so freaking hot, we didn't have the central air turn on nightly. On cool nights, we opened up windows to let the breeze in.

I try to stay indoors as much as possible. Me no like sun. Wait got orh pang, pek pang. No....no....no............

And dressed comfortable. Light Ts.

Umm........that's how I beat the heat!

how are the rates different ? i’m confused, isnt our bills the same for the amount we consume?

Originally posted by Fatum:

my neighbour's japanese ... he has a whole forest of wind chimes in his back yard ....

sometimes at night with no wind ... they'll start ringing .......

Ok lar, at least he might be attracting a pretty jiponese hantu.

Originally posted by uaremyfayth:

how are the rates different ? i'm confused, isnt our bills the same for the amount we consume?

there's a load limit on the power grid in many areas ... especially huge metropolitan areas like littlestream's city .... during peak usage periods, there may be a heavy strain on the power grid, and outages have occured... hence the different rates as incentive for people to save on power during these periods .....

the height of summer and winter are two such peak seasons ... one for the air-conditioning, and one for the heating ...

For me, I already get use to hot weather except the good thing here is its dry. I dun like the hot and humid weather back in sg....

Originally posted by SpeedStar:

For me, I already get use to hot weather except the good thing here is its dry. I dun like the hot and humid weather back in sg....

I agree. At least here, when it's hot, you don't break out in a sweat.

Originally posted by Fatum:

there's a load limit on the power grid in many areas ... especially huge metropolitan areas like littlestream's city .... during peak usage periods, there may be a heavy strain on the power grid, and outages have occured... hence the different rates as incentive for people to save on power during these periods .....

the height of summer and winter are two such peak seasons ... one for the air-conditioning, and one for the heating ...

Hot summers put a strain on the power grid as more people switch on air conditioners for relief, but I don't think power usage peaks again in winter since most people heat their homes with natural gas. At least that's the case here in the upper midwest.

Remember the rolling blackouts imposed by the utility companies out on the west coast a few summers ago, when it got really, really hot and the power grid apparently could not supply enough electricity because of excessive consumption by all the air conditioners that were operating? If I recall correctly, there was a huge scandal that emerged from that when it was eventually revealed that the utility companies supplying power to that region were conspiring to intentionally limit their output in order to keep energy rates up.

Anyway, the temperature's expected to get up to 96°F tomorrow. i think my air conditioner will be running most of the day...

In my kitchen at work, it’s 160 F in front of the stoves ! Thats HOT !

Originally posted by Meia Gisborn:

Hot summers put a strain on the power grid as more people switch on air conditioners for relief, but I don't think power usage peaks again in winter since most people heat their homes with natural gas. At least that's the case here in the upper midwest.

Remember the rolling blackouts imposed by the utility companies out on the west coast a few summers ago, when it got really, really hot and the power grid apparently could not supply enough electricity because of excessive consumption by all the air conditioners that were operating? If I recall correctly, there was a huge scandal that emerged from that when it was eventually revealed that the utility companies supplying power to that region were conspiring to intentionally limit their output in order to keep energy rates up.

Anyway, the temperature's expected to get up to 96°F tomorrow. i think my air conditioner will be running most of the day...

not so in the better half of the continent ... it's still hot water pipes heated with an electric boiler at many homes ... so november to march is a really bad time for the utilities coms ...

Canada doesn't pump as much money into infrastructure as the US, so the roads are not as good, the water's got too much chlorine ... and the power grids can't take the load ...

Originally posted by ben1406:

In my kitchen at work, it's 160 F in front of the stoves ! Thats HOT !

At least you're getting your pores cleaned out while you work.

Hi Ah Ben, LTNS! Which part of Canada are you at now?

Originally posted by Meia Gisborn:

Hot summers put a strain on the power grid as more people switch on air conditioners for relief, but I don't think power usage peaks again in winter since most people heat their homes with natural gas. At least that's the case here in the upper midwest.

Remember the rolling blackouts imposed by the utility companies out on the west coast a few summers ago, when it got really, really hot and the power grid apparently could not supply enough electricity because of excessive consumption by all the air conditioners that were operating? If I recall correctly, there was a huge scandal that emerged from that when it was eventually revealed that the utility companies supplying power to that region were conspiring to intentionally limit their output in order to keep energy rates up.

Anyway, the temperature's expected to get up to 96°F tomorrow. i think my air conditioner will be running most of the day...

I wasn't here when CA imposed rolling blackouts but I'm waiting to see if they're going to have to do it again. So far, the word is no but then summer's only just begun...

Only 96F and you have your a/c on? Wimp! *siamming*

Originally posted by jetta:

At least you're getting your pores cleaned out while you work.

Hi Ah Ben, LTNS! Which part of Canada are you at now?

hahaha ! im getting more pimples now..

i'm still in toronto now.. having problems with my work per it now. engaging a lawyer to do it for me..

cool… indeed

Originally posted by jetta:

At least you're getting your pores cleaned out while you work.

Hopefully, the stuff coming out of his pores isn't making it to the food he's preparing.

do you live in a 2 storey home?
a simple method is to open the windows on opposing sides of the house on different floors. typical laws of convection will send cool air running through the 1st floor while the heated air raises up out the 2nd.

curtains and blinds. if you leave your house during the day and HAVE to shut all the windows, draw the curtains and blinds. less light = less heat.

sites like these usually have some good tips, somewhere. the above 2 tips came from there, though i don't remember where exactly. maybe the forums?
http://www.worldchanging.com/
http://www.treehugger.com

Alternatively, get into a water fight!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D2xoDJP53QQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=349__IPiPz0

my utlities bill has been at around US$10 a month. he he he was forunate to pick a right apartment so that i don't have cooling issue.

Originally posted by Arapahoe:

my utlities bill has been at around US$10 a month. he he he was forunate to pick a right apartment so that i don't have cooling issue.

You are lucky! My most recent power bill was $56. I'm dreading the next one. My water bill (billed bi monthly) was $142. Yikes!