Downsizing Utility Usage
I have spent a lot of time talking about bicycling. That is not necessarily deviating from the topic of reducing my footprint because it involves removing a car from my life. Of the other things that I have been doing to save electricity usage is using a clothes drying rack in my balcony and the most recent one being switching off the water heater for a majority of the day.
My plan is to switch off the water heater all day and switch it on at 6:30 am when I wake up. I shower by 7:15 am which is plenty of time to heat up enough stored water for the whole day, which involves another shower. The only problem is to remember to switch it on in the morning! I did not remember this morning and was left with low pressure mildly warm water to bathe with. Thankfully, the fall weather in Jacksonville has been pleasant, some what windy too so I did not have to scrub too much.
Not using the drier and switching off the water heater should reduce my usage significantly. 80% of the light in my apartment is CFLs. I know about the mercury problem and I promise to dispose of them safely if they ever go bad!
On a separate note, I am not tracking my carbon footprint yet. I understand the benefits of measurement but downsizing usage is a proven method of reducing ones footprint. I also want my footprint measured more accurately and not an approximate as provided by most websites.
September 24th, 2008 at 2:22 pm
Interesting. I have never heard of the water heater thing before. Does it heat even if you are not home and not using it?
September 24th, 2008 at 2:57 pm
I think it switches on if the temperature drops in the reservoir. I know another person in Jacksonville through my JSF group (http://jacksonvillefuture.com/) who has been doing that and is reporting some savings. Also, some people put an external insulating layer on their water heater.
September 28th, 2008 at 11:52 pm
I’ve used a timer on my water heater before. I paid about $20 for it at Home Depot and it took the “having to remember” part out of it, however the simplest way is to just walk over and hit the switch. A less expensive method for me was to tape a stickynote reminder to my coffeemaker’s reservoir lid. I NEVER forget coffee.
September 29th, 2008 at 5:29 am
In Australia and I imagine you can get them in the U.S. as well we have solar hot water systems. We fitted one to our roof and it allows us to leave our hot water heater off for about 8 months of the year, While our model requires direct sunlight there are other heat pump types that can work in cooler climates etc.
September 29th, 2008 at 6:37 am
@ terri
That is a good idea. I stopped my coffee habits. Maybe stick something to the front door. I take Laya out first thing in the morning.
@ mueller
Thanks for visiting. I think we can do something like that all year round in Florida except a few days of storms. Unfortunately, I live in an apartment complex, so such modifications are limited.
It would be ideal to live completely off the grid. I am visiting one such house this month. It is built by Nelson Hellmuth to educate people about sustainable houses.
“His utility-free building has no water, sewer, or electric connections at all and has been built with all green products from the Green Home Store in St. Augustine, including natural cork, formaldahide-free plywood, solar panels, etc.”
I will post details about the house after my visit.
@terri
Would you be interested in coming? Email me if so.