Act on Energy

So. I get my monthly/yearly energy usage from Ameren/Act on Energy and have been on a slow burn since I got it.

My Electric usage says that I use 99% MORE last year than my 100 neighbors. My Natural gas is 14% BELOW last year than my 100 neighbors.

Now, What burns my ass is that I'm pretty sure they didn't compare on equal grounds. From previous posts, ya all know I have a pool AND use solar heat to heat it, AND have installed a salt water generator to cut down on chemical use. I also have a 80 lbs per day Ice maker and just acquired a 400 lbs per day Ice maker that I use during the summer. I use almost all the energy saving ideas that I know of and yet I use 99% more electric?

Now a little quick background about all this. I have been involved with the Act on Energy Business program at my work since the day I learned about it. It is a very good program and has loads of opportunities for businesses to purchase energy saving equipment/services with rebate incentives to reduce their electric/gas bill. I have not kept track of the grand total but know it is over $50 k that I've done with the program. And yes you might say I'm addicted to saving energy. I traded my H2 Hummer for a Prius.

I didn't have a problem with the natural gas. My house is heated with NG central heating and also have a NG water heater that I just replaced in June. I have replaced the aluminum siding on the house and installed R-14 insulation and R-7 siding boards under the vinyl siding. I know that my house is insulated better than my neighbors.

Well. After the holiday season has wound down ( lack of posting ) I went back and tried to figure why my electric is soo high. Come to find out if you don't update account info, it basically take generic information and assumes all house are more less the same. One example is that they take your square footage of the county tax info. If you have a basement, it's not included. You need to change it. It also has a option for if you own a pool ( bonus ). Also states that after you make any changes it might take up to one billing cycle for changes to take effect.

We'll see next month !

Care Free Summer

Haven't posted in a while because of the great pool season we had this year and enjoyed a flawless season of pool upkeep. After year 2 of the Compupool chlorine generator, I can honestly say that this is the best setup for a pool.

The only problem I had this year is that the pool clouded up on a Wednesday. The reason was that the mechanical timer that turns the pool pump and the generator on had the "ON" lever fall off. Fixed the problem, hit the super chlorinate button and things were fine 24 hrs later.

Since it was a very dry summer, I frequently added water to the pool and never had to add salt this year either.

If you have a pool this is something to seriously look at!

Inflation

Cost of driving the Prius has went form .09 cents a mile to a dime !


Unfortunately the Avalanche went from .31 to .41 per mile.


Program is call Fuel Log for your android phone.

See it here.

Rhinophyma: Day Fourteen

3/22 Last Dr. Appointment today, doing fine. Keep Moist, NO SUN.

Parking Problems

Something about Menards parking lot brings out the worst in parking. Took these pics on a recent trip out there.

And no I didn't walk around the lot, this was from my truck to the door.

If yours is pictured, sorry.