Energy &utility biils are getting bigger .

How do you economise on the utilities , heating, cooling in summer, water, Gas.

[FurballsMom]

Hope for moderate weather, so I can get by without heating any more than I have to in the winter time or cooling in the summer time.  Right now, the temps are actually pretty moderate for winter in this area.  That's not saying that the weather is so moderate, though, as we have been really having wild weather this week.

[margypops]

yes I have been able to put the heating on in the morn for an hour or two, but leave it off in the evening unless it gets chilly, I feel the cold horribly, my hands are always like ice ...

[margypops]

I hear $5 plus gas is on the way, I cannot fathom why we dont drill for our own there are plenty of sites in Alaska that are not ecology threatened .it doesnt make sense . and why has our drilling offshore in the gulf not been opened , we send money to Brazil to help them do deep water off sea drilling ..more hypocricy from Obama and a further way of trying to control us ...

[FurballsMom]

I don't know about all that, but it seems like no matter what other options they use for energy and economizing, it's still very expensive for the average person 'til the costs drop down to a price most people can afford.  I mean, we all know that electric cars, hybrid cars, solar and wind power are all reasonable efforts to try for alternative energy sources, but the start up costs make such things out of reach for the average person.  And, I've actually heard some down sides to solar panels, in that they can actually burn the soil in nearby areas, so I'm not convinced that solar belongs everywhere.  Some places, yes, and done right, so it won't burn the soil and such, yes, but I'm still not convinced it belongs everywhere.  Anyway, the problem still comes down to affordability for the average person who is still struggling to make ends meet.

[margypops]

yes sorry my political nature gets in the way ... we dont have to have this huge rise in prices if we use the energy we have in our own resources...

[MHMember]

No matter what I do my utilities are high. I turn down my heat at night and never raise it above 68 degrees, but it's still high. I also heard if a person uses their clothes dryer at night it's cheaper. I don't know if it is, but I do that to. I bake at night and then leave my oven door open to help heat part of my house. I do the same with my clothes dryer too. In the summer I dry my clothes outside on a clothes line. That helps cut my electric bill. I never use my air conditioner until the heat is unbearable. Until then, I use a fan. I try to cut back as much as possible. I suppose it has paid off some because in my utilities statements they show me as having the same usage as last year.

[FurballsMom]

I'm certain that if a home owner can afford the initial cost that a digital thermostat would be terrific.  The only thing I can do in the winter with the analog thermostat is wear long sleeves and sweaters inside and only turn the thermostat 'til I just hear the thing click on.  Not sure where it lands, but the thermostat drives me nuts.  I want to have it turned to a much lower temperature before it's willing to turn on, but this kind of thermostat doesn't do that.  Whoever invented this old fashioned style of thermostat must have created it to only turn on at about 72-75 degrees.  So, I end up actually getting too hot and having to turn the thing off after a certain point.  This is nuts, because I could possibly use less energy if the thing were set to about 62-65 degrees.  It won't turn on, though, 'til its in the top middle of the "comfort zone".  Don't expect public housing to install those digital thermostats any time soon.  It isn't about to happen.  I have it off as much as I can.  I don't turn it on 'til I absolutely have to.  

I do try to do those other things that MHMember talked about as much as possible.  Some of this isn't possible when living in an apartment.  The laundry facilities are closed at the hours suggested.  I do have to turn on the a/c, though, or I get sick.

[margypops]

My new gas bill came in today and it was'nt as bad as I thought it would be ..its the electric in summer that is very high..by the way I wash the clothes  in cold water that saves quite a bit ,I know what you mean about the heating I often find 75 degrees too hot yet 72-3 too coo.. its the air cond in the summer that I really get the big bills from...other than sweat theres not much I can do about it, maybe this summer I will sweat