Electricity Hike Coming Any Tips For a More Energy Efficient Reef?

[dz6t]

There are several points to share:
1. changing to LED wont save you much over metal halide in the winter, your heater just work harder with LED.
2. Basement sump is a big energy hog, keep the sump on the same floor of the tank and use a smaller return pump will save a lot of electricity
3. Insulate the sump, especially in the basement will help.
4. heat the room instead of tank water is more efficient. Use propane indoor heater will help if the room is heated by electricity.

 

[choff]

I'm going to try to insulate my sump this winter. My heaters ran far too much. I used to maintain 79 degrees, but have steadily been going lower and lower. I'm down to 77.5 and may drop to 77 soon for all the reasons stated above. Been reading all the same material on lower temps with parasites, algae etc

I'm considering picking up dc pump for my basement sump. The wave line dc12000 will pump 1k gph at 13 ft and a 20k is supposed to be coming out.

 

[Jeff.:P]

Get a nano tank only 128 watts here. And take less showers

 

[jay2941]

National grid does not supply your electricity they diliver it. Chang suppliers with national grid to lock in at a better rate

 

[this is me]

Anyone see the difference in their bill yet? Mine doubled! This beg the question. Does a natural gas furnace use electricity? Is it because of the blower?

 

[reefstarter]

Im working on a way to save some electricity .......... more to come

 

[Marshall O]

Anyone see the difference in their bill yet? Mine doubled! This beg the question. Does a natural gas furnace use electricity? Is it because of the blower?

Yes, whether it's forced hot air or forced hot water, it uses electricity. Blower for the former, recirculation pumps for the latter.

 

[mvallee]

mine went up by a third $429 this month, I have a hot tub outside though so my electric has always been high usually $270-$340 in the cooold months so this one hurt with the cold weather just beginning, might be time to shut the tub down for the winter. I was considering moving my sump and fuge into the basement but the return pump would have to be twice the size as I have now with 2-3 times the draw of current so not sure I am doing that either now, any talk of this increase being temporary or is this forever?

 

[Marshall O]

I recently had a solar panel system installed to help. We use a lot of electricity, mostly from the tanks. It should produce about 60% of my yearly electricity. That should help

 

[Rone]

I changed over a couple months ago and locked in at 9%.

 

[JTM4UG]

Rone what third party supplier did you switch to. Im trying to lock in with one now

 

[s_kelley]

I recently had a solar panel system installed to help. We use a lot of electricity, mostly from the tanks. It should produce about 60% of my yearly electricity. That should help

My house is all electric. Been thinking of solar for a while but been Leary. Who did u use, did you buy or lease, how did it work?

 

[Rone]

Rone what third party supplier did you switch to. Im trying to lock in with one now

I can get all the info in morning for you.

 

[dilligaf29]

marshall who did u use for the solar panels ?i been looken for a good company for my house lmk thanls

 

[JTM4UG]

Cool thanks man ill talk to you tomorrow about it.

 

[firstimer]

Vivint or solarcity. I just had 21 panels installed.

 

[Marshall O]

My house is all electric. Been thinking of solar for a while but been Leary. Who did u use, did you buy or lease, how did it work?

marshall who did u use for the solar panels ?i been looken for a good company for my house lmk thanls

I bought mine, (20) 280 Wh panels, 5.6kWh system. Endless Mountain Solar installed them. Mine will produce about 8 mWh over the course of the year. Be very, very careful with the lease, $0 out of your pocket "deals". They are getting 100% of the rebates, incentives, and SREC's, and then selling you back the electrify produced. That rate is not locked in, so you could end up paying more for that electricity compared to another provider. When I was comparing all of the companies, they were quoting me around $.13/kWh for what I produced. My city just contracted with another provider, so we are now getting electricity for $.12/kWh. So I would have been paying more, to have someone else make money off me, leaving me with panels on my roof that lower your property value (if you don't own them).

Instead, if you buy them, you obviously get all the credits, rebates, SREC's, and an increased property value. In my case, my system with be 100% paid for in about 5 years. But I have a perfectly south facing roof with basically nothing shading it at all. It's not for everyone, but it was for me obviously.

 

[this is me]

My house is also south facing and get full sun all day long in the winter. If I do solar, it would have(?) to be installed in front of the house? I'm not sure if I can live with the look of a house full of solar panels on the roof.

 

[reefstarter]

The back of my house faces south which is perfect , But I need to make sure my roof is good before putting panels up .

 

[this is me]

I just got my gas bill online and it's not that bad so far...About $400 combined gas and electricity bill. I was a little shocked to see my electricity bill went from $80 in the fall to $110 in October(heating on and off) and now $220 for the month of Nov. This is from the electricity hike and the heating set at 68 constant. I know the tank cost me about $50-$60 a month based on my calculation. Dehumidifier still running in the basement.