Do you
remember the 80’s sitcom, Full House? It was the TV show where extended
lived together. My house doesn’t hold extended family, but it feels like it
with college kids taking up space that was once empty.
The energy
company sent me an email with a summary of my electric usage for the month.
According to them…”based on your usage, your next bill will be higher than this
time last year.” Hmm. College kids home.
I was sent
tips on how to conserve energy, but not one of them said send the kids back to
school. Nor did it say turn the heat down on them during the day. One son
already complained to me about the thermostat temperature. He said, “Ma we have
to walk around in coats because hot flashes keep you warm.”
I ignored my
son and came up with tips for lowering your energy bill with college kids at
home:
1. Eat by candlelight, keep the lights
off and watch a movie as a family.
2. Let your student was all of their
clothes in one load: no separation of colors.
3. Show them (again) how to wash dished
by hand; give the dishwasher a break.
4. Do not allow space heaters to be operated
for hours, in an empty room.
5. You must get in the shower within two
minutes of turning it on – no more going to another room for five minutes or
walking through the house for random items.
My house is
full…with two college students, unpacked duffle bags, pizza boxes, and loud
talking and laughter in the middle of the night. Perhaps this is an exaggeration…middle
of the night for me is 9pm.
Just like in
the sitcoms, every family has their issues. And just like in the sitcoms, we’ll
come to some resolution of our problem in 30 minutes. However, it may take an
entire season to establish new habits.
What fun
tips do you have for lowering your energy bill?
No comments:
Post a Comment