My home's energy usage

[kevm14]

Feb 9, 2017- Mar 10, 2017. 550 kWh

Efficient homes: 444 kWh
Similar home average: 1,092 kWh

[kevm14]

Mar 11, 2017 - Apr 11, 2017. 556 kWh

Efficient Neighbors: 463 kWh
Similar home average: 1,151 kWh

[kevm14]

Started thread on old house...

New house electricity usage from 6/14 to 7/13: 654kWh

Half of that is heavy window A/C use in the July half of the bill, cooling my entire house (~2326 sq ft) on 4 units (31,200 BTU total). Most efficient neighbors are 431kWh. All neighbor average, though, is 1,277kWh!! Very similar square footage according to the report, so it is apples to apples.

I think this is fine. I submit that it doesn't cost $400/month to cool an entire house on window A/C (or central A/C). This bill was $122.

Base bill without A/C is around $90. So a full month of A/C should be about $150. Even if it was closer to $200 that is totally worth it for like 2 months out of the year.

I added another window unit today in the dining room. 12,000 BTU. My total A/C capacity is now 43,200 BTU or 3.6 tons, between 5 units. I'd think this house would spec a 4-5 ton central system so I guess it is still undersized but it should be able to keep the house where I want it. Curious what the bill does. Shouldn't change too much because I can work the higher efficiency units a little harder than the 2 lower efficiency older ones. Like I wont have to drive all bedrooms down to 68 (and work the great room unit as hard) just so I can kind of cool the downstairs.

[kevm14]

Apr 12, 2017 - May 12, 2017. 501 kWh

Efficient neighbors: 397 kWh
Similar home average: 975 kWh

[kevm14]

May 13, 2017 - Jun 12, 2017. 557 kWh

Efficient neighbors: 433 kWh
Similar home average: 1,108 kWh

[kevm14]

Jun 13, 2017 - July 13, 2017. 1,052 kWh

Efficient neighbors: 503 kWh
Similar home average: 1,101 kWh

Man. That like doubled. I guess my electricity usage with 5 window A/C units is equivalent to central air. Considering I think the entire house is comfortable, I guess this is not bad.

[kevm14]

Bill was only $178 so, meh.

Here's some history. Monthly averages back to Jan 2016 and daily average comparison between July of 2016 and 2017.

[kevm14]

Another fun fact: My usage equates to an average of 1.4 kW of power on a continuous, average basis.

[bill25]

We used 1090Kw, and the central air has downstairs at about 74/75 and upstairs on 71/72. This is less than optimal temp... Definitely infinitely better than no air, but still is warm at night in the bedrooms.

[kevm14]

I should get a trustworthy thermostat for downstairs. But I will say the great room A/C is kept at 72 and we never change it. The dining room A/C is set on 69 or 70 depending. Ian's room has an analog control but it couldn't be one bit over 70 in there.

Upstairs our bedroom A/C is set to 71 during the day and 69 at night. Owen's is also analog and we keep it just a tad warmer. Probably 73 or something. You do have a higher base load based on previous discussions so I'd say you are paying less for A/C than I am. But how much less I don't know exactly. And it also seems I have my house a bit cooler. Hard to feel like coughing up 6 grand to do central...not that I have a quote. Just a guess.