Category Archives: Electricity usage

Where or where have I been?

Posted on April 28, 2013 by Sandy

Everything about this gardening season has gotten off to a slow start. I didn’t get my spring seedlings planted in time so I had to buy starts this year. I planted the cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower and onion starts only to … Continue reading →

Posted in Electricity usage, Gardening | Tagged , , | 3 Comments

Solar production check-in & great energy consumption progress

Posted on May 25, 2012 by Sandy

We’ve just hit an electricity production milestone with the solar production meter passing the 1500 kWh mark for 51 days of production. As I’m keeping track in the solar log, we’re currently averaging nearly 30 kWhs a day in production. … Continue reading →

Posted in Electricity usage, Energy usage, Natural gas usage, Solar | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

For all the garden geeks out there – my “hot” bed

Posted on April 29, 2011 by Sandy

This spring has been cold and wet. We’re a few days away from May and it is still cold and wet. Fearing a year with wimpy tomato production (again), I took some drastic measures. I created a “hot” grow bed … Continue reading →

Posted in Electricity usage, Gardening, Solar | Tagged , , | 6 Comments

Clothesline season, garden disappointments, and corn

Posted on May 17, 2009 by Sandy

A beautiful sunny weekend gave me the perfect opportunity to kick off the clothesline season for the year.  As I’ve previously written, our highest electricity usage happens on the weekends, which is when I do all the laundry. On a … Continue reading →

Posted in Electricity usage, Gardening | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

Finally, some energy reduction progress and RIP Blondie

Posted on October 24, 2008 by Sandy

At the mid-point each month, I look forward to getting our energy bill to see if any of our energy-saving measures are starting to pay off.  So far, I’ve only seen small improvements.  This month, however, the improvements are noticeable.  … Continue reading →

Posted in Electricity usage, Natural gas usage | Tagged , , , , | 8 Comments

Here comes the rain: Barrels, clotheslines, firing up the furnace, and chocolate zucchini bread

Posted on September 20, 2008 by Sandy

Summer in Seattle is short and can end abruptly.  In the last week, we’ve gone from days in the 80s to barely hitting 60, with lots of rain to boot. The change in weather has impact on many aspects of … Continue reading →

Posted in Electricity usage, Water collection | Tagged , , , , , | 6 Comments

Electricity usage: One step forward, two steps back

Posted on August 21, 2008 by Sandy

Between the middle of July and the middle of August, we installed a few dozen new compact fluorescent bulbs in our house. We’ve been more diligent than ever about turning off lights.  As the middle of the month approached, I … Continue reading →

Posted in Electricity usage | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Hung out to dry

Posted on August 17, 2008 by Sandy

While we may be looking a bit countrified, a bit Ma and Pa Kettle in this photo, it actually shows that we’ve made some real progress. If you look past the dormant lawn/weeds that have turned into exposed dirt thanks … Continue reading →

Posted in Electricity usage | Tagged , , , | 5 Comments

Go to the light…

Posted on August 11, 2008 by Sandy

As alluded to previously, one of the things we’re doing is trying to increase efficiency given the existing infrastructure of the house.  To wit:  we’re replacing the majority of incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs.  Now, personally, I’ve never … Continue reading →

Posted in Electricity usage | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Laundry day, our worst electricity usage day of the week

Posted on August 11, 2008 by Sandy

I have to say, the Puget Sound Energy site is quite good.  I’m able to get way more information about my electricity and gas usage than I ever knew I could.  If you look at your bill details online, you can break your usage … Continue reading →

Posted in Electricity usage | Tagged , , , , , | 4 Comments