advice needed

[SSN596]

Our local utility has a carrot-and-stick deal going: If we reduce eletric consumption in July/Aug/Sept by 20% below what we used last year, then in Oct/Nov they will credit back to us the amount saved.

We have a small condo, and in May/June ( using no heat, no A/C ) we had an average consumption of 10.5 Kwh per day. No outside lights; 2 (19") TV, computer, refirgerator, electric dryer, assorted "cubes" for answering machines, etc. Principal lighting in LR and K flourescent. Where can we reasonablhy look to reduce this by 20%?

[Kidd6488]

Of those items mentioned, I'd say the TVs, the computer (monitor) and the electric dryer are probably using the most electricity. Those little cube transformers are drawing nearly no electricity. Perhaps only leave the TVs you need on when you need them; turn them off if you are going to walk away for a period of time, and only use one at a time... The computer itself won't be drawing a whole lot of power, but maybe shut it down at night if you don't already. The monitor is the big juice-eater, esp. if it is a CRT (like a TV). Change your energy-saving settings to turn off the monitor after 10-15 min of non-use(Email me if you need help there)

The electric dryer is the biggie on that list. If you cannot hang clothes out to dry, try using the air-only settings, or low-heat. Dryers can really make your meter spin. And aside from that, just watch little things. Turn lights off when you leave the room, or try using dimmers on lights you use a lot (but this might defeat the idea of cost-cutting). Maybe you could also turn your fridge on energy-saving (as opposed to Reduce Exterior Moisture) if it has that.

Anyone else got any ideas?

~Jonathon Reinhart