electric bills

[vpjazz]

Will someone give me an idea of what our monthly electric bills will run in the Puna area? We will probably have a 1,000 to 1,300 sq.ft. house. I don't mind hanging clothes on the line etc. I understand that electricity runs about .35 cents per kilowatt. Also it looks like yearly housing taxes are pretty low, somewhere between $150 and $250 for a home costing around $150.00 Thanks so much for any help and insights.

[Guest]

According to my bill, it looks more like 41 cents. Anyway, I usually pay about 175.00/month. I run a dehumidifier sometimes and sometimes an electric heater. I use an electric dryer maybe once a week. Clothes won't dry on a line in Volcano. I helps to use only the squiggly light bulbs. I also have an electric stove but don't use the oven much. Hot water is propane on demand which I find very efficient.
If you are living in the house, you get a homeowners exemption on taxes. If you are over 60, they go down even further. Ag land costs slightly more than residential zoning. You can see what folks in your area are paying for taxes at the country real estate tax site.
Contrary to popular belief, it can be far less costly to live here than on the mainland.

[birdmove]

I've been told that the hot water heater (assuming you have an electric one) uses the most electricity. A home inspecter said one can save quite a bit by getting just a solar hot water heater.



Jon in Puyallup, Wa.

[Royall]

Mine runs 89-105 a month depending on the time of the year. That is for one person with gas dryer, gas on demand hot water heater, and gas range. Amount of parties thrown also changes the total too! LOL

Royall

[Bullwinkle]

flash propane heaters are very eficient

conserve, conserve, conserve is the key --- I keep my bill to about 80-80$ for both the house and shop. That is including laundry with an ineffecient electric dryer - ouch

I run welders, ac pumps at the shop and full internet at both sites

Being trained in off grid - we only burn one bulb at a time etc to keep usage down

[Guest]

Wow! I thought my bill was pretty good. I have a propane heater but it uses too much fuel and is confined to the main room. I have a small, personal electric heater I use for quick heat on very cold mornings.
What is a "flash" propane heater?

[Bullwinkle]

flash heater - sorry slang for a propane on demand heater - it "flashes" the hot water

usage = I lived in remote places with tiny solar systems - good habits formed long ago paying off now - I have always had a very minimal "footprint" by conviction

[Guest]

Oh, no wonder I didn't know what a flash propane heater was. Do you actually have hot water heating plumbing in your house? I've never seen that here other than under the floor heating. My propane heater is a fire and very non-efficient.

[Bullwinkle]

yup took the old nasty electric water heater out and installed one of these

http://www.boschhotwater.com/BoschHotWat...fault.aspx

hooks right up to the existing fittings - we use about 5 gal of propane a month to supply two batrooms kitchen and laundry

I have a little chinese knock off for the shop shower

[Guest]

Oh. Being in Volcano, I was thinking about heat. I have the same hot water heater as you and love it. Very, very efficient.