08-28-2007, 09:11 AM
For your normal useage, check your current electrical bill or meter (usally near the inverter...somewhere...if you are currently off grid...) For pool electrical that really depends - on the volume of water (ie size), the filter capacity, the pump size, if the pool has this - the heater capacity & size & the type of heating....so many variables....
If you are not intending to have the electrical usage you currently have...do things around your house to reduce your useage now (Hawaii is th e most expensive state for electricity, so it is best to practice energy reduction before you get here...cheaper too!
Things we did: change all of your lights to energy saving lights (we are in the second generation of this, now only adding LED lights, as CFL (compact flourescent)- like the bigger tubes - all have mercury as a waste issue & we are trying to limit that impact too, Reduce or eliminate CRT monitors & TVs, replace with energy miser LCD or Plasmas...eliminate or put elec. hot water tank on timer or switch on only when you need hot water, carefully look at the electrical consumption of all of your appliances & place all that you can on switches, to eliminate 'ghost draw' of powered up components.
These are just a few ideas...
We have also noticed that our teenage nieces were HUGE energy draws when they visited, & most of our friends with teenagers seem to have very large energy useage...don't know what to make of that...tie their allowance/living expenses to the electric meter???
If you are not intending to have the electrical usage you currently have...do things around your house to reduce your useage now (Hawaii is th e most expensive state for electricity, so it is best to practice energy reduction before you get here...cheaper too!
Things we did: change all of your lights to energy saving lights (we are in the second generation of this, now only adding LED lights, as CFL (compact flourescent)- like the bigger tubes - all have mercury as a waste issue & we are trying to limit that impact too, Reduce or eliminate CRT monitors & TVs, replace with energy miser LCD or Plasmas...eliminate or put elec. hot water tank on timer or switch on only when you need hot water, carefully look at the electrical consumption of all of your appliances & place all that you can on switches, to eliminate 'ghost draw' of powered up components.
These are just a few ideas...
We have also noticed that our teenage nieces were HUGE energy draws when they visited, & most of our friends with teenagers seem to have very large energy useage...don't know what to make of that...tie their allowance/living expenses to the electric meter???