I'm going to have to restrict use of my oven

[ensho]

I keep reducing my electricity use and the electric bill keeps going up.

I've done everything from the energy saving lightbulbs, to using night lites in the hall instead of the ceiling lights, to turning off anything I'm not using if only for an hr. - pc, Tv.

have lived in this apt. for more then 10 yrs. and have never been able to afford AC so that isn't in the mix.

the only thing left to cut down on is the use of the oven. like making bread, baking potatoes or anything that takes an hr. or more.

cripe

anybody else in the same boat?

[Old Codger]

1. My guess

Would be pretty much all of us.

[lumberjack_jeff]

2. Ever tried a solar oven?

I would think Key West would be the best place for one.

[ensho]

7. on a boat yes but the house is surrounded by foliage which

helps keep it cooler, so there is not a sunny area to work with.

[Morrisons Ghost]

3. During the spring and summer

I never turn my oven on! I cook everything on my grill outside! As an added benefit you don't have to clean the kitchen everyday.:hi:

[Statistical]

4. +1. $10 bag of charcoal goes a lot longer then $10 in electricity. n/t

[NYC_SKP]

5. What are the stats on propane vs charcoal vs electricity for cooking?

I don't know, but it's worth finding out?

[Statistical]

31. My back of napkin calculations

$8 bag of charcoal 40lbs, 9000 btu per lb.
$25 cylinder of propane 18lbs, 15,000 btu per lb
$0.11 per kwh of electricity, 3413 btu per kwh
$15 per 1000 cu feet, 1.028 million BTU per 1000 cu feet
Charcoal:
40*9000 =360K btu / $8 = 2.2cents per 1000 btu

Propane:
18*15000 = 270K btu / $25 = 9.3cents per 1000 btu

Electricity:
3413 / $0.11 = 3.2 center per 1000 btu

Natural Gas:
1,028,000 / $15 = 1.5 cents per 1000 btu

So Charcoal is about 30% cheaper than electricity (at .11/kwh your rates may vary) but natural gas is still the most efficent (even with new higher prices).

Of course I love the taste of a charcoal grill so I will pay that 0.7cent per 1000 btu premium. :)

[NYC_SKP]

35. So, flavor aside, best bang for buck is NG. One can hook that up to a BBQ.

A propane grill with different jets will run natural gas, IIRC.

Thank you, whiz kid.

Now if I could just find a graphic for a graph for a 24 hour period of time that indicates electrical generation by each source for CA.

Something like this, but broken down by source, NG, Nuke, Wind, Solar, Coal....

And it has to have a zero base line on the y-axis...



http://www.caiso.com/outlook/outlook.html

[Statistical]

38. The only concern about NG is the rapid rise in prices.

NG costs have tripled in last 10 years while charcoal costs have been pretty flat.
NG is still better than electricity but the gap is closing.

As we hit peak NG prices will rise even further.
Also if hydrogen fuel cells ever catch on an easy/cheap way to make hydrogen is reform NG.
NG powerplants likely will replace coal if strict enviro regs go into place.

But as a snapshot in time if your NG prices are less than about $18 per 1000 cu feet it is cheaper than charcoal.

[ensho]

9. I avoid eating food cooked by charcoal

nt

[Statistical]

16. I avoid eating food NOT cooked by charcoal :) n/t

[malaise]

6. Baking potatoes takes an hour?

Try new potatoes - that takes about 20 minutes.
Alternatively buy a small BBQ, wrap the potatoes in foil and bake them using coal.

[ensho]

10. don't use modified potatoes - boiling potatoes takes less time but

a sweet potato is baked. (guess they could be boiled but have never seen anyone do it)

[malaise]

22. I don't use modified potatoes either

but fresh/new potatoes don't take an hour to bake.
You can boil sweet potatoes for ten minutes and then bake them to save oven use.

[ensho]

23. ahh, thanks for the sweet potato tip

I like to stir fry left over baked sweet potato with other vegs. yummy

[MgtPA]

37. For regular baking potatoes, nuke first for about 5 mins, then bake for about 20 mins.

[RoccoR5955]

8. Welcome to the club.

Many of us are in the same boat. For years I have been doing my best to reduce electrical usage.
You might also try to put your TV on a surge box and turn the surge box off AFTER you turn off the TV. They come on instantly because they draw juice even when powered off, as do any number of modern electronic devices. Also, those little 'bricks.' You know the AC adapters that power nearly everything small. Well they draw power just by being plugged in. I keep several of those on a power strip as well, and turn the strip off when I am not using them. But existentially anything with any kind of light on it sucks juice even when powered off.
Those are just two methods that I can come up with off the top of my noggin, to help.

[ensho]

12. thanks for info, I keep the dvd thing unplugged

nt

[DCKit]

11. Nuke the potatos (not as good, but cheaper) and switch to rolls from a really hot oven.

I bake my bread at 425-450F and it's done in ~20 minutes, rolls in about 12. It takes a little longer to get hot, but heat transfer (cooking) is faster when the temperature difference is greater and small things cook faster.

If you use a pressure cooker on the stove-top, you can cut energy use in half with many foods. It all ends up as soup, stew or steamed, but you can cook almost anything under pressure for 20 minutes then turn off the burner and let it sit for another 45 minutes and dinner is done. Best of all, there's only one pot to wash.

Good luck!

[ensho]

15. I don't use microwave

I can oven bisquits or cookies that don't take much time and there is a bread/roll that I make that doesn't take much time.

[kestrel91316]

13. I could be. I've been lucky so far this spring and only had to run the AC several days

in Apr/May. But it's gonna heat up in earnest soon.

I don't bake bread or use the big oven much in summer. I use my little toaster oven and I think it saves me some in compensatory AC bills......

My biggest savings will be the "no tv" since my converter box doesn't work.

[pnwmom]

14. Check the bill to see what your usage is. Is it just the rates that are going up,

or are you being billed for higher usage even though you're cutting back? If you are, something's wrong.

If you don't have an individual meter, then the problem is that no matter how much you cut back, you are helping to pay for other people's usage.

[ensho]

17. rates going up - have individual meter

nt

[ensho]

18. thanks everybody - looks like I've done all I can so will just have

pay up.

[Lone_Star_Dem]

19. Boiler or individual hot water heater?

Sometimes old hot water heaters suck a lot more electricity.

[ensho]

24. use very little hot water as I'm in the subtropics and I don't eat meat

or seafood so don't need hot water for cleaning off grease. or taking a shower. most of the year our cold water isn't very cold so feels great while showering.

[Lone_Star_Dem]

36. You could perhaps turn off the hot water heater then?

Even if your not using it, it's working all the time to keep the water at whatever temperature the thermostat is set at.

Perhaps you could turn it off and see if that helps out a bit?

[Lars39]

20. Here's a thread about water heaters that might help:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=353x2598

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

21. Maybe Cut Down Your Computer Usage?

:shrug:

[ensho]

25. oy vey! my link to the world! (I do turn it off when not using)

used to leave it on all day/evening

[Gwendolyn]

32. Laptops use a fraction of the electricity. For future reference if you don't have one now..

:)

This site might interest you. http://michaelbluejay.com/electricity/howmuch.html

[Grey]

26. Have you thought about using a Toaster Oven?

They use less power with a smaller volume to heat.
I microwave my potatoes for a few (5 to 7) minutes then finish baking them in the toaster oven.

p.s. My toaster oven holds/bakes 2 loaves at a time. I love homemade bread.

[ensho]

34. yes, but I'd have to buy one and my counter space is 6' 28" which

includes the sink. :)

I think I've done all I can to conserve unless things get much worse.

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

27. By The Way... When Was The Last Time You've Updated Your Appliances?

Fridge, Oven, etc.

You'd be amazed at how much more efficient new ones would be compared to your old ones, if your old ones are outdated. Just a thought (though you may have no control over it to begin with).

[juno jones]

28. I often use a toaster oven for baked potatoes, casseroles, etc.

Still have to use my oven for full-on birds, but the toaster oven makes a huge difference, lot less space to heat...

[kjackson227]

29. The flourescent bulbs worked for me...

They save me about $25 to $30 dollars per month. But, another great way to help with the heat and cost is to use the energy-efficient window treatments (blinds, shades, curtains). When the heat registers 98 degrees, I'm able to keep my home at 75-76 degrees (although the a/c unit runs ALL DAY), at least I'm able to keep my home comfortable. Also, don't forget to change that filter every one-two months.

[mntleo2]

30. From someone who is poor ...

... as a single mother and McJob worker, I have been low income all my adult life. I have found a small toaster/infrared oven helps as then you don't have to turn on the "big" one. I also try to "multi-task" with the oven by using it for more than one thing, if I can. for instance, if I am roasting a chicken, I will also put in the dressing, corn bread, sweet potatoes, etc at the same time ~ well at the time it takes to bake them if it is less time. Multi-tasking will also work for baking other things, like cakes and cookies, but not very well unless you can get them all on the top shelf, using both racks doesn't work well for baking cakes and cookies...

I also have a toaster oven and microwave, which cuts down on a lot of oven baking. While I would not bake a cake in the microwave, a small pan of brownies can be baked (tho not as well) in a toaster oven. I almost always reheat things in the toaster or microwave and almost all ready-made frozen things go into the toaster oven or microwave. These ovens will also keep your house cooler in the summer time.

Here is what I do for potatoes as well that cuts down on the baking time yet they come out almost like they have been in there for the entire time: I put the potatoes in the microwave and bake them (about 10 minutes for one or two and a few minutes more for any additional ones) until they are soft. I check them ever few minutes by gently squeezing them to see if they got soft. Don't forget to poke the skins after you scrub them, as they could explode!!! Then I put them in the oven to make the outside a little crisp.

I also bake more potatoes than I need for the meal because they are good to make into other things later. Like cheesy potatoes (where you scoop out the inside of the potato and mash it with cheesse, salt, pepper, then heap it back into the peel and rebake them in a toaster oven. Cheesy potatoes freeze well for something to take out later as a snack or side dish. You can even make them ahead and then serve them later with crumbled bacon, chives, sour cream ~ or put all those things IN the cheesy potatoes while you are making them.

Cold baked potatoes also fry up into "Murphy potatoes" by slicing or cubing them cold and then frying them with a little butter or bacon grease, with salt, pepper, green pepper and onion. Leave the skins on ...they are delicious and my gramma always told me that is where the nutrition is is in the skin ...

I have begun to make stews in a crock pot since even though it goes a lot longer, it is more electricity efficient, especially if I use it for a whole meal or serve the other side dishes cold like with chicken, or ribs. PLus I think they taste better if you like your meat tender and falling off the bone, which I do.

For breads, cakes and cookies, I have two cookies sheets so one is prepared as soon as the other one comes out of the oven and two racks to make sure the other ones are cooled enough to put in a container so I can use the cooling rack again for every other batch. Preheat, bake and then shut it off, but then use the warmth of the oven to season my frying pans or to warm other food to eat immediately, it takes at least an hour for the oven to completely cool. A whole batch of homemade cookies can then be baked in about 1/2 hour if you bake them 16 or 20 at a time (4 across and 5 down on an average cookie sheet is usually enough unless they spread a lot than you might wants to put them on the sheet in 4X4 rows, but usualkly you can do 20 at a time). Breadfs I ALWAY make two loaves at a time, quick breads can be frozen and regular bread does not usually hang around my house, lol. Cakes I bake the alloted time and try to use the warmth of the oven for something else.

Fritatas are a marvelous thing because they can be reheated: Melt some butter or bacon grease in an oven-proof frying pan. Beat some eggs, enough to cover the bottom of the pan about 1/2-1" and season the way you like (I use seasoning salt and pepper, sometimes some garlic or onion powder, whatever I have). Grate some cheese, dice onions, crumbled bacon, green pepper, ham, sausage or whatever you like to add later. Heat the pan until the butter/grease melts on the top of the stove and begins to bubble. Pour the beaten eggs into the hot grease and cook them until almost set. Take off the burner and sprinkle with your favorite stuff, topping it off with the cheese. Put the pan under a broiler until the eggs puff up and are set and the cheese is melted. Remove and serve. Refirgerate the leftovers and reheat in the microwave or the toaster oven, both are fine. Leftover frittatas also make a marvelous sandwich with bagels, English muffins or toast.

I also consider my oven and dryer as potential heaters meaning in the winter I lower the heat a little in the house and then open up the cooling oven when I am through with it so it will warm the area around it a little and I always run the dryer when people are home so it will add to the heat in the house ~ they are VERY expensive, perhaps the most expensive to run than any other appliance, but they are being used sometimes anyway, so why not use the heat for other things as well?

Hope this helps ...

Love
Cat In Seattle

[ensho]

33. all good ideas but I'm only feeding myself and have trouble not

wasting food. I often think that the food I fix for myself would also feed a child (not a teen)

[mntleo2]

39. Yeah this is true ...

...You can still cook ahead however and freeze almost all I have mentioned as leftovers. I reuse frozen dinner containers and put dinner leftovers in them or even put them on extra oven- safe plates. I cover them with plastic and freeze them so they can be taken out, plate and all and put into the microwave. They will stack nicely in the freezer. This way you aren't eating the same thing over and over for a week, but it will be something you will enjoy later. Cooking an extra pork chop, potatoes and broccoli makes a wonderful frozen dinner and you are using the same electricity to make more than one at a time. Myself or anyone can just take them from the freezer and reheat for a lunch or dinner. Make sure to remove the plastic before you micro and cover with a paper towel (which you can also reuse if it does not get too dirty). If you are a guest at Thanksgiving or other family celebration where a lot of food is already cooked, ask them for a little extra to take home so you can make TV dinners with it, your host will be flattered, I am, my sons who are single often ask for extras so they can make them for TV dinners. I send home trays if they don't have them, but they know they can also use oven-safe plaets. Plus it will be a quick thing to grab for work and a wonderful treat on a cold January day for lunch or dinner! It will almost be ready to warm by the time your lunch hour comes.

Hope this helps!

Cat