I still remember my mother nattering at me for leaving the refrigerator door open while I simply poured a glass of milk.
I still try to hold down the Wattage even though I gradually switched over to Compact Flourescents and now to LEDs. Post-Depression baby behavior, I guess, and there are times in spring and fall when I get below 100 kWh usage.
Occasionally if it snows (or sometimes if it's raining hard) I keep the back porch light (now a 60W equivalent CFL) on all night so I can observe the precipitation progress. The building lights (required by Code) are kind of around the corner and normally it's dark as a bat's groin out back.
The one incandescent I have is a little 7-1/2 Watt incandescent night light on 24/7. I could change to a modern night light, but I've had this one for decades and stocked up on 7-1/2 W bulbs a while ago and I recently noted you can still buy them. They quit about every 18 months and get whiter and brighter just before they burn out. It's just sort of an old friend, kind of, and gives out just enough light for "instrument navigation" around the house. It consumes about 66 kWh per year, about $8.60 annumly.
I have noticed two things about CFLs. One is that, like any flourescent lamp, they are very dim when cold and might have to warm themselves up, and the other is their lives are much shortened with lack of ventilation. I modified my bathroom fixture slightly to allow a modicum of convective airflow over the bulbs.
My last bill was for 145 kWh, if I recall without looking. But I'm in an apartment with heat provided and I rarely use dishwasher or stove, both of which are terrific users / wasters of energy. Of course I'm paying for heat and water indirectly.
Terry, 115RN (Just conserving numbers there.)
