My heating oil bill.

[CTyankee]

My last fill up was on 4/7. The bill arrived for $662! I am using the same amount per degree days as last year at this time period and it has more than doubled.

Get this: I am paying 70 cents more per gallon than with my last fill up in February!

And, my oil company said the price went up another 15 cents per gallon in just the last 2 days since I just filled up on 4/7!!!

I am set now for heating oil until next December. Can't wait to get the electric bill for this summer's a/c. I'm gonna be using lots of fans...

[AnneD]

1. Just remember....

you can't sing the blues in an air conditioned room....

[Demeter]

4. New England's Humidity Makes Air Conditioning a Necessity

but only for several weeks in a well-designed house.

[CTyankee]

6. We don't use the a/c more than just for the hottest days.

We have a large shade tree in the corner of the front of the house. That helps. I don't turn on the a/c except as a last resort and we are gone for 3 weeks in August when we turn the a/c OFF.

However, electricity has DOUBLED in cost in our area. We're more energy efficient and vigilant than most people. I have friends that think they are "freezing" if their house isn't kept at 70 degrees in the winter! 65 to 68 is where we keep the thermostat during the day, it is 60 at night.

[AnneD]

7. Well, there's a reason why the blues...

originated in the south-and I am sure heat and humidity had something to do with it...I hear Mississippi delta blues, NOLA blues, even the blues in Tennessee, but never heard anyone sining Connecticut blues;)

[MADem]

2. I am fortunate that I have a very cool basement.

Fix up your basement if it's cool--a great place to hide in the summer heat!

[Demeter]

3. You Need to Redesign Your Heating/Cooling Load and System

Get an energy audit--you can do one yourself--NH had an excellent paperback guide in the 80's which can still be found (I have have two) or there are professionals who can help.

Insulate, fill cracks, plant windbreaks and shade banks. Replace leaky windows and doors. Train the household how NOT to waste energy. Close unused space. Hang insulating drapes or window insulation.

Change your heating system. You must act now, or you won't make it through another winter.

Good luck.

[CTyankee]

5. We changed our windows to energy efficient last spring!

Our furnace is only 9 years old and we keep it serviced each year and our a/c is only 6 years old and is energy efficient.

I get what you are saying about the energy audit (esp. the new insulation idea)but I'm not really sure a big change to gas heat would be any better. I'll recheck, but as I recall gas consumers were not making out as well as oil heat consumers, price wise.