Electric bill trhough the roof... ouch

[jjirsa78]

My parents are both petroleum geologists - my mom went into teaching when most of the socal wells were capped because they weren't profitable at $20/barrel. Canadian tar sands weren't ever processed because they weren't profitable until $30/barrel.

At $75/barrel, there's more domestic oil than we know what to do with it - the only problem is that there are tax credits for foreign oil, and none for domestic.

 

[NicoleC]

Oil is history, but the conversion to other fuels is going to be darned painful, because we've barely started the process and we are reaching crisis levels already. We needed serious incentives for R&D and alternative fuels decades ago -- not the little dribbles for fuel cells or whatever the lone flavor of the year is while the incentives and tax credits for gas and oil have gone gushing out.

We WILL convert to other fuels, but us little guys are going to get hurt badly in the meantime. Even something as simple as a solar powered or on-demand water heater will help slash your electricity bill (water heaters are another major energy expense). Something to remember as the inevitable home repairs come up.

As for attacking Canada and Mexico, why buy the cow, eh? As long as we keep buying, they'll keep selling it to us. Although we HAVE invaded Canada before... and Canadians remember even if Americans don't!

 

[cb9tunerguy]

i replaced all the lightbulbs in my house with GE energy star cfl bulbs. the inital cost of the bulbs were a bit more than a regular bulb. but they have payed off so far. they put out the same luminocity as a 60w incandecent bulb but use 13w of energy. also they are garunteed to last for 5 years. my ceiling fan lighting fixture holds 4 bulbs. it had 4 75w bulbs. that was 300w when the the lamp fixture was on. now it uses 52w. talk about saving some energy! the light output is really good to. hope this helps cut down on the bills a bit. it did for me.
thanks

 

[WarDaddy]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7762706#post7762706 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by cb9tunerguy
my ceiling fan lighting fixture holds 4 bulbs. it had 4 75w bulbs. that was 300w when the the lamp fixture was on. now it uses 52w. talk about saving some energy! the light output is really good to. hope this helps cut down on the bills a bit. it did for me.
thanks

Only if we could light our reefs like that, 800 watts of light for 125 watts of power!

 

[Fmellish]

I replaced all my incandescent bulbs years ago.

My wife was like what are you doing? And I was like first of all honey, they save $34 /year each, times 30 bulbs = $1020 /year in savings plus the savings in bulb replacement, ($100/year), since they last 8 years each, plus the savings in heat since incandescent bulbs get so damn hot. And then she was like it cost you $200 for all those bulbs and I was like, you totally don't get it.

I think now she is probably happy knowing that our bill is anywhere from $40-100 cheaper per month because of it. Not to mention how much hotter a room gets with incandescent lights on.

Mike, why am I a b@$t@rd ?

Cheers
Josh

 

[bergzy]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7762477#post7762477 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by NicoleC
Oil is history, but the conversion to other fuels is going to be darned painful, because we've barely started the process and we are reaching crisis levels already. We needed serious incentives for R&D and alternative fuels decades ago -- not the little dribbles for fuel cells or whatever the lone flavor of the year is while the incentives and tax credits for gas and oil have gone gushing out.

We WILL convert to other fuels, but us little guys are going to get hurt badly in the meantime. Even something as simple as a solar powered or on-demand water heater will help slash your electricity bill (water heaters are another major energy expense). Something to remember as the inevitable home repairs come up.

good luck convincing the 9 out of 10 world's LARGEST companies in the world being oil companies or linked to oil companies (read: car companies) to convert to alternative fuels.
http://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/global500/2006/full_list/

if there is alternative fuel sources developed to be profoundly economical...one of several outcomes may arise such as one of the oil companies buying out a breakthrough ethanol producer, biodiesel producer etc. these companies make obscene amounts of money and are willing to pay a very small percent of their pennies to protect their profit flow.

look at wal-mart...the second largest company in the world...they have a 3.56% profit margin.

forget about exxon which has a 10.6% profit margin...let's look at no 10...conocophillips profit of 8.11%. wal-mart works awfully hard to be the second largest company in the world!

yeah, i sound pessimistic but unfortunately, human nature's unquenchable greed allows me to predict things fairly accurately.

btw: i ALWAYS hope that i am wrong in these cases...unfortunately, i rarely am.

one of the ways of course to pressure the oil companies to stop producing oil is for us to stop using oil...again, unfortunately, we (myself included) are selfish as well and most of us are not willing to tighten our belts and sacrifice to a greater cause. it reminds me of an article in my undergrad university paper where the editor said that the only way to 'save the earth' was for humans to practice euthanasia. i simply wrote back to her saying 'you first'.

 

[F35-Joint Strike Fighter]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7762325#post7762325 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by NicoleC
Nope, it's Canada. Who knew?

2005 Annual barrels per day (in thousands)
Canada 2172
Mexico 1646
Saudia Arabia 1523
Venezuela 1506

April 2006 barrels per day (in thousands)
Canada 2112
Saudi Arabia 1592
Mexico 1443
Venezuela 1349

Source: US DOE
Annual for 2000-2005: http://tonto.eia.doe.gov/dnav/pet/pet_move_neti_a_ep00_IMN_mbblpd_a.htm

Monthly for the last 6 months:
http://tonto.eia.doe.gov/dnav/pet/pet_move_neti_a_ep00_IMN_mbblpd_m.htm

I thought you are expert in reef only, but it seems you like Google, I can find bunch of info from you.

Good info again

 

[NicoleC]

Oh, I agree, Ben. They'll keep squeezing the oil resources for greater and greater profits as long as they can.

But it's not a renewable resource and we ARE running out. There are no doubt still untapped reserves left, and some better extraction technologies to be developed, but when it is gone it is are GONE. It may be 10 years or it may be 50 years before we've sucked the last of it out of the earths crust -- getting rarer and more expensive (and more profitable) the whole time -- but there is an end coming. Geologists are estimating 20-30 years, but even they admit it's hard to say how accurate that estimate is.

My Dad and I used to argue over renewable energy -- 20 years ago. He worked in petroleum all his life. 20 years ago, he was confidant there wasn't going to be a real problem (unlike the fictitous crisis of the 70's) because they were developing new stuff and there was going to be a miraculous breakthrough. Now, he's just angry and disappointed that 20 years have gone by and we've gone almost nowhere in that direction.

Meanwhile China's appetite for energy (and also other developing countries) is rapidly growing and they are starting to compete for the same limited reserves.

I'd betcha dollars to donuts Chinese scientists (or scientists funded by the Chinese) will discover something new or will break down some major barrier to one of the existing alternative fuels while American fuel companies are still insisting you'll pry SUVs from their consumers cold, dead hands before they will give them up.

Fine, build your SUVs. Just have 'em run by extracting carbon dioxide from the air or something. Just don't pollute too much oxygen, it'll be bad for the plants.

 

[NicoleC]

I thought you are expert in reef only, but it seems you like Google, I can find bunch of info from you.

Good info again

I :inlove: Google. For the eternally curious, it's nirvana in a browser window.

 

[bergzy]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7762956#post7762956 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by NicoleC


But it's not a renewable resource and we ARE running out. There are no doubt still untapped reserves left, and some better extraction technologies to be developed, but when it is gone it is are GONE. It may be 10 years or it may be 50 years before we've sucked the last of it out of the earths crust

i dont know if we are running out or this article is just being optimistic and wanting us to continue to 'fuel' the oil companies but:
http://www.forbes.com/forbes/2006/0724/042.html?partner=links

on a personal note...i would love a non-polluting/non-global warming alternative fuel source that didnt put a dent in my incredibly selfish narcissistic lifestyle.

 

[jjirsa78]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7762877#post7762877 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by bergzy
good luck convincing the 9 out of 10 world's LARGEST companies in the world being oil companies or linked to oil companies (read: car companies) to convert to alternative fuels.
http://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/global500/2006/full_list/

if there is alternative fuel sources developed to be profoundly economical...one of several outcomes may arise such as one of the oil companies buying out a breakthrough ethanol producer, biodiesel producer etc. these companies make obscene amounts of money and are willing to pay a very small percent of their pennies to protect their profit flow.

They'll do it when they can't make the 10% profit off of oil - they'll use their existing infrastructure to push out biodiesel or ethanol, and they'll have plenty of money.

 

[mmoore0803]

Thanks Nicole.....okay....so we annex both countries.......eh?

 

[WarDaddy]

Why are we not seeing news reports about high power rates?

We are all hearing about gas prices, but why are we not hearing about rate increases and the crazy price of electricity?

There was a slip in my bill this month, after the crazy jump, that says they SCE has applied for permission to raise rates 12% to help pay for repairs from heavy rains over the last couple years.

Great, another 12% that is just what I need.

 

[BONDQ]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7762819#post7762819 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Fmellish
I replaced all my incandescent bulbs years ago.

My wife was like what are you doing? And I was like first of all honey, they save $34 /year each, times 30 bulbs = $1020 /year in savings plus the savings in bulb replacement, ($100/year), since they last 8 years each, plus the savings in heat since incandescent bulbs get so damn hot. And then she was like it cost you $200 for all those bulbs and I was like, you totally don't get it.

I think now she is probably happy knowing that our bill is anywhere from $40-100 cheaper per month because of it. Not to mention how much hotter a room gets with incandescent lights on.

Mike, why am I a b@$t@rd ?

Cheers
Josh

I can't stand florescent lights for reading or any use where more natural light is better, like in the mirror, in the kitchen, or in the bedroom.

Yeah, all of you know what I mean, and "Yes" I like to keep the lights on.

Also, women know that make-up just doesn't look the same without incandescent lighting. The same applies to food in the Kitchen and even reading.

I'll take the heat and pay the bill for the more natural light. There's simply no substitute for good lighting.

Besides, I can tell you that lighting in a typical house is one of the lowest energy users in the home, especially when used with a good lighting control system or even something simple like the use of dimmers.

The really power hungry items are A/C, electric heaters, electric ovens, electric water heaters, refrigerators, microwaves, washers, electric dryers, and other associated appliances. Changing these is what saves big, big money.

Just for a moment, think about how many hours out of the day you have a light on, maybe 6 to 8 MAX.

Now think about how many hours your refrigerator or A/C is on in a day.

...and Josh, I agree you are a b@$t@ard.

 

[NicoleC]

With a big fish tank around? I hardly ever turn on lights in that room!

 

[cthetoy]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7769181#post7769181 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by BONDQ
I can't stand florescent lights for reading or any use where more natural light is better, like in the mirror, in the kitchen, or in the bedroom.

Yeah, all of you know what I mean, and "Yes" I like to keep the lights on.

Also, women know that make-up just doesn't look the same without incandescent lighting. The same applies to food in the Kitchen and even reading.

I'll take the heat and pay the bill for the more natural light. There's simply no substitute for good lighting.

Not sure which florescent lights you are talking about but a few years ago they are a cool white color which had an unatural look and feel. Most of them now are warmer in color and is the same color temp as the incandescent lights. You can still get the cool white bulbs if you want. Its called "Cool white" on the box. "Warm white" is what you want.

 

[jeffreylam1132]

Interesting how this thread had turn out. From complaining about electrical bill to disliking the "cool white" and "warm white". I love all this great discussion. It's these kinds of discussion that makes me hooked and logged onto reef central everyday. I LOVE REEF CENTRAL!

 

[BONDQ]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7770043#post7770043 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by cthetoy
Not sure which florescent lights you are talking about but a few years ago they are a cool white color which had an unnatural look and feel. Most of them now are warmer in color and is the same color temp as the incandescent lights. You can still get the cool white bulbs if you want. Its called "Cool white" on the box. "Warm white" is what you want.

I don't know, I just can't get into using them. IMO they still don't seem natural to me. There's a glow instead of a pure light from them.

Imagine if you have a glow-stick and it's the most natural colored glow-stick you've ever seen, such that it's the exact color temperature of the sun; it still glows. It has a hue. It's kind of the same for florescent bulb.

Now imagine a candle. The light is more pure and doesn't have a hue to it.

I believe this is one of the chief reasons people choose MH over florescent lights for their tank, other than to house certain corals.
Florescent just glow, they don't have a pure singular source of light such that an incandescent or halogen has.

All opinion, but it's the main reason I avoid them.

They do solve some problems, they are generally long-life, they use little electricity once they have been lit, and they can produce a long bar of light, instead of a point, when shaped accordingly. This can have some advantages.