87% off electric heat bill: REALLY saving energy

http://www.permies.com
http://www.richsoil.com/electric-heat.jsp

I made this video to augment my article "REALLY Saving Energy with The Heat Bubble: how I cut 87% off of my electric heat by heating the person instead of the whole house". This is a DIY alternative form of energy conservation

Camille Pearl comes over to my house and tests my energy saving theories for herself. We start off stripping off her clothes that are more than just a single, normal layer people might wear in a fully heated area. Then we have her stand in the cool area until she feels too cold, then move her to the desk with the micro personal heaters.

It was in this video where Camille first refers to this as a "bubble." And now, that's what we call this technique: "a heat bubble".

She starts off too cold, and then spends 30 minutes at the heated desk area. At the end of the 30 minutes she is fully warmed up and feels like she could work there indefinitely.

We then turn off the micro heat and see how long she can hold out until she feels too cold to keep working. About three minutes and ten seconds.

Quick summary of micro heaters:
40 watts: incandescent light bulb in a chick brooder configuration
25 watts: heated keyboard
15 watts: dog bed heater / heating pad
2.5 watts: heated mouse

82.5 watts total.

A homemade approach to save the environment. Alternatives are sources for home production. This may be a big boost to renewable energy efforts.

Relevant threads at permies:
http://www2.permies.com/t/4906/alternative-energy/making-best-electric-heat
http://www.permies.com/t/8388/frugality/cut-off-electric-heat-bill
http://www2.permies.com/t/2446/alternative-energy/bragging-lower-energy-footp...



music by Jimmy Pardo

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• electric
• heat
• saving
• energy
• renewable
• alternative
• conservation
• eco
• green
• permaculture
• organic
• environment
• sustainability
• Power
• saving energy
• saving electricity

[steviesgirl6]

What would be a good base temp to leave your thermostat on?

[paulwheaton12]

@steviesgirl6 I used 50 as the "norm" last year. This year I've been lazier and going with 55.

[astrialkil]

@paulwheaton12 I ran a whole winter at 50 and 55 and was miserable ! the cold would just seep in to me . i wore a parka and sock hat and tried using gloves with the mouse, not good. to sleep i put a electric blanket over me warmed up the bed then turned it off and went to sleep. some times id wake up shivering and had to turn it back on. A heated mouse and key board would have been great...where did you get yours and how much?

[paulwheaton12]

@astrialkil all the details are at the article at richsoil.

[Pianofy]

The alllllllll the time at the end scares me away from potentially using your product. It sounds like: We talk about it so much that I get sick of it.

Just an FYI :)

[paulwheaton12]

@Pianofy I'm glad you mentioned this. Please make sure that you don't watch any more of my videos because they all have that. And I have heard from hundreds of people that love it, so I plan on continuing doing it.

[jenewein]

Your theory is ok but to prove your point you need to post a video of her with zero layers of clothes.

[alishams001]

That light right in the eye looks so uncomfortable. 

[bayoufilter]

@beefriendly You can find them still, the difference is now they are called "heat bulbs" instead of "light bulbs." Which is more accurate if you ask me.

[waynescott1016]

@alijoyism lol did you not just watch the vid kid?

[reefmcd]

Get more clothes wouldn't be more easy?

[flowerpt]

@alijoyism : the video says they were using 80 W, that a space heater runs either 1500W or 800W. So, yes, at least 90% less money.

[unmich]

Thanks for this video. While I haven't saved 87% it really encouraged to think more about warming our personal space and not the whole house. We turned off the HVAC after watching the video. It cut 33% off our electric bill. There were a few times we were colder than we wanted to be, but we powered through. Except for one morning - the house was damp and cold at 61, so I turned on the HVAC for about 20 minutes. (and for the naysayers 61 is is cold when you're used to 78 :-) indoors in Florida.)