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Frugal and Energy Efficient Living

silverweb

(16,402 posts)

12. Creative frugality.

Reply to Fumesucker (Original post)

Fri Jan 6, 2012, 02:45 PM

Jan 2012

[font color="navy" face="Verdana"]I love it!

I'm a renter, so can't mess with the old propane hot water heater here. My frugal solution was to go solar (200' of hose laid out on the roof). I've been using it for almost a year now, as well as gray water for flushing and some gardening.

The limited hot water means showers are short and at midday (with a longer window in the summer, of course), but the water bill is now half what it used to be and I don't need propane at all anymore.

You're going to have substantial savings, too. Way to go!

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21 replies

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Highlight:

Put a switch on my electric water heater, now I only turn it before I'll need really hot water.. [View all] Fumesucker Jan 2012 OP

Why not get an instantaneous (tankless) water heater? n/t FSogol Jan 2012 #1

This seems a cheaper solution than replacing a perfectly good water heater. canoeist52 Jan 2012 #2

Ok, I'll rephrase. When your tank controls/element break from being turned on/off FSogol Jan 2012 #4

Water heaters routinely cycle on and off anyway.. Fumesucker Jan 2012 #8

Two reasons... Fumesucker Jan 2012 #3

We use these for remote sinks, lavs FSogol Jan 2012 #5

Is there somewhere online where you can do a calculation Ruby the Liberal Jan 2012 #6

How many gallons is your water heater? Fumesucker Jan 2012 #7

40 and its not climate controlled. Ruby the Liberal Jan 2012 #9

You might want to check the temperature of the hot water from the closest faucet to your tank.. Fumesucker Jan 2012 #10

Thank you! Ruby the Liberal Jan 2012 #16

Tankless makes sense in a climate where one must run the air conditioner for a lot of the year Kolesar Jan 2012 #17

Fumesucker is correct kristopher Jan 2012 #18

I can do that. Ruby the Liberal Jan 2012 #19

Good for you. This will save both electricity and most likely reduce your use cbayer Jan 2012 #11

Creative frugality. silverweb Jan 2012 #12

Kudos. Used the same system for a year or so. Spartan. dimbear Jan 2012 #20

Not bad at all. silverweb Jan 2012 #21

How long have you been on this system? Curmudgeoness Jan 2012 #13

I only did it a couple of weeks ago.. Fumesucker Jan 2012 #14

I will be interested to hear how much savings you have. Curmudgeoness Jan 2012 #15