How do you save your energy while you're on vacation? Let say at least 10 days.

 

You mean on the vacation itself or at the house you left behind?

 

The house

 

here's a simple answer; unplug everything that uses electricity that doesn't need to be on while you're away.

Also, my thermostat lets me set different times with different temperatures.
so when im not there 7am-5pm its at 80 degrees, etc.

 

These are things you should be doing on a regular basis. :twocents:

1)Set the thermostat to be on a schedule. In this case, a vacation schedule so that the AC or heater does not come on as much. I wouldn't turn it off completely. But set it so the house doesn't completely freeze or boil depending on where you live.
2) Unplug unused appliances
3) I think some utilities like trash pickup can be halted, don't know if there is a cost-benefit though

Other than that, can't think of anything else.

 

In the summer there is no need to have the A/C on in the house unless you have a pet or possibly plants.

 

Yeah, unplug the TV, toaster, microwave, coffee maker, clocks, DVR, DVD player, everything electronic 'cept for the fridge and HVAC system. Set that at 83.

 

I disagree. Depends on where you live. IN Florida it is almost mandatory to leave it on, because if you don't, in short order you will have mold growing inside the house from the humid air, especially for that long.

Leave the A/C on.

 

If I turn off or increase the temperature of A/C, would I get increased humidity in the home during my absence & increased energy usage by my refrigerator/freezer?

 

So in the days before A/C everyone in FL had mold in their house?

 

Set the A/C to about 80 and unplug stuff like your TV, cable box, game consoles, computer, microwave, etc. Don't unplug your refrigerator! Turn off all the lights and maybe put one or two on a timer so they come on at random times.

As far as going away, check with your local police dept, they can schedule walkarounds every night while you are away to make sure everything is okay. As well stop the paper!

 

No but it could harbor it.

 

and

Just be sure your fridge is stocked as much as possible. The increased amount of food and drink in the fridge will help regulate the intetior temperature and hence make the fridge cycle on less.

 

^ But if you're going on vacation, won't a lot of that stuff go bad? The OP did say ~10 days.

I usually turn my water heater to the "vacation" setting and turn off all unnecessary appliances/devices. I turn the HVAC system off (it's a non-issue where I live) and unplug or turn the plug strip off to anything that doesn't need to be powered while I'm away.

 

^ten days wont make your food go bad if left in the refrigerator........
unless it is spoil able food.

 

unplug all unnecessary appliances and you may want to drain your hot water heater and turn the water off to it and turn off that breaker.

Set the thermostat about 5-8 degrees higher or lower depending on climate.

 

We have programmable thermostats as well... so we just set them in the low 80's and everything is good. The air will still kick on once in a while keeping the house conditioned, but we save a bunch of money.

In addition to unplugging what doesn't need to be plugged in while away we also will turn down our hot water heater.

 

I guess if your fridge is full of booze/soda/non-perishable items.

Maybe I'm werid, but I have things like vegetables, milk, sandwich meat, etc...things that go bad if you don't use them. lol

 

^in anticipation for a 10 day vacay....I would presume you use that stuff up before you leave.

 

But then your fridge wouldn't be stocked!

 

^now we're just being frivolous!!

 

I read somewhere about someone turning off the water heater when leaving for work saying they save tons of money. I wonder how true that is....

 

Turn your water heater down...not off.

 

I installed a water heater timer. Turns on for 30 min before I wake up in the morning and for 30 min before I get home from work in the evening (I shower twice a day). I turn the timer off completely when I go out of town.

 

I'm sure it depends on whether or not you have a gas or electric water heater. I've only had gas water heaters and they don't cost all that much to run.

 

Werd mine is electric.

 

same here.

 

I need to look at the water heater timer. Does it save a lot of energy?

 

answered.

 

I wouldn't be surprised if your electric bill dropped by ~50% with a timer on your water heater alone.

 

In reference to the water heater.. I have gas and during the summer months my bill is maybe $30, so I don't think regulating it will really save that much money.

I do set my thermostat to 78 while at work, and set it to 82 while on vacation.

 

gas / tankless / solar are much better options

 

Thanks for the new project

I will definitely be doing this. Electric - no gas in the condo sucks.

 

i am a part of the lowering the HWH to vacation since it is gas, and lower the heat in the winter... in summer i just turn off the A/C and crack some windows...

totally unplug anything unnecessary from the walls...

 

I dont do a thing when i leave. But IF i were id probably just go down and flip all the breakers except for the fridge and turn the thermo on the h2o heater down

 

put up all your x-mas lights..a/c on like 60...

rent a 10 day block of porn on-demand..(tivo it)

ceiling fans on high...fridge open...all radios on..

alarm clock set every 5 minutes..leave sinks/bathtub running..

 

 

 

Don't forget to leave your oven on at 450 degrees with the oven door open. You don't want the house to get too cold!

 

you right.