Using Half the Electricity We Did

In our first full year in this house, 2006, we used 17,818 kilowatt hours of electricity. We started to make energy-efficiency improvements and behavior changes before taking on more cosmetic changes and in 2007, we used 12,276 kWh. Then we had the energy audit, air sealing, and insulation, and in 2008, we used 7,929 kWh. We continued to make improvements and in 2009, we used 7,391 kWh --half of the kilowatt hours we used in 2006.

Adding the shades and drapes helped to keep our numbers a little lower than they would have been in 2009, since we were not as diligent with the thermostat as in the previous year. We weren't using a dryer for a few months in both 2008 and 2009 years (it quit and we took awhile to replace it). We started using an electric dryer again, especially for jeans, some other cotton clothes, and towels, because the difference in softness is considerable, especially with the towels. We continue to use the drying racks for many clothes.
Thankfully, we continue to see the impressive energy savings we gained by making the earlier changes we did, especially from the energy audit's first recommendations.