At Home with Lisa: Track your home's usage trends

I really like this time of year in the Inland Northwest. It’s still almost like summer, but since the evenings are cooling down, I don’t have to have an air conditioner on all day.

It’s the time of year when I use the least amount of energy, and I always wonder how efficient I’m being, compared to previous months.

Recently, I noticed that Avista has improved its Compare Your Bills page. It can tell me how my bill has changed, and includes important differences, such as how much longer this billing cycle was or how the average temperature can affect my usage.

I can now see my usage much clearer than in the past. I can see just what I am using my energy for, such as those items that are always on (formerly referred to as 'phantom loads’), how much of my energy use goes towards heating and how much of my energy use comes from appliances.

I can tell for the month of March this year, I used most of my energy on heating. But in August, most of my energy went to appliances that are always on, which means that I should start turning off my smart power strips when those items aren’t in use, such as my computer, stereo equipment and television.

Avista’s website has all kinds of useful tools to tell you not only how to be more energy efficient, but how you are using your energy. You should check it out at myavista.com.

Lisa, an Avista customer, bought her 1910 house because she loved the old-world character, some of which doesn’t make her house very energy efficient. Lisa is sharing her experience on taking some simple do-it-yourself improvements to inspire others to do the same. You’ll find her stories right here every Tuesday morning.