poseidon_92
May 7, 2009, 07:23 AM
Hello,
I live with a friend who owns the home we live in. We've had a silent argument for several years. We live in Texas so the summers are really hot! We have a many plants and have moved most of them to the kitchen table, where I put up heat reflective film on the windows in there, but she stated I was not allowed to do that in the living room. Well, it doesn't seem to sink in that if you leave the blinds and curtains open all day when no one is home that it costs more to cool the house down when you get home and the A/C bill is twice as expensive as it normally is. She leaves before I do in the morning, so normally I close them or at least close the curtains (which are very thin to begin with) to filter some of the heat source. But I come across a note in the bathroom today to leave the damn windows open so the plants that do not fit in the kitchen windows can get some light.
Can anyone think of any ways to explain this to her? We've even had a home energy audit that I scheduled and basically the guy said that is the main cause (us not able to change anything out financially) of our energy problems. She has never had to worry about money and we are both 31 years old. Her parents pay off all her credit cards and other bills, so she does not know what it's like to struggle and live paycheck to paycheck.
I am to the point where I know I will not be able to afford to stay here due to the electricity bill this summer, so my next step is to move out, which I really do not want to do. Any helpful advice is welcome!
I live with a friend who owns the home we live in. We've had a silent argument for several years. We live in Texas so the summers are really hot! We have a many plants and have moved most of them to the kitchen table, where I put up heat reflective film on the windows in there, but she stated I was not allowed to do that in the living room. Well, it doesn't seem to sink in that if you leave the blinds and curtains open all day when no one is home that it costs more to cool the house down when you get home and the A/C bill is twice as expensive as it normally is. She leaves before I do in the morning, so normally I close them or at least close the curtains (which are very thin to begin with) to filter some of the heat source. But I come across a note in the bathroom today to leave the damn windows open so the plants that do not fit in the kitchen windows can get some light.
Can anyone think of any ways to explain this to her? We've even had a home energy audit that I scheduled and basically the guy said that is the main cause (us not able to change anything out financially) of our energy problems. She has never had to worry about money and we are both 31 years old. Her parents pay off all her credit cards and other bills, so she does not know what it's like to struggle and live paycheck to paycheck.
I am to the point where I know I will not be able to afford to stay here due to the electricity bill this summer, so my next step is to move out, which I really do not want to do. Any helpful advice is welcome!