Well, I have a cell phone and a house phone. I need both, because I have kids in the house. I have a fax line on my house phone that I use.
I’m am going to look into some of the Voip options. Some of the concerns I have:
- Internet access when the phone is being used
- Cost of added equipment that may be needed
- Lack of enhanced 911 service available (we do have enough old cell phones in the house, I guess we could use one just for 911 use)
- Voice messaging
I’m going to see if I can just have the fax line through my land line without the main phone line.
I’m going to see if it would be inexpensive to have one of the cell phones services that have unlimited minutes. I don’t use it for my main cell phone use because the coverage can be poor. If it is just used from my home that may not be a problem.
There are a few simple hints to keeping your body cooler to reduce the need for expensive cooling:
- Minimize amount of clothes worn around the house
- Keep adequately hydrated with cold water and other healthy beverages
- Rinse off with a quick cool shower
- Put a cold wet bandanna around neck
- Have a fan blow directly on you
- If you have long hair, pull it up and off the neck
- Minimize physical activity
- Cook with the microwave instead of the stove
- Be at optimal weight
- Go outside periodically for a few minutes, the house will seem surprisingly cooler in contrast
Especially in very warm parts of the country it will be impossible to eliminate all cooling costs, but they can be drastically reduced.
Keeping the house cool is an expensive task. Summertime can be a bad time for utility bills. There are ways to cool the house without actually using the air conditioner and they will save you money
- Keep as much heat out of the home by keeping the doors and windows covered.
- Shades, mini blinds, and curtains should be keept closed to keep the heat out and the cool air in.
- Once the sun goes down then open up windows and doors, lift shades and open curtains.
- Instead of the air conditioner use box fans. They can provide cool air as they remove the hot air from a room. A stratigically placed fan in a window blowing hot air from inside the house to outside the house is very effective.
- Do not use the stove until after dark, the heat of the stove as well as other appliances will tend to heat up the house.
- Use washing machines and dishwashers either early in the morning or after dark.
- This hint can’t be repeated enough, set the thermostat as high as you can tolerate. By keeping the room at 75 you can maintain a lower bill. If you must have air condition due to medical conditions or just for comfort, make sure that it is an energy efficient unit and keep it on low.
- Make sure all doors, windows and attics are properly sealed.
- Keep your landscape in mind, by planting trees and shrubs that create shade near your home you will increase the coolness near the house.