A factor not mentioned is that some homes have a time-of-use meter that measures on-peak and off-peak hours of use and charges different rates for those periods of time. During the summer the $/KWH rate is substantially higher during on-peak hours. Our water heater is on a timer that turns it off during those periods, and we refrain from using other high-draw appliances as well whenever possible during peak hours. So there is the issue of not only saving energy, but the cost of that energy as well. Anyone for an off-peak macchiato?

I guess it comes down to how often you need the best performance from your machine, and how long are you willing to wait to get that. If you need a great coffee at unusual times during the day leave the heater on.

If you only need a shot in the morning and a couple in the evening you could be better off letting the machine coast in the down times and hit peak heating only at those times when you need to hit a good shot.

If your drinks are more unplanned than the wait for the correct heat and the wasted coffee cost with cold shots would more than make up the power costs.

In this relationship the power is cheap the coffee is the more expensive wasted material.

Am I wrong here?

=C

I got to thinking about this. If your machine is cold because you wanted to save a bit of electrical power what have you done?

You have wasted a years worth of solar energy at the plant that made that bean. You have wasted the time that the grower has put into waiting for that bean to be ready for harvest. You have wasted the pickers time to get the best berries from that tree. Then you get into the whole prep cycle. The shipping across the globe. The buyers time. The roasters time. And finally your time. If it is a sink shot because you did not heat up your machine do you know how much time you have just wasted?

WOW.

Just leave your machine on and not waste a couple of sink shots and you have made the world a better place.

-Cecil

PS Plus you have left more good beans for me to enjoy.

Randy G. wrote:A factor not mentioned is that some homes have a time-of-use meter that measures on-peak and off-peak hours of use and charges different rates for those periods of time. During the summer the $/KWH rate is substantially higher during on-peak hours. Our water heater is on a timer that turns it off during those periods, and we refrain from using other high-draw appliances as well whenever possible during peak hours. So there is the issue of not only saving energy, but the cost of that energy as well. Anyone for an off-peak macchiato?

That's the rule in commercial and industrial buildings, but it sounds kind of vicious for residential. No wonder the Californians love their electric company.

another_jim wrote:That's the rule in commercial and industrial buildings, but it sounds kind of vicious for residential. No wonder the Californians love their electric company.

On the surface it does, but we actually applied for the meter. The off-peak rate is much lower than the standard rates, so we end up paying less for a little judicious peak-hour conservation. Mainly it is that our water heater is on a timer and we refrain from using the washer and particularly the clothes dryer and oven/stove during peak hours (we have an all-electric home). We dry clothes on the line when possible as well. We do come out ahead on the deal.