My dad put a lockbox on our thermostat and is now running the house like a tiny, energy-efficient dictator.

By @codyyk · Family

He's obsessed with the electric bill this summer and claims we're 'bleeding money' every time someone nudges the AC down. Now we have to formally request a temperature change like we're petitioning a medieval king.

The full story

I am not kidding. There is a clear, plastic box with a tiny little key lock around the thermostat in our hallway. My dad (62) is the only one with a key. His new favorite hobby is holding family meetings to announce the 'approved temperature schedule' for the day. This morning's briefing was that it will be 76 degrees until 4 PM, at which point it's allowed to go to 74 for the 'peak heat hours.' My mom tried to argue that 76 feels like a humid swamp when you're trying to cook, and he told her to 'use the grill outside.' My sister came home from her run yesterday, sweating buckets, and stood in front of the thermostat for five minutes just glaring at it, as if she could change it with her mind. My contribution to the rebellion was to 'accidentally' leave the freezer door open for a few minutes to cool down the kitchen. I was immediately caught and given a 10-minute lecture on compressor cycles and wasted energy that sounded like it was prerecorded. I swear he has cameras I don't know about. He keeps a little log book on the counter where he notes the outdoor temperature versus our 'usage,' and he highlights things. We're now in a silent war. We'll open windows at night to try and 'trap' cool air for the morning. I've been researching how to pick tiny locks on the internet, which I'm pretty sure has put me on a watchlist. My sister thinks we should just start blowing a hairdryer on the thermostat to trick it into thinking the house is hotter than it is. I feel like that's just playing into his game. This is our life now. A domestic climate crisis governed by a man who thinks wearing a sweater in July is fiscally responsible.

How people voted

OP Is Right — 27% (8 votes)
Both Messy — 33% (10 votes)
OP Is Wrong — 40% (12 votes)

Readers are split: “OP Is Wrong” leads with 40% — 30 votes and 5 comments so far.

What people are saying

@willalol — Oh honey, that sounds maddening. Your dad's little 'log book' is a special level of commitment, bless his heart.
@tessagain — sounds like someone needs to start paying their own electric bill.
@claireb — My dad does this with the wifi router at night, says we need to 'unplug from the matrix' lol.
@vincehm — lmao
@karakindof — The hairdryer idea is brilliant. I would be doing that immediately.

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