I thought it would be useful to compile some rough costs of these pay-later activities:

This is based on a marginal cost of electricity of $0.21/kWh, natural gas of $1.40/therm, and water of $0.017/gallon which includes the sewer charge. [9] These come from our current bills in Medford MA; it's probably cheaper in lower cost of living states.

While these are approximately in line with what I'd thought, I do see two changes I should make:

• Be willing to use the dryer when line drying is inconvenient. (Previously I never used the dryer, for cost reasons.)
• A long cold shower (in summer) is actually more expensive than a short hot one.

[1] Gas Oven, 0.112 therms per hour.

[2] Gas Dryer, 0.21kWh to spin the drum and 0.22 therms to heat the clothes.

[3] Front Loader, 0.26kWH to run the machine, 0.064 therms for the water heater to heat the incoming water, 14.7 gallons of water.

[4] Cold Shower, 3 gallons per minute, 30 gallons total, $0.57 for the water.

[5] Hot Shower, 0.00014 therms per gallon per degree F. Ground water at around 55F, shower water at around 100F, so a 45F rise. Shower flow of about 3 gallons per minute. So over ten minutes that's thirty gallons each heated 45F. So $0.57 for the water [4] and $0.19 to heat it.

[6] Dishwasher, 4 gallons of hot water and 1kWh to run the machine. That's $0.10 for the water and heating [5] and $0.21 for the electricity.

[7] Microwave, 0.024 kWh per minute.

[8] Box Fan,100W.

[9] This is much higher than I'd thought, 10x the cost of desalination.