Saving Energy |
| What can I do to save energy, save money, & reduce CO2? Many people are concerned about energy use and its effects on budgets and the environment. Sometimes energy issues may seem complex, expensive, and out of our control. The reality, however, is that conservation and efficiency are the most effective ways to quickly reduce energy usage. Our cumulative efforts will make for real changes in our energy independence, our fiscal security, and our actions to mitigate global climate changes. Here, then, are 10 simple things you can do to save energy in your home, and change other stuff, too... 1. Get an Energy Audit Before you do anything else, find out how your house is working, right now. An Energy Audit (or Home Performance Review) will give you an evaluation of your energy use, insulation levels, air leakage and mechanical systems (like heating, cooling, & ventilation). Available through utility companies and private contractors, an Energy Audit may include several diagnostics, such as a blower door test, infrared camera scan, and a combustion appliance test. The results can help you decide what energy improvements to do first, and which ones can wait. 2. Seal Air Leaks An enormous amount of energy is wasted when inside air (either heated or cooled) escapes to the outside through leaks in attics, walls, windows, and doors. Wires, pipes, and ducts that enter the attic must have caulking or foam sealant applied—insulation is not enough! Doors and windows need tight weather stripping and caulking, and wall penetrations (faucets, wires) need to be sealed or caulked, too. And sealing joints in duct work with approved foil tape or mastic can increase the efficiency of your heating and cooling systems by delivering heated or cooled air where you want it. 3. Check Mechanical Systems We maintain cars, lawns, software... why not our furnace? Water heaters, air conditioners, furnaces, gas fireplaces, and ventilation systems should be inspected and tuned-up to keep them operating efficiently and safely. Mechanical system inspection should be done annually, and furnace filters should be changed every month. The energy savings alone might pay for the inspection! 4. Use a Programmable Thermostat If you adjust your thermostat 1 degree (down in winter, up in summer) for 16 hours a day, you can save 2% of your fuel bill. Letting a programmable thermostat do it for you means you won’t forget, and allows you to be comfortable when you are home, and save energy when you are gone. Easy to install, a programmable thermostat will pay for itself in no time, and it can control your furnace, air conditioner, air exchanger, and humidifier. And it is a myth that it takes more energy to bring your house back to your comfort temperature. 5. Add Insulation The easiest and most cost-effective way to insulate is by adding insulation to an attic. If you have less than 6 or 7 inches, you could probably benefit by adding more, with a minimum of R-50 recommended. Wall insulation is not quite as easy to install, but during major renovation (siding replacement, building additions, applying new gypsum board) additional wall insulation makes a lot of sense. 6. Install a Low-Flow Showerhead A standard showerhead can use up to 8 gallons of water a minute. Depending on your mix of hot/cold water, that means a 12 minute shower could use 40 gallons of hot water! New, low-flow showerheads deliver a high pressure spray at under 2 gallons per minute. Not only do you save the energy to heat all that water, you save the water, too. 7. Replace Light Bulbs Five CFL bulbs can save $150 over the life of the bulbs in energy costs. In fact, if every household in the country replaced their five most frequently used incandescents with CFLs, 21 power plants would not need to be built! And no excuses about size or shape or colors! CFL bulbs are now made to fit nearly every fixture and for nearly every use–spots, 3-ways, dimmables, outdoor, and more. And a word about mercury: CFLs do contain a small amount and need to be disposed of properly, but the amount is less than what is emitted by a coal plant to produce the amount of electricity to run an incandescent for the same amount of time. 8. Use Outlet Switches Standby power or “phantom load†is the electricity that flows through appliances and devices when they are turned “offâ€â€“up to 40% of “on†for some things! Televisions, VCR/DVD players, cell phone and battery chargers, computer and office equipment can all use substantial amounts of electricity just to keep them ready for your instant use. (In fact, all the standby power used in Minnesota could power all the single-family homes in St. Paul!) Plug things in to an outlet switch and only use them when you need to. And, new generation outlet strips have sensors that will turn off automatically when there is no more power draw–perfect for battery chargers. 9. Install Timers/Motion Detectors Why keep things on when you aren’t using them? Timers and motion detector switches can operate devices that are used infrequently or have switches that are hard to get to. Outside security lights, lights that are frequently left on (bathroom or basement) or lights in remote locations (like a garage) can be set up to turn on when a person walks within range and turn off after they have left. You can also use timers to control engine block heaters, battery chargers, indoor security lights, or other devices that are only used during limited times. 10. Buy ENERGY STAR ENERGY STAR products are the same or better than standard products, only they use less energy. To earn the ENERGY STAR, they must meet strict energy efficiency and reliability criteria set by the US Environmental Protection Agency or the US Department of Energy. Since they use less energy, these products save you money on your electricity bill and help protect the environment by causing fewer harmful emissions from power plants. And you get the features and quality you expect. ENERGY STAR products include appliances and electronics like furnaces, air conditioners, dishwashers, clothes washers, refrigerators, dehumidifiers, TVs, VCR/DVD/CD players, computers, printers, battery chargers, and even CFL bulbs. New homes can also be designated as ENERGY STAR. The website (energystar.gov) has databases of products with their rating numbers, and you can search by manufacture and model number to determine which product has what rating. To Learn More... This is just the beginning of what you can do to save energy, money, and reduce CO2. To learn more contact the State Energy Office, Minnesota Department of Commerce at: www.commerce.state.mn.us 651-296-5175 or 800-657-3710 (over) |
Author Minnesota Home Energy Guide
