8679642 Energy Savers Tips on Saving Energy Money at Home

8/9/2019 8679642 Energy Savers Tips on Saving Energy Money at Home

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Tips on SavingEnergy & Money

at Home

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The first step to taking a whole-houseenergy efficiency approach is to find outwhich parts of your house use the mostenergy. A home energy audit will show

you where these are and suggest themost effective measures for reducingyour energy costs. You can conduct asimple home energy audit yourself, youcan contact your local utility, or you cancall an independent energy auditor fora more comprehensive examination.

Energy Auditing Tips

Check the level of insulation in yourexterior and basement walls, ceilings,attic, floors, and crawl spaces. Contactyour local contractor for advice onhow to check your insulation levels.

Check for holes or cracks around yourwalls, ceilings, windows, doors, lightand plumbing fixtures, switches, andelectrical outlets that can leak air intoor out of your home.

Check for open fireplace dampers.

Make sure your appliances and heatingand cooling systems are properlymaintained.

Study your familys lighting needs and

use patterns, paying special attentionto high-use areas such as the livingroom, kitchen, and exterior lighting.Look for ways to use daylighting,reduce the time the lights are on, andreplace incandescent bulbs and fixtureswith compact or standard fluorescentlamps.

Formulating Your PlanAfter you have identified places

where your home is losing energy, assignpriorities to your energy needs by askingyourself a few important questions:

How much money do you spend onenergy?

Where are your greatest energy losses?

How long will it take for an investmentin energy efficiency to pay for itself inenergy savings?

Can you do the job yourself, or will youneed to hire a contractor?

What is your budget and how muchtime do you have to spend on mainte-nance and repair?

Once you assign priorities to yourenergy needs, you can form a whole-house efficiency plan. Your plan will pro-vide you with a strategy for making smartpurchases and home improvements thatmaximize energy efficiency and save themost money.

Another option is to get the adviceof a professional. Many utilities conduct

energy audits for free or for a nominalcharge. For a fee, a professional contrac-tor will analyze how your homes energy

YourHo

mesEnergyUse

Your Homes Energy Use

How We Use Energy In Our Homes(based on national averages)

The largest portion of a utility bill for a typicalhouse is for heating and cooling.

Waterheating14%

Lighting,cooking,and otherappliances

33%Refrigerator

9%

Heating andcooling44%


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systems work together as a system andcompare the analysis against your utilitybills. He or she will use a variety of equip-ment such as blower doors, infraredcameras, and surface thermometers tofind inefficiencies that cannot be detectedby a visual inspection. Finally, they will

give you a list of recommendations forcost-effective energy improvements andenhanced comfort and safety. A goodcontractor will also calculate the returnon your investment in high efficiencyequipment vs. standard equipment.

For more information about homeenergy audits, contact:

U.S. Department of Energys (DOEs)Energy Efficiency and Renewable EnergyClearinghouse (EREC), (800) DOE-3732www.eere.energy.gov/buildings/homes/insulatinghome.cfm

Owens Corning Customer Service Hotline,(800) GET-PINK (800-438-7465),

www.owenscorning.com

YourHo

mesEnergyUse

When searching for a contractor, youshould:

Ask neighbors and friends if theyhave worked with a contractor theywould recommend

Look in the Yellow Pages

Focus on local companies

Look for licensed, insuredcontractors

Get three bids with details in writing

Ask about previous experience

Check references

Inquire with the Better BusinessBureau.

Finding a contractor

Heat Loss from a House

A picture is worth..., in this case, lost heating dollars. This thermal photograph shows heat leakingfrom a house during those expensive winter heating months. The white, yellow, and red colors showwhere the heat escapes. The red represents the area of the greatest heat loss.Thermogram/photograph copyright 1997, Infraspection Institute, Inc., Shelburne, VT

Cool Hot


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Checking your homes insulating systemis one of the fastest and most cost-efficient ways to use a whole-houseapproach to reduce energy waste and

maximize your energy dollars. A goodinsulating system includes a combinationof products and construction techniquesthat provide a home with thermal perfor-mance, protect it against air infiltration,and control moisture. You can increasethe comfort of your home while reducingyour heating and cooling needs by upto 30% by investing just a few hundred

dollars in proper insulation and weather-ization products.

InsulationFirst, check the insulation in your attic,

ceilings, exterior and basement walls,floors, and crawl spaces to see if it meetsthe levels recommended for your area.Insulation is measured in R-valuesthehigher the R-value, the better your wallsand roof will resist the transfer of heat.The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)recommends ranges of R-values basedon local heating and cooling costs andclimate conditions in different areas ofthe nation. The map and chart on pages 6and 7 show the DOE recommendationsfor your area. State and local codes in

Insulatio

nandWeatherization

Insulation and Weatherization

Crawl spaceBasement

Attic

Walls

Floors

Where to Insulate

Adding insulation in the areas shown here may be the best way to improve your homes energyefficiency.


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than R-22 (7 inches of fiber glass or rockwool or 6 inches of cellulose) you couldprobably benefit by adding more. MostU.S. homes should have between R-22and R-49 insulation in the attic.

If your attic has ample insulation andyour home still feels drafty and cold in

the winter or too warm in the summer,chances are you need to add insulationto the exterior walls as well. This is a moreexpensive measure that usually requires acontractor, but it may be worth the cost ifyou live in a very hot or cold climate.

You may also need to add insulationto your crawl space. Either the walls orthe floor above the crawl space should beinsulated.

New ConstructionFor new construction or home addi-

tions, R-11 to R-28 insulation is recom-mended for exterior walls depending onlocation (see map below). To meet thisrecommendation, most homes andadditions constructed with 2 in x 4 inwalls require a combination of wall cavity

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3

3

2

2

2

2

1

11

4

4 4

5

5

6

6

4

2

Insulatio

nandWeatherization

U.S. Department of Energy Recommended* Total R-Values

for New Construction Houses in Six Insulation Zones

*These recommendations are cost-effective levels of insulation based on the best available information on localfuel and materials costs and weather conditions. Consequently, the levels may differ from current local buildingcodes. In addition, the apparent fragmentation of the recommendations is an artifact of these data and shouldnot be considered absolute minimum requirements.


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Weatherization Tips

First, test your home for air tightness.On a windy day, hold a lit incense sticknext to your windows, doors, electricalboxes, plumbing fixtures, electricaloutlets, ceiling fixtures, attic hatches,

and other locations where there is apossible air path to the outside. If thesmoke stream travels horizontally, you

have located an air leak that may needcaulking, sealing, or weatherstripping.

Caulk and weatherstrip doors andwindows that leak air.

Caulk and seal air leaks where plumb-ing, ducting, or electrical wiring pene-

trates through exterior walls, floors,ceilings, and soffits over cabinets.

Insulatio

nandWeatherization

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1115

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Sources of Air Leaks in Your Home

Areas that leak air into and out of your home cost you lots of money. Check the culprit areas listed here:

1 Dropped ceiling2 Recessed light3 Attic entrance4 Electric wires and box5 Plumbing utilities and penetration6 Water and furnace flues

7 All ducts8 Door sashes and frames9 Chimney penetration

10 Warm air register11 Window sashes and frames12 Baseboards, coves, and interior trim

13 Plumbing access panel14 Electrical outlets and switches15 Light fixtures16 Sill plates


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Install rubber gaskets behind outletand switch plates on exterior walls.

Look for dirty spots in your insula-tion, which often indicate holeswhere air leaks into and out ofyour house. You can seal theholes by stapling sheets of plasticover the holes and caulking theedges of the plastic.

Install storm windows over single-pane windows or replace themwith double-pane windows. Stormwindows as much as double theR-value of single-pane windowsand they can help reduce drafts,

water condensation, and frost for-mation. As a less costly and lesspermanent alternative, you can usea heavy-duty, clear plastic sheet on aframe or tape clear plastic film to theinside of your window frames duringthe cold winter months. Remember,the plastic must be sealed tightly to theframe to help reduce infiltration.

When the fireplace is not in use, keepthe flue damper tightly closed. A chim-ney is designed specifically for smoketo escape, so until you close it, warmair escapes 24 hours a day!

For new construction, reduce exteriorwall leaks by either installing housewrap, taping the joints of exterior

sheathing, or comprehensively caulk-ing and sealing the exterior walls.

For more information on insulation,weatherization, and ventilation, contact:

Cellulose Insulation ManufacturersAssociation (CIMA), (937) 222-2462,www.cellulose.org

ENERGY STAR, (888) STAR-YES (888-782-7937),

www.energystar.gov

Insulation Contractors Association of

America (ICAA), (703) 739-0356,www.insulate.org

National Association of Home Builders(NAHB), (800) 368-5242, www.nahb.org

North American Insulation ManufacturersAssociation (NAIMA), (703) 684-0084,www.naima.org



Polyisocyanurate Insulation ManufacturersAssociation (PIMA), (703) 684-1136,www.pima.org

U.S. Department of Energys

Energy Efficiency and Renewable EnergyClearinghouse (EREC), (800) DOE-3732www.eere.energy.gov/askanenergyexpert/

InsulationandWeatherization

Plumbingpenetrations

13%

Windows10%

Floors, walls,and ceiling

31%

Fireplace14%

Fans and vents4%

Doors11%

Ducts15%

Electricoutlets

2%

How Does the Air Escape?

Air infiltrates in and out of your home throughevery hole, nook, and cranny. About one-thirdof this air infiltrates through openings in yourceilings, walls, and floors.


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Heating and cooling your home usesmore energy and drains more energydollars than any other system in yourhome. Typically, 44% of your utility bill

goes for heating and cooling. Whatsmore, heating and cooling systems in theUnited States together emitover a half billion tons ofcarbon dioxide into theatmosphere each year,adding to global warming.They also generate about24% of the nations sulfur

dioxide and 12% of thenitrogen oxides, the chiefingredients in acid rain.

No matter what kind ofheating, ventilation, andair-conditioning systemyou have in your house,you can save money andincrease comfort by

properly maintaining andupgrading your equipment.But remember, an energy-efficientfurnace alone will not have as great animpact on your energy bills as using thewhole-house approach. By combiningproper equipment maintenance andupgrades with appropriate insulation,weatherization, and thermostat settings,

you can cut your energy bills and yourpollution output in half.

Heating and Cooling Tips

Set your thermostat as low as iscomfortable in the winter and as highas is comfortable in the summer.

Clean or replace filters on furnacesonce a month or as needed.

Clean warm-air registers, baseboardheaters, and radiators as needed;

make sure theyre not blocked byfurniture, carpeting, or drapes.

Bleed trapped air from hot-waterradiators once or twice a season; if in

doubt about how to perform this task,call a professional.

Place heat-resistant radiator reflectorsbetween exterior walls and the

radiators. Use kitchen, bath, and other ventilat-

ing fans wisely; in just 1 hour, thesefans can pull out a houseful of warmedor cooled air. Turn fans off as soon asthey have done the job.

During the heating season, keep thedraperies and shades on your south-facing windows open during the day to

allow the sunlight to enter your homeand closed at night to reduce the chillyou may feel from cold windows.

Heating

andCooling

Heating and Cooling

Household Heating Systems

Although there are several different types offuels available to heat our homes, about halfof us use natural gas.

gas53%

Electricity26%

Natural

Fuel oil11%

Other10%

60

50

40

30

20

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to avoid tape that degrades, cracks,and loses its bond with age.

Remember that insulating ducts inthe basement will make the basement

colder. If both the ducts and the base-ment walls are uninsulated, considerinsulating both.*

If your basement has been convertedto a living area, install both supplyand return registers in the basementrooms.

Be sure a well-sealed vapor barrierexists on the outside of the insulationon cooling ducts to prevent moisturebuildup.

Get a professional to help you insulateand repair all ducts.

Heat PumpsIf you use electricity to heat your

home, consider installing an energy-efficient heat pump system. Heat pumpsare the most efficient form of electricheating in moderate climates, providing

three times more heating than theequivalent amount of energy they con-sume in electricity. There are three types

Heating

andCooling

DuctsOut-of-Sight, Out-of-Mind

The unsealed ducts in your attics and crawl spaces lose air uninsulated ducts lose heat, wastingenergy and money.

* Note: Water pipes and drains in unconditionedspaces could freeze and burst in the space if the heatducts are fully insulated, because there would be noheat source to prevent the space from freezing incold weather. However, using an electric heatingtape wrap on the pipes can prevent this.


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Water heating is the third largest energyexpense in your home. It typicallyaccounts for about 14% of your utility bill.

There are four ways to cut your water

heating bills: use less hot water, turndown the thermostat on your waterheater, insulate your water heater, orbuy a new, more efficient water heater. Afamily of four, each showering for 5 min-utes a day, uses 700 gallons of water aweek; this is enough for a 3-year supplyof drinking water for one person. You cancut that amount in half simply by using

low-flow nonaerating showerheads andfaucets.

Water Heating Tips

Repair leaky faucets promptly; a leakyfaucet wastes gallons of water in ashort period.

Insulate your electric hot-water storagetank and pipes, but be careful not to

cover the thermostat. Insulate your gas or oil hot-water

storage tank and pipes, but be carefulnot to cover the water heaters top,bottom, thermostat, or burner com-partment; when in doubt, get profes-sional help.

Install nonaerating, low-flow faucetsand showerheads.

Buy a new energy-efficient waterheater. While it may cost more initiallythan a standard water heater, theenergy savings will continue during thelifetime of the appliance.

Although most water heaters last1015 years, its best to start shoppingfor a new one if yours is more than

7 years old. Doing some researchbefore your heater fails will enable you

to select one that most appropriatelymeets your needs.

Lower the thermostat on your waterheater; water heaters sometimes

come from the factory with hightemperature settings, but a setting of115F provides comfortable hot waterfor most uses.

WaterH

eating

Water Heating

Water Heater

Insulate your water heater to save energyand money.

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Drain a quart of water from yourwater tank every 3 months to removesediment that impedes heat transferand lowers the efficiency of yourheater. The type of water tank youhave determines the steps to take,so follow the manufacturers advice.

If you heat with electricity and live in awarm and sunny climate, considerinstalling a solar water heater. The solarunits are environmentally friendly andcan now be installed on your roof toblend with the architecture of your house.

Take more showers than baths.Bathing uses the most hot water in

the average household. You use1525 gallons of hot water for a bath,but less than 10 gallons during a5-minute shower.

Consider the installation of a drainwater waste heat recovery system.

Look for the FTC EnergyGuide label.

Solar Water HeatersIf you heat with electricity and you

have an unshaded, south-facing location(such as a roof) on your property, con-sider installing a solar water heater. Morethan 1.5 million homes and businesses inthe United States have invested in solarwater heating systems and over 94% ofthese customers consider the systems agood investment. Solar water heating sys-tems are also good for the environment.Solar water heaters avoid the harmfulgreenhouse gas emissions associated withelectricity production. During a 20 yearperiod, one solar water heater can avoidover 50 tons of carbon dioxide emissions.

When shopping for a solar waterheater, watch for systems certified bythe Solar Rating and CertificationCorporation (SRCC) or the FloridaSolar Energy Center (FSEC).

For more information on how you cansave money on your water heating bill,contact:

American Solar Energy Society (ASES),(303) 443-3130, www.ases.org

Florida Solar Energy Center (FSEC),(321) 638-1000, www.fsec.ucf.edu

Gas Appliance Manufacturers Association,(703) 525-7060, www.gamanet.org

Owens Corning Customer Service Hotline,

(800) GET-PINK (800-438-7465),www.owenscorning.com

Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA),(202) 628-7745, www.seia.org

Solar Rating and Certification Corporation(SRCC), (321) 638-1537, www.solar-rating.org

U.S. Department of Energys

Energy Efficiency and Renewable EnergyClearinghouse (EREC), (800) DOE-3732www.eere.energy.gov/buildings/homes/savingwater.cfm

WaterH

eating

Clothes washer26%

Dishwasher14%

Bath12%

Sinks11%

Shower37%

Hot Water Usage (based on national averages)The typical U.S. homeowners waterconsumption by place of use.


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Warm Climate Windows


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Buying New WindowsNew windows are long-term invest-

ments that have a large impact on yourhomes energy system. Today, there aremany new window technologies avail-able that are worth considering. Glazingmaterials now come with a variety ofselective coatings and other features;frames are available in aluminum, wood,vinyl, fiber glass, or combinations of

these materials. Each type of glazingmaterial and frame has advantages anddisadvantages.

Shopping Tips

When youre shopping for new windows,look for the National FenestrationRating Council (NFRC) label; it meansthe windows performance is certified.

Remember, the lower the U-value, thebetter the insulation. In colder climates,a U-value of 0.35 or below is recom-mended. These windows have at leastdouble glazing and low-e coating.

In warm climates, where summertimeheat gain is the main concern, lookfor windows with double glazing andspectrally selective coatings thatreduce heat gain.

Select windows with air leakage ratingsof 0.3 cubic feet per minute or less.

In temperate climates with both heat-

ing and cooling seasons, select win-dows with both low U-values and lowsolar heat gain coefficiency (SHGC)to maximize energy benefits.

Look for the ENERGY STAR andEnergyGuide labels.

For more information about windows,contact:

American Architectural ManufacturersAssociation (AAMA), (847) 303-5664,www.aamanet.org

Efficient Windows Collaborative(202) 530-2231, www.efficientwindows.org

ENERGY STAR, (888) STAR-YES (888-782-7937),www.energystar.gov

National Wood Window and DoorAssociation, (800) 223-2301, www.nwwda.org



U.S. Department of EnergysEnergy Efficiency and Renewable EnergyClearinghouse (EREC), (800) DOE-3732www.eere.energy.gov/buildings/homes/

buyingwindows.cfm

Windows

Warm-Climate Windows

In the summertime, the sun shiningthrough your windows heats up theroom. Windows with spectrallyselective coatings on the glass reflectsome of the sunlight, keeping your

rooms cooler.

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Landscaping is a natural and beautifulway to keep your home more comfort-able and reduce your energy bills. Inaddition to adding aesthetic value and

environmental quality to your home,a well-placed tree, shrub, or vine candeliver effective shade, act as a wind-break, and reduce overall energy bills.

Carefully positioned trees can save upto 25% of a typical households energyused for heating and cooling. Computermodels from DOE predict that just threetrees, properly placed around the house,

can save an average household between$100 and $250 in heating and coolingenergy costs annually. During the sum-mer months, the most effective way tokeep your home cool is to prevent theheat from building up in the first place.A primary source of heat buildup is

sunlight absorbed by your homes roof,walls, and windows. Dark-colored homeexteriors absorb 70% to 90% of the radi-ant energy from the sun that strikes the

homes surfaces. Some of this absorbedenergy is then transferred into your homeby way of conduction, resulting in heatgain inside the house. In contrast, light-colored surfaces effectively reflect mostof the heat away from your home.Landscaping can also help block andabsorb the suns energy to help decreaseheat buildup in your home by providing

shade and evaporative cooling.Shading and evaporative cooling fromtrees can reduce the air temperaturearound your home. Studies conductedby the Lawrence Berkeley NationalLaboratory found summer daytime airtemperatures to be 3 to 6F cooler in

Landscaping

Buildings andTreesNaturalPartners

Deciduous treesplanted on the southand on the west sideswill help keep yourhouse cool in thesummer and allowsun to shine in thewindows in the winter.

Landscaping


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Lighting


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Increasing your lighting efficiency is oneof the fastest ways to decrease your energybills. If you replace 25% of your lights inhigh-use areas with fluorescents, you can

save about 50% of your lighting energy bill.

Indoor LightingUse linear fluorescent and energy-

efficient compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs)in fixtures throughout your home to pro-vide high-quality and high-efficiency light-ing. Fluorescent lamps are much moreefficient than incandescent bulbs and last6 to 10 times longer. Although fluores-cent and compact fluorescent lamps aremore expensive than incandescent bulbs,they pay for themselves by saving energyover their lifetime.

Indoor Lighting Tips

Turn off the lights in any room yourenot using, or consider installing timers,photo cells, or occupancy sensors to

reduce the amount of time your lightsare on.

Use task lighting; instead ofbrightly lighting an entireroom, focus the light whereyou need it. For example,use fluorescent under-cabinetlighting for kitchen sinks andcountertops under cabinets.

Consider three-way lamps;they make it easier to keeplighting levels low whenbrighter light is not necessary.

Use 4-foot fluorescent fixtureswith reflective backing andelectronic ballasts for yourworkroom, garage, and

laundry areas.

Consider using 4-watt mini-fluorescent or electro-luminescent

night lights. Both lights are muchmore efficient than their incandescentcounterparts. The luminescent lightsare cool to the touch.

Use CFLs in all the portable table andfloor lamps in your home. Considercarefully the size and fit of these sys-tems when you select them. Somehome fixtures may not accommodatesome of the larger CFLs.

When shopping for new light fixtures,consider buying dedicated compact flu-orescent fixtures with built-in ballaststhat use pin-based replacement bulbs.

For spot lighting, consider CFLs withreflectors. The lamps range in wattagefrom 13-watt to 32-watt and providea very directed light using a reflectorand lens system.

Take advantage of daylight by usinglight-colored, loose-weave curtains

on your windows to allow daylight topenetrate the room while preserving

Lighting

Lighting

Compact Fluorescent BulbsThese compact fluorescent bulbs are four times more energyefficient than incandescent bulbs and provide the same lighting.

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privacy. Also, decorate with lightercolors that reflect daylight.

If you have torchiere fixtures with halo-gen lamps, consider replacing themwith compact fluorescent torchieres.Compact fluorescent torchieres use60% to 80% less energy, can producemore light (lumens), and do not get ashot as the halogen torchieres.

Look for the ENERGY STAR labelwhen purchasing these products.

Outdoor LightingMany homeowners use outdoor light-

ing for decoration and security. Whenshopping for outdoor lights, you will finda variety of products, from low-voltage

pathway lighting to motion-detectorfloodlights. Some stores also carry lightspowered by small photovoltaic (PV)modules that convert sunlight directly

into electricity; consider PV-poweredlights for areas that are not close to anexisting power supply line.

Outdoor Lighting Tips

Use outdoor lights with a photocell unitor a timer so they will turn off duringthe day.

Turn off decorative outdoor gas lamps;just eight gas lamps burning year-round use as much natural gas as ittakes to heat an average-size homeduring an entire winter.

Exterior lighting is one of the bestplaces to use CFLs because of theirlong life. If you live in a cold climate,be sure to buy a lamp with a cold-weather ballast.

For more information on energy-efficient lighting, contact:

ENERGY STAR, (888) STAR-YES (888-782-7937),www.energystar.gov

U.S. Department of EnergysEnergy Efficiency and Renewable Energy

Clearinghouse (EREC), (800) DOE-3732www.eere.energy.gov/buildings/homes/

buylighting.cfm

23Lighting

Torchiere Lamp

Halogen lamps generate excessive heat that cancreate fire hazards. Use compact fluorescentlamps in your torchiere fixtures. They are saferand use much less energy.

Appliances


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Appliances account for about 20% ofyour households energy consumption,with refrigerators, clothes washers, andclothes dryers at the top of the consump-tion list.

When youre shopping for appliances,you can think of two price tags. The firstone covers the purchase pricethink of

it as a down payment. The second price tagis the cost of operating the appliance dur-ing its lifetime. Youll be paying on thatsecond price tag every month with yourutility bill for the next 10 to 20 years,depending on the appliance. Refrigera-tors last an average of 20 years; room airconditioners and dishwashers, about10 years each; clothes washers, about

14 years.When you do have to shop for a newappliance, look for the ENERGY STARlabel. ENERGY STAR appliances havebeen identified by the U.S. Environmen-tal Protection Agency and DOE as beingthe most energy-efficient products intheir classes. They usually exceed mini-mum federal standards by a substantial

amount. The appliance shoppingguide on pages 29 and 30 lists someof the major appliances that carry the

ENERGY STAR label and provideshelpful information on what to look forwhen shopping for an appliance.

To help you figure out whether anappliance is energy efficient, the federal

government requires most appli-ances to display the bright yellowand black EnergyGuide label.Although these labels will not tellyou which appliance is the mostefficient, they will tell you theannual energy consumption andoperating cost for each appliance

so you can compare them yourself.

DishwashersMost of the energy used by a dish-

washer is for water heating. TheEnergyGuide label estimates how muchpower is needed per year to run theappliance and to heat the water based onthe yearly cost of gas and electric water

heating.Dishwasher Tips

Check the manual that came withyour dishwasher for the manufacturersrecommendations on water tempera-ture; many have internal heatingelements that allow you to set thewater heater in your home to a lowertemperature (115F).

Scrape, dont rinse, off large foodpieces and bones. Soaking or prewash-ing is generally only recommended incases of burned-on or dried-on food.

Be sure your dishwasher is full, but notoverloaded.

Dont use the rinse hold on yourmachine for just a few soiled dishes.It uses 3 to 7 gallons of hot watereach time you use it.

Applian

ces

Appliances

Whats the Real Cost

Every appliance has two price tagsa purchaseprice and the operating cost.

Let your dishes air dry; if you donth d h

Whats a kilowatt?


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have an automatic air-dry switch,turn off the control knob after the finalrinse and prop the door open a littleso the dishes will dry faster.

When shopping for a new dishwasher,look for the ENERGY STAR label.

ENERGY STAR dishwashers use lesswater and energy and must exceedminimum federal standards by at least25%.

Applian

ces

When you cook a pot of rice for1 hour, you use 1000 watt hours ofelectricity! One thousand watt hoursequals 1 kilowatt-hour, or 1 kWh.Your utility bill usually shows whatyou are charged for the kilowatt-hoursyou use. The average residential rate

is 8.3 cents per kWh. A typical U.S.household consumes about10,000 kWh per year, costing anaverage of $830 annually.

How to Read the

EnergyGuide LabelThe EnergyGuide labelgives you two importantpieces of informationyou can use forcomparison of differentbrands and modelswhen shopping for a

new refrigerator: Estimated energy

consumption on ascale showing a rangefor similar models

Estimated yearlyoperating cost basedon the nationalaverage cost ofelectricity.

ago. This adds up to between $525 and$1 050 d i th 15 lif


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RefrigeratorsThe EnergyGuide label on new refrig-

erators will tell you how much electricity

in kilowatt-hours (kWh) a particularmodel uses in one year. The smaller thenumber, the less energy the refrigeratoruses and the less it will cost you tooperate. In addition to the EnergyGuidelabel, dont forget to look for theENERGY STAR label. A new refrigeratorwith an ENERGY STAR label will saveyou between $35 and $70 a year com-

pared to the models designed 15 years

$1,050 during the average 15-year lifeof the unit.

Refrigerator/Freezer Energy Tips

Look for a refrigerator with automaticmoisture control. Models with this fea-ture have been engineered to preventmoisture accumulation on the cabinetexterior without the addition of aheater. This is not the same thing asan anti-sweat heater. Models withan anti-sweat heater will consume5% to 10% more energy than modelswithout this feature.

Dont keep your refrigerator or freezer

too cold. Recommended temperaturesare 37 to 40F for the fresh food com-partment of the refrigerator and 5Ffor the freezer section. If you have aseparate freezer for long-term storage,it should be kept at 0F.

To check refrigerator temperature,place an appliance thermometer in aglass of water in the center of the refrig-

erator. Read it after 24 hours. To checkthe freezer temperature, place a ther-mometer between frozen packages.Read it after 24 hours.

Regularly defrost manual-defrost refrig-erators and freezers; frost buildupdecreases the energy efficiency of theunit. Dont allow frost to build up more

than one-quarter of an inch. Make sure your refrigerator door seals

are airtight. Test them by closing thedoor over a piece of paper or a dollarbill so it is half in and half out of therefrigerator. If you can pull the paperor bill out easily, the latch may needadjustment or the seal may needreplacing.

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Applian

ces

Refrigerator Choices

Refrigerators with the freezer on top are moreefficient than those with freezers on the side.

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Cover liquids and wrap foods storedin the refrigerator. Uncovered foodsrelease moisture and make the com-pressor work harder.

Move your refrigerator out fromthe wall and vacuum its condensercoils once a year unless you havea no-clean condenser model. Your

refrigerator will run for shorter periodswith clean coils.

Other Energy-Saving Kitchen Tips

Be sure to place the faucet lever on thekitchen sink in the cold position whenusing small amounts of water; placingthe lever in the hot position usesenergy to heat the water even thoughit may never reach the faucet.

If you need to purchase a gas oven orrange, look for one with an automatic,

electric ignition system. An electricignition saves gas because a pilot lightis not burning continuously.

In gas appliances, look for blue flames;yellow flames indicate the gas is burn-ing inefficiently and an adjustmentmay be needed. Consult the manufac-turer or your local utility.

Keep range-top burners and reflectorsclean; they will reflect the heat better,and you will save energy.

Use a covered kettle or pan to boilwater; its faster and it uses lessenergy.

Match the size of the pan to the heat-ing element.

If you cook with electricity, turn thestovetop burners off several minutesbefore the allotted cooking time. The

27

Applian

ces

How Much Electricity Do Appliances Use?

This chart shows how much energy a typical appliance uses per year and its corresponding cost basedon national averages. For example, a refrigerator uses almost five times the electricity the averagetelevision uses.

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29MajorA

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Source List


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31

Air Conditioning and RefrigerationInstitute

4100 North Fairfax Drive, Suite 200Arlington, VA 22203Phone: (703) 524-8800Fax: (703) 528-3816E-mail: [email protected]

The Alliance to Save Energy1200 18th Street, NW, Suite 900Washington, DC 20036Phone: (202) 857-0666Fax: (202) 331-9588E-mail: [email protected]

American Architectural ManufacturersAssociation (AAMA)1827 Walden Office Square, Suite 550Schaumburg, IL 60173-4628Phone: (847) 303-5664Fax: (847) 303-5774www.aamanet.org

American Council for an Energy-EfficientEconomy (ACEEE)

1001 Connecticut Avenue, NW, Suite 801

Washington, DC 20036Phone: (202) 429-8873Fax: 202-429-2248Publications: (202) 429-0063E-mail: [email protected]

American Natural Gas Association400 N. Capitol Street, NW, Suite 450Washington, D.C. 20001Phone: (202) 824-7000

www.aga.orgAmerican Society of Landscape

Architects (ASLA)636 Eye Street, NWWashington, DC 20001-3736Phone: (202) 898-2444Fax: (202) 898-1185www.asla.org

American Solar Energy Society (ASES)2400 Central Avenue, Unit G-1Boulder, CO 80301Phone:(303) 443-3130Fax: (303) 443-3212E-mail: [email protected]

Association of Home ApplianceManufacturers

1111 19th Street, NW, Suite 402Washington, DC 20036Phone: (202) 872-5955Fax: (202) 872-9354www.aham.org

Cellulose Insulation Manufacturers

Association (CIMA)136 South Keowee StreetDayton, OH 45402Phone: (937) 222-2462Fax: (937) 222-5794E-mail: [email protected]

Efficient Windows CollaborativeAlliance to Save Energy

1200 18th St. N.W.

Suite 900Washington, DC 20036Phone: (202) 530-2231Fax: (202) 331-9588E-mail: [email protected]

ENERGY STARClimate Protection Partneship1200 Pennsylvania Ave, NW, (6202J)Washington, DC 20004-2403

Phone: (202) 564-9190(888) STAR-YES (782-7937)Fax: (202) 564-9569www.energystar.gov

Federal Trade CommissionBureau of Consumer ProtectionCRC-240Washington, DC 20580Phone: (202) FTC-HELP (382-4357)www.ftc.gov

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List


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32

Source

List

Florida Solar Energy Center (FSEC)1679 Clearlake RoadCocoa, FL 32922-5703Phone: (321) 638-1000Fax: (321) 638-1010E-mail: [email protected]

Gas Appliance Manufacturers Association2107 Wilson Blvd, Ste 600Arlington, VA 22201Phone: (703) 525-7060Fax: (703) 525-6790www.gamanet.org

Insulation Contractors Association ofAmerica (ICAA)

1321 Duke Street, Suite 303Alexandria, VA 22314Phone: (703) 739-0356Fax: (703) 739-0412E-mail: [email protected]

National Arbor Day Foundation (NADF)100 Arbor AvenueNebraska City, NE 68410Phone: (402) 474-5655

www.arborday.orgNational Association of Home Builders

(NAHB)1201 15th Street, NWWashington, DC 20005Phone: (202) 266-8200(800) 368-5242E-mail: [email protected]

National Association of State Energy

Officials (NASEO)1414 Prince Street, Suite 200Alexandria, VA 22314Phone: (703) 299-8800Fax: (703) 299-6208E-mail: [email protected]

National Insulation Association99 Canal Center Plaza, Suite 222,Alexandria, VA 22314-1538

Phone: (703) 683-6422Fax: (703) 549-4838www.insulation.org

National Wood Window and DoorAssociation

1400 East Touhy Avenue, Suite 470Des Plaines, IL 60018Phone: (847) 229-5200(800) 223-2301Fax: (847) 299-1286www.nwwda.org

North American InsulationManufacturers Association (NAIMA)

44 Canal Center Plaza, Suite 310Alexandria, VA 22314Phone: (703) 684-0084Fax: (703) 684-0427E-mail: [email protected]

Owens CorningOne Owens Corning ParkwayToledo, OH 43659Customer Service Hotline:

(800) GET PINK (800-438-7465)E-mail: [email protected]

Polyisocyanurate InsulationManufacturers Association (PIMA)

515 King Street, Suite 420Alexandria, VA 22314Phone: (202) 628-6558Fax: (202) 628-3856www.pima.org

Rocky Mountain Institute1739 Snowmass Creek RoadSnowmass, CO 81654-9199Phone: (970) 927-3851Fax: (970) 927-3420E-mail: [email protected]

Solar Energy Industries Association(SEIA)

1616 H Street NW, Suite 800Washington, DC 20006Phone: (202) 628-7745Fax: (202) 628-7779E-mail: [email protected]


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Documents

8679642 Energy Savers Tips on Saving Energy Money at Home