Energy House
1. Programmable Thermostats
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Programmable thermostats are intended to deliver savings without
sacrificing comfort. The key is to establish a program that
automatically adjusts the heating and cooling in your home as
needed. Every degree above 80 may reduce your home cooling costs
by approximately 66 percent. Likewise, every degree below 70 may
reduce your home heating costs. To enjoy the maximum comfort and
savings here are a few tips:
Choose the right programmable thermostat - There are three
types of programmable thermostats designed to best fit your
daily schedule.
Have your thermostat properly installed
Properly set and use your thermostat
2. Natural Gas Ovens
and Cooktops
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Natural gas ovens and cooktops provide precise control in
stylish packages. Natural gas appliances are known for their
easy cleaning and reliability features. They allow for heating
and excellent temperature control. Foods cooked on natural gas
cooktops and in natural gas ovens cook faster. In addition,
cooking with natural gas is economical, costing approximately
one-half as much as cooking with a similar electric appliance.
3. Compact Fluorescent Light
Bulbs (CFL's)
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CFL's, most familiar for their spiral or twist shape, now also
come in assorted shapes and sizes. With normal use, CFL's
last about 10 times longer than standard bulbs. For your
lighting needs, comfort and efficiency, they also come in
varying shades of light. CFL's come in a variety of light
colors, from bright or soft and warm light, and are now also
available in three-ways and dimmables. They are economic, using
about 75 percent less energy than standard lighting and produce
approximately 75 percent less heat. Want to use a CFL but don't
know what wattage to select? Here's an easy conversion chart:
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EASY LIGHT OUTPUT
EQUIVALENCY CHART
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Incandescent Light Bulbs
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Minimum Light Output
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Equivalent CFL Bulb
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Watts
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Lumens
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Watts
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40
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450
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9 to 13
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60
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800
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13 to 15
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75
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1,100
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18 to 25
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100
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1,600
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23 to 30
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150
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2,600
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30 to 52
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Remember that CFL's do contain a small amount of mercury and
need to be disposed of properly. Do not throw them in any waste
or recycle containers. Instead, take them to City of Mesa
sponsored Household Hazardous Waste/Electronics & Appliance
Recycling Collection events. Local hardware stores and home
centers may also accept them for disposal.
Talk about a time saver! A dishwasher is a great addition to a
kitchen. You can lower the cost of using a dishwasher by
remembering a few simple tips:
Run your dishwasher with a full load. Most of the energy used by
a dishwasher goes towards heating water. Since you can't
decrease the amount of water used per cycle, fill your
dishwasher up before running it to get the most from the energy
used.
Avoid using the heat-dry, rinse-hold and pre-rinse features.
Instead use your dishwasher's air-dry option.
A must have in every kitchen. Keeping food and leftovers
properly stored is critical. However, in most households, the
refrigerator is the single biggest energy consuming kitchen
appliance. Although today's models offer high efficiency
compressors, improved insulation, and more precise temperature
and defrost mechanisms to improve energy efficiency. You can
further reduce the amount of energy your refrigerator or freezer
uses, with these simple tips:
- Position your refrigerator away from a heat source such as an
oven, a dishwasher, or direct sunlight from a window.
- Allow air to circulate around the condenser coils, leave a space
between the wall or cabinets and the refrigerator or freezer and
keep the coils clean.
- Make sure the door seals are airtight.
- Keep your refrigerator between 35 and 38 degrees Fahrenheit and
your freezer at 0 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Minimize the amount of time the refrigerator door is open.
- When disposing of refrigerators remember to recycle or follow
proper instructions.
Water heaters are the second biggest energy users in a typical
home. Natural gas water heaters generally cost less to operate
than electric water heaters and can heat more water per hour
than an electric water heater. And because gas water heaters are
using a gas flame, they can heat water twice as fast. Today's
gas water heaters are more efficient than ever, using 35 percent
less gas than older models. Most manufacturers today recommend
that that you use a setting of 120 degrees for maximum
efficiency. Please remember, all natural gas water heaters mush
be vented to the outdoors. So, make sure they are properly
installed and vented.
7. Environmentally Friendly
Vehicles
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Many consumers today are enjoying the economies of
hybrid/alternative fuel vehicles. These vehicles produce fewer
emissions and provide better mileage. Depending on where you
are, additional benefits such as car pool lane exemptions and
tax-credits may also be available.
8. Washer and Natural Gas
Clothes Dryer
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Not everyone' s favorite chore but washers and dryers are an
important part of our everyday lives. You can save water and
energy if you wait to wash full loads of clothing. Washing in
cold water when you can will also help save energy. While both
electric and gas clothes dryers have many options for
controlling heat and timing of the cycle, natural gas dryers dry
clothes faster and as much as three times more efficiently. New
high-efficiency gas dryers feature pilot-less ignition,
automatic shut-off, sensor controls, de-wrinkling cycles and
automatic cooling-down cycles. Less drying time also means less
energy used.
What a difference a small investment can make. The installation
and use of ceiling fans in the summer can permit you to adjust
your thermostat up a degree or two and still enjoy the same
comfort. It's a simple addition that can save energy and
money. This simple step will not only save energy but will save
you money.
Proper insulation will improve the efficiency of your heating
and cooling systems. Make sure your house is well insulated. The
easiest and most cost-effective way to insulate your home is to
add insulation in the attic. To find out if you have enough,
measure the thickness of the insulation. If there is less than 3
inches, you could probably benefit from adding more. The
recommended depth is 4 inches or more to achieve an insulation
value of R25 to R38.
A solar electric (also referred to as solar photovoltaic) system
converts sunlight directly to electricity and is typically
mounted on your roof. It will provide electricity for your home
when the sun is shining. Solar electricity is a clean, renewable
source of energy.
The natural light from this can illuminate closets, hallways,
bathrooms and other spaces that typically would not have access
to sunlight, decreasing the need for electric lighting.
13. Air Conditioning Units,
Heat Pumps, and Natural Gas Furnaces
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Keeping your home heating and cooling system clean and in good
repair will help maximize the comfort they provide and minimize
the costs. Replacing older air conditioning and heat pump units
with a new 13 SEER or higher (Seasonal Energy Efficiency
Ratings) system may save you up to 40 to 45 percent on your
cooling bill. Make sure the units are sized correctly for your
home. Also, remember to replace your air filter every month.
A natural gas furnace is a great option to keep a home
comfortable and warm. Natural gas is the most popular form of
home heating in the United States - capturing 70 percent of the
new single-family home market for the past few years. Most
consumers prefer natural gas heat because it is comfortable,
convenient, reliable and efficient. Today's heating systems
offer incredible choices - from top-of-the-line furnaces that
achieve efficiency levels of more than 90 percent, to moderately
priced units that meet or slightly exceed the minimum efficiency
standard of 78 percent. Natural gas is also preferred because
its heat feels warmer than heat produced by an electric heat
pump. Natural gas heat is delivered from forced-air systems at
temperatures ranging from 120-140 degrees Fahrenheit. In
contrast, the air from an electric heat pump is typically
delivered at 85-95 degrees Fahrenheit - warm enough to heat a
room, but cooler than the average human skin temperature of 98.6
degrees Fahrenheit.