1. Dial Down. 10 Energy Saving Tips for the Home

Transcription

1 1. Dial Down 10 Energy Saving Tips for the Home

2 Dial Down Turn the thermostat down in the winter & up in summer. You save about 2% to 3% on your heating bill for every 1º that you lower the thermostat setting. Example: If thermostat is set at 73ºF in the winter, & lowered by 3º to 70ºF, you save about 9% or 9 cents for every dollar you spend on heating costs.

3 Dial Down A programmable thermostat, costing about $30 to $200, schedules temperature adjustments. Photo: UN-L, S. Niemeyer It can automatically cut back on heating at night, turn the heat up again before people arise, & adjust for weekends. If used properly, ENERGY STAR labeled thermostats can save up to $100 a year.

4 2. Select Energy Efficient Products 10 Energy Saving Tips for the Home

5 Select Energy Efficient Products Products have 2 price tags Purchase Price $690 $40/ mo. Operating Price The ENERGY STAR label means the product meets or exceeds the increased energy efficiency guidelines set by the U.S. EPA & U.S. Department of Energy for that product line.

6 More than 40 categories of products are involved Appliances: Battery Chargers Clothes Washers Dehumidifiers Dishwashers Refrigerators & Freezers Room AC Room Air cleaners Water Coolers Electronics: Computers Copiers External Power Adapters Fax Machines Laptops Monitors Printers Scanners Mailing Machines Etc. Heating & Cooling: Home Electronics Geothermal Heat Pumps Cordless Phones Insulation Power Adapters Programmable Thermostat Home Audio Room AC TV Ventilating Fans VCRs Air-source Heat Pumps DVD Products Boilers Battery Chargers Central AC & Furnaces Dehumidifier Ceiling Fans Lighting Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs Light Fixtures Home Sealing (Insulation & Air Sealing): Roof Products Windows, Doors & Skylights

7 Save Energy & Dollars Example comparison of current Energy Star rated products... Energy Star qualified: Refrigerator save more than $35/yr. over older models Dishwasher about $20/yr. Clothes Washer about $60/yr. Room Air Conditioner: about $15/yr. if replace a 10 year old model 40 pint dehumidifiers can save $20/yr. Estimated TOTAL SAVED/YR. *About $1,500 (*varies with model, efficiency, use & cost of energy)

8 Look for Energy Guide Labels EnergyGuide label on appliances indicates: 1. scale for use in comparing energy usage of models & 2. approximate annual operating costs for each model Photo: NREL Photo: DOE

9 3. Seal Air Duct Seams 10 Energy Saving Tips

10 Air Ducts Can Leak Typical heating & cooling air ducts leak about 15% to 20% of the heated or cooled air into unconditioned (unheated or non-cooled) spaces such as into crawlspaces, attics, walls, basements, & garages. Photo: NREL Mastic on duct seams & joints

11 Seal Air Duct Seams Seal with: Mastic - a paste found at some wholesale & retail heating & cooling businesses, & can be brushed on seams. Or approved foil-based duct Tape (UL 181 label) not regular duct tape Photos: NREL

12 Inspect Air Ducts Seal & insulate duct systems Can improve a heating & cooling system s efficiency by as much as 20% & result in savings of up to $150 annually (U.S. Dept. of Energy). Ask a professional heating & cooling contractor trained to inspect & test for duct leakage, to evaluate ductwork & leakage. Insulate ducts in unheated attics crawlspaces. Protect any water pipes in area from freezing. Photo. U.S. DOE

13 4. Select Energy Efficient Windows 10 Energy Saving Tips

14 Creating Higher Performance Windows Replace single pane windows with doublepane windows with high performance glass or add high performance storm windows. Installing storm windows can reduce heat loss by as much as 50% over a single pane window. Tighten up existing windows

15 Look for High Performance Windows in heating-dominated climates (cold climates) account for up to 25 % of typical house s heating load Windows in cooling-dominated climates account for up to 50 % of cooling load. When replacing & selecting windows Look for EnergyStar label & EnergyGuide labels Look on-line for Energy rating systems to compare brands & styles. Go to:

16 Look for High Performance High performance Look for National Fenestration Rating Council NFRC label Lower U-value means better insulated. Select.35 or below if possible Select air leakage rating of about 0.3 cubic ft/min. or less Select low-e (low emissivity) and/or selective coatings for the climate Compare SHGC Solar Heat Gain Coefficient for climate & orientation of home Label example Label program is voluntary

17 Correct Installation Correct installation is essential for any window style. Poor installation may lead to poor performance including air leaks & water moving into inner wall cavity causing damaged wood & siding. If in doubt about the installation methods, contact the manufacturer. For more tips on windows, go to

18 5. Caulk & Weatherstrip 10 Energy Saving Tips

19 Inspect for leaks About 1/3 of air that infiltrates homes through holes & cracks in ceilings, walls, floors & foundations. Inspect for cracks & holes yearly & especially look for leaks into the attic. Photo: VA Energy Savers Handbook University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension

20 Caulking Where are the areas that may need to be inspected & caulked? Use correct caulk for material & purpose Gap Photo: S. Niemeyer UN-L Rope caulk

21 Weatherstripping Weatherstripping comes in various forms for specific purposes such as door bottoms & sides, sections of windows, & around attic hatches. Select a durable product & inspect it yearly. You may pay a little more for quality, but you will not replace it as often. Examples Source: VA Energy Savers Handbook

22 6. Increase Heating Efficiency 10 Energy Saving Tips

23 Increase Heating Efficiency Correct sizing of heating & cooling units for the space is essential. Have systems serviced annually & maintain clean filter systems as specified. Maintenance is critical for efficiency. Change/clean filters. Photo: NREL Geothermal Heat Pump High Efficiency Furnace

24 Replacing & Choosing Heating System Look for EnergyStar & EnergyGuide Labels Also compare: AFUE rating (Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency) Photo: S. Niemeyer UN-L HSPF Factor (Heating Seasonal Performance Factor) OR COP (Coefficient of Performance) Generally, look for higher ratings on these rating systems.

25 Efficiency Ratings Heating Systems Heating System Rating System Range higher rating more efficient Furnaces AFUE 90% to 96% Boilers AFUE 85% and up Heat pumps Ground-source Water-source Air-source COP COP HSPF 3.3 to to to 10 Also look for EnergyStar & EnergyGuide labels

26 7. Increase Cooling Efficiency 10 Energy Saving Tips

27 Selecting High Performance Cooling Equipment Compare cooling efficiency ratings. Energy Efficiency Ratio (EER) Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER) Select systems with the higher ratings.

28 Some systems heat & cool Example: Ground source heat pumps Photo NREL Photo: Virginia Energy Handbook

29 Selecting High Performance Cooling Equipment Cooling System Rating System Range higher rating more efficient Also look for EnergyStar & EnergyGuide labels Central airconditioning Heat pumps Ground-source Water-source Air-source Room air conditioners SEER EER EER EER EER SEER 14 to or higher 14.1 to to and up 14 to 18 or EER 9.4 to 10.8 (Depends on type and style)

30 Increase Cooling Efficiency Place window air conditioners in windows on north side or shaded areas. Insulate or store window air conditioners in the winter. Trees can provide evaporative cooling. Utah House Photo: S. Niemeyer Overhangs & shade important

31 8. Check Insulation 10 Energy Saving Tips

32 Is Insulation Adequate? Check that the insulation is adequate in your home. In Nebraska, generally the recommended value for attics is R-49; walls, R-18; floors, R-25; & slab edge, R-8. See also NE Energy Office at: Photo: NREL Source: Virginia Energy Savers Handbook

33 9. Switch Out Light Bulbs 10 Energy Saving Tips

34 Choose Efficient Light Bulbs Lighting accounts for about 5% to 10% of total home energy use. Compact fluorescent bulbs produce the same amount of light or lumens as incandescent, but use less energy or watts. Newer very efficient light source is LED (light emitting diodes) in traffic lights, flashlights & appearing for home use. Photo: NREL

35 Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs ENERGY STAR qualified compact fluorescent light bulbs Provide bright, warm light while using about 2/3 less energy than standard lighting, Generate about 70% less heat, & Lasts up to 10 times longer than traditional incandescent Fluorescent light bulbs. Photo: NREL Photo: NREL

36 Replace Incandescent Bulbs Replacing one traditional incandescent bulb with an ENERGY STAR compact fluorescent will save about $25 per bulb in energy costs over its lifetime. Although the bulbs may cost more up front, they save over the life of the bulb. Photo: NREL Long-life compact Fluorescent

37 10. When Off is On 10 Energy Saving Tips

38 Turn Equipment Off Household appliances, TVs, & electronics continue to use energy when turned off if they power clocks, remote controls, & other features. About 40% of the electricity used to power home electronics is used while the products are turned off but continue to power features.

39 Power Down Electronics in sleep mode can use up to 20% of electricity needed when fully on. Electronics with EnergyStar label can use as much as 50% less energy to perform same functions Power down & turn completely off when not in use.

40 Conclusion

41 Conclusion Manage heat loss & gain in homes through: Caulking, Weatherstripping & Insulating Sealing & insulating air ducts Selecting high performance windows, or adding storm windows or repairing existing windows Selecting EnergyStar & high performance appliances, equipment, heating & cooling equipment, lighting, electronics & other products

42 Resources Used in Developing the Program U.S. Department of Energy Energy Savers: Tips on Saving Energy & Money at Home www1.eere. energy.gov/consumer/tips/ pdfs/energy_ savers.pdf Geothermal Heat Pumps Department of Energy: Consumer Information (800) Air-Source Heat Pumps: index.cfm/mytopic=01262 Energy Star (888) Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Clearinghouse Fax: www1.eere.energy.gov/consumer/tips/pdfs/ energy_savers.pdf Energy Fact Sheets: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency ENERGY STAR Programs