The Energy Center Center for Environmental Resource Management University of Texas at El Paso P.O. Box 68660 El Paso, Texas 79968 Energy Efficiency This material can be used in different ways, as posters, flipcharts, or each page separately from the others. This booklet is the instructor s guide when it is used as a flipchart, the pages are numbered and in the order they should appear, just cut the bottom part and staple it as shown in the illustration. We recommend you laminate it, so you can use it for a long time. NONPROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE PAID EL PASO, TX PERMIT NO. 77 Sponsored by: The Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts, State Energy Conservation Office, U.S. Department of Energy
Chart #1 Insulation, Doors, Windows, and Air Leaks Keeping your home cozy in Winter and cool in Summer The average American home uses more energy for space heating and cooling 41% than any other end use. The thermal envelope of your home is a key element in saving on heating and cooling and in your comfort as well. The thermal envelope is all the parts of your house that separate you from outdoors. As the ultimate cave, the modern home is designed to provide comfort and convenience. You can have comfort and energy savings, too. It is not expensive it just takes a little knowledge. Insulation: Generally, more is better Worry about under-insulating not about over-insulating R-30 in the roof R-13 in the walls Use insulating exterior sheathing Do insulate walls (even block & adobe need insulation) Do insulate the slab perimeter Doors: Buy steel insulated doors ( they cost less and are better insulated) Maintain good weatherstripping, door sweps, and thresholds Screen doors (or ventilated storm doors) can help with evaporative cooling in Summer A rolled up towel or door doggie can stop drafts under doors Windows: New, very efficient windows with coated glass are now widely available Buy LowE2 (Low E squared) windows with aluminum frames Vinyl frames reduce heat loss and heat gain even more but are more expensive Do NOT use single or double pane replacement windows without LowE2 glass You will save many times the small additional cost over the years LowE2 windows are required by the state-wide building code Interior storm windows are low cost and very effective Air Leaks Caulk on the inside of your home to prevent air leaks (caulking outside prevents water damage but does not stop air leakage) Use interior storm windows to stop window air leakage Tape cracked glass Seal the return air plenum under your furnace (stuff fiberglass insulation into the stud spaces or finish the plenum with sheetrock and caulk it Caulk around penetrations of pipes and wires Caulk moldings around doors and windows Use 25 year water based caulk (usually acrylic with silicone added) Chart # 6 Your Energy Bills The average American home uses $1,338 of energy each year. In Texas the average is slightly higher $1,374 due to air conditioning. El Paso area homes average about $1,140 in energy expenses annually. How much do you pay to operate your home? The higher your bills the more potential for savings. You may be able to save 25% with some simple adjustments Don t forget to add in your costs for water and gasoline Average Monthly Use Average El Paso Residential Energy Usage and Cost Units Average AnnualUse Electricity 1 500 kwh/month 6000 kwh/yr $0.11 kwh $660.00 Natural Gas 1,3 45 ccf/month 540 ccf/yr $0.78 ccf $421.20 Water 1* 12,716 Gal/month 204 ccf/yr $2.54 ccf $518.16 Gasoline 2 95.3 Gal/month 1143 Gal/yr $3.00 Gallon $3,429.00 Totals Home $1,599.36 1.El Paso average data 2.National Average 3.LP is 2-3 times more expensive Auto $3,429.00 Energy $5,028.36 w/ LP $2,441.76 1 6 *Existing Homes US household average gasoline use is 1,143 gallons At $2.50 per gallon that equals $2,858 The range is 620 to 1549 gallons per household per year US household average water and sewer costs are $820 per year In El Paso they are about $600 per year. Units Cost Unit Average Annual Cost Collect and track your bills using the Utility Bill Organizer. Compare your electricity, gas, water and gasoline usage and envelope, cooling system costs to others. Start with low cost / no cost measures and move up Which bill is highest for you? Do you pay more for water than By End Use electricity? Typically, the kitchen uses more electricity than any other No one is average we all have unique lifestyles that affect room energy use Home electronics may use as much electricity as the Search for energy savings several different ways. laundry By Fuel An aquarium or water bed heater can be a significant use Total your electric, gas, water and gasoline bills You are the only expert on how energy is used in your Start with the highest bill or easiest to change home Can you save water? Gasoline? Be a detective, find your savings By System There are $20 Bills all over your home waiting for you to find them Look at your heating system, water heating system, thermal
Chart #2 Chart #5 Lighting and Small Appliances Here is where small individual energy uses add up. Lighting uses 11.7% of the energy in an average American home and small appliances use another 19.2% for a total of 31%! The small appliance category has been steadily growing and that trend is predicted to continue. These are important areas to look for energy savings. Lighting: Start by upgrading the 5 most used lights in your home with compact fluorescent bulbs. It could cut your lighting bill in half. Compact fluorescent lights (CFLs) use 75% less energy than incandescent bulbs. CFLs also last 10 times longer. CFLs are available for as little as $2 to $5 per bulb. If you leave a porch light on overnight upgrade this fixture first. Open your drapes Use daylight from windows as much as possible. Small Appliances: Category includes many items: home electronics TV, stereo, computers, video games, VCR, Cable/Satellite boxes; personal care hair dryers, curlers, irons, toothbrushes; cooking toasters, microwaves, grills, mixers; and the list goes on water bed heaters, cordless tools, vacuums, aquariums Most of these don t use much individually but they add up Look for items that are on constantly or for long hours Hidden or unsuspected plug loads can be large Leaking electricity averages 450kWh/yr in a average US household 5 Heating & Cooling Heating and cooling accounts for 41% of the energy used in the average American home. How you use your equipment can make a big difference in your bills and your comfort level. Heating: Set back your thermostat when you are out or asleep Two eight hour setbacks of 10 F can save over 20% of your heating bill Good, low-cost clock (programmable) thermostats are available to automate temperatures in your home Do routine maintenance: get service every 2 years, change filters monthly, shut off your pilot light in summer Use pleated filters they are more efficient and can last up to 6 months Cooling: Evaporative cooling works very well in the desert Southwest Evaporative coolers use 4 times less energy than refrigerated air conditioning Open you windows to let the cool breeze from an evaporative cooler flow through your home Minimize your wate use by controlling the bleed rate, upgrading to a sump dump pump, and using the bleed water on landscaping A 2 speed motor and a low voltage thermostat will save energy and improve comfort. 2
Chart #4 Chart #3 Hot Water Systems 12% of all energy used in the average American home is for heating water. The top use of hot water is for showers followed by clothes washing It is easy to save energy in both of these areas Where does your hot water go? Upgrade your water heater to be more efficient Put a water heater blanket on your tank Insulate the pipes above the tank Set the thermostat just below medium (120 F) Enclose your water heater in a properly ventilated room Install heat trap loops or nipples Major Appliances Sixteen percent of the energy used in an average American home is used by major appliances. Some newer appliances use much less than older ones. Sop carefully when replacing your appliances. Replace old showerheads with new water-saving showerheads. You can cut your hot water use in half Wash Clothes in cold water Save 26% Install a flow control showerhead Save 18.5% Install flow control faucet aerators Save 5.5% They work as well or better Maintain your water heater for extra long life Replace the boiler drain with a free flowing ball valve Drain several gallons from your tank 2 times per year Less calcium build up saves energy and prolongs tank life Replace the anode every 4 5 years Save water at all fixtures Faucet aerators for bathroom sinks (.5 to 1.0 gpm) Get deluxe kitchen swivel spray aerator with a flow control lever It makes hand washing dishes easier and more efficient Get an efficient water heater, washing machine, and dishwasher when you replace your old ones Invest wisely in major appliances since they have a lifetime of 15 years or more Do your research, read the EnergyGuide labels, and choose among models carefully A shortcut to energy efficiency: Buy Energy Star appliances Energy Star Appliances use 15 to 20% less energy than other new models and much less than older ones It may pay to replace a major appliance before it is too old For example, if your refrigerator is 8 years old it may be more cost effective to buy a new one Refrigerator Typically use more energy than any other appliance Side freezer models use 10 to 25 % more energy operate Avoid through the door features they use 14 20% more energy Use a thermometer to set the temperature inside you refrigerator between 37 F and 40 F. Set your freezer between 0 F and 5 F. Settings that are 10 F colder can increase energy use 25% Laundry Upgrade to a horizontal axis clothes washer Get a clothes dryer with a moisture sensor Until then wash in cold & rinse in cold Also hang clothes out to dry use your solar clothes dryer 50% Get a top freezer model they cost less to buy and to 3 4