Right in your own home, you have the power to save money and energy. Saving energy reduces our nation’s overall demand for resources needed to make energy, and increasing your energy efficiency is like adding another clean energy source to our electric power grid.
1. Energy Saver Tips on Saving Money & Energy at Home energysaver.gov
2.
3. Save Money Lighting 3 and Energy Today Get started with things you can 23 Choose today’s energy-efficient lighting for some of the easiest do now, and use the whole-house and cheapest ways to reduce approach to ensure that your your electric bill. investments are wisely made to save you money and energy. Appliances Your Home’s Energy Use 27 Use efficient appliances through- out your home, and get greater 4 Find out how your home uses energy, and where it’s losing the most energy performance with lower energy bills. so you can develop a plan to save in Home Office the short and long term. 33 and Electronics Find out how much energy your Air Leaks and Insulation electronics use, reduce their out- 7 Seal air leaks and insulate your home properly so your energy dollars don’t put when you’re not using them, and choose efficient electronics seep through the cracks. to save money. Heating and Cooling Renewable Energy 12 Use efficient systems to heat and cool your home, and save money 35 Use renewable energy at home such as solar and wind to save and increase comfort by properly energy dollars while reducing maintaining and upgrading environmental impact. equipment. Transportation Water Heating 37 Choose efficient transportation 19 Use the right water heater for your home, insulate it and lower options and drive more efficiently to save at the gas pump. its temperature, and use less water to avoid paying too much. References Windows 39 Use our reference list to learn more about energy efficiency 21 Enjoy light and views while saving money by installing energy- and renewable energy. efficient windows, and use strategies to keep your current windows from losing energy. 1
4. Energy Saver Tips for Renters and Property Owners If you rent, or if you own a rental unit, you can use many of the tips throughout this guide to save money and energy! Renters You can reduce your utility bills by following the tips in the chapters titled Lighting, Heating and Cooling, Appliances, Home Office and Home Electronics, Windows, and Transportation. Encourage your landlord to follow these tips as well. He or she will save energy and Right in your own home, you have money, improving your comfort and the power to save money and energy. lowering your utility bills even more. Saving energy reduces our nation’s Property Owners overall demand for resources needed Nearly all of the information in to make energy, and increasing this guide also applies to rental units. your energy efficiency is like adding The chapter on Your Home’s Energy another clean energy source to our Use focuses on air leaks, insulation, heating and cooling, roofing, land- electric power grid. scaping, water heating, windows, This guide shows you how easy it is appliances, and renewable energy. to cut your energy use at home and also on the road. The easy, practical Find even more information about solutions for saving energy include saving money and energy at home tips you can use today—from the by visiting energysaver.gov. roof and landscaping to appliances To learn more about U.S. Department and lights. They are good for your of Energy (DOE) programs in energy wallet and for the environment—and efficiency and renewable energy, actions that you take help reduce our visit the Office of Energy Efficiency national needs to produce or import and Renewable Energy website at more energy, thereby improving our eere.energy.gov. energy security.
5. Save Money and Energy Today A n energy-efficient home will keep your family comfortable while saving you money. Whether you take Tips to Save Energy Today Easy low-cost and no-cost ways to save energy simple steps or make larger investments to make your home more efficient, you’ll ■■ Install a programmable thermostat see lower energy bills. Over time, those to lower utility bills and manage your savings will typically pay for the cost heating and cooling systems efficiently. of improvements and put money back ■■ Air dry dishes instead of using your in your pocket. Your home may also be dishwasher’s drying cycle. more attractive to buyers when you sell. ■■ Turn things off when you are not in the The 115 million residences in America room such as lights, TVs, entertainment today collectively use an estimated 22.5% systems, and your computer and monitor. of the country’s energy. Unfortunately, ■■ Plug home electronics, such as TVs and a lot of energy is wasted through leaky DVD players, into power strips; turn the windows or ducts, old appliances, or power strips off when the equipment inefficient heating and cooling systems. is not in use—TVs and DVDs in standby When we waste energy in our homes, we mode still use several watts of power. are throwing away money that could be ■■ Lower the thermostat on your water used for other things. The typical U.S. heater to 120°F. family spends at least $2,200 a year on ■■ Take short showers instead of baths and home utility bills. You can lower this use low-flow showerheads for additional amount by up to 25% through following energy savings. the Long Term Savings Tips in this guide. ■■ Wash only full loads of dishes and clothes. The key to these savings is to take a whole-house approach—by viewing ■■ Air dry clothes. your home as an energy system with ■■ Check to see that windows and doors interdependent parts. For example, your are closed when heating or cooling heating system is not just a furnace—it’s your home. a heat-delivery system that starts at the ■■ Drive sensibly; aggressive driving such furnace and delivers heat throughout your as speeding, and rapid acceleration and home using a network of ducts. Even a braking, wastes fuel. top-of-the-line, energy-efficient furnace ■■ Look for the ENERGY STAR® label on light will waste a lot of fuel if the ducts, walls, bulbs, home appliances, electronics, and attic, windows, and doors are leaky or other products. ENERGY STAR products poorly insulated. Taking a whole-house meet strict efficiency guidelines set by the approach to saving energy ensures that U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and dollars you invest to save energy are the U.S. Department of Energy. spent wisely. ■■ Visit energysaver.gov for more energy-saving ideas. 3
6. Your Home’s Energy Use A home energy assessment (sometimes referred to as an energy audit) will show what parts of To determine the insulation R-values in different parts of your home, visit the Weatherization section of your house use the most energy and energysaver.gov. suggest the best ways to cut energy • Check for air leaks around your costs. You can conduct a simple home walls, ceilings, windows, doors, energy assessment by doing it yourself lighting and plumbing fixtures, (DIY) or, for a more detailed assessment, switches, and electrical outlets. contact your local utility or an energy • Check for open fireplace dampers. auditor. Also, you can learn more about • Make sure your appliances and home energy audits and find free tools heating and cooling systems are and calculators on energysaver.gov, properly maintained. Check your the Residential Services Network at owner’s manuals for the recom- resnet.us, or the Building Performance mended maintenance. Institute at bpi.org. • Study your family’s lighting needs and look for ways to use controls— DIY Energy Assessment Tips like sensors, dimmers, or timers— • Check the insulation in your attic, to reduce lighting use. exterior and basement walls, ceilings, floors, and crawl spaces. How We Use Energy in Our Homes Heating accounts for Refrigeration the biggest portion of 5% Space your utility bills. Source: Heating U.S. Energy Information Lighting 42% Administration, AEO2014 Early 5% Release Overview. Cooling 6% Water Other Heating 24% 18%
7. Cool Hot Photo from Infraspection Institute, Inc. Heat Loss from a House A picture is worth…in this case, lost heating dollars. This thermal image—taken by a professional energy auditor—shows warm air escaping through windows and cracks. The red shows where the most warm air is escaping. Your Whole-House Plan Planning smart purchases and home After you know where your home is improvements will maximize your energy losing energy, make a plan by asking efficiency and save you the most money. yourself a few questions: A more advanced alternative to • How much money do you spend performing a DIY energy assessment on energy? is to get advice from your state energy • Where are your greatest energy office, utility, or an independent energy losses? auditor (see References for professional • How long will it take for an invest- organizations). A professional energy ment in energy efficiency to pay auditor uses special test equipment to for itself in energy cost savings? find air leaks, areas lacking insulation, • Do the energy-saving measures and malfunctioning equipment. The provide additional benefits that are auditor analyzes how well your home’s important to you—for example, energy systems work together, and increased comfort from installing compares the analysis to your utility double-paned, efficient windows? bills. After gathering information about • How long do you plan to own your home, the auditor will recommend your current home? cost-effective energy improvements that • Can you do the job yourself or enhance comfort and safety. Some will do you need a contractor? also estimate how soon your investment • What is your budget? in efficiency upgrades will pay off. • How much time do you have for maintenance and repairs? 5
8. Smart Meters and Smart meters and home energy manage- a Smarter Power Grid ment systems allow customers to Millions of smart meters have been program how and when their home uses installed across the country. Smart meters energy. Such programs might charge you provide two-way communication between the actual cost of power at any one time, you and your utility, helping your utility ranging from high prices during times know about blackouts, for example. This of peak demand to low prices during helps utilities to maintain more reliable off-peak hours. If you are able to shift electrical service. your power use to off-peak times—such as running your dishwasher late in the Smart meters can be used with home evening—these programs can save you energy management systems such as money while helping your utility. Web-based tools that your utility provides or devices that can be installed in your Time-based rates are very attractive to home. Smart meters can display your owners of plug-in hybrids and electric home energy use, help you find ways to vehicles since typically these vehicles are save energy and money, and even allow recharged at night. See the Transportation you to remotely adjust your thermostat or section for more information. turn appliances off. Time-Based Electricity Rates To help reduce their peak power demands and save money, many utilities are introducing programs that encourage their customers to use electricity during off-peak hours. The programs pass on the savings to you, the customer, through rebates or reduced electricity rates.
9. Air Leaks and Insulation I mproving your home’s insulation and sealing air leaks are the fastest and most cost-effective ways to reduce hatches, and other places where air may leak. If the smoke stream trav- els horizontally, you have located energy waste and make the most of your an air leak that may need caulking, energy dollars. Be sure to seal air leaks sealing, or weatherstripping. before you insulate, because insulating • Caulk and weatherstrip doors and materials won’t block leaks. windows that leak air. • Caulk and seal air leaks where Sealing Air Leaks plumbing, ducting, or electrical Air leaks can waste a lot of your energy wiring comes through walls, floors, dollars. One of the quickest energy- and ceilings, and soffits over cabinets. money-saving tasks you can do is caulk, • Install foam gaskets behind outlet seal, and weather strip all seams, cracks, and switch plates on walls. and openings to the outside. • Inspect dirty spots in your insulation for air leaks and mold. Seal leaks Tips for Sealing Air Leaks with low-expansion spray foam • Test your home for air tightness. made for this purpose and install On a windy day, carefully hold a lit house flashing if needed. incense stick or a smoke pen next • Look for dirty spots on your ceiling to your windows, doors, electrical paint and carpet, which may indicate boxes, plumbing fixtures, electri- air leaks at interior wall/ceiling joints cal outlets, ceiling fixtures, attic and wall/floor joists, and caulk them. Sources of Air Leaks in Your Home Areas that leak air into and out of your home cost you a lot of money. The areas listed in the illustration are the most common sources of air leaks. 7
10. • Cover single-pane windows with are available in widths suited to standard storm windows or replace them with spacing of wall studs and attic or floor more efficient double-pane low- joists: 2 inch x 4 inch walls can hold R-13 emissivity windows. See the Windows or R-15 batts; 2 inch x 6 inch walls can use section for more information. R-19 or R-21 products. • Use foam sealant on larger gaps Loose-fill insulation is usually made around windows, baseboards, and of fiberglass, rock wool, or cellulose in other places where air may leak out. the form of loose fibers or fiber pellets. • Cover your kitchen exhaust fan to It should be blown into spaces using stop air leaks when not in use. special pneumatic equipment. The blown- • Check your dryer vent to be sure in material conforms readily to odd-sized it is not blocked. This will save building cavities and attics with wires, energy and may prevent a fire. ducts, and pipes, making it well suited for • Replace door bottoms and thresholds places where it is difficult to effectively with ones that have pliable sealing install other types of insulation. gaskets. • Keep the fireplace flue damper Rigid foam insulation is typically more tightly closed when not in use. expensive than rolls and batts or loose- • Seal air leaks around fireplace fill insulation, but it is very effective chimneys, furnaces, and gas-fired in exterior wall sheathing, interior water heater vents with fire-resistant sheathing for basement walls, and special materials such as sheet metal or applications such as attic hatches. Foam sheetrock and furnace cement caulk. insulation R-values range from R-4 to R-6.5 per inch of thickness, which is up Fireplace flues are made from metal, and to 2 times greater than most other over time repeated heating and cooling can insulating materials of the same thickness. cause the metal to warp or break, creating a channel for air loss. To seal your flue when Foam-in-place insulation can be blown not in use, consider an inflatable chimney into walls, on attic surfaces, or under floors balloon. Inflatable chimney balloons fit to insulate and reduce air leakage. You beneath your fireplace flue when not in can use the small pressurized cans of foam- use, are made from durable plastic, and can in-place insulation to reduce air leakage be removed easily and reused hundreds of in holes and cracks, such as window and times. If you forget to remove the balloon door frames, and electrical and plumbing before making a fire, the balloon will penetrations. automatically deflate within seconds of There are two types of foam-in-place coming into contact with heat. insulation: closed-cell and open-cell. Both are typically made with polyurethane. Insulation With closed-cell foam, the high-density Insulation is made from a variety of cells are closed and filled with a gas that materials, and it usually comes in four helps the foam expand to fill the spaces types: rolls and batts, loose-fill, rigid around it. Closed-cell foam is the most foam, and foam-in-place. effective, with an insulation value of Rolls and batts—or blankets—are around R-6.2 per inch of thickness. flexible products made from mineral fibers, such as fiberglass and rock wool. They
11. U.S. Department of Energy Recommended* Total R-Values for New Wood-Framed Houses All of Alaska is in Zone 7 except for the following boroughs in Zone 8: Bethel Northwest Arctic Dellingham Southeast Fairbanks Fairbanks N. Star Wade Hampton Nome Yukon-Koyukuk How Much Insulation Does My Home Need? North Slope For insulation recommendations tailored to your Zone 1 includes: home, visit the DOE Zip Code Insulation Calculator Hawaii, Guam, Puerto Rico at ornl.gov/~roofs/Zip/ZipHome.html. and the Virgin Islands Heat Fuel Cathedral Insulation Zone Gas Electric Attic Cavity Floor Pump Oil Ceiling Sheathing 1 • • • • R30 to R49 R22 to R38 R13 to R15 None R13 2 • • • R30 to R60 R22 to R38 R13 to R15 None R13 • R30 to R60 R22 to R38 R13 to R15 None R19 - R25 3 • • • R30 to R60 R22 to R38 R13 to R15 None R25 • R30 to R60 R22 to R38 R13 to R15 R2.5 to R5 R25 4 • • • R38 to R60 R30 to R38 R13 to R15 R2.5 to R6 R25 - R30 • R38 to R60 R30 to R38 R13 to R15 R5 to R6 R25 - R30 5 • • • R38 to R60 R30 to R38 R13 to R15 R2.5 to R6 R25 - R30 • R38 to R60 R30 to R60 R13 to R21 R5 to R6 R25 - R30 6 • • • • R49 to R60 R30 to R60 R13 to R21 R5 to R6 R25 - R30 7 • • • • R49 to R60 R30 to R60 R13 to R21 R5 to R6 R25 - R30 8 • • • • R49 to R60 R30 to R60 R13 to R21 R5 to R6 R25 - R30 * These recommendations represent cost-effective levels of insulation based on the best available information on local fuel and materials costs and weather conditions. Consequently, the levels may differ from current local building codes. 9
12. Where to Insulate Adding insulation in the areas shown here may be the best way to improve your home’s energy efficiency. Insulate either the attic floor or under the roof. Check with a contractor about crawl space or basement insulation. 1 Attic 2 Walls 3 Floors 4 Basement 5 Crawlspace Open-cell foam cells are not as dense help ensure proper airflow from the and are filled with air, which gives the soffit to the attic. Ventilation helps insulation a spongy texture. Open-cell with moisture control and reducing foam insulation value is around R-3.7 summer cooling bills, but don’t venti- per inch of thickness. late your attic if you have insulation on The type of insulation you should choose the underside of the roof. Ask a quali- depends on how you will use it and on fied contractor for recommendations. your budget. While closed-cell foam has • Be careful how close you place a greater R-value and provides stronger insulation next to a recessed light resistance against moisture and air fixture—unless it is insulation leakage, the material is also much denser contact (IC) rated—to avoid a fire and is more expensive to install. Open- hazard. See the Lighting section for cell foam is lighter and less expensive but more information about recessed should not be used below ground level lights. where it could absorb water. Consult a • Follow the manufacturer’s installa- professional insulation installer to decide tion instructions, and wear the proper what type of insulation is best for you. protective gear when installing insulation. Insulation Tips • Consider factors such as your climate, $ Long-Term Savings Tips home design, and budget when select- One of the most cost-effective ways ing insulation for your home. to make your home more comfortable • Use higher R-value insulation, such year-round is to add insulation to your as spray foam, on exterior walls attic, including the attic trap or access and in cathedral ceilings to get more door, which is relatively easy. To find insulation with less thickness. out if you have enough attic insulation, • Install attic air barriers such as wind measure the thickness of the insulation. baffles along the entire attic eave to
13. wall. These help to reduce the energy Tips for that would otherwise be lost through the Finding a Contractor wood frame. The table on page 9 shows the recommended combinations. For ■■ Look for licensed, insured, and more customized recommendations, see certified contractors. the ZIP Code Insulation Calculator at ■■ Get three bids with details in writing. ornl.gov/~roofs/Zip/ZipHome.html. ■■ Ask about previous experience. ■■ Check references. Consider products that provide both ■■ Ask neighbors and friends for insulation and structural support, such recommendations. as structural insulated panels (SIPs), and ■■ Focus on local companies. masonry products like insulating con- crete forms. Visit energysaver.gov for more information on structural insulation. If it is less than R-30 (11 inches of fiber You should consider attic or roof radiant glass or rock wool or 8 inches of cellulose), barriers (in hot climates), reflective you could probably benefit by adding more. insulation, and foundation insulation for new home construction. Check with your If your attic has enough insulation and contractor for more information about proper air sealing, and your home still these options. feels drafty and cold in the winter or too warm in the summer, chances are you need to add insulation to the exterior Should I Insulate walls. This is more expensive and My Home? usually requires a contractor, but it may be worth the cost—especially if you live Insulate your home when: in a very cold climate. If you replace the ■■ You have an older home and exterior siding on your home, consider haven’t added insulation. Homes adding insulation at the same time. built before 1950 use about 60% You may also need to add insulation more energy per square foot than those built in 2000 or later. to your crawl space or basement. Check with a professional contractor for ■■ You are uncomfortably cold in the winter or hot in the summer— adding insulation creates a more New Construction uniform temperature and increases comfort. and Additions ■■ You build a new home or addition In most climates, you will save money or install new siding or roofing. and energy when you build a new home ■■ You pay high energy bills. or addition if you install a combination ■■ You are bothered by noise from of cavity insulation and insulative outside—insulation muffles sound. sheathing. Reduce exterior wall leaks by taping the joints of exterior sheathing and caulking and sealing exterior walls. Cavity insulation can be installed at levels up to R-15 inch a 2 inch x 4 inch wall and up to R-21 in a 2 inch x 6 inch. 11
14. Heating and Cooling eating and cooling your home • Eliminate trapped air from hot-water uses more energy and costs radiators once or twice a season; if more money than any other system unsure about how to perform this in your home—typically making up task, contact a professional. about 48% of your utility bill. • Place heat-resistant radiator No matter what kind of heating and reflectors between exterior walls and cooling system you have in your the radiators. house, you can save money and • Turn off kitchen, bath, and other increase your comfort by properly exhaust fans within 20 minutes after maintaining and upgrading your you are done cooking or bathing; equipment. But remember, an energy- when replacing exhaust fans, efficient furnace alone will not have as consider installing high-efficiency, great an impact on your energy bills low-noise models. as using the whole-house approach. • During winter, keep the draperies By combining proper equipment and shades on your south-facing maintenance and upgrades with windows open during the day to recommended insulation, air sealing, allow the sunlight to enter your and thermostat settings, you can save home and closed at night to reduce about 30% on your energy bill while the chill you may feel from cold reducing environmental emissions. windows. Heating and Cooling Tips Do not Have or • Set your programmable Use Heating Equipment, 3% thermostat as low as is Propane/LPG comfortable in the winter 5% Natural Gas and as high as is comfortable 49% in the summer, as well as Fuel Oil 6% when you’re sleeping or Wood away from home. 2% • Clean or replace filters Other on furnaces and air condi- 1% Electricity tioners once a month or as 34% recommended. • Clean warm-air registers, baseboard heaters, and radiators as needed; make Household Heating Systems sure they’re not blocked Although several different types of fuels are available by furniture, carpeting, to heat our homes, nearly half of us use natural gas. or drapes. Sources: Buildings Energy Data Book 2011, 2.1.1 Residential Primary Energy Consumption, by Year and Fuel Type (Quadrillion Btu and Percent of Total); Energy Information Administration 2009 RECS Survey Data.
15. • During summer, keep the window supply ducts are leaking, heated or cooled coverings closed during the day air can be forced out of unsealed joints to block the sun’s heat. and lost. In addition, unconditioned air can be drawn into return ducts through $ Long-Term Savings Tips unsealed joints. Select energy-efficient products when you buy new heating and cooling equipment. Although minor duct repairs are easy Your contractor should be able to give to make, qualified professionals should you energy fact sheets for different types, seal and insulate ducts in unconditioned models, and designs to help you compare spaces to ensure the use of appropriate energy usage. sealing materials. For furnaces, look for high Annual Fuel Minor Duct Repair Tips Utilization Efficiency (AFUE) ratings. • Check your ducts for air leaks. The national minimum is 78% AFUE, but First, look for sections that should there are ENERGY STAR® models on be joined but have separated and the market that exceed 90% AFUE. For then look for obvious holes. air conditioners, look for a high Seasonal • If you use tape to seal your ducts, Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER). The avoid cloth-backed, rubber adhesive current minimum is 13 SEER for central duct tape—it tends to fail quickly. air conditioners. ENERGY STAR models Instead, use mastic, butyl tape, foil are 14.5 SEER or more. tape, or other heat-approved tapes. Look for tape with the Underwriters Air Ducts Laboratories (UL) logo. Your air ducts are one of the most important • Remember that insulating ducts in systems in your home, and if the ducts are the basement will make the base- poorly sealed or insulated they are likely ment colder. If both the ducts and contributing to higher energy bills. the basement walls are not insulated, Your home’s duct system is a branching consider insulating both. Water network of tubes in the walls, floors, and pipes and drains in unconditioned ceilings; it carries the air from your home’s spaces could freeze and burst if furnace and central air conditioner to each the heat ducts are fully insulated room. Ducts are made of sheet metal, because there would be no heat fiberglass, or other materials. source to prevent the space from freezing in cold weather. However, Ducts that leak heated air into unheated using an electric heating tape wrap spaces can add hundreds of dollars a on the pipes can prevent this. Check year to your heating and cooling bills. with a professional contractor. Insulating ducts that are in unconditioned • Hire a professional to install both spaces is usually very cost effective. If you supply and return registers in the are installing a new duct system, make basement rooms after converting sure it comes with insulation. your basement to a living area. Sealing your ducts to prevent leaks • Be sure a well-sealed vapor barrier is even more important if the ducts are exists on the outside of the insula- located in an unconditioned area such as tion on cooling ducts to prevent an attic or vented crawl space. If the moisture condensation. 13
16. Air Ducts: Out of Sight, Out of Mind The unsealed ducts in your attic and crawlspaces lose air, and uninsulated ducts lose heat—wasting energy and money. • If you have a fuel-burning furnace, Heat Pumps stove, or other appliance or an Heat pumps are the most efficient form attached garage, install a carbon of electric heating in moderate climates, monoxide (CO) monitor to alert providing up to three times more heat you to harmful CO levels. than the energy they use. Today’s heat • Be sure to get professional help pump can reduce your electricity use for when doing ductwork. A qualified heating by approximately 50% compared professional should always perform to electric resistance heating such as changes and repairs to a duct system. furnaces and baseboard heaters. A heat pump does double duty as a central Install a Carbon air conditioner by collecting the heat inside Monoxide Detector your house and pumping it outside. There are three types of heat pumps: Carbon monoxide (CO) detectors are air-to-air, water source, and geothermal. required in new buildings in many They collect heat from the air, water, states. They are highly recommended in homes with fuel-burning appliances or ground outside your home and such as natural gas furnaces, stoves, concentrate it for use inside. ovens, water heaters, and space Geothermal (or ground source) heat pumps heaters. An alarm signals if CO reaches have some major advantages. They can potentially dangerous levels. reduce energy use by 30%-60%, control humidity, are sturdy and reliable, and fit in a wide variety of homes.
17. Heat Pump Tips passive solar design for a new home or • Do not set back the heat pump’s a major remodel, consult an architect thermostat manually if it causes the familiar with passive solar techniques. electric-resistance heating to come on. This type of heating, which is Passive Solar Tips • Keep all south-facing glass clean. often used as a backup to the heat • Make sure that objects do not block pump, is more expensive. sunlight on concrete slab floors or • Install or have a professional install heat-absorbing walls. a programmable thermostat with multistage functions suitable for Natural Gas and Oil Heating a heat pump. If you plan to buy a new heating system, • Clean or change filters once a ask your local utility or state energy month or as needed, and maintain office about the latest technologies on the system according to manufac- the market. For example, many newer turer’s instructions. models have designs for burners and heat exchangers that are more efficient during $ Long-Term Savings Tip operation and cut heat loss when the If you heat your home with electricity equipment is off. and live in a moderate climate, consider an energy-efficient heat pump system to Consider a sealed-combustion furnace— reduce your energy consumption. they are safer and more efficient. Passive Solar Heating $ Long-Term Savings Tip and Cooling Install a new energy-efficient furnace to Using passive solar design to heat save money over the long term. Look for and cool your home can be both the ENERGY STAR and EnergyGuide environmentally friendly and cost labels to compare efficiency and ensure effective. In many cases, your heating quality. costs can be reduced to less than half the cost of heating a typical home. Programmable Thermostats You can save as much as 10% a year on Passive solar design can also help lower heating and cooling by simply turning your cooling costs. Passive solar cooling your thermostat back 7o-10o F for 8 hours techniques include carefully designed a day from where you would normally overhangs and using reflective coatings set. (If you have a heat pump, don’t do on windows, exterior walls, and roofs. this without a programmable thermostat). Newer techniques include placing large, You can do this automatically by using a insulated windows on south-facing walls programmable thermostat and scheduling and putting thermal mass, such as a the times you turn on the heating or air concrete slab floor or a heat-absorbing conditioning. As a result, the equipment wall, close to the windows. doesn’t operate as much when you are A passive solar house requires careful asleep or not at home. design and siting, which vary by local climate conditions. If you are considering 15
18. Hot Winter Tip Use a programmable thermostat to automatically turn down the heat at night or when you’re away from home. Cool Summer Tip In the summer, save money by automatically turning up the air conditioner at night or when you’re away from home. Programmable thermostats can store help cool your home by pulling cool air multiple daily settings (six or more through the house and exhausting warm temperature settings a day) that you can air through the attic. Use the fan most manually override without affecting the effectively to cool down your house rest of the daily or weekly program. during cooler times of the day: your home will stay cooler through the hotter times Air Conditioners of the day without using the fan. Buying a bigger room air conditioner won’t necessarily make you feel more Cooling Tips comfortable during the hot summer • Set your thermostat at as high a months. In fact, a room air conditioner temperature as comfortably possible that’s too big for the area it is supposed to in the summer, and ensure humid- cool will perform less efficiently and less ity control if needed. The smaller effectively than a smaller, properly sized the difference between the indoor unit. Central air-conditioning systems and outdoor temperatures, the lower need to be sized by professionals. your overall cooling bill will be. If you have a central air system in your • Avoid setting your thermostat at a home, set the fan to shut off at the same colder setting than normal when you time as the compressor, which is usually turn on your air conditioner. It will done by setting the “auto” mode on not cool your home any faster and the fan setting. In other words, don’t could result in excessive cooling and, use the system’s central fan to provide therefore, unnecessary expense. air circulation—use circulating fans in • Consider using an interior fan along individual rooms. with your window air conditioner to spread the cooled air through your Instead of air-conditioning, consider home without greatly increasing installing a whole-house fan. Whole- your power use. house fans work in many climates and
19. Buildings and Trees—Natural Partners Deciduous trees planted on the south and west sides will help keep your house cool in the summer and allow sun to shine through the windows in the winter. • Avoid placing appliances that give Cool Roofs off heat such as lamps or TVs near a If you’ve ever stood on a roof on a hot thermostat. summer day, you know how hot it can get. The heat from your roof makes your $ Long-Term Savings Tips air conditioner work even harder to keep If your air conditioner is old, consider your home cool. buying an energy-efficient model. Look for the ENERGY STAR and If you are building a new home, decide EnergyGuide labels—qualified room during planning whether you want a air conditioners are 10% more efficient, cool roof, and if you want to convert an and qualified central units are about 15% existing roof, you can: more efficient than standard models. • Retrofit the roof with specialized Consider installing a whole-house fan or heat-reflective material. evaporative cooler if appropriate for your • Re-cover the roof with a new climate. Check out energysaver.gov for waterproofing surface (such as more information on efficient cooling. tile coating). • Replace the roof with a cool one. 17
20. A cool roof uses material that is designed Visit the Green Roofs for Healthy Cities to reflect more sunlight and absorb less industry website at greenroofs.org for heat than a standard roof. Cool roofs more information. can be made of a highly reflective type of paint, a sheet covering, or highly Landscaping reflective tiles or shingles. Landscaping is a natural and beautiful way to keep your home cool in summer By installing a cool roof, you can lower and reduce your energy bills. A well- the temperature of your roof by up to placed tree, shrub, or vine can deliver 50°F and save energy and money by effective shade, act as a windbreak, using less air conditioning. Cool roofs and reduce your energy bills—see make spaces like garages or covered landscaping illustration. Carefully patios more comfortable. positioned trees can save up to 25% As cool roofs become more popular, of the energy a typical household uses. communities will benefit from fewer Research shows that summer day-time power plant emissions and less demand air temperatures can be 3°-6° cooler for new power plants. Cool roofs can in tree-shaded neighborhoods than in lower outside air temperatures, reducing treeless areas. heat islands in urban areas. A lattice or trellis with climbing vines Nearly any type of home can benefit from or a planter box with trailing vines a cool roof, but consider climate and shades the home while admitting other factors before you decide to install cooling breezes to the shaded area. one. Visit energysaver.gov to learn more about cool roofs. Green Roofs You may also consider installing a green roof. Green roofs are ideal for urban buildings with flat or shallow-pit roofs, and can include anything from basic plant cover to a garden. The primary reasons for using this type of roof include managing storm water and enjoying a rooftop open space. Green roofs also provide insulation, lower the need for heating and cooling, and can reduce the urban heat island effect. This roof type can be much more expensive to implement than other efficient roof options, so you should carefully assess your property and consult a professional before deciding to install a green roof.
21. Water Heating ater heating is the second largest energy expense in your home. It typically accounts for about 18% of your utility bill after heating and There are four ways to cut your water heating bills: use less hot water, turn down the thermostat on your water heater, insulate your water heater, or buy a new, more efficient model. Water Heating Tips • Install aerating, low-flow faucets and showerheads. • Repair leaky faucets promptly; a leaky faucet wastes gallons of water Keep Your Energy Bills Out of Hot Water in a short period of time. Insulate your water heater to save energy and money, or choose an on-demand hot water heater to save even more. • Set the thermostat on your water heater to 120°F to get comfortable hot water for most uses. • If you are in the market for a new • Insulate your electric hot-water dishwasher or clothes washer, storage tank but be careful not to consider buying an efficient, water- cover the thermostat. Follow the saving ENERGY STAR® model to manufacturer’s recommendations. reduce hot water use. See the Appli- • Insulate your natural gas or oil ances section for more information. hot-water storage tank but be careful • Install heat traps on the hot and cold not to cover the water heater’s top, pipes at the water heater to prevent bottom, thermostat, or burner heat loss. Most new water heaters compartment. Follow the manufac- have built-in heat traps. turer’s recommendations; when • Drain a quart of water from your in doubt, get professional help. water tank every 3 months to • Insulate the first 6 feet of the hot remove sediment that impedes heat and cold water pipes connected to transfer and lowers the efficiency the water heater. of your heater. Follow the manufac- turer’s directions. 19
22. Although most water heaters last 10-15 Gallons years, it’s best to start shopping now for a Activity per Use new one if yours is more than 7 years old. Clothes washer 25 Doing some research before your heater fails will enable you to select one that Shower 10 most appropriately meets your needs. Automatic 6 dishwasher $ Long-Term Savings Tips Buy a new energy-efficient water heater. Kitchen 2 per minute While it may cost more initially than a faucet flow standard water heater, the energy savings Bathroom 2 per minute will continue during the lifetime of the faucet flow appliance. Look for the ENERGY STAR® Total daily average 64 and EnergyGuide labels. You can find the ENERGY STAR label on efficient Average Hot Water Usage water heaters in the following categories: Faucets and appliances can use a lot of hot high efficiency gas non-condensing, water, which costs you money. Look for gas condensing, electric heat pump, ways to heat your water more efficiently gas tankless, and solar. and use less. Consider natural gas on-demand or tankless water heaters, which heat water directly Solar Water Heaters without using a storage tank. Researchers If you heat water with electricity, have have found energy savings can be up to high electric rates, and have an unshaded, 30% compared with a standard natural gas south-facing location (such as a roof) storage tank water heater. on your property, consider installing a Consider installing a drain-water waste solar water heater. The solar units are heat recovery system. Drain-water, or environmentally friendly and you can greywater, heat recovery systems capture have them installed on your roof to blend the energy from waste hot water—such as with the architecture of your house. showers and dishwashers—to preheat cold Solar water heating systems are also good water entering the water heater or going to for the environment. Solar water heaters other water fixtures. Energy savings vary avoid the greenhouse gas emissions depending on individual household usage. associated with electricity production. Heat pump water heaters can cut water When shopping for a solar water heater, heating costs by an average of 50% over look for the ENERGY STAR label and for standard electric water heaters in some systems certified by the Solar Rating and areas. If your water heater is located Certification Corporation or the Florida in your basement, it will also provide Solar Energy Center. dehumidification in the summer months. However, this technology can pose some $ Long-Term Savings Tip installation challenges, so you should Visit the Database of State Incentives consult with an installer before you for Renewables & Efficiency website purchase one. For more information see (dsireusa.org) to see if you qualify for energysaver.gov. tax credits or rebates for buying a solar water heater.
23. indows can be one of your home’s most attractive features. Windows Windows with low-e provide views, daylighting, coatings reflect back part of your room’s heat ventilation, and heat from the in the winter. sun in the winter. Unfortu- nately, they can also account for 10%-25% of your heating bill by letting heat out. During the summer, your air conditioner must work harder to cool hot air from sunny windows. Install ENERGY STAR®-qualified windows and use curtains and shade to give your air conditioner and energy bill a break. If your home has single-pane windows, consider replacing them with double-pane windows with high-performance glass— low-e or spectrally selective Cold-Climate Windows Keep Heat In coatings. In colder climates, Double-pane windows with low-e coating on the select gas-filled windows with glass reflect heat back into the room during the low-e coatings to reduce heat winter months. loss. In warmer climates, select windows with spectrally selective • Close your curtains and shades at coatings to reduce heat gain. night to protect against cold drafts; If you decide not to replace your open them during the day to let in windows, consider following these warming sunlight. tips to improve their performance. • Install exterior or interior storm windows, which can reduce heat loss Cold Weather Window Tips through the windows by approxi- • Use a heavy-duty, clear plastic sheet mately 10%-20%, depending on the on a frame or tape clear plastic film type of window already installed in to the inside of your window frames the home. to reduce drafts. • Repair and weatherize your current • Install tight-fitting, insulating window storm windows, if necessary. shades on windows that feel drafty after weatherizing. 21
24. Warm Weather Window Tips • Install white window shades, drapes, Windows with low-e or blinds to reflect heat away from coatings reflect back part the house. of the summer sun. • Close curtains on south- and west- facing windows during the day. • Install awnings on south- and west- facing windows. • Apply sun-control or other reflective films on south-facing windows to reduce solar heat gain. $ Long-Term Savings Tip Installing high-performance windows will improve your home’s energy performance. While it may take many years for new windows to pay off in energy savings, the benefits of added comfort, improved aesthetics, and functionality can offset the cost. Warm-Climate Windows Keep Heat Out Shopping Tips for Windows In the summertime, the sun shining through • Look for the ENERGY STAR® label. your windows heats up the room. Windows • Check with local utilities to see with low-e coatings on the glass reflect some what rebates or other incentives are of the sunlight, keeping your rooms cooler. available for window replacement. • Choose high-performance windows • Look for whole-unit U-factors that have at least two panes of glass and SHGCs, rather than center-of- and a low-e coating. glass (COG) U-factors and SHGCs. • Choose a low U-factor for better Whole-unit numbers more accurately insulation in colder climates; the reflect the energy performance of U-factor is the rate at which a the entire product. window, door, or skylight conducts • Have your windows installed by non-solar heat flow. trained professionals according to • Look for a low solar heat gain manufacturer’s instructions; other- coefficient (SHGC)—this is a wise, your warranty may be void. measure of solar radiation admitted • Consider windows with impact- through a window, door, or skylight. resistant glass if you live along a Low SHGCs reduce heat gain in coast or in areas with flying debris warm climates. from storms. • Select windows with both low U- factors and low SHGCs to maximize energy savings in temperate climates with both cold and hot seasons.
25. n average household dedicates they can initially cost more than tradi- about 5% of its energy budget tional incandescent bulbs, during their to lighting. Switching to energy-efficient lifetime they save you money because lighting is one of the fastest ways to cut they use less electricity. your energy bills. Timers and motion sensors save you even more money by Energy-Saving (also called Halogen) reducing the amount of time lights are Incandescent Lighting on but not being used. Halogen incandescent light bulbs are simply energy-efficient incandescent Indoor Lighting bulbs and can last up to three times longer You have many choices in energy-efficient than traditional incandescent light bulbs. lighting. The most popular light bulbs Halogen incandescents come in a wide available are halogen incandescents, range of shapes and colors and can be compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs), and used with dimmers. light-emitting diodes (LEDs). Although LED Flood LED CFL Energy-Saving Incandescent Lighting Choices Save You Money Energy-efficient light bulbs are available in a wide variety of sizes and shapes. 23
26. CFL Bulbs LEDs: A New Kind of Light ENERGY STAR®-qualified CFLs use about LED bulbs offer similar light quality to 75% less energy and last up to 10 times traditional incandescents, last 25 times as longer than traditional incandescents. long, and use even less energy than CFLs. Choose ENERGY STAR-qualified LEDs for the highest quality and energy savings. CFL Lighting CFL bulbs last about 10 times longer and use about one-fourth the energy of energy and last up to 25 times longer traditional incandescent bulbs. A typical than traditional incandescent bulbs. They CFL can pay for itself in energy savings come in a variety of colors, and some are in less than 9 months and continue dimmable or offer convenient features to save you money each month. such as daylight and motion sensors. You can buy CFLs that offer the same In addition to standard screw-in bulbs, brightness and colors as traditional you’ll find LEDs in desk lamps, kitchen incandescent bulbs. Some CFLs are under-cabinet lighting, and even holiday encased in a cover to further diffuse light strings. the light and provide a similar shape to traditional incandescent bulbs. Indoor Lighting Tips • Replacing 15 inefficient incande- CFLs contain a very small amount of scent bulbs in your home with mercury and require special handling if energy-saving bulbs could save they are broken. CFLs should be recycled you about $50 per year. Replace at the end of their lifespan. Many retailers your old incandescent bulbs with recycle CFLs for free. Visit epa.gov/cfl ENERGY STAR-qualified bulbs for cleanup and safe disposal steps. for the best quality in savings. • Visit energystar.gov to find the right LED Lighting light bulbs for your fixtures. They LED bulbs are rapidly expanding in are available in sizes and shapes to household use. ENERGY STAR-qualified LEDs use only about 20%-25% of the
27. fit in almost any fixture and provide the greatest savings in fixtures that are on for a long time each day. • When remodeling, look for recessed light fixtures or “cans” which are rated for contact with insulation and are air tight (ICAT rated). • When replacing incandescent bulbs from recessed light fixtures, use energy-efficient bulbs that are rated for that purpose. For example, the heat buildup in downlights will significantly shorten the life of spiral CFLs. • Consider purchasing ENERGY Recycle Your Old CFLs CFLs contain a small amount of mercury STAR-qualified fixtures. They are sealed within the glass tubing, and must available in many styles, distribute be recycled. Many retailers offer free light more efficiently and evenly recycling services, and some municipalities than standard fixtures, and some have special recycling programs. offer convenient features such as dimming. mance in cold environments. Look for • Controls such as timers and photo- LED products such as pathway lights, cells save electricity by turning lights step lights, and porch lights for outdoor off when not in use. Dimmers save use. You can also find solar-powered electricity when used to lower light outdoor lighting. levels. Be sure to select products that are compatible with the energy- Outdoor Lighting Tips efficient bulbs you want to use. • Because outdoor lights are usually • Keep your curtains or shades open left on a long time, using CFLs or to use daylighting instead of turn- LEDs in these fixtures will save a ing on lights. For more privacy, use lot of energy. Most bare spiral CFLs light-colored, loose-weave curtains can be used in enclosed fixtures that to allow daylight into the room. protect them from the weather. Also, decorate with lighter colors • CFLs and LEDs are available as that reflect daylight. flood lights. These models have been tested to withstand the rain Outdoor Lighting and snow so they can be used in Many homeowners use outdoor lighting exposed fixtures. for decoration and security. A variety of • Look for ENERGY STAR-qualified products are available from low-voltage fixtures that are designed for out- pathway lighting to motion-detector door use and come with features floodlights. like automatic daylight shut-off LEDs work well indoors and outdoors and motion sensors. because of their durability and perfor- 25
28. New Lighting Standards Beginning in 2012, the efficiency standards of the bipartisan Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (EISA 2007) required the common light bulbs we use to be about 25% more energy efficient. The standards took effect as of January 1, 2012, to make traditional 100 W incandescent light bulbs unavailable to consumers. This standard extended to traditional 75 W incandescent bulbs as of January 1, 2013, and to traditional 40 W and 60 W incandescent bulbs as of January 1, 2014. However, you have The Lighting Facts Label many lighting options that are EISA- The Federal Trade Commission requires compliant and will save you money. the Lighting Facts label on all light bulb packages to help consumers easily compare energy-efficient bulbs. The label includes: Lumens: A New Way • Brightness, measured in lumens to Shop for Light • Estimated yearly energy cost (similar to the EnergyGuide label) In the past, we bought light bulbs based on how much energy, or watts, • Lifespan they use. Wouldn’t it make more sense • Light appearance (from warm to buy lights based on how much light to cool) they provide? • Energy used, measured in watts. When you’re shopping for light bulbs, Like the helpful nutrition label on food you can choose your next light bulb for products, the Lighting Facts label helps the brightness you want by comparing you to understand exactly what you are lumens instead of watts. A lumen is a buying and to buy the light bulbs that are measure of the amount of brightness right for you. of a light bulb—the higher the number of lumens, the brighter the light bulb. If you’re replacing an inefficient 100 W bulb, look for an energy-saving bulb that puts out about 1600 lumens. To replace a 60 W equivalent, look for a bulb with about 800 lumens. So when you’re looking for a new bulb, look for lumens—or how bright the bulb is. Now that’s a pretty bright idea!
29. ppliances account for about 13% When you shop for a new appliance, look of your household’s energy costs, for the ENERGY STAR® label. ENERGY with refrigeration, cooking, and laundry STAR products usually exceed minimum at the top of the list. federal standards by a substantial amount. When you’re shopping for appliances, To help you figure out whether an think of two price tags. The first one appliance is energy efficient, the federal covers the purchase price—think of it as a government requires most appliances down payment. The second price tag is the to display the bright yellow and black cost of operating the appliance during its EnergyGuide label. Although these labels lifetime. You’ll be paying on that second will not show you which appliance is the price tag every month with your utility bill most efficient on the market, they will for the next 10 to 20 years, depending on show you the annual energy consumption the appliance. Refrigerators last an average and operating cost for each appliance so of 12 years; clothes washers last about you can compare them yourself. 11 years; and room air conditioners last about 9 years. What’s the Real Cost? Every appliance has two price tags—the purchase price and the operating cost. Consider both when buying a new appliance. 27
30. What’s a Kilowatt? When you use electricity to power a 1000-watt vacuum for 1 hour, you use 1,000 watt-hours (1,000 Wh) of electricity! One thousand watt-hours equals 1 kWh. Your utility bill usually shows what you are charged for the kilowatt-hours you use. The average residential rate is 11.88 cents/kWh. A typical U.S. household consumes about 11,280 kWh per year, costing an average of $1,340 annually. Most of the energy used by a dishwasher is for water heating. The EnergyGuide ENERGY STAR® Refrigerators Are Cool! label estimates how much power is ENERGY STAR-qualified refrigerators use needed per year to run the appliance and 15% less energy than non-qualified models. to heat the water based on the yearly cost Models with top-mounted freezers use of natural gas and electric water heating. 10%–25% less energy than side-by-side or bottom-mount units. Dishwasher Water-Saving Tips • Check the manual that came with • Let your dishes air dry; if you don’t your dishwasher for the manufac- have an automatic air-dry switch, turer’s recommendations on water turn off the control knob after the temperature; many have internal final rinse and prop the door open heating elements that allow you to slightly so the dishes will dry faster. set the water heater in your home to a lower temperature (120°F). $ Long-Term Savings Tip • Scrape, don’t rinse, off large food When shopping for a new dishwasher, pieces and bones. Soaking or pre- look for the ENERGY STAR label to washing is generally only recom- find one that uses less water and energy mended in cases of burned- or dried- than required by federal standards. They on food. are required to use 4.25 gallons of water • Be sure your dishwasher is full per cycle or less—older dishwashers (not overloaded) when you run it. purchased before 1994 use more than • Avoid using the “rinse hold” on 10 gallons of water per cycle. your machine for just a few soiled dishes. It uses 3-7 gallons of hot Smart Appliances water each use. Some manufacturers are now offering “smart” appliances—appliances that can be connected to smart electric meters or home energy management systems
31. How to Read the EnergyGuide Label The EnergyGuide label is required to be placed on all appliances by the manufacturers. The label provides information about energy consumption, and shows you how much energy an appliance uses compared with similar models. Keep in mind that the numbers are averages: actual costs will differ somewhat depending on how you use them. 1. Maker, model number, and size of the appliance. 2. Estimated yearly operating cost 1 5 (based on the national average cost of electricity), and the range of operating costs for similar models. 2 3. The ENERGY STAR® logo indicates that this model meets strict criteria for energy efficiency. 4. Estimated yearly electricity consumption. 4 5. Key features of the appliance and the similar models that make up the cost 3 comparison range. The ENERGY STAR® Logo The ENERGY STAR logo is on all qualified products that meet specific standards for energy efficiency. ENERGY STAR-qualified products exceed the federal minimum standards for efficiency and quality—sometimes signifi- cantly. Look for the label on appliances, electronics, water heaters, windows, and other products that consume energy in your home. to help you shift your electricity use ways to shift energy use. You might not to off-peak hours. Air conditioners, even be aware of it. For example, your air refrigerators, dishwashers, and other conditioner may run slightly less often. appliances may be available as smart Or your refrigerator might delay its appliances. defrost cycle until the middle of the night. Smart appliances don’t just turn off If your utility charges lower rates for during times of peak electricity electricity at night, also called time-based demand—instead, they use subtle rates, you could save on your utility bill. 29
32. Such changes may be unnoticeable to you, but could add up to significant savings for your utility—savings that can be shared with you. Your utility provider can tell you more about the availability of smart grid technologies and time-based electricity rates in your area and how they can benefit you. The EnergyGuide label on new refri- gerators tells you how much electricity in kilowatt-hours (kWh) a particular Save Energy and More with model uses in one year. The smaller the ENERGY STAR ENERGY STAR clothes washers use 20% number, the less energy the refrigerator less energy to wash clothes than standard uses and the less it will cost you to washing machines. operate. In addition to the EnergyGuide label, don’t forget to look for the and half out of the refrigerator. If you ENERGY STAR label. A new refrigerator can pull the paper or bill out easily, with an ENERGY STAR label uses at the latch may need adjustment, the least 15% less energy than non-qualified seal may need replacing, or you may models, 20% less energy than required by consider buying a new unit. current federal standards, and 40% less • Cover liquids and wrap foods stored energy than the conventional models sold in the refrigerator. Uncovered foods in 2001. release moisture and make the Refrigerator-Freezer compressor work harder. Energy Tips • Regularly defrost manual-defrost • Don’t keep your refrigerator or freezers and refrigerators; frost freezer too cold. Recommended buildup decreases the energy temperatures are 35˚-38˚F for efficiency of the unit. Don’t allow refrigerators and 0˚F for separate frost to build up more than one- freezers for long-term storage. quarter of an inch. • Check the refrigerator temperature $ Long-Term Savings Tip by placing an appliance thermometer Look for the ENERGY STAR label in a glass of water in the center of when buying a new refrigerator. Select the refrigerator. Read it after 24 a new refrigerator that is the right size hours. Check the freezer tempera- for your household. Top freezer models ture by placing a thermometer are more energy efficient than side-by- between frozen packages. Read it side models. Features like icemakers and after 24 hours. water dispensers, while convenient, do • Make sure your refrigerator door use more energy. seals are airtight. Test them by closing the door over a piece of paper or a dollar bill so it is half in
33. How Much Electricity Do Appliances Use? cost/year 0 $48 $96 $144 $192 $240 Hair dryer Video game system Toaster oven Coffee maker Laptop computer DVD player Ceiling fan Clothes washer Dishwasher Microwave Television Desktop computer Refrigerator/freezer Pool pump Clothes dryer Water heater (family of 2) kwh/year 0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500 This chart shows how much energy a typical appliance uses per year and its corresponding cost based on national averages. For example, a refrigerator/freezer uses almost five times the electricity the average television uses. Visit energysaver.gov for instructions on calculating the electrical use of your appliances. Source: Buildings Energy Data Book 2011, 2.1.16 Operating Characteristics of Electric Appliances in the Residential Sector Other Energy-Saving • Keep range-top burners and reflec- Kitchen Tips tors clean; they will reflect the heat • Place the faucet lever on the kitchen better, and you will save energy. sink in the cold position when using • Use a covered kettle or pan or small amounts of water; placing electric kettle to boil water; it’s the lever in the hot position draws faster and uses less energy. hot water even though it may never • Match the size of the pan to the reach the faucet. heating element. • Look for a natural gas oven or range • Use small electric pans, toaster with an automatic, electric ignition ovens, or convection ovens for small system, which saves gas since a pilot meals rather than your large stove or light is not burning continuously. oven. A toaster or convection oven • Look for blue flames in natural gas uses one-third to one-half as much appliances; yellow flames indicate energy as a full-sized oven. the gas is burning inefficiently and an adjustment may be needed. If you see yellow flames, consult the manufacturer or your local utility. 31
34. • Use pressure cookers and microwave • Periodically inspect your dryer vent ovens whenever it is convenient to ensure it is not blocked. This will to do so. They will save energy by save energy and may prevent a fire. significantly reducing cooking time. Manufacturers recommend using rigid venting material—not plastic Laundry vents that may collapse and cause There are two ways to reduce the amount blockages. of energy used for washing clothes—use • Consider air-drying clothes on less water and use cooler water. Unless clothes lines or drying racks. Air you’re dealing with oily stains, the warm drying is recommended by clothing or cold water setting on your machine manufacturers for some fabrics. will generally do a good job of cleaning your clothes. Switching your temperature $ Long-Term Savings Tips setting from hot to warm can cut a load’s Look for the ENERGY STAR® and energy use in half. EnergyGuide labels. ENERGY STAR clothes washers clean clothes using 35% Laundry Tips less water and 20% less energy than • Wash your clothes in cold water standard washers. using cold-water detergents whenever possible. When shopping for a new clothes dryer, • Wash and dry full loads. If you look for one with a moisture sensor that are washing a small load, use the automatically shuts off the machine when appropriate water-level setting. your clothes are dry. Not only will this • Dry towels and heavier cottons save energy, it will save the wear and tear in a separate load from lighter- on your clothes caused by over-drying. weight clothes. ENERGY STAR does not label clothes • Don’t over-dry your clothes. If your dryers because most of them use similar machine has a moisture sensor, use it. amounts of energy. • Clean the lint screen in the dryer after every load to improve air circulation and prevent fire hazards. • Periodically, use the long nozzle tip on your vacuum cleaner to remove the lint that collects below the lint screen in the lint screen slot of your clothes dryer. • Use the cool-down cycle to allow the clothes to finish drying with the heat remaining in the dryer.
35. Home Office and Electronics any people work from home at least one day per week. Shop for ENERGY STAR® Working from home saves energy Office Products and time by cutting out the commute, ■■ Computers but it may increase your home energy ■■ Copiers bills unless you use energy-saving office equipment. ■■ Fax machines ■■ Monitors ENERGY STAR-labeled office ■■ Multifunction devices equipment is widely available. It (fax, scanner, and copier) can provide dramatic energy savings— ■■ Printers as much as 75% savings for some ■■ Scanners products. Overall, ENERGY STAR- labeled office products use about half the electricity of standard equipment. • Using the power management Find ENERGY STAR products and settings on computers and monitors standards at energystar.gov. can cause significant savings. • It is a common misperception that Home Office Tips screen savers reduce a monitor’s • Selecting energy-efficient office energy use. Use automatic switching equipment and turning off to sleep mode or simply turn it off. machines when they are not in use can result in significant energy savings. • ENERGY STAR-labeled computers use 30%-65% less energy than computers without this designation, depending on usage. • Spending a large portion of time in low-power mode not only saves energy but helps equip- ment run cooler and last longer. • Putting your laptop AC adapter on a power strip that can be turned off (or will turn off automatically) can maximize Keep Your Home Office Efficient savings; the transformer in the with ENERGY STAR AC adapter draws power con- Laptops are far more efficient than desktop com- tinuously, even when the laptop puters, especially ENERGY STAR qualified models. is not plugged into the adapter. 33
36. • Another misperception, carried over from the days of older mainframe Shop for ENERGY STAR® computers, is that equipment lasts Home Electronics longer if it is never turned off. ■■ Cordless phones $ Long-Term Savings Tip ■■ TVs Consider buying a laptop for your next ■■ DVD players computer upgrade; laptops use much less ■■ Combination units (TV/DVD) energy than desktop computers. ■■ Home audio ■■ Set-top boxes Home Electronics Tips • Look for energy-saving ENERGY STAR home electronics. appliances. Unplug battery chargers • Unplug appliances, or use a power when the batteries are fully charged strip and use the switch on the or the chargers are not in use. power strip to cut all power to the • Use rechargeable batteries for appliance, to avoid “vampire” loads. products like cordless phones and Many appliances continue to draw digital cameras. Studies have shown a small amount of power when they they are more cost effective than are switched off. These vampire disposable batteries. If you must loads occur in most appliances that use disposables, check with your use electricity, such as DVD players, trash removal company about safe TVs, stereos, computers, and kitchen disposal options. Use Smart Power Strips to Save Energy Many electronics go into standby mode when you turn them off. Reduce wasted (vampire) power by plugging electronics into a smart power strip, which can turn your electronics off completely.
37. Renewable Energy ou have many options for energy technology, this energy-saving using renewable energy at home, technology makes use of the constant including solar panels and small temperature near the earth’s surface for wind turbines. heating and cooling. See the Heating and Solar panels are the most popular form Cooling section for more information. of renewable energy today. You can In addition to using renewable energy use them to generate heat, electricity, in your home, you can buy electricity and indoor and outdoor light. made from renewable energy like the sun, If you live on at least one acre of land wind, water, plants, and geothermal from with an ample wind resource, you your utility company. Check with your can generate your own electricity local utility for more information. using a small wind electric system. Renewable Energy Tips You can also use a small wind turbine • Installing solar-powered outdoor for pumping water, or to charge a pathway lights is one of the easiest sailboat battery. ways to use solar energy at home. You may have also heard of using • Building a new home is the best time a geothermal or ground-source heat to design and orient the home to take pump to heat and cool your home. advantage of the sun’s rays. A well- While not technically a renewable oriented home lets in the winter sun Use Solar Power to Heat Water and More! Today’s solar power is highly efficient. You can buy systems to heat your water, provide electricity, and even offload your home heating system. 35
+1-315-636-4485
+91 98151-74050 
