Economical Energy Solutions
Of course the best way to save money on energy is to use less of it. But somehow conservation always seems to be the last resort. We don't like to change our habits even when we know the benefits.
So instead of changing our habits one thing we can do is change the way we use the energy we do use.
The first economical energy solutions we can try is to use things like energy efficient lightbulbs and more efficient electrical equipment.
Thankfully the government and private industry developed the ENERGY STARŪ program in 1992 to identify economical energy solutions and energy efficient products and reduce carbon emissions. Since then manufacturers have been improving the efficiency of the equipment they build.
The Energy Star Pledge
If you'd like to make a difference you can always take the Energy Star Pledge and make a difference for our children's future. Here's the basic tenants for economical energy solutions.......
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1. Replace at least one light in my home with an ENERGY STAR qualified one.
Lighting:
If every American household replaced just one light with an ENERGY STAR light, we would save more than $600 million in annual energy costs, while preventing 9 billion pounds of greenhouse gas emissions, equivalent to the emissions of about 800,000 cars.
2. Make my home heating and cooling system work better.
Heating and Cooling System:
If every American household serviced their heating and cooling systems and changed their air filters, inspected their ducts for leaks and programmed their thermostat for energy savings while they’re away or asleep, we would save more than $14 billion in annual energy costs while preventing 160 billion pounds of greenhouse gases, equivalent to the emissions of 14 million cars.
3. Make sure my home is well sealed and insulated.
Sealing and Insulating:
If every American household added insulation to their attic,
we would save nearly $1.5 billion in annual energy costs and prevent
nearly 25 billion pounds of greenhouse gases, equivalent to the
emissions of 2 million cars.
4. Choose ENERGY STAR qualified equipment for my home office.
Home office:
If every home office product purchased in America this year were ENERGY STAR qualified, we would save $200 million in annual energy costs while preventing almost 3 billion pounds of greenhouse gases, equivalent to the emissions of 250,000 cars.
If each desktop and monitor in American homes was to sleep when not in use, we would save $1 billion in annual energy costs while preventing more than 15 billion pounds of greenhouse gases, equivalent to the emissions of 1 million cars.
5. Choose ENERGY STAR qualified home theater products.
Home Theater:
If each TV, DVD, and home theater system purchased in the U.S. this year were ENERGY STAR qualified, we would save $250 million in annual energy costs, while preventing more than 3 billion pounds of greenhouse gases, equivalent to the emissions of 300,000 cars.
6. Choose ENERGY STAR qualified products for my kitchen and laundry.
Appliances:
If every refrigerator, dishwasher and clothes washer purchased
in America this year were ENERGY STAR qualified, we would save $650
million in annual energy costs while preventing 4.5 billion pounds of
greenhouse gases, equivalent to the emissions of 350,000 cars.
7. Purchase ENERGY STAR holiday lights this holiday season.
Holiday Lighting:
If every decorative light string purchased in the US this year
were ENERGY STAR qualified, we would save $243 million in annual energy
costs, while preventing 3.5 billion pounds of greenhouse gas emissions
per year, equivalent to the emissions of 293,000 cars.
I plan to buy light strings
Weatherization Assitance Program
The Weatherization Assistance Program enables low-income families to permanently reduce their energy bills by making their homes more energy efficient. During the last 32 years, the U.S. Department of Energy 's (DOE) Weatherization Assistance Program has provided weatherization services to more than 6.2 million low-income families.
By reducing the energy bills of low-income families instead of offering aid, weatherization reduces dependency and liberates these funds for spending on more pressing family issues. On average, weatherization reduces heating bills by 32% and overall energy bills by about $350 per year at current prices. This spending, in turn, spurs low-income communities toward job growth and economic development.
Oak Ridge National Laboratory gives technical support and evaluations. Click to learn more.
The Weatherization Assistance Program Technical Assistance Center provides guidance for program operations and fosters community partnerships to advance weatherization.
Energy Efficiency
The Department of Energy is committed to reducing America’s dependence on foreign oil and developing energy efficient technologies for buildings, homes, transportation, power systems and industry.
The mission of the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) is to strengthen America's energy security, environmental quality, and economic vitality in public-private partnerships that: enhance energy efficiency and productivity; bring clean, reliable and affordable energy technologies to the marketplace; and make a difference in the everyday lives of Americans by enhancing their energy choices and their quality of life.
EERE leads the Federal government’s research, development, and deployment efforts in energy efficiency. EERE's role is to invest in high-risk, high-value research and development that is critical to the Nation's energy future and would not be sufficiently conducted by the private sector acting on its own.
Program activities are conducted in partnership with the private sector, state and local government, DOE national laboratories, and universities. EERE also works with stakeholders to develop programs and policies to facilitate the deployment of advanced clean energy technologies and practices.
Your Home's Energy Use
The first step to taking a whole-house energy efficiency approach is to find out which parts of your house use the most energy. A home energy audit will pinpoint those areas and suggest the most effective measures for cutting your energy costs.
You can conduct a simple home energy audit yourself, contact your local utility, or call an independent energy auditor for a more comprehensive examination. For more information about home energy audits, including free tools and calculators, visit www.energysavers.gov or www.natresnet.org.
Energy Auditing Tips
- Check the insulation levels in your attic, exterior and basement walls, ceilings, floors, and crawl spaces. Visit www.energysavers.gov for instructions on checking your insulation levels.
- Check for holes or cracks around your walls, ceilings, windows, doors, light and plumbing fixtures, switches, and electrical outlets that can leak air into or out of your home.
- Make sure your appliances and heating and cooling systems are properly maintained. Check your owner's manuals for the recommended maintenance.
- Study your family's lighting needs and use patterns, paying special attention to high-use areas such as the living room, kitchen, and outside lighting. Look for ways to use lighting controls—like occupancy sensors, dimmers, or timers—to reduce lighting energy use, and replace standard (incandescent) light bulbs and fixtures with compact or standard fluorescent lamps.
Developing An Economical Energy Solution Plan
After you have identified where your home is losing energy, assign priorities by asking yourself a few important questions:
- How much money do you spend on energy?
- Where are your greatest energy losses?
- How long will it take for an investment in energy efficiency to pay for itself in energy cost savings?
- Do the energy-saving measures provide additional benefits that are important to you (for example, increased comfort from installing double-paned, efficient windows)?
- How long do you plan to own your current home?
- Can you do the job yourself or will you need to hire a contractor?
- What is your budget and how much time do you have to spend on maintenance and repair?
Once you assign priorities to your energy needs, you can form a whole house efficiency plan. Your plan will provide you with a strategy for making smart purchases and home improvements that maximize energy efficiency and save the most money.
Seek Professional Help
Another option for developing and economical energy solutions plan is to get the advice of a professional. Many utilities conduct energy audits for free or for a small charge.
For a fee, a professional contractor will analyze how well your home's energy systems work together and compare the analysis to your utility bills. He or she will use a variety of equipment such as blower doors, infrared cameras, and surface thermometers to find leaks and drafts.
After gathering information about your home, the contractor or auditor will give you a list of recommendations for cost-effective energy improvements and enhanced comfort and safety. A reputable contractor can also calculate the return on your investment in high-efficiency equipment compared with standard equipment.
Finding Economical Energy Solutions Is A Win-Win
These efforts are worth it, both for your own energy bill but also for our country and the world's energy consumption. It will come back to you in lower energy bills and also the satisfaction of knowing you are helping our country and our planet.
The US Department of Energy was a source for much of this information.
