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Energy Saving Tips
As the costs of oil, petroleum coke, natural gas and coal continue to rise, so to will the cost of energy. Utilities around the country are passing double digit rate hikes onto customers who are feeling the pinch, from food to fuel, much of which is out of our control. However, you can exercise some control over what you are spending on utilities by following our energy saving tips and investing in our energy saving products.
Set the Thermostat
On average, heating and cooling account for 44% of a residential utility bill. By keeping your home warmer in the summer and cooler in the winter you can see a substantial savings. By setting your thermostat at 78 in the summer and 68 in the winter your electric consumption will be reduced by 3-5%.
Eliminate the heat island effect by closing west and south facing blinds and planting leafy trees to provide your home with shade. Increase your usage of cold water and wrap your hot water heater with insulation. Better yet, switch to a solar hot water heater. Switching four 75 watt incandescent bulbs to four 23 watt flourescent (CFL) bulbs will save you $190 dollars over the life of the bulbs. If every American home did this, we would save as much energy as what is consumed by 38 million cars in one year! To save even more, heed the lessons of our parents to said that when you leave a room you turn off the lights. These savings start to add up when you consider that switching to cold water for laundry can save another hundred bucks annually and detergents formulated for cold water get your clothes just as clean! Lastly, use ceiling fans to your advantage. As shown in the chart below, raising your home temperature by two degrees and using ceiling fans to offset the increase results in a substantial savings as depicted below.
Proper Insulation
Check the insulation in your attic, ceilings, exterior and basement walls, floors, and crawl spaces to see if it meets the levels recommended for your area. Insulation is measured in R-values—the higher the R-value, the better your walls and roof will resist the transfer of heat. DOE recommends ranges of R-values based on local heating and cooling costs and climate conditions in different areas of the nation. The map and chart below show the DOE recommendations for your area.
One of the most cost-effective ways to make your home more comfortable year-round is to add insulation to your attic.
For new construction or home additions, R-11 to R-28 insulation is recommended for exterior walls depending on location (see map below). To meet this recommendation, most homes and additions constructed with 2 in. x 4 in. walls require a combination of wall cavity insulation, such as batts and insulating sheathing or rigid foam boards. If you live in an area with an insulation recommendation that is greater than R-20, you may want to consider building with 2 in. x 6 in. framing instead of 2 in. x 4 in. framing to allow room for thicker wall cavity insulation (R-19/R-21).
Energy Efficiency Ratings
Look for appliances that are Energy Star rated meaning they have an efficiency of at least 15% against standard building codes. Look for homes that are LEED-H rated, a system designed by the nonprofit U.S. Green Building Council that runs the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design rating system. Look for programs run through your local utility that are certified green friendly.
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