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Energy
Savings
Hot Summers = High Energy Bills!
Energy Savers: Tips on Saving Energy and Money at Home
Central Air Conditioner:
When replacing your central air conditioner, consider replacing
it with an ENERGY STAR-labeled model. These units can save 20%
or more of your cooling bill.
Gas Furnace:
When replacing your furnace, consider replacing it with an ENERGY
STAR-labeled model. These units can save 15% or more of your heating
bill.
Ducts:
The average forced-air duct system loses about 30% of the energy
produced by the furnace or air conditioner in the course of distributing
air to the rooms. This energy loss can be reduced by sealing duct
joints with mastic or high-quality duct tape, and insulating ducts
in unconditioned spaces.
Thermostat:
A programmable thermostat can save 5-30% of your heating and cooling
bill by automatically adjusting the thermostat setting at night
or times when your home is unoccupied. ENERGY STAR-labeled models
are available also.
Ceiling Insulation:
Make sure your ceiling insulation is at least R-19.
Wall Insulation:
Make sure walls are insulated to at least R-11.
The recommendation above were suggested by
the Home Energy Saver Website.
13
Simple Ways to Lower Your Electric Bill
By Kelli B. Grant
April 23, 2008
FORGOING THE FAMILY road trip will spare you
from getting dinged by sky-high gas prices this summer, but staying
at home in the air-conditioned comfort of your living room may
not result in the cost savings you expected. That's because the
same commodity cravings that are driving up oil prices have also
jacked up the costs of coal and natural gas — prime fuels
needed to generate electricity. Increased demand from China and
India, coupled with weather-driven supply setbacks, have nearly
doubled market prices for both coal and natural gas this year.
The two, along with oil, have become a triple-threat for the electric
industry. Where electricity producers once may have switched from
one fuel to another to cut costs, now every option is pricey.
As a result, electricity prices are expected to increase 2.7%
this year, according to the Energy Information Administration's
Short-Term Energy and Summer Fuels Outlook. Those estimates, however,
could easily prove to be conservative. Regions that rely on coal,
natural gas or petroleum to generate electricity — by EIA
estimates, about 70% of power plants in the United States —
could see more substantial price increases, says Steve Rosenstock,
manager of energy solutions for the Edison Electric Institute,
an industry group. "The other big unknown is the weather,"
adds Neil Gamson, an economist with the agency. EIA's estimates
are based on the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's
expectations that it will be a mild summer, with fewer scorching
days than last year. But an unexpected heat wave — and a
subsequent spike in demand for electricity — could quickly
incite price increases. So could worse-than-expected summer hurricanes,
by putting a temporary halt to natural gas production. Heat wave
or no, here are some simple strategies to keep your summer energy
bills from overheating.
Fine-Tune Your Equipment.
Arrange an HVAC inspection.
Hire a certified technician to check that your heating, ventilation
and air-conditioning system is operating at peak efficiency. A
worn-out filter or unsealed duct could reduce the unit's energy
efficiency by as much as 20%. Make an appointment before the hot
weather hits, urges Ronnie Kweller, a spokeswoman for the Alliance
to Save Energy. An inspection will usually set you back $50 to
$100, but that could easily be offset by the energy savings you'll
reap over time. Plus, if you schedule your appointment before
contractors are swamped with repair requests, you could
possibly snag a 10% early bird discount.
Shop for size.
If you're in the market for a new room air conditioner, use Energy
Star1 guidelines to assess how powerful a unit you need. A too-powerful
unit will cost more in both initial purchase price and ongoing
energy bills, says Kweller.
Keep it clean.
Whether you have central air or an individual window or wall unit,
be sure to clean the air filters every month. Dirt and dust hinder
air flow, reducing efficiency.
Program your thermostat.
Programming your thermostat to give your air conditioner a break
for the eight
hours you're at work — even by just a degree or two —
could cut your cooling bill by up to 10%, says Jennifer Thorne
Amann, a senior associate at the American Council for an Energy-Efficient
Economy.
Seek out incentives on appliances.
Energy Star-certified products are not only guaranteed to be more
efficient than their conventional counterparts, but they can also
cost less. Many utility companies and local governments offer
rebates on such purchases. Austin Energy in Texas, for example,
offers $50 back on window air conditioners with an energy-efficiency
ratio of at least 10.7. That's a 22% discount on a $230 Kenmore
7,800 BTU single room air conditioner.
Hunt Down Heat Sources.
Seal up your home. Pricey cooled air can leak through cracks along
window and door frames. Invest in some caulk and weather-stripping
to plug up these drafts as you notice them. You could spend as
little as $10 on the project, which would more than pay for itself
over the course of the summer, says Kweller.
Change your light bulbs.
If you haven't swapped your incandescent bulbs for compact fluorescents
yet,
get to it, says Amann. Not only do CFLs use 75% less energy than
conven-tional bulbs, but they also generate 70% less heat.
Close your blinds.
It's a simple concept: Rooms get hotter without shades or curtains
to block the sunlight.
Use fans.
A breeze makes the room feel a few degrees cooler. Just be sure
to turn it off
when you leave. "Fans cool people, not rooms," says
Kweller.
Unplug.
Gadgets like your cellphone charger and microwave suck energy
— and generate heat — as long as they're attached
to a power source, says Amann. Plug them into a power strip that
can be turned off when not in use.
Assess Utility Suppliers.
Check alternate suppliers. If you live in a state where the electric
industry is deregulated, shop around for a different energy provider,
says Rosenstock. Savings can be as substantial as 20% a month,
and many of these companies use renewable energy so they are much
less dependent on the whims of oil, coal and natural gas prices.
Most will also fix billing rates for a year or more — a
definite bonus as energy prices creep up. Visit your state's Public
Service Commission to determine your options. Just be aware that
most providers require you to commit to at least a year and charge
a hefty fee if you duck out early, advises Rosenstock.
Consider time-of-use plans.
A growing number of electric companies are offering so-called
time-of-use plans, which offer lower rates for energy consumption
during off-peak hours (usually from midevening to early morning).
The catch? You'll often pay more for peak-hours use, so consider
your schedule before signing up. Arizona-based SRP, for example,
regularly charges 9.65 cents per kilowatt hour. On the time-of-use
plan, it charges 18.13 cents for on-peak hours (1 p.m. to 8 p.m.)
and 5.18 cents during the rest of the day.
Fix your bill.
Ask your utility about fixed-bill plans, which charge the same
amount every month for a set period, regardless of your electricity
use. You'll pay a premium
rate per kilowatt hour to hedge against price increases and seasonal
spikes, so make sure to crunch the numbers against your total
2007 energy bills to see if you'll really save, advises Kweller.
Also, keep in mind that these plans periodically reconcile, which
can leave you with a big bill if you've used more than the supplier
anticipated.
Links in this article:
Energy Star
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