Energy Conservation Tips
Adapted from
the Consumer Guide to Home Energy Savings by the American Council
for an Energy-Efficient Economy
HOME ENERGY
CHECKLIST FOR ACTION
To Do Today
- Turn down the temperature of your water heater to the warm setting
(120°F). A 10°F reduction in temperature saves 13% of
your water heating costs.
- Check if your water heater has an insulating blanket. An insulating
blanket will pay for itself in one year or less.
- Start using energy-saving settings on refrigerators, dishwashers,
washing machines, and clothes dryers.
- Survey your incandescent lights for opportunities to replace them
with compact fluorescents (CFLs). CFLs can save three-quarters
of the electricity used by incandescents. The best targets are
60-100W bulbs used several hours a day. Replacing conventional
light bulbs with CFLs saves up to 80% of the energy.
- Check the age and condition of your major appliances, especially
the refrigerator. You may want to replace it with a more energy-efficient
model before it dies. Check energystar.gov
for a list of efficient models.
- Clean or replace furnace, air-conditioner, and heat-pump filters.
- If you use a dishwasher, make sure it's full when you run it.
This Week
- Visit the
hardware store. Buy a water-heater blanket, low-flow showerheads,
faucet aerators, and compact fluorescents, as needed. If you can't
find compact fluorescents locally, check out www.energyguide.com.
- Caulk leaky windows.
- Assess
your heating and cooling systems. Determine if replacements are justified,
or whether you should retrofit them to make them work more efficiently
to provide the same comfort (or better) for less energy. Call the Ecology Center (510-548-2220 x233) for assistance.
This Month
- Crawl into
your attic or crawlspace and inspect for insulation. Is there any?
How much?
- Insulate
hot water pipes and ducts wherever they run through unheated areas.
- Seal up the largest air leaks in your house—the ones that
whistle on windy days, or feel drafty. The worst culprits are
usually not windows and doors, but utility cut-throughs for pipes
("plumping penetrations"), gaps around chimneys and
recessed lights in insulated ceilings, and unfinished spaces behind
cupboards and closets. Consider hiring an energy auditor with
a blower door to point out where the worst cracks are. All the
little, invisible cracks and holes may add up to as much as an
open window or door, without you ever knowing it.
- Install
a clock thermostat to set your thermostat back automatically at night. In most homes, you can save about 2% of your heating bill for each degree (F) you lower the thermostat.
- Schedule
an energy audit (ask your utility company or state energy office)
for more expert advice on your home as a whole. Contact the Ecology Center for Bay Area referrals.
This Year
- Insulate. If your walls aren't insulated, consider having an insulation
contractor blow cellulose into the walls. Bring your attic insulation
level up to snuff.
- Replace aging, inefficient appliances. Even if the appliance has
a few useful years left, replacing it with a top-efficiency model
is generally a good investment. Find listings of the most efficient
models at energystar.gov
- Upgrade leaky windows. It may be time to replace them with energy-efficient
models or to boost their efficiency with weatherstripping and
storm windows.
- Reduce your air conditioning costs by planting shade trees and
shrubs around your house—especially on the west side.
- Consider installing a flash or on-demand water heating system.
On-demand water heaters typically save 10-15% over conventional
storage water heaters.
- Consider going solar. Find out more from the Northern
California Solar Energy Association.
For More Information:
- Consumers Guide to Home Energy Savings by Alex Wilson,
Jennifer Thorne, and John Morrill.
In-depth info on heating, cooling, appliances, and a whole lot
more.
- Ecology Center, 510-548-2220 x233
Info desk and referrals.
- Build It Green, 510-845-0472.
Bay Area assistance with green building materials and methods.
- www.energyguide.com
Includes an online audit of your energy use and calculations of
potential savings. Many great tips on energy saving.
- energystar.gov
Energy efficiency information and appliance energy ratings.
