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Energy Alternatives and Conservation
"Civilization is in no immediate danger of running out of energy
or even just out of oil But we are running out of environment --that is, out of the capacity of
the environment to absorb energy's impacts without risk of intolerable disruption..."
~ Vijay V. Vaitheeswaran, author of Power to the People
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Energy Saving Tips
http://sustainablebellingham.org/wiki/wikka.php?wakka=EnergySavingTips
Participating in the GreenPowerChallenge is a very good thing to do. However, renewable
energy resources will never be enough to sustain our current levels of energy consumption that we enjoy via
cheap fossil fuels. Fossil fuel resources are not only presenting us with dangerous environmental consequences,
but they are also finite and rapidly depleting (see our WhatIsPeakOil page). Therefore it is not enough for us
to buy Green Power; we must also reduce our energy consumption, and eventually curtail our consumption - see
Community and Curtailment. We must start somewhere, and two good starting points are 1) participate in PSE's
Green Power program, and 2) employ the basic energy saving tips below. You just might save enough money to pay
for your Green Power program commitment.
Tips borrowed from various pages of PSE's website
Top Ten Tips to Save Energy
Looking to save energy and money? We recommend you start with the easiest, lowest-cost, highest-value options
at the top of this list. Then, as your budget, schedule, and inclinations allow, you can move down the list
to more involved energy-saving options requiring a higher investment.
1. Set your home's thermostat at the coolest level you can without making your rooms uncomfortable. For most
homes, the heating bill drops by about 2 percent for every 1 degree the thermostat is lowered.
2. Lower your home's thermostat at bedtime or while you're away during the day. (See Tip #7.) Setting the
thermostat to 58 degrees while you're asleep (you may need an extra blanket!) can cut your natural-gas
bill by up to 7 percent.
3. Seal up leaky drafts around doors and windows with weather-stripping, caulking, and door sweeps. (And don't
forget to keep the damper closed on a fireplace or wood-burning stove when it's not in use.) Also seal up
any leaks or gaps in furnace ducts that extend through unheated basements or crawl spaces.
4. Have your furnace inspected and tuned every two to three years (before the heating season starts), and
clean or replace the air filters on your furnace every two months during the heating season. Your furnace
will run more efficiently and use less energy.
5. Set your water heater's thermostat to 120 degrees Fahrenheit. Lowering it from a higher setting will save
you money and reduce the risk of being scalded.
6. Take shorter showers, wash clothes in cold water, and don't over-dry your clothing.
7. Install a programmable thermostat for home heating. It can save lots of energy while you're sleeping or
away from home and will re-warm your house shortly before you wake up or return home.
8. Replace traditional, incandescent lighting with ENERGY STAR qualified compact fluorescent bulbs and fixtures
(especially in the areas you use most).
9. Make sure you have adequate insulation in your home's attic and walls, and around heating ducts that pass
through unheated spaces.
10. Purchase an ENERGY STAR qualified furnace, washer, and dishwasher and high-efficiency water heater when
it's time to replace worn-out models.
Energy Saving Tips for Appliances
The appliances we use every day present opportunities to save and reduce monthly energy bills. Here is a list
of tips to help you get started:
* Don't under-load or overload dishwashers or washing machines.
* Wash and rinse clothes in the coolest water setting.
* Avoid over drying laundry. If your dryer has a moisture sensor or auto shut-off feature, use it.
* Clean the lint filter in your dryer after each load. A clogged lint filter increases drying time.
* If you have an older refrigerator or freezer, listen to see if the motor/compressor runs constantly.
If so, you may need a repair service to check for low refrigerant. Another cause may be a leaky door gasket.
* Never use an oven or range burners to heat a kitchen.
* Look for the ENERGY STAR when purchasing new appliances.
Energy Saving Tips for Compact Fluorescent Light (CFL) Bulbs and Fixtures
More than 20% of the electricity generated in the U.S. is used for lighting. Approximately half of this
energy is wasted by lighting empty rooms or as heat produced by inefficient lamps. When you use efficient
lighting in your home, you contribute to a cleaner environment while saving yourself money and energy. Here
are some tips to help you get started:
* Change five lights -- Replace your home's five most frequently used light fixtures or the bulbs in them
with models that have earned the ENERGY STAR.
* Flip a switch when leaving a room. When you leave a room turn off the light and see the savings.
* Buy one instead of ten. CFL bulbs last up to ten times longer than standard incandescent light bulbs
* Choose a CFL with cool color tones for tasks and one with warm tones for living areas and ambient
lighting. CFLs are available in different color temperatures and are designed for specific uses.
* Buy products with a strong warranty ENERGY STAR qualified light fixtures come with a two-year
warranty--double the industry standard.
Energy Saving Tips for Heating and Cooling
Heating and cooling your home is the largest single factor in your energy bill. These heating and cooling
tips can help you to increase the efficiency. To get started, here are some basic tips:
* Identify places that heat escapes from your home. Check for gaps and holes that allow heat to escape,
raising your heating bills and making your home drafty and less comfortable.
* Check your furnace filter(s) monthly. During the heating season (also during the cooling season if you use
air conditioning). The proper time interval for replacing or cleaning filters will vary depending on the rate
of accumulation of pet hair, dust, and carpet lint in your home. Check your furnace owner's manual for the
manufacturer's recommendations and instructions.
* Lower your thermostat. On average, for each degree you consistently lower your thermostat, your heating
energy consumption drops by two percent. Therefore, keep your thermostat at the lowest comfortable setting
(68 degrees or lower)
* Seal your home's unheated spaces. If ductwork goes through an unheated basement, attic or crawl space, check
for leaky joints or disconnected sections. Seal leaky joints with latex duct mastic or foil backed butyl tape.
Reconnect any loose sections, seal, and support.
Energy Saving Tips for Water Heaters
The second largest energy cost in your home is heating hot water. By upgrading your water heating equipment
and changing your families' water consumption habits, you can reduce your energy useage and save money. Here
are some ways to get started:
* Set the water heater thermostat to 120 degrees F or the "low" setting, to save money and reduce the risk of
scalding.
* Check the water heater for leaks and replace if it is leaking.
* Replace the pressure/temperature relief valve on the water heater if it is leaking.
* Check hot water pipes in the crawl space or basement for leaks and repair if necessary.
* Install pipe insulation on all exposed hot water pipes.
* Install pipe insulation on the first three feet of exposed cold water pipe connected to the water heater.
* Use the cold wash and rinse cycles to reduce hot water consumption when doing laundry.
* Check hot water faucets or shower valves for leaks and replace washers or repair valves if necessary.
* Install low-cost, energy-saving showerheads and faucet aerators. (If you have an older home with galvanized
plumbing, you may wish to have professional install energy-saver showerheads.)
Energy Saving Tips for Windows
Reducing leaks around windows, doors and chimneys in your home will result in considerable annual energy
savings. PSE provides information about low-cost improvements that can save you and your family money. Here
are some ways to get started:
* Install weather stripping and door sweeps. Use inexpensive weather stripping and door sweeps to reduce
air leaks around entry doors. For a no-cost fix, roll up a bath towel and hold it against the bottom of
the door with a weight.
* Replace caulking around your home's windows to reduce air leaks. Use non-hardening "rope caulk" to
temporarily seal gaps on little-used, movable windows and sliding doors.
* If your home's windows are single-paned, consider installing inexpensive "tape-up" interior storm windows
for a low-cost, temporary fix. Caution: Make sure that doors and windows can be opened as emergency exits
in case of fire.
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