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Residential Energy Saving Resources
More than ever, Americans
across the nation are taking a hard look at the cost of electric. With rate
increases fast approaching, families and businesses are beginning to seek ways
to cut usage. And as fuel costs continue to rise, it’s making headlines in the
news and costing families a lot of money.
Here in the Borough of
Perkasie, we are encouraging the residents to follow several simple energy
saving tips to see savings on their electric bill. The good news is, you can
start saving energy easily in your home, and you will see the difference in:
Many households can reduce
home energy use-and their energy bills- by 20 to 30 percent by:
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Improving heating and
cooling efficiency through better maintenance, operations, and selective
equipment replacement
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Using energy-efficient
light fixtures and bulbs
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Weatherizing, including
sealing leaks and improving home insulation
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Choosing high-efficiency
models when shopping for any appliance, and taking a few simple steps to
control the appliances you have.
Here's a checklist of
energy-saving measures that cost little or nothing, but can return real savings
on your energy bills. These measures are easy to take, whether you own or
rent your home.
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Turn lights, appliances,
and electronics of when they are not in use.
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Replace at least five
incandescent light bulbs with high-efficiency, compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs).
They use 75 percent less energy and last ten times as long.
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Install a programmable
thermostat. In winter, lower the temperature when you are typically at work
or asleep. You can save about 5 percent on your heating bill if your setback
averages out to two degrees around the clock. The reverse is true in the
summer.
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Regularly change or clean
filters in heating and cooling equipment.
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Use fans. According to
Energy Star, you can raise summer air-conditioner settings by 3 to 5 degrees
with no loss of comfort if you add ceiling fans. Switch reversible fans in
winter, to pull cool air upward and force warm air back down.
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Control direct sunlight
through windows, letting light in during winter and blocking the rays with
blinds in the summer.
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Perform basic
weatherization. Repair holes or cracks that let drafts in and
weather-stripping or caulking around doors and windows.
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Try washing most clothes
in cold water. Don't over dry your clothes.
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If you have an old
refrigerator or freezer that you don't use, unplug it. These old appliances
can add up to 15 percent to your electric bill. If your freezer is usually
empty, you can improve cold airflow by storing some extra ice.
Please visit the
Alliance to Save Energy Home Energy Check-Up webpage for helpful tips and
ideas. The Alliance to Save Energy has been working to help Americans save
energy since the 1970s. Its new Home Energy Check-Up gives a quick estimate of
how much energy you can save by making specific improvements. If you rent or if
you do not know exact numbers (for example, how many inches of insulation you
have), this tool will automatically pick typical numbers for you. It is not
exact, but it is easy and fun to use.
Another online tool is the
U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency’s Energy Star Program. The Energy Star is a widely
recognized label, which shows that a product or home design is energy efficient
and environmentally responsible. The Energy Star program includes several
Web-based energy surveys and calculators, which you can find from the home
page. The Energy Star @ home feature shows you a house to “click” through, so
you can quickly read tips that apply to you. The Home Energy Yardstick is a
survey that is more advanced than the Alliance to Save Energy Check-Up, but
simpler than the Department of Energy’s Home Energy Saver.
The U.S. Department of Energy
has a site called the Home Energy
Saver. This free government site takes your home energy survey to the next
level. It can tap national-average data on home construction and energy use,
but it encourages you to gather real measurements and energy-bill information,
if you can. The site also offers downloadable guides and gives you a link to
“Ask an Energy
Expert.”
Interestingly enough …
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The five lights that
people use most are in the kitchen, living room or family room, outdoor
porch or driveway, and sometimes a bathroom or hallway. All these are great
places for new energy-efficient fluorescent or compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs).
If you change these lights, you will notice a difference on your electric
bill. If every American family changed these lights, the savings would add
up to nearly $8 billion a year and the reduction in greenhouse gas emissions
would be like taking 10 million cars off the road.
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You water heater probably
represents 10 to 15 percent of your total energy use. This is partly due to
the equipment itself-its size and energy-efficiency. It is also a factor of
how much hot water you use, so begin by reducing hot water waste.
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If you count them, the
number of electric cords and plugs in your home may astound you. These are
the big items-refrigerator, stove, washer, drier, and there are smaller
items, from the microwave oven, computer, and TV to the toothbrush and the
cell phone charger. Cell phone chargers and power adapters for MP3 players,
cameras, laptops, and other devices waste energy, too, when they are plugged
in but not in use. All told, the 1.5 billion power adapters in the U.S. now
account for more than 10 percent of the national electric bill-and all these
numbers are on the rise! Remember to unplug them when they are not in use.
For more
helpful tips, check out the
American Public Power Association’s “Energy Matters in Your Home: A Guide to
Saving Energy and Money” publication. |
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Related
Electric Rate Increase Ordinance
Electric Rates
Electric Services
Energy Saving Tips for Businesses |
