The most important thing each of us can do is conserve. The next best action we can take is to make lasting home improvements that reduce energy consumption.
The top energy users in your home will vary depending on the climate you live in, the efficiency of your heating system and other factors. But for most homes, the items discussed below are where you should start.
1. It’s getting hot in here…heating and cooling. Like I said – conserve first! Turn down your thermostat to 68 or 69 degrees in fall and winter, and to 76 in the summer (if you have the luxury of air conditioning). Heating and cooling are the top uses of energy in your home.
Next to keeping your place at a reasonable temperature, consider upgrading your heating system. This certainly isn’t possible for many of us. But, if you’ve got an old furnace, upgrade to a brand-new Energy Star gas or electric furnace or a heat pump.
2. Small appliances – really? The U.S. Department of Energy Home Energy Saver web site shows that for some homes, small appliances are the second biggest use of energy next to heating. These include televisions, DVD players, and the like. So, consider turning off your TV and getting outside, or at least put your electronics on a SmartStrip to prevent them from creating “phantom loads,” which draw small amounts of power all day and night, even when items are turned off.
3. The ‘ol ice box. Makes sense, right? Your refrigerator runs constantly. It can pay off to recycle your current model and buy a new EnergyStar rated model.
4. How much energy does your water use? You likely have an inefficient hot water tank sitting in a closet or laundry room. The Federal Government offers tax credits to install a high-efficiency, tankless water heater. These save energy and money by not keeping water hot 24/7. Rather, they use spurts of energy to heat your water when you demand it by turning on a faucet or the shower.
If you can’t install a tankless system, make sure your tank heater and the pipes supplying the water to it are insulated.
5. “And then there was light.” The fifth and final category of residential energy use is lighting. You’ve heard it before—swap out the incandescent bulbs in the most used areas of your home (living rooms, porch lights) and replace them with CFLs. Here’s a trick you may not have heard of for CFLs: once you’ve installed the fluorescent bulb, turn on the light and leave it on for at least 15 minutes. Doing so “burns in” the lamp, which improves its function, and its lifespan. Oh, and don’t forget to dispose of them properly when they burn out in 7 years!
Three cheers to you for thinking about energy use in your home, and remember, conserve first!
Angela Wallis is the Resource Conservation Manager for King County Housing Authority in suburban Seattle and lives the energy-saving dream every day.
Read more about home improvement projects on SustainLane:
How Solar Screening Seriously Helps You Stay Cool
Marmoleum: The Eco-Friendly Flooring
Jordana G. says:
Hey Angela -- what's a heat pump??
Angela Wallis says:
Thanks for asking, Jordana.
A heat pump provides heating and cooling by moving heat and cold using electricity, not creating heat and cold like a furnace. The best explanation is available at:
http://www.energysavers.gov/your_home/space_heating_cooling/index.cfm/mytopic=12610
They are uber efficient- providing up to 4x more energy than they use! Heat pumps can be air, geothermal or water but not all models are right for every climate.
Megan P. says:
hi! we use the cfl's at our apartment. :) i didn't know that about leaving on the lamp though...i'll have to remember in seven years. ha ha. i'll have to talk to our landlord about our fridge; it's a really old model.
Jill A. says:
Great post, Angela! We have a refrigerator that is probably 10-15 years old, and I know we could get a more efficient one. However, when I've looked, I've been disappointed with the lack of smaller models that would nicely replace ours. We have limited room, and definitely don't need one of the double door refrigerators that seem to be all the rage. This is typical of other appliances (dishwashers, to name one) as people seem to be going bigger and bigger. I'm considering taking a look at what might be available across the border in Canada, as I suspect they may have access to European brands that are more difficult to find here in the US; I'd love to hear if anyone else has experience with this!
Eric Lancaster says:
I used to do energy audits for local utilities. The company I worked for contracted with the utility. We learned all this stuff way back when and were told to give people a CFL and try to sell them a fridge or an insulation job. It drove me absolutely nuts. People I met would get a CFL and a fridge if it worked out for them. However, I made sure to tell them everything I could to teach them how to conserve energy.
More often than not, the biggest culprit for energy consumption was the electric water heater and there were no programs for people to switch to an on-demand water heater. I recommended to many people to switch out, showed them how to tell the age of the unit and what to look for. Education is key.
Chris K. says:
I've covered this same topic on my blog, but according to the information I found from energy star, the water heater is a much bigger chunk of energy consumption than electronics:
http://blog.mapawatt.com/2009/03/20/household-energy-use/
Actually, lighting is a bigger consumer as well. Focus on the things that produce heat/AC to get the most savings. Vampire energy loads are good to turn off, but their impact is small in comparison to the big three: Heating/AC, Water Heating, and Lighting.
Janet B. says:
These are all important things to do. In fact, we have a local organization, Bridging the Gap, that has a "5 green things" campaign, asking you to commit to doing just 5 things to improve energy efficiency, consume less, recycle more, stop buying plastic water bottles, etc. So I support these initiatives. But in my new-ish role as E.D. for the Central Plains Chapter of the US Green Building Council, I've learned that by far the biggest drain on energy and your wallet is the condition of the building envelope. That is, the shell of your house, business, etc. DIdn't your mother always tell you to wear a hat because 90% of your heat goes right out the top of your head? Turns out, she was right. We find too many companies "selling" green products - like windows, etc., without even auditing the air barrier and insulation in the attic.
Our local utility has a rebate for energy audits, (and I might also brag - is committing $28 million to install the first smart grid in an urban core area - The Green Impact Zone in Kansas City, Missouri.) I can't stress heavily enough to look at the lid first - can lights and poor insulation up top will keep the house leaking like a sieve. Janet Baker, Executive Director, US Green Building Council - Central Plains Chapter.
Angela Wallis says:
Hi Janet,
Yes, I full agree about the importance, and negative energy impact of the building envelope.
Unfortunately, other than simple roof insulation, I don't feel like it's something most everyday folks will tackle. So, I left it out.
But, it's great that the info is coming out through your comment!
I'm a Certified Sustainable Building Advisor, so I appreciate USGBC!
Kria L. says:
Angela
I wanted to post here about some interesting things about refrigeration. I have an older house and I want a small refrigertor that will fit in my small kitchen. Turns out energy star certification is for the big frigs!! But guess what else? The small frigs that fit in my house use less energy that the certified frigs. My thought here is don't monster size just because it is energy star. Look at the predicted energy useage and don't buy bigger than you really need. I also now don't have to remodel my kitchen!
One other thing I wanted to comment on is the temperature idea. Why on earth do we need to have the temperature so drastically different inside our houses compared to the outside. You can simply get used to the tempurature. I know that is a novel thought. But we did that for centuries. Why not have the heat at 55 or 60 when you are there and 50 for sleeping and wear a sweater in the winter? Why can't we plant deciduous trees to the south and west of our houses for cooling? Maybe we could build houses with overhangs like mine on my 1920's house... Provides great passive cooling in my house.
Angela Wallis says:
Hi Kria,
It seems to me from this EPA Energy Star link that mini-fridges do indeed receive Energy Star rating:
http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?fuseaction=refrig.search_products_submit
I agree; never buy a bigger fridge than you need! Energy Star also suggests forgoing models with an ice maker/dispenser- the fridge uses substantially more energy to provide ice.
Advocating turning down the thermostat and wearing more clothing is important. But, the science shows that people really aren't comfortable below 68 degrees for long periods of time. It's hard to keep warm just with clothing (even hats and gloves!) if you're just at home relaxing for the night. But, yes, I agree, we need to do practical things to conserve.
Kria L. says:
I don't need to have a scientist tell me what if I am comfortable or not. I already know that I do just fine in a house at 55-60 in the winter. I like it on the cold side. It is one other way to experience the seasons. The idea that we have to be one temperature all year is a little silly if you ask me. Have you tried to get used to a cooler temperature?