Energy Saving Devices » energy efficient

Does it really help to turn off the lights and computers

admin — Wed, 01 Dec 2010 03:36:20 +0000

Many families turn off all their lights, computers, and TVs when leaving the room or going to bed. By doing so to save energy and electricity bills. But how much can you save? The answer is that it doesn’t save much in one day. But over time, such as one month, or one year, it can make a big difference. It’s the same as spending money in a grocery store. Each item only costs you $1, but if you fill up the cart with all $1 items, they add up. The best way to find out how much you can save on monthly electricity bill is to try turning off all appliances that you can possibly do, and compare it with the previous month’s bill, then you’ll find out. Do it with the whole family. Make it fun for the kids to calculate and to teach them about living frugally and saving energy.

How much electricity does a computer use?

admin — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 01:12:00 +0000

Have you ever wonder just how much electricity our home appliances use on a yearly basis? The formula to calculate home appliance electricity usage is simple:

(Wattage × Hours Used Per Day ÷ 1000 = Daily Kilowatt-hour (kWh) consumption
So a typical Window fan will cost you:

(200 Watts × 4 hours/day × 120 days/year) ÷ 1000
= 96 kWh × 8.5 cents/kWh
= $8.16/year

Personal Computer and Monitor:

(120 + 150 Watts × 4 hours/day × 365 days/year) ÷ 1000
= 394 kWh × 8.5 cents/kWh
= $33.51/year

As you can see, window fans and computers don’t cost that much. However, if you have a lot of them and they’re on 24/7, it’ll add up. So turning them off is still a good way to start saving energy, for you pocket, and for the environment.

Source: EERE

American households spend 20% energy bills on appliances and home electronics

admin — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 16:27:37 +0000

Did you know that a typical American household spends 20% of their energy bills on appliances and home electronics? These appliances are:

Clothes washers and dryers
Computers
Dishwashers
Home audio equipment
Refrigerator and freezers
Room air conditioners
Televisions, DVD players, and VCRs
Water heaters

So using energy efficient appliances will make a big difference in your budget. It’s true that the cost of replacing and the pay back time can be too high, but if you have to replace your appliances anyway, looking into energy efficient ones will be a good option. Plus purchasing new ENERGY STAR-qualified appliances can earn you tax rebates.

Source: EERE

Does the Power-Down or Sleep Mode save energy?

admin — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 18:21:36 +0000

Just about all PCs now come with a power-down or sleep mode feature for the CPU and monitor. ENERGY STAR® computers in a sleep mode use 70% less electricity than a computer without such features. ENERGY STAR monitors even have the capability to power down into two successive “sleep” modes. Such mode usually saves 10% of its operating power consumption.

You can setup those power down features when you first setup your operating system. Most new computers are not setup with those features automatically.

One funny note, the old screen savers actually do NOT save energy. The plus side is that new LCD monitors do not need screen savers at all.

Source: EERE

Home electronics are not required to have EnergyGuide Label

admin — Mon, 02 Aug 2010 21:58:20 +0000

Most home appliances are required to have EnergyGuide labels on them. Except stove ranges and ovens. So when you purchase new ranges and ovens, don’t expect to see these labels. Home electronics such as computers, TVs, or audio equipments are not required by the FTC to have these labels either.

If you haven’t noticed the EnergyGuide labels posted on your appliances, what it does is to provide an estimate of the product’s energy consumption or energy efficiency. They also show the highest and lowest energy consumption or efficiency estimates of similar appliance models.

It offers consumers a way to compare energy costs when purchasing new appliances. So check with the label when you shop for new appliances.

Reduce your monthly water heating bill

admin — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 19:42:59 +0000

Most people don’t know this, water heating can account for up to 25% of the energy consumed in your home. Selecting the energy-efficient water heater for your home and pools can reduce your monthly water heating bills.

Energy-efficient water heating system will not only provide enough hot water but also will do so energy efficiently, saving you money.

Cooling Ventilation Systems

admin — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 20:31:22 +0000

Ventilation is the least expensive and most energy-efficient way to cool buildings. Ventilation works best when combined with methods to avoid heat buildup in your home. In some cases, natural ventilation will suffice for cooling, although it usually needs to be supplemented with spot ventilation, ceiling fans and window fans. For large homes, homeowners might want to investigate whole house fans.

Ventilation is ineffective in hot, humid climates where temperature swings between day and night are small. In these climates, attic ventilation can help to reduce your use of air conditioning. Ventilating your attic greatly reduces the amount of accumulated heat, which eventually works its way into the main part of your house. Ventilated attics are about 30°F (16°C) cooler than unventilated attics. Properly sized and placed louvers and roof vents help prevent moisture buildup and overheating in your attic.

Source: EERE

Sizing Heating and Cooling Systems

admin — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 19:53:57 +0000

Older space conditioning systems (more than 10 years old) are often unreliable and much less efficient than a modern system. When it’s time for a new replacement, choosing one of the correct size (heating and/or cooling output) is critical to getting the best efficiency, comfort, and lowest maintenance and operating costs over the life of the new system. Some national surveys have determined that well over half of all HVAC contractors do not size heating and cooling systems correctly.

The most common sizing mistake is in oversizing. This not only makes the new system more expensive to install, but also forces it to operate inefficiently, break down more often, and cost more to operate. Oversized heating equipment also often creates uncomfortable and large temperature swings in the house. Oversized air conditioners (and heat pumps) do not run long enough to dehumidify the air, which results in the “clammy” feeling and unhealthy mold growth in many air-conditioned houses.

Source: EERE, Department of Energy

How to air seal your home

admin — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 23:42:57 +0000

Before deciding on how to air seal your house, you need to understand how the air escapes. Air comes into and out of your home through every possible holes and cracks. You can find out your home’s air tightness by letting in smoke from a smoke pen placed outside of your windows and doors on a windy day.

Once you see where the air is coming and going, then you can decide a plan to caulk and seal the cracks and holes.

Make sure to caulk all the tiny cracks around plumbing, ducting, and wires.

If you only have single-pane windows, consider investing in double-pane ones.

Should I Insulate My Home?

admin — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 17:53:09 +0000

Insulate your home when:

You have an older home and haven’t added insulation. Only 20% of homes built before 1980 are well insulated.
You are uncomfortably cold in the winter or hot in the summer—adding insulation creates a more uniform temperature and increases comfort.
You build a new home, addition, or install new siding or roofing.
You pay high energy bills.
You are bothered by noise from outside—insulation muffles sound.

Source: EERE, U.S. Department of Energy