Energy Saving Tips For the Home and Office

Energy Usage About 52% of the energy used in a household goes towards heating and cooling,19% to heating water, and 29% to other household appliances. In office buildings, 34% of the energy used goes towards heating and cooling, 29% to lighting, 9% to heating water, and 28% to office equipment, ventilation, and other miscellaneous uses.[1]

Energy Usage Heating and cooling constitute the largest energy use in both homes and offices.

Energy Saving Tips: Heating and Cooling Invest in a programmable thermostat. In the summer, set the thermostat between 78° and 80°F, and close window shades (to reduce ingress of solar heat). In the winter, set the thermostat between 68° and 70°F, and open window shades to admit direct sunlight (which helps to heat your home). Use of a humidifier makes lowering the thermostat more comfortable.

Energy Saving Tips: Heating and Cooling Run the fan instead of the AC to circulate air. To maximize heating and cooling efficiency, change air filters once a month, and keep air delivery and return vents clear of blockages. Thoroughly insulate your home or office building to minimize heat loss in the winter and heat gain in the summer.

Energy Saving Tips: Electricity and Lighting Turn off lights and appliances after use. Unplug appliances whenever possible to eliminate “standby” electricity loss.[2] Use compact fluorescent light bulbs in place of incandescent light bulbs. CFL’s last longer and use less energy but do contain a small amount of mercury which requires proper disposal. This is often done at your local Home Depot or Lowe’s store

Energy Saving Tips: Kitchen Appliances Set refrigerator temperature between 37°- 40°F, and freezer temperature at 0°F. Be sure to vacuum the condenser coils every 6 months. Do full loads when washing or drying clothes. Use only warm or cold water. Drying loads consecutively saves energy so the dryer does not have to heat up each time. Be sure to clean the lint filter after each load. Or Air Dry your clothes using a clothes line or a hanging rack inside

Energy Saving Tips: Kitchen Appliances When cooking try to use the range rather than the oven as much as possible. Use pressure cookers and microwaves to lower energy consumption. Buy energy star products for greater energy efficiency.

Energy Saving Tips: Water Heating Insulate water heater and surrounding pipes to reduce heat loss and water consumption. Set water heater thermostats to 120°F (or 140°F if you have a dishwasher).

Water Saving Tips

Water Saving Tips: Kitchen and Bathroom Check for and fix leaks. A leak from a worn faucet washer can waste 20 gal. of water a day. [3] Read your water meter after 2 hours of not using water. If the meter has changed, there is a leak and it should be repaired. While waiting for a shower to heat up, capture cold water in a bucket or pan and use it for watering plants or other household uses.

Water Saving Tips: Kitchen and Bathroom Take shorter showers. A 4 minute shower uses 20-40 gal. of water. [3] Turn off the faucet when you brush your teeth, shave, wash your face or rinse dishes. Invest in a high efficiency toilet, or put a plastic bottle filled with sand in your toilet tank to reduce the amount of water used per flush.

Water Saving Tips: Kitchen and Bathroom Use aerators on all faucets and low-flow shower heads for better water pressure while using less water in total. Only wash full loads of clothes, and do the same with dishes. Use a vegetable brush to clean food items to make washing/preparation quicker and more efficient.

Water Saving Tips: Outdoor Water Use When washing your car, don’t run the hose until you need to rinse. This can save up to 150 gallons of water. [3] Use a broom to clean your driveway, front stoop or porch, rather than a hose. When planting a garden, practice xeriscaping. Group plants according to their water needs, and plant drought-resistant plants and bushes.

Water Saving Tips: Outdoor Water Use Add compost to your garden and lay down mulch to help the soil retain moisture. Water your lawn in the morning or when it is overcast to minimize evaporation. Avoid watering when it is sunny or windy. (When Allowed) [3] ‘Deep-soak’ your lawn. Water the lawn long enough for the water to seep down to the roots to promote deeper root systems. (When Allowed) [3]

Water Saving Tips: Outdoor Water Use Collect rainwater in a rain barrel and use this to water plants. Be sure to follow watering restrictions specific to your local area. Position sprinklers to avoid watering the sidewalk, street, or driveway.

Water Saving Tips: Facts If a faucet drips at a rate of 1 drop per sec. you can waste 2,700 gal. per year. The average daily indoor water use for a single family home with no water-conserving fixtures is 74 gal.

Fuel Saving Tips

Gasoline Saving Tips Don’t drive like a demon on wheels! Quick accelerations reduce fuel efficiency and put wear and tear on your transmission. At 60 mph, having your windows open reduces your MPG by the same amount as having your A/C running full blast. Under 60 mph having the windows open is a reasonable alternative to using the A/C.

Gasoline Saving Tips Be sure to keep the belts tight, fans running and filters clean in order to get the most MPG out of your vehicle. Make sure your tires are inflated to the factory mandated pressure; failure to do so can take a serious toll on MPG.

Natural Gas Saving Tips

Natural Gas Saving Tips Have your heating system professionally checked on a regular basis. Get a carbon monoxide detector for your own safety and so leaks don’t increase your energy bill.

Natural Gas Saving Tips Check the insulation in your attic. If you have less than 7 inches of insulation, consider adding another layer to keep heat trapped within your home. Add weather stripping and caulk around windows and doors to improve insulation. Don’t heat unused spaces or vacant rooms.

Natural Gas Saving Tips If you have a fireplace, be sure that the dampers are closed when the fireplace is not in use. Replace gas appliances that are more than 10 years old with new energy-efficient appliances.

Sources [1]http://www.eia.doe.gov/emeu/consumptionbriefs/cbecs/pbawebsite/office/office_howuseenergy.htm [2]http://berkeley.edu/news/media/releases/2001/02/09_energ.html [3]http://www.eartheasy.com/live_water_ saving.htm