Saturday, November 8, 2008
Laser Printers Are Energy Hogs!
Laser printers are energy hogs and still use about 100 watts per hour even when on stand-by mode.
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
No-Cost and Low-Cost Tips to Save Energy This Winter
Here you'll find strategies to help you save energy during the cold winter months. Some of the tips below are free and can be used on a daily basis to increase your savings; others are simple and inexpensive actions you can take to ensure maximum savings through the winter.
If you haven't already, conduct an energy audit to find out where you can save the most, and consider making a larger investment for long-term energy savings.
Take Advantage of Heat from the Sun
Open curtains on your south-facing windows during the day to allow sunlight to naturally heat your home, and close them at night to reduce the chill you may feel from cold windows.
Cover Drafty Windows
Use a heavy-duty, clear plastic sheet on a frame or tape clear plastic film to the inside of your window frames during the cold winter months. Make sure the plastic is sealed tightly to the frame to help reduce infiltration.
Install tight-fitting, insulating drapes or shades on windows that feel drafty after weatherizing.
Find out about other window treatments and coverings that can improve energy efficiency.
Adjust the Temperature
When you are home and awake, set your thermostat as low as is comfortable.
When you are asleep or out of the house, turn your thermostat back 10°–15° for eight hours and save around 10% a year on your heating and cooling bills. A programmable thermostat can make it easy to set back your temperature.
Find out how to operate your thermostat for maximum energy savings.
Also see ENERGY STAR's June 5, 2008, podcast for video instructions on operating your programmable thermostat.
Find and Seal Leaks
Seal the air leaks around utility cut-throughs for pipes ("plumbing penetrations"), gaps around chimneys and recessed lights in insulated ceilings, and unfinished spaces behind cupboards and closets.
Find out how to detect air leaks.
Learn more about air sealing new and existing homes.
Add caulk or weatherstripping to seal air leaks around leaky doors and windows.
Find how to select and apply the appropriate caulk.
Learn how to select and apply weatherstripping.
Maintain Your Heating Systems
Schedule service for your heating system.
Find out what maintenance is required to keep your heating system operating efficiently.
Furnaces: Replace your furnace filter once a month or as needed.
Find out more about maintaining your furnace or boiler.
Wood- and Pellet-Burning Heaters: Clean the flue vent regularly and clean the inside of the appliance with a wire brush periodically to ensure that your home is heated efficiently.
Find other maintenance recommendations for wood- and pellet-burning appliances.
Reduce Heat Loss from the Fireplace
Keep your fireplace damper closed unless a fire is going. Keeping the damper open is like keeping a window wide open during the winter; it allows warm air to go right up the chimney.
When you use the fireplace, reduce heat loss by opening dampers in the bottom of the firebox (if provided) or open the nearest window slightly—approximately 1 inch—and close doors leading into the room. Lower the thermostat setting to between 50° and 55°F.
If you never use your fireplace, plug and seal the chimney flue.
If you do use the fireplace, install tempered glass doors and a heat-air exchange system that blows warmed air back into the room.
Check the seal on the fireplace flue damper and make it as snug as possible.
Purchase grates made of C-shaped metal tubes to draw cool room air into the fireplace and circulate warm air back into the room.
Add caulking around the fireplace hearth.
Find out more techniques to improve your fireplace or wood-burning appliance's efficiency.
Learn tips for safe and efficient fireplace installation and wood burning.
Lower Your Water Heating Costs
Water heating can account for 14%-25% of the energy consumed in your home.
Turn down the temperature of your water heater to the warm setting (120°F). You'll not only save energy, you'll avoid scalding your hands.
Find other strategies for energy-efficient water heating.
If you haven't already, conduct an energy audit to find out where you can save the most, and consider making a larger investment for long-term energy savings.
Take Advantage of Heat from the Sun
Open curtains on your south-facing windows during the day to allow sunlight to naturally heat your home, and close them at night to reduce the chill you may feel from cold windows.
Cover Drafty Windows
Use a heavy-duty, clear plastic sheet on a frame or tape clear plastic film to the inside of your window frames during the cold winter months. Make sure the plastic is sealed tightly to the frame to help reduce infiltration.
Install tight-fitting, insulating drapes or shades on windows that feel drafty after weatherizing.
Find out about other window treatments and coverings that can improve energy efficiency.
Adjust the Temperature
When you are home and awake, set your thermostat as low as is comfortable.
When you are asleep or out of the house, turn your thermostat back 10°–15° for eight hours and save around 10% a year on your heating and cooling bills. A programmable thermostat can make it easy to set back your temperature.
Find out how to operate your thermostat for maximum energy savings.
Also see ENERGY STAR's June 5, 2008, podcast for video instructions on operating your programmable thermostat.
Find and Seal Leaks
Seal the air leaks around utility cut-throughs for pipes ("plumbing penetrations"), gaps around chimneys and recessed lights in insulated ceilings, and unfinished spaces behind cupboards and closets.
Find out how to detect air leaks.
Learn more about air sealing new and existing homes.
Add caulk or weatherstripping to seal air leaks around leaky doors and windows.
Find how to select and apply the appropriate caulk.
Learn how to select and apply weatherstripping.
Maintain Your Heating Systems
Schedule service for your heating system.
Find out what maintenance is required to keep your heating system operating efficiently.
Furnaces: Replace your furnace filter once a month or as needed.
Find out more about maintaining your furnace or boiler.
Wood- and Pellet-Burning Heaters: Clean the flue vent regularly and clean the inside of the appliance with a wire brush periodically to ensure that your home is heated efficiently.
Find other maintenance recommendations for wood- and pellet-burning appliances.
Reduce Heat Loss from the Fireplace
Keep your fireplace damper closed unless a fire is going. Keeping the damper open is like keeping a window wide open during the winter; it allows warm air to go right up the chimney.
When you use the fireplace, reduce heat loss by opening dampers in the bottom of the firebox (if provided) or open the nearest window slightly—approximately 1 inch—and close doors leading into the room. Lower the thermostat setting to between 50° and 55°F.
If you never use your fireplace, plug and seal the chimney flue.
If you do use the fireplace, install tempered glass doors and a heat-air exchange system that blows warmed air back into the room.
Check the seal on the fireplace flue damper and make it as snug as possible.
Purchase grates made of C-shaped metal tubes to draw cool room air into the fireplace and circulate warm air back into the room.
Add caulking around the fireplace hearth.
Find out more techniques to improve your fireplace or wood-burning appliance's efficiency.
Learn tips for safe and efficient fireplace installation and wood burning.
Lower Your Water Heating Costs
Water heating can account for 14%-25% of the energy consumed in your home.
Turn down the temperature of your water heater to the warm setting (120°F). You'll not only save energy, you'll avoid scalding your hands.
Find other strategies for energy-efficient water heating.
Sunday, November 2, 2008
Top Ten Fuel Saving Tips For Your Car
1
Avoid High Speeds
As your speed increases, your aerodynamic drag increases in an exponential fashion. Driving 62 mph (100 km/h) vs 75 mph (120 km/h) will reduce fuel consumption by about 15%.
2
Do Not Accelerate or Brake Hard
By anticipating the traffic and applying slow steady acceleration and braking, fuel economy may increase by as much as 20%.
3
Keep Tires Properly Inflated
Keep tire air pressure at the level recommended by your vehicle manufacturer. A single tire under inflated by 2 PSI, increases fuel consumption by 1%.
4
Use A/C Sparingly
When the air conditioner is on it puts extra load on the engine forcing more fuel to be used (by about 20%). The defrost position on most vehicles also uses the air conditioner.
5
Keep Windows Closed
Windows open, especially at highway speeds, increase drag and result in decreased fuel economy of up to 10%.
6
Service Vehicle Regularly
Proper maintenance avoids poor fuel economy related to dirty air filters, old spark plugs or low fluid levels.
7
Use Cruise Control
Maintaining a constant speed over long distances often saves gas.
8
Avoid Heavy Loads
Remove the sand bags from your trunk in the spring and pack lightly for long trips.
9
Avoid Long Idles
If you anticipate being stopped for more than 1 minute, shut off the car. Restarting the car uses less fuel than letting it idle for this time.
10
Purchase a Fuel Efficient Vehicle
When buying a new vehicle examine the vehicle's rated fuel efficiency. Usually choosing a small vehicle with a manual transmission will provide you with great fuel economy.
Avoid High Speeds
As your speed increases, your aerodynamic drag increases in an exponential fashion. Driving 62 mph (100 km/h) vs 75 mph (120 km/h) will reduce fuel consumption by about 15%.
2
Do Not Accelerate or Brake Hard
By anticipating the traffic and applying slow steady acceleration and braking, fuel economy may increase by as much as 20%.
3
Keep Tires Properly Inflated
Keep tire air pressure at the level recommended by your vehicle manufacturer. A single tire under inflated by 2 PSI, increases fuel consumption by 1%.
4
Use A/C Sparingly
When the air conditioner is on it puts extra load on the engine forcing more fuel to be used (by about 20%). The defrost position on most vehicles also uses the air conditioner.
5
Keep Windows Closed
Windows open, especially at highway speeds, increase drag and result in decreased fuel economy of up to 10%.
6
Service Vehicle Regularly
Proper maintenance avoids poor fuel economy related to dirty air filters, old spark plugs or low fluid levels.
7
Use Cruise Control
Maintaining a constant speed over long distances often saves gas.
8
Avoid Heavy Loads
Remove the sand bags from your trunk in the spring and pack lightly for long trips.
9
Avoid Long Idles
If you anticipate being stopped for more than 1 minute, shut off the car. Restarting the car uses less fuel than letting it idle for this time.
10
Purchase a Fuel Efficient Vehicle
When buying a new vehicle examine the vehicle's rated fuel efficiency. Usually choosing a small vehicle with a manual transmission will provide you with great fuel economy.
Check Your HOT Water Heater!
It's amazing how much money we can waste by having the temperature of our hot water heaters set too high. You should set it at no higher than 120 degrees farenheit. Not only will it cut your costs but it will protect your family from scalding water. It's a good idea to have it professionally drained and checked every year as well. But let's get that temperature down! Lowering the setting to about 120 degrees will still give you enough hot water for household needs, will cut the dangers of scalding from too-hot water, and will help cut down on your water heating costs, which account for between 15 and 25 percent of the monthly utility bill for the average family.
Brrrr....The Winter
The winter is nearly upon us. This is probably our top energy useage time here in the northeast U.S.
This winter, save money and stay warm. Keep your energy bill and your pollution output low this winter by taking a whole-house approach to heating.
During the heating season, keep the draperies and shades on your south facing windows open during the day to allow the sunlight to enter your home and closed at night to reduce the chill you may feel from cold windows.
Set your thermostat as low as is comfortable when home.
By resetting your programmable thermostat from 72 degrees to 65 degrees for eight hours a day (for instance, while no one is home or while everyone is tucked in bed) you can cut your heating bill by up to 10 percent.
Weatherize your home—caulk and weatherstrip any doors and windows that leak air.
Properly maintain and clean heating equipment.
Replace furnace filters regularly.
Check the insulation in your attic, ceilings, exterior and basement walls, floors, and crawl spaces to see if it meets the levels recommended for your area.
This winter, save money and stay warm. Keep your energy bill and your pollution output low this winter by taking a whole-house approach to heating.
During the heating season, keep the draperies and shades on your south facing windows open during the day to allow the sunlight to enter your home and closed at night to reduce the chill you may feel from cold windows.
Set your thermostat as low as is comfortable when home.
By resetting your programmable thermostat from 72 degrees to 65 degrees for eight hours a day (for instance, while no one is home or while everyone is tucked in bed) you can cut your heating bill by up to 10 percent.
Weatherize your home—caulk and weatherstrip any doors and windows that leak air.
Properly maintain and clean heating equipment.
Replace furnace filters regularly.
Check the insulation in your attic, ceilings, exterior and basement walls, floors, and crawl spaces to see if it meets the levels recommended for your area.
Cut Back on Computer Power!
Factors that affect energy use
|
More Energy |
Less Energy |
|
Ready to be used |
Sleep / Standby |
|
Desktop |
Laptop |
|
Faster processor |
Slower processor |
|
Older processor (Pentium, G3/G4/G5) |
Newer processor (Core Duo) |
|
PC |
Mac |
|
Heavy use |
Light use |
|
On the Internet |
Offline Heating and Cooling
Heating and cooling account for about 56% of the energy use in a typical U.S. home, making it the largest energy expense for most homes. A wide variety of technologies are available for heating and cooling your home, and they achieve a wide range of efficiencies in converting their energy sources into useful heat or cool air for your home.
When looking for ways to save energy in your home, be sure to think about not only improving your existing heating and cooling system, but also consider the energy efficiency of the supporting equipment and the possibility of either adding supplementary sources of heating or cooling or simply replacing your system altogether. Your contractor should be able to give you energy fact sheets for different types, models, and designs to help you compare energy usage. For furnaces, look for high Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency (AFUE) ratings. The national minimum is 78% AFUE, but there are ENERGY STAR® models on the market that exceed 90% AFUE. Place heat-resistant radiator reflectors between exterior walls and the radiators. Bleed trapped air from hot-water radiators once or twice a season; if in doubt about how to perform this task, call a professional. Clean warm-air registers, baseboard heaters, and radiators as needed; make sure they're not blocked by furniture, carpeting, or drapes. Clean or replace filters on furnaces once a month or as needed. Use fans during the summer to create a wind chill effect that will make your home more comfortable. If you use air conditioning, a ceiling fan will allow you to raise the thermostat setting about 4°F with no reduction in comfort. Turn off kitchen, bath, and other ventilating fans within 20 minutes after you are done cooking or bathing to retain heated air. Install a programmable thermostat that can be adjust the temperature according to your schedule. ENERGY STAR® labeled products can cut your energy bills by up to 30 percent. Find retailers near you at http://www.energystar.gov/ when you’re ready to replace your heating and cooling systems – as well as appliances, lighting, windows, office equipment, and home electronics. Insulate your hot water heater and hot water pipes to prevent heatloss. Insulate heating ducts in unheated areas such as attics and crawlspaces and keep them in good repair to prevent heat loss of up to 60 percent at the registers. Heating can account for almost half of the average family's winter energy bill. Make sure your furnace or heat pump receives professional maintenance each year. Look for the ENERGY STAR® label when replacing your system. Explore ways to save energy and improve the environment by taking simple steps around your home. Appliances and Electronics
It's amazing how much we can truly cut back on our energy bills by doing a few simple things. The U.S. Department of Energy has some great suggestions.
If you live in a typical U.S. home, your appliances and home electronics are responsible for about 20 percent of your energy bills. These appliances and electronics include everything from clothes washers and dryers, to computers, to water heaters. By shopping for appliances with the ENERGY STAR® label and turning off appliances when they're not in use, you can achieve real savings in your monthly energy bill. Many appliances continue to draw a small amount of power when they are switched off. These "phantom" loads occur in most appliances that use electricity, such as VCRs, televisions, stereos, computers, and kitchen appliances. In the average home, 75% of the electricity used to power home electronics is consumed while the products are turned off. This can be avoided by unplugging the appliance or using a power strip and using the switch on the power strip to cut all power to the appliance. Consider buying a laptop for your next computer upgrade; they use much less energy than desktop computers. There is a common misconception that screen savers reduce energy use by monitors; they do not. Automatic switching to sleep mode or manually turning monitors off is always the better energy-saving strategy. ENERGY STAR® computers and monitors save energy only when the power management features are activated, so make sure power management is activated on your computer. To maximize savings with a laptop, put the AC adapter on a power strip that can be turned off (or will turn off automatically); the transformer in the AC adapter draws power continuously, even when the laptop is not plugged into the adapter. Studies have shown that using rechargeable batteries for products like cordless phones and PDAs is more cost effective than throwaway batteries. If you must use throwaways, check with your trash removal company about safe disposal options. Unplug battery chargers when the batteries are fully charged or the chargers are not in use. Look for the ENERGY STAR® label on home appliances, electronics and other products. ENERGY STAR® products meet strict efficiency guidelines set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy. Plug home electronics, such as TVs and DVD players, into power strips; turn the power strips off when the equipment is not in use (TVs and DVDs in standby mode still use several watts of power). Turn off your computer and monitor when not in use. Air dry dishes instead of using your dishwasher's drying cycle. When shopping for a new clothes dryer, look for one with a moisture sensor that automatically shuts off the machine when your clothes are dry. Not only will this save energy, it will save wear and tear on your clothes caused by over-drying. Consider air-drying clothes on clothes lines or drying racks. Air-drying is recommended by clothing manufacturers for some fabrics. Periodically inspect your dryer vent to ensure it is not blocked. This will save energy and may prevent a fire. Manufacturers recommend using rigid venting material, not plastic vents that may collapse and cause blockages. Use the cool-down cycle to allow the clothes to finish drying with the residual heat in the dryer. Clean the lint filter in the dryer after every load to improve air circulation. Don't over-dry your clothes. If your machine has a moisture sensor, use it. Dry towels and heavier cottons in a separate load from lighter-weight clothes. Wash and dry full loads. If you are washing a small load, use the appropriate water-level setting. For older appliances, use a power controlling device to reduce the energy consumption of the appliance's electric motor. Turn off your personal computer when you're away from your PC for 20 minutes or more, and both the CPU and the monitor if you will be away for two hours or more. Saving energy starts with being an informed consumer. Estimate an appliance's annual energy cost using this guide. Always look for the ENERGY STAR® and EnergyGuide labels when shopping for home appliances. The ENERGY STAR® label is the government's seal of energy efficiency. The EnergyGuide label estimates an appliance's energy consumption. Welcome To Planet Green Energy
Let's face it! We in the U.S. are pretty much at the mercy of some pretty unfriendly countries. We've put things off long enough. How quickly we have forgotten about the seventies and the gas shortages. Just this past summer, gas and oil prices were at an all time high. The sad part of it all is that the sharp increases were all "man made". It's all about speculators and investors, not about supply and demand. When a country can hold us hostage by purposely cutting supplies simply to raise the price and make people suffer then it's time for something to be done. Especially when many of those countries don't like US so much. This blog is all about sharing ideas and energy tips. We absoulutely need to take control of this situation. We are indeed energy hogs. We know it and the world knows it. Let's not give them any more advantage! Let's save energy!
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