Posts tagged "Energy Conservation"

The Benefits Of Conserving Energy

Energy conservation can result numerous benefits. The benefits may come in various forms, for instance, lower utility bills, as well as protection against high energy costs. Technological advances in the past years have improved energy efficiency from 30-60%. Energy efficient lights enables you to save money on electric bills. Some of the benefits that you can gain by conserving energy are:

Reduced Air Pollution

About half of the electricity is generated by power plants that burn coal and other fossil fuels to produce energy. When fossil fuels are burned, a variety of gases and fine particles are emitted in air, which if not controlled, can damage your health and pollute the environment. Air pollution is a serious problem for every individual on earth, and also the entire ecosystem and environment. Pollutants in the air can remain for long period of time and travel through wind for hundreds of miles. The pollutants can cause many problems in a human being. For instance, nitrogen dioxide can cause visibility problems and mercury can kill fishes and other water animals.

Better health and safety

By frequently cleaning appliances, we can make our homes more energy-efficient. Making them free from dirt and bacteria formation will allow equipment and other items function properly. This will also guarantee improved indoor air circulation, as well as eliminate the possibility of diseases.

Saving money

With the increase in global crisis, money saving tips, techniques and measures should be encouraged. By using energy conservation products or eco friendly products, you can save a lot of money. Products where you can particularly save money may include lighting equipment, appliances, heating appliances, and other television sets.

Life Span

With the invention of better technology now, using lower voltage bulbs and other electronic items will have more of a life span. This reduces maintenance time, as well as, overall cost. You may want to take a look at some simple electricity saving tips that can help you in your daily savings.

Improved image

Being an energy-efficient resource, you are recognizing and demonstrating your responsibility towards the environment. It also gives a strong message, which will help attract more customers, especially if you are a businessman.

Things To Take Notice Of For Long-Term Energy Savings

Once you receive an energy audit, you’ll notice several key areas for energy savings. Heating and cooling your living space, heating your water, lights and appliances are some of the most popular areas to concentrate on. These changes may cost as little as $6 for energy efficient lightbulbs or several thousand dollars for a new heating system. The good news is that the federal government has many initiatives that can offset the cost of these upgrades as energy conservation becomes a national priority. This article covers some of the most efficient U.S. DOE energy efficiency and renewable energy recommendations designed to improve your home’s energy efficiency in the long run.

Installing a programmable thermostat is one of the best ways to maximize your savings. With an Energy Star programmable thermostat, you can store and set different temperatures for different times of the day. Why bother having the house at seventy degrees if you’re asleep under your warm comforter or away from the house at work for forty-five hours a week? According to the U.S. Department of Energy, “You can save around 10% a year on your heating and cooling bills by simply turning our thermostat back 10°–15° for eight hours.” For maximum efficiency, your thermostat should be located away from direct sunlight, drafts, doorways, skylights and windows. You can program up to six different settings to automatically switch on throughout the day to correlate with your schedule.

Energy savings can also be found by installing energy efficient windows and doors. Consider storm windows, which reduce heat loss by 25-50%. If you choose Energy Star rated windows, you can receive 30% of the production cost (up to $1,500) for your new windows from the federal government. When choosing windows, look for the National Fenestration Rating Council certification label and ensure the U-factor/Solar Heat Gain Coefficient rating is 0.30 or less. It’s best to hire a professional to install your new windows and doors for you, since this delicate process can go horribly awry if you haven’t sealed everything perfectly.

Energy savings doesn’t have to bankrupt you. In addition to the federal government’s tax incentives and rebate programs, you can also look up your state’s energy conservation incentives at www.dsireusa.org. If you purchase any energy efficient appliances with the Energy Star label, you will likely qualify for a rebate. Visit www.energystar.gov for a list of products that apply. The Department of Energy also provides a comprehensive section on obtaining financing or mortgaging an energy efficient home at www.energysavers.gov/financial/index.cfm/mytopic=70030.

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Know The Different Types Of Save Energy Devices

The desire to save energy is common among Americans wishing to limit their expenses as much as possible. The easiest and cheapest way to save on energy bills is naturally to turn off and unplug appliances, electronics and lights when not in use. Another way to achieve better energy savings at home is to look into power conserving devices like LED and CFL lights, energy monitors, standby busters and solar battery chargers. Some devices are surprisingly affordable and yield immediate savings, while other bigger investments earn homeowners huge savings over the long run. This article explores some of the best power-saving options available to you.

Since heating and cooling system expenses count for the largest portion of your overall home energy consumption, we’ll first look at this realm of home energy saving devices. Programmable thermostats allow homeowners to set specific room temperatures for certain times of the day, without needing to manually adjust the dial. For instance, many people program their thermostats to turn down at night or while they’re at work and not using the heat. They can also program the heat to automatically turn back up just before they come home at night. For the forgetful, there are also remote control heating systems that let you change the temperature even after you leave home. With a quick phone call, you can change the temperature of your home. Centralized heating and cooling also helps households with individual thermostats to maintain better consistency.

Recent attention has been called to a phenomenon called “vampire power.” Many Americans are surprised to learn how much their electronics are costing them when they’re not in use. For instance, two DVRs use up the same amount of electricity as the average refrigerator, says Mark M. Michalski of the New York State Energy and Research Development Authority. Additionally, if every home in American used one digital picture frame (left on day and night), we would need to build five new 250-megawatt power plants, says the Electric Power Institute. Idling computers, DVD players and TV sets account for 10% of a home’s energy use. In the average American household, 75% of the electricity used for electronic devices is consumed when the devices are shut off, reports the U.S. Department of Energy, which translates to more than $100 per year spent on essentially nothing. You can save energy by unplugging all devices (chargers, cell phones, televisions, computers, appliances, etc) when you’re done using them. You can also use saving devices like advanced power strips, which allows DVRs to stay on, while cutting off power to other devices that don’t need to remain on. The Bye Bye Standby Energy Saving Kit (available at Amazon) lets users turn off selected machines that fall into standby mode with a basic remote control.

One last way to save energy at home is to ask your electricity provider what your options are for saving energy in the home. Some independent green homes energy suppliers are offering discounted rates. Regular providers may allow consumers to sign up for programs using wind power or solar power. In fact, homeowners may be able to supply some power to their own homes by installing a small windmill or solar panels in their yards. For more information on converting your home to solar energy or wind energy, visit www.solarpowerwindenergy.org/2010/01/07/how-you-can-convert-your-home-to-solar-power.

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Know The Different Direct & Indirect Energy Saving Devices

Old homes are certainly beautiful, but they come with their fair share of problems. Many homeowners in historic houses soon realize they need to focus on energy saving renovations. Thin attic insulation, inefficient furnaces and drafty windows are just a few of the problems faced. The good news is that devices that are energy efficient will make it easier than ever to update your home, one step at a time. Whether it’s energy efficient appliances or lighting, you’ll be glad you took the time to assess your home and lower your monthly bills.

Energy saving begins with awareness. Everyone has several energy monitor devices in their homes already — thermostats in the main living room, the refrigerator, the freezer and the water heater, as well as gas and electrical meters. By keeping track of these statistics, you will have a better picture of factors that might be affecting how much you pay for your power. There are other inexpensive meters and monitors you can buy to see where your energy troubles may lie. For instance, you can plug the “Watt’s Up” or “Kill-a-Watt” power saving device into your major appliances or electronics to see how much power they’re using. Or, if you are every curious about how much phantom power your appliances use when not turned on, check out the “PowerCost Monitor” or “The Energy Detective” for a whole-house view of your energy consumption. To detect areas where drafts might be prevalent, you can buy an infrared heat gun, which will show you the temperature of any point in the room.

The next step in your quest to save energy is to invest in some direct power conserving devices for the home. Programmable thermostats can save up to 1% of your energy costs for every degree you turn down the heat or turn up the air conditioning for an eight hour period each day, states the Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy agency of the US government. For instance, if you dropped the thermostat from 68 to 61 from 9 am – 5 pm while you’re at work, you can cut your heating costs by 7%. Your thermostat will let you automatically time when these temperature changes take place, so you won’t even have to think about it. Smart Power Strips are another one of the great ways to save electricity. For $35, you could divide your electricity uses into three sections: the control outlet, one or more hot outlets and one or more switched outlets. For example, you can plug your desktop computer into the control outlet, the cable modem and router into the constant hot outlet and all the other devices (printers, speakers, etc) into an easy on/off switch outlet.

If you’re looking for energy saving methods, begin with what consumes the most power in your home — notably the heating and cooling. Next, move to energy conservation appliances, energy efficient lightbulbs, as well as both direct and indirect energy efficient gadgets. Each little step you take will help you reduce your carbon footprint and save a few dollars while doing so. As you shop, beware of unscrupulous companies who just want to make a quick buck. Do your homework and do not buy any “energy saver devices” from infomercials.

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Know Your Basic Energy Saving Options

At first glance, many people wrinkle their noses at the idea of energy savings at home. “Why would I pay $15 for a lightbulb when I can get one for $4?” one might ask. However, the fact that you’ll have to buy five incandescent bulbs before the compact fluorescent bulb burns out suddenly makes that Energy Star alternative worth your while. If you’re not ready for the bigger investments like energy efficient windows or energy efficient home insulation, then you may be interested in taking some smaller steps that will save energy in your home and save a few dollars off your power bills each month as well.

There are many easy low-cost and no-cost ways to save energy at home. Installing a programmable thermostat will give you better control over your home’s temperature, without needing to remember to adjust the thermostat when you leave the house or go to sleep each night. You can change all your lights to Energy Star compact fluorescent light bulbs, which use less power and last longer than conventional bulbs. You can air dry dishes or hang laundry outside, instead of using the dry cycle on your appliances. When you’re not using your lights, computer, monitor, TV, DVD player or power strip, turn off the devices for better savings. Lower your water heater thermostat down to 120°F and try taking shorter showers, rather than baths.

There are many ways to save energy in your home, particularly in the bathroom and laundry room. When you’re washing clothes, try using cold water and liquid detergent (which dissolves best in cold water). Be sure you fill up your machine and then hang the clothes out to dry. Before you go to bed, brush your teeth with cold water before washing your face with warm water to conserve energy. You could also take shorter showers and less baths to save or turn your water heater down to 120 degrees, which will be perfectly warm enough for your showers. Creating energy efficient homes can take a bit of restraint and changing of habits, but you will surely notice tremendous savings on your energy statements with a bit of effort.

You can find many ways to save energy in your home at the Federal Trade Commission’s website (www.ftc.com). In the attic, look for high value R-type insulation. Check the Energy Guide ratings for new furnaces and air conditioning units. In the kitchen, keep your Energy Star refrigerator away from appliances like stoves and dishwashers. Fill your dishwasher, but don’t overload it. Most water heaters are set at 140, but you can comfortably heat your water at 120 degrees. Invest in energy efficient lighting, such as compact fluorescent bulbs throughout your house. Lastly, you can look for low emission windows, plant shade trees and seal your door frames better. With a few basic changes, you’ll be saving money on your energy statements in no time at all.

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