home energy efficiency info & tips

8/6/2019 Home Energy Efficiency Info & Tips

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/home-energy-efficiency-info-tips 1/8

ReENERGYze The NeighborhoodFamily Energy Event

www.cleanenergyprojectnv.org & snbpp.org

Insulation:� Insulation keeps your home warm in the winter and cool in

the summer. There are several common types of insulation

² fiberglass, cellulose, rigid foam board, and spray foam.

� When correctly installed with air sealing, each type of

insulation can deliver comfort and lower energy bills during

the hottest and coldest times of the year.

� Insulation performance is measured by R-value ² its

ability to resist heat flow. Higher R-values mean moreinsulating power. Different R-values are recommended for

walls, attics, basements and crawlspaces, depending on your

area of the country. Insulation works best when air is not

moving through or around it. So it is very important to seal

air leaks before installing insulation to ensure that you get

the best performance from the insulation.

$For the biggest savings ± the easiest place to add

insulation is in the attic. Look at your attic floor, if your

insulation is level with or below the floor joists, you

probably need to add more.





Ducts:Your home's ducts move heated and cooled air to the

living areas to make you feel comfortable. But in a typical

house, 20 percent of the air that moves through the duct

system is lost due to leaks, holes, and poor connections.

The illustration below shows many common duct

problems, such as:

A. Leaky duct connections

B. Leaky return ducts

C. Furniture blocking registers

D. Leaks at furnace and air filter slot and duct tape

failures

E. Fallen duct insulation

F. Leaky supply ducts

G. Kinks in ductwork restricting airflow

$�Ducts that move air to and from a forced air furnace, central air conditioner, or heat pump are often big

energy wasters. Sealing and insulating ducts can improve the efficiency of your heating and cooling system by

as much as 20 percent ² and sometimes much more!

�Focus first on sealing ducts that run through the attic, crawlspace, unheated basement, or garage. Use duct

sealant (mastic) or metal-backed (foil) tape to seal the seams and connections of ducts.

Source: energystar.gov





Lighting ± Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs (CFLs)�CFLs produce light differently than incandescent bulbs. In an incandescent, electric

current runs through a wire filament and heats the filament until it starts to glow. In a

CFL, an electric current is driven through a tube containing argon and a small amount

of mercury vapor. This generates invisible ultraviolet light that excites a fluorescent

coating (called phosphor) on the inside of the tube, which then emits visible light.

� CFLs need a little more energy when they are first turned on, but once the electricity

starts moving, use about 75 percent less energy than incandescent bulbs.

Tips for usage:1. You¶ll maximize the lifetime savings and effectiveness of your CFLs by

keeping them on for 15 minutes or more at a time.

2. Only use bulbs labeled as three-way on three-way sockets.

3. Only use bulbs labeled as dimmable on dimmer switches.

$CFLs:

�Can save $40 in electricity costs over there lifetime

�Cut energy costs associate with cooling as they produce 75% less heat

�Use 75% less energy than standard incandescents and last 10 times longer






WindowsEnergy Star Qualified windows help keep homes cooler in the summer and

warmer in the winter because they can block up to 70% of the solar heat

gain in the summer and reflect radiant heat indoors during the winter.

Benefits of Energy Star Qualified Windows:

1. Save Money ± ENERGY STAR windows feature invisible

glass coatings, vacuum sealed spaces filled with inert gas

between the panes, improved framing material, weather stripping, etc. that help improve efficiency, reduce energy use

and save you money.

2. Increased Comfort - ENERGY STAR qualified windows,

doors, and skylights keep your home¶s temperature consistently

comfortable by shielding summer heat and providing protection

from winter chills.

3. Protect Your Valuables ± Special coatings on ENERGY

STAR windows act like a sunscreen for your home and protect your

drapes, wood floors and photographs from harmful UV light.


$ Nevadans can shrink their energy bills by $299 each year by replacing single-pane

windows and by $157 each year when replacing double-pane windows.





Heating & Cooling ± HVAC Systems� As much as half of the energy used in your home goes to heating and cooling. Making smart

decisions about your home's heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) system can have a

big effect on your utility bills ² and your comfort.

�Steps to save money & energy with your HVAC System:1. Change your air filter regularly ± Check your filter every month, especially during the summer and

winter, if it looks dirty change it. A dirty filter wastes energy & money by slowing down air flow and

making your system work harder.2. Tune up your HVAC Equipment annually ± Maintain your equipment to prevent future problems

and unwanted costs. Keep your cooling and heating system at peak performance by having a

contractor do annual pre-season check-ups.

3. Install a programmable thermostat ± Ideal for people who are away from home for set periods of

time throughout the week, preprogrammed settings on a programmable thermostat can save you about

$180 every year in energy costs.

4. Seal your ducts ± This can improve the efficiency of your system by 20%. See the Duct board for

more information.

5. If your HVAC system is more than 10 years old, consider replacing it ± replacing your old heating

and cooling equipment with ENERGY STAR qualified equipment can cut your annual energy bill by

nearly $200.

$Heating and cooling costs the average homeowner about $1,000 a year - nearly half the

home's total energy bill. If your central air conditioning unit is more than 12 years old,

replacing it with an ENERGY STAR-qualified model could cut your cooling costs by 30%.







Changing Behavior = Change In Your Pocket

Ten No-cost tips to help reduce your energy usage and save you money:

1. Turn off lights and appliances when not in use. Don¶t forget your computer!

2. In the summer, set your thermostat to 78 degrees when you¶re at home and 5-10

degrees warmer when you are away from home or asleep.

3. In the winter, set your thermostat to 68 degrees when you are home and down to 55-

64 degrees when you are away from home.

4. Set your water heater to 120 degrees.5. Vacuum your refrigerator coils regularly.

6. Keep your freezer as full as possible ± you can place containers or plastic bottles

filled with water in the empty spaces.

7. Only run full loads in your washer and dryer and use a clothesline when possible.

8. Use energy saver options on your dishwasher or allow dishes to air dry.

9. Unplug your television, DVD player, etc. when you are on vacation to manage

phantom loads.

10. Keep lighting fixtures clean ± dirt absorbs light.Source: energystar.gov

$ The simple steps above cost nothing and can save you 10 ± 25% on your

monthly energy bill

Source: NV Energy





Home Energy Audit Diagnostic Tools :

�Blower Door Test

The blower door test is used as a diagnostic tool for pinpointing

common household problems. It is comprised of a variable speed

fan, mounted in a door frame and is used to pressurize and

depressurize a house to measure air leakage.

�ManometerA manometer is another diagnostic tool that measures pressure

differences between two locations.

�Infrared Camera

An infrared camera (video or still) makes an image that shows

surface heat variations that can be used to help detect heat losses

and air leakage in buildings

A home energy audit is often the first step in making your home more efficient. An audit can help

you assess how much energy your home uses and evaluate what measures you can take to improve

efficiency. Implementing recommended changes will improve your homes efficiency, lower your

energy bills and improve your family¶s comfort.

Source: www.mosbybuildingarts.com

$





Save Water, Save Energy:It takes a considerable amount of energy to deliver and treat the water you use everyday. For

example, letting your faucet run for five minutes uses about as much energy as letting a 60-watt

light bulb run for 14 hours.

Water & Energy Conservation Tips:

� Installing a WaterSense aerator on your faucets is one of the most cost-effective ways to save

water and can make your faucet 30% more efficient.

�Repair dripping faucets and showerheads. A drip rate of one drip per second can waste more than

3,000 gallons per year.

� Consider installing a WaterSense labeled toilet, which uses 20% less water

� Check for toilet leaks by adding food coloring to the tank. If the toilet is leaking, color will

appear in the bowl within 15 minutes.

� A full bathtub can require up to 70 gallons of water, while taking a 5-minute shower uses only 10

to 25 gallons.

� Turning off the tap while you brush your teeth can save 8 gallons per day.

� Wash only full loads of dishes and clothes or lower the water settings for smaller loads.

Saving water around the home is simple and smart. The average household spends as much as

$500 per year on its water and sewer bill but could save about $170 per year by retrofitting with

water efficient fixtures and incorporating water saving practices.

Source: US EPA

$

home energy efficiency info & tips

Documents