12.28.07
To Have in Preparation of a Winter Storm
1) Have a flashlight, battery powered radio and clock. Make sure you also have plenty of fresh batteries to support these devices for a couple of days.
2) Have a telephone that does not need electric to operate. Many people only have a cordless telephone and those do not work without electric.
3) Have at least a 3-day supply of fresh water and non-perishable food. Again if the electric power is out, have an old-fashioned hand operated can opener, since electric ones will not be operable.
4) If operating a generator, be sure to run it in well vented area, preferably outside. Even running it in the garage with the doors open could cause carbon dioxide to enter the house.
5) Have extra blankets or sleeping bags in case the electric power does fail.
6) Have important numbers handy, incase you need to make telephone notifications in the dark. Having the repair number for the power company is one such number.
For more on Energy Saving go to More than Switching Off The Lights a website with useful tips on conserving energy.
12.12.07
To Keep Heating Cost Down
1) Let the sunshine in. Open the curtains on the south windows during the day and the heat of the sun will help heat the home.
2) Keep the filters clean. By keeping them clean the air will flow easier and be more efficient.
3) Use a programmable thermostat. By using a programmable thermostat you can automatically turn down the heat when it’s least needed, at night when sleeping or during the day when no one is home. Have it raised to a comfortable level shortly before getting up or arriving home.
4) Upgrade the windows. Old windows allows much more cold air to enter the house than new energy efficient insulated windows.
5) Insulate and seal. Add an extra layer of insulation to your roof or walls, and use caulking, foam or weather stripping to seal cracks around windows, light fixtures or electrical outlets.
6) Lower the temperature of the hot water heater. The default settings of hot water heaters are 140 degrees, but at that temperature it could cause scalding. 120 degrees is plenty hot enough for showering and dish washing.
More on Energy Saving at More than Switching Off The Lights a website with useful tips on conserving energy.
11.03.07
About Daylight Saving Time
1. For those who don’t know the rhyme we spring ahead an hour in the spring and fall backward one hour, in the fall. Some people mistakenly call it Daylight Savings Time, but it is Daylight Saving Time. In 2007 with the Energy Policy Act of 2005 that President George Bush signed into law in 2005, the new dates for Daylight Saving Time will begin on the second Sunday of March and end the first Sunday of November.
2. Daylight Saving Time is not a modern idea. Benjamin Franklin first mentioned it in a letter to the Journal of Paris in 1784. He didn’t really say that the clocks should be changed, but that to take advantage of the extra daylight, one should arise from bed earlier.
3. It wasn’t put into practice until the German government put it in place in 1916 between April 30 and October 1. In the same year the United Kingdom adopted it from May 21 to October 1.
4. The U.S. Congress established it at the same time they formally adopted the Rail Road Time Zones in 1918, observing it for seven months in 1918 & 1919 It became so unpopular that the law for DST was repealed in 1919.
5. In 1942, during World War II, DST was reinstated in the U.S. although from the end of the war in 1945 until 1966, there wasn’t a Federal Law that addressed DST.
6. In 1966 DST was established and has been in place since, although the law gave states the capability to exempt themselves and a few, such as Arizona and Hawaii have. Many countries follow some sort of DST plan.
For more on Energy Saving go to More than Switching Off The Lights a website with useful tips on conserving energy.
06.28.07
Ways to Conserve Energy
6. Heating & Cooling Temperature 2° Cooler in Winter; Warmer in Summer
5. Don’t Block Vents and Thermostats
4. Turn Computer Off When Not in Use
3. Use Energy Efficient Bulbs
2. Make Saving Energy a Habit
1. Switch Off the Lights
The complete list of 10 Ways to Conserve Energy can be found at More Than Switching Off the Lights – morethanswitchingoffthelights.com
06.15.07
Common Energy Myths
Myth: An idle computer doesn’t use much energy.
Once a computer is on and operating there is little change in the amount of energy it uses while idle or when doing complex calculations. Another part of this myth deals with screen savers. Screen savers do not save energy unless they shut the monitor off or into stand-by mode. A monitor can use 50% (CRT monitors use more energy than LCD) or more of the energy used by the computer system and shutting it off when not needed can save a measurable amount of energy.
Myth: It’s harmful to the computer to be turned off and on.
This one of those ideas that once was true is no longer. Early computer technology was such that the shut down and start up of certain parts, especially a computer hard drive, would effect the life of that component. Technology has advanced and now while turning it off and on may shorten life, but the life has increase so much that the device will no longer be in use before that happens.
Myth: It takes more energy to raise or lower the temperature in the house than keeping it constant.
Many people won’t vary the thermostat temperature setting when they are away because of this myth. This turns out to be an easy way to save energy. You also don’t need to adjust the thermostat beyond the temperature you desire upon returning. It won’t make it get there quicker and if you forget to adjust it later, you would actually be using more energy.
Myth: Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs have poor light quality, makes noises and takes time to turn on.
When people think of fluorescent lights they think of the lights in office buildings. The newer CFL bulbs are available in many different shapes and sizes. You can now easily purchase bulbs that deliver the same quantity and quality of lights of 25-125 watt incandescent bulbs. These bulbs use a lot less electric than their incandescent cousins (a CFL bulb using 13 watts of electric delivers the same amount of light as a 60 watt bulb) as well as generating a lot less heat. They are quick starting, usually not noticeable, and run quiet.
Myth: Higher costs negate any savings.
It’s true that many energy savings devices may be more costly than their usually used cousins, but in most cases the energy costs saved during the life of the product is great deal more than the added cost. It’s either pay now or pay later.
Myth: Off is no energy used.
In truth many modern appliances may be using as much as 15 to 30 watts when off or in Stand-by mode. Some may actually be using the same amount of energy off as they are when on.
For more information on Energy Savings: More Than Switching Off the Lights – Common Sense Ways to Conserve Energy.
06.06.07
Saving Energy in Business
1. Turn off or set office equipment to power down when not in use. Turning off one computer and monitor nightly and on weekends could save up to $80 a year. It’s a good idea to set PCs, monitors and copiers to use sleep mode when not in use.
2. Choose ENERGY STAR® products when upgrading or adding new equipment. These products meet federal standard for energy efficiency, and are often available at the same low cost as less efficient models.
3. Reduce lighting where possible and take advantage of natural daylight. Turning lights off or dimming them during the day allows for lower energy costs and a more comfortable environment.
4. Install occupancy sensors, timers, or photocells to ensure that interior and exterior lights are turned off at the appropriate time. These inexpensive devices can reduce lighting costs by up to 40 percent by turning off lights in unoccupied areas.
5. Replace incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs), which can last up to ten times longer. CFLs provide the same amount of light as standard incandescent bulbs, but use up to 75 percent less energy. Replace incandescent lights in exit signs with LED fixtures, which can reduce costs of these signs by up to 95 percent.
6. Install programmable thermostats or time clocks to automatically control temperature settings on heating and air conditioning equipment. Adjust the thermostat down in the winter and up in the summer and shut off when not in use. Even a few degrees can significantly reduce heating and air conditioning costs.
© 2006-2007 Steven G. Atkinson – All rights reserved – tt4sb.com
05.11.07
Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs
1. Compact Fluorescent Lights (CFL) is an energy-efficient lighting option. The compact design allows them to be used in place of incandescent light bulbs. CFLs screw into standard sockets, and give off light that looks just like the common incandescent bulbs not the lighting we associate fluorescent lights.
2. CFLs are four times more efficient and last up to 10 times longer than incandescent bulbs. A 22 watt CFL has about the same light output as a 100 watt incandescent and uses much less energy.
3. CFLs appear to be initially more expensive, but they use 1/3 the electricity and last up to 10 times as long as incandescents. A single 18-watt CFL used in place of a 75 watt incandescent will save about 570 kWh over its lifetime. At 8 cents per kWh, that equates to a $45 savings.
4. CFLs can be applied almost anyplace where incandescent lights are used. They can be used in recessed fixtures, table lamps, track lighting, ceiling fixtures and porch lights. 3-way CFLs are also now available for lamps with 3-way settings.
5. When replacing incandescent with CFL match the lumens of light.
60 Watt Incandescent = 13-18 CFL Watts or 890 Lumens.
75 Watt Incandescent = 18-22 CFL Watts or 1210 Lumens.
100 Watt Incandescent = 23-28 CFL Watts or 1750 Lumens.
150 Watt Incandescent = 30-38 CFL Watts or 2780 Lumens.
6. Although household CFL bulbs may legally be disposed of with regular trash (in the US), they are categorized as household hazardous waste. CFLs should not be sent to an incinerator, which would disperse the mercury into the atmosphere. The best solution is to save spent CFLs for a community household hazardous waste collection, which would then send the bulbs to facilities capable of treating, recovering or recycling them.
For more on Energy Saving go to More than Switching Off The Lights a website with useful tips on conserving energy.
05.10.07
Summer Energy Savings
1) During daylight hours keep the windows covered to help keep the heat out. In the winter you would want to allow the sun to shine bright in the house, it helps to warm the house, but in the summer the sun would make the cooling system work harder.
2) Change incandescent light bulbs to lower wattage Compact Florescent Light Bulbs. Not only will you be using less energy for the same amount of light, CFL bulbs generate less heat helping the cooling system.
3) A reasonable comfortable level for keeping the area is 76-80 degrees. Each degree your raise the thermostat can result in 3% savings on cooling.
4) Keep the filters clean. By keeping them clean the air will flow easier and be more efficient.
5) Make sure the cooling system is working properly by having it checked by a professional. The System may appear to be working, but actually using more energy if it’s not working efficiently.
6) Is your cooling system old? It may be time to replace it with a newer high efficiency model. It’s possible that you may be eligible for a manufacturer’s rebate or tax credit. Explore the options.
For more on Energy Saving go to More than Switching Off The Lights a website with useful tips on conserving energy.
05.04.07
Tips for Using Less Gas
1. Don’t drive if you don’t have to. If you are close enough to your destination to walk or ride a bike. Not only will it save on use of the gas, but also you will be getting exercise.
2. Combine errands. Plan the trip before you even start it making the stops in the most efficient route. This not only saves money on gas, but also can save time.
3. Use the air conditioner smartly. When traveling at speeds over 40 miles an hour you actually use more fuel by having your windows open, then using the air conditioner. In Stop and Go traffic though it’s more fuel efficient to turn the air condition off and open the windows.
4. Keep the vehicle well maintained. Under inflated tires can decrease gas mileage. Many newer tires may look properly inflated, but still be under inflated. Seasonal temperature changes can also change the air pressure of the tire. You will also want to keep the other parts of the vehicle well maintained such as keeping the air filter clean and regularly changing the oil.
5. Lighten the load. Each extra 100 pounds can decrease the gas mileage by 2%. Don’t leave the golf clubs in the trunk unless you are planning on using them.
6. Don’t unnecessary idle the vehicle. A non-moving vehicle gets 0 miles to the gallon and starting a vehicle uses no more gas than one sitting idle for less than 10 seconds. The best way to warm up a vehicle is by driving it. You don’t need to have it idling to warm up, even in cold weather.
For more on Energy Saving go to More than Switching Off The Lights a website with useful tips on conserving energy.
02.01.07
About Saving Energy
1) Keep filters on furnaces or air conditioners clean. Many systems are recommended to have the filters replaced or clean once a month.
2) Clear dirt and dust from the coils of refrigerators and freezers. Having them clean allows them to cool more efficiently.
3) Use fluorescent instead of incandescent lighting. Florescent uses less energy to supply the same amount of light, they last longer and burn cooler. Turn lights off when not being used.
4) Turn off computers at night, and use sleep mode as often as possible. Reminder, screen savers do not save energy. When not in use turn off televisions, radios and other entertainment equipment.
5) Unplug devices that use a transformer when not in use. Example; battery chargers. Whenever these devices are plugged in they consume minor amounts of energy. Many devices such as TV and DVD players still use energy when not in use. Unplug them when they won’t be used for a long period of time.
6) Wash only full loads of clothes. Consider using cold water instead of hot or warm. If using a dishwasher, wait until you have a full load and air dry instead of using the heating cycle.
