Transcript Low Income Energy Efficiency

Energy Efficiency
Practices for the LowIncome Population
Donald Fournier
Managing Director
SEDAC
University of Illinois
Residential Energy
• American homes use almost 25% of the energy
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consumed in the United States.
About 80% of that energy is used in single-family
homes, 15% in multi-family homes (such as
apartments and condos), and 5% in mobile homes.
Residential energy use has steadily increased over
the past 25 years, but has increased at a slower
rate than the rate of population increase.
Many efficiency gains are being offset by increases
in the number of electronics and appliances in the
average home.
There are still many opportunities to reduce energy
consumption in the home at low or no costs.
Residential Trends
• Electricity represents the
biggest change in
residential energy usage.
• Result of significant
nationwide increase in
home central air
conditioning, use of home
energy appliances, and
computers
• Electricity remains the most
expensive energy source
Residential Energy Consumption
• Heating will be the
largest energy
usage.
• Next will be
appliances and
lighting.
• Next is water
heating, then
cooling.
No Cost Ways to Save
• In winter turn down your thermostat to 68
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degrees:
 Every 1% setback = 3% savings on
heating bill.
 Wear warm clothing to stay comfortable.
 Set the thermostat back to 55 degrees
when away or sleeping (save 5-20%).
In summer with central cooling, turn up
your thermostat to 78 degrees:
 Dress appropriately.
 Set up during the day if no one home.
 Turn off window units when not in the room.
Low Cost Ways to Save
• Replace or clean furnace filters every
one to three months.
 Dirty filters restrict airflow and increase
energy use.
 Keeping your furnace clean, lubricated
and properly adjusted will reduce energy
use, saving up to 5 percent of heating
costs.
• In summer, keep central A/C condenser
clear of leaves, bushes, etc.
• Use a ceiling fan and turn up the
thermostat a few degrees.
Do not simply
remove dirty
filters. This
will allow dirt
to collect on
the heat
exchanger
surfaces and
reduce
efficiency.
No Cost Ways to Save
• Reduce hot water temperature to
110-120º.
 Save 7-11 % of water heating costs.
 Insulate water supply line (first 5 feet).
• Use cold water when washing
clothes.
 13-16% of home energy cost is for water
heating (today’s detergents are designed for
cold water).
• Clothes dryer:
 Keep dryer free of lint (clean filter every
load).
 Keep dryer vent free of obstructions.
 Do not vent into the house or attic.
No Cost Ways to Save
• Perform a Do-it-Yourself Home Energy
Audit at http://hes.lbl.gov
No Cost Ways to Save
• Take a 5 minute shower instead of
a bath.
• In heating season let the sun in.
 Open drapes and shades on the
sunny side during the day. Close at
night.
• Remove window air conditioning
units for the winter.
 Remove to prevent heat from
escaping through and around the unit.
 If it cannot be removed, buy a cover to
prevent drafts (or wrap and tape with
a large piece of plastic).
No Cost Ways to Save
• Close your fireplace flue.
 Keep closed except when not in use.
 Also shut fire place doors if installed.
• Use your ceiling fan.
 Run blades counter-clockwise in summer to
push to create a breeze (moving air feels
cooler). Set up thermostat a few degrees.
 Run clockwise in the winter to bring warm
air down (only if there are high ceilings).
 When purchasing new ceiling fans,
consider an ENERGY STAR model
No Cost Ways to Save
• Put your computer to sleep.
 Activate "sleep" when not in use for a
while.
 Turn off equipment during longer periods
of non-use to cut energy costs and
improve longevity.
• Don’t waste hot water.
 Adjust load size on washer to fit actual
load.
No Cost Ways to Save
• Flip the switch.
 Turn off appliances when not in use:
lights, TVs, VCRs or DVDs, computers,
other electronics.
 Unplug electronics with remotes when
not being used regularly.
• Keep vent space clean & clear.
 Make sure draperies, furniture or rugs
aren’t blocking air.
 Clean grills regularly with a vacuum or
a broom.
No Cost Ways to Save
• Clean Refrigerator Coils
 Condenser coils are located in the
back of older refrigerators and at the
bottom of most new ones. They
should be periodically cleaned with a
vacuum or brush. Be sure to unplug
the refrigerator when cleaning the
coils.
Low Cost Ways to Save
• Caulk is cheap. Seal around
windows, doors, and exterior walls
near the floor, electrical outlets and
plumbing penetrations. (Save 1830% on heating.)
Where to look for air leaks.
Home Sealing
• Caulk is cheap. On windy days, feel around
windows, doors, and exterior walls near the
floor, electrical outlets or plumbing penetrations.
• Seal up your windows and doors with caulking
and weather stripping to ensure that you're not
wasting energy on heat that escapes through
leaks to the outdoors.
• Caulk works best on small gaps. Your hardware
store should have products to close the larger
gaps. Use low expansion foam product to seal
larger openings.
Source: EPA - A DO-IT-YOURSELF GUIDE TO ENERGY STAR® HOME SEALING
Seal Small Gaps
• Use expanding foam
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and caulk to seal the
openings around
plumbing vent pipes
and electrical wires.
Be sure to wear gloves
and be careful not to
get expanding foam on
your clothes, as the
foam is very sticky and
nearly impossible to
remove once it sets.
When the foam or
caulk is dry, cover the
area again with
insulation.
Seal and Insulate Attic Hatches
Low Cost Ways to Save
Install Window Kits in Winter
• Use when there are single
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pane or lose fit windows.
Cuts out infiltration and
adds to thermal barrier.
Shrinks tight for a
transparent, wrinkle-free
fit.
Double-sided tape seals
off cracks and crevices.
Quick & easy installation.
Kits available for a variety
of window sizes.
Low Cost Ways to Save
• Check the
yellow energy
label on your
water heater.
 A low efficiency
water heater
could use an
insulation
blanket.
Low Cost Ways to Save
Insulate Water Heater & Pipes
Low Cost Ways to Save
 Seal and Insulate Ducts
Insulation
Tape seams
Seal leaks
with
mastic or
aluminum
tape
Low Cost Ways to Save
• Go low flow. Install lowflow showerheads and
sink aerators.
• Repair leaky faucets
and toilets promptly –
save water, money, and
energy.
Low Cost Ways to Save
• Install an ENERGY STAR
programmable thermostat:
 Temperature automatically sets back
when asleep or away.
 Consider ENERGY STAR labeled
appliances - use less energy, save
money, and help the environment.
• Change a Light.
 Replace incandescent light bulbs
with comparable compact fluorescent
lamps.
Compact Fluorescent Lamps
• CFLs use far less
energy.
• Have comparable
brightness and color
rendition compared
to incandescent
lamps.
• Can directly replace
standard
incandescent bulbs.
Incandescent
CFL
25 Watt
=
5 Watt
50 Watt
=
9 Watt
60 Watt
=
15 Watt
75 Watt
=
20 Watt
100 Watt
=
25 Watt
120 Watt
=
28 Watt
150 Watt
=
39 Watt
Comprehensive Ways to Save
• Check your insulation:
 Check attic, ceilings, exterior and basement
walls, floors, and crawl spaces vs. insulation
levels recommended for your area.
 R-values—the higher the R-value, the better
your house will resist the transfer of heat.
 DOE recommends ranges of R-values
based on local energy costs and climate
conditions.
 See Zip Code Insulation Calculator, for
economic insulation levels:
http://www.ornl.gov/~roofs/Zip/ZipHome.html
Comprehensive Ways to Save
• Increase your attic
insulation.
 Easiest and most costeffective insulation option.
 If less than R-19 (6 inches of
fiber glass or rock wool or 5
inches of cellulose), more
could help.
• Consider insulating
exterior walls.
 If attic insulated but home
still drafty and cold in the
winter, or too warm in the
summer, add insulation to
the exterior walls.
Adding Insulation
Recommended
Insulation Levels
Area
Attic
Wall (existing)
Wall (new)
Floor over
unconditioned
space
Basement Wall
Crawl Space Wall
Recommended
R-value
38-43
13
21 or 13+5
30
10/13
10/13
Comprehensive Ways to Save
• Keep your furnace operating
efficiently:
 Seasonal Inspection.
 Heating and cooling = half of the energy
costs for the average home.
 Ask for “temperature-rise check” to be sure
your furnace is operating in the range set by
the manufacturer.
Comprehensive Ways to Save
• Look for the ENERGY STAR:
 Consider replacing old gas
appliances with ENERGY STAR®
models.
 If gas water heater > 12 years,
consider replacement. Look for the
Energy Factor (EF)- the higher, the
more efficient.
 If furnace > 15 years, consider an
ENERGY STAR rated model - about
15 % more efficient vs. standard.
Should You Replace Your Furnace?
• If furnace >10 years
and repair costs > $500,
replace rather than repair.
• If your furnace is old but not
broken, deciding when to replace
it can be difficult:
 Average life of furnaces: 16 -20
years.
 Boilers life: 30 years.
 Start shopping before life is over, so
you won’t make a hasty decision.
Replacing your furnace?
• Emergency shopping can be costly.
• If house is large with high heating bills,
may be cost-effective to purchase a high
efficiency model now.
• If repairing furnace, look for a heating
professional who has experience with your
type of heating system.
• Take advantage of tax credits and utility
incentives.
95% AFUE1 Furnace w/ Electrically
Commutated Motor (ECM)
• High efficiency furnaces, but
poor electrical efficiency.
• Air handlers can draw over
700 watts.
• Efficient air handlers draw
between 200 and 400 watts.
• 40% to 70% more efficient
than standard furnaces.
1
– Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency
When Buying New Appliances
• Check the EnergyGuide
label.
 Estimated yearly energy
consumption and cost.
 Your actual energy
consumption and cost will
vary.
 Scale for comparison with
other models.
 Shop around and find an
Energy Star model for the
same price as a standard
model.
Tax Incentives
• Energy Policy Act of 2005 with many follow-on
changes has energy efficiency incentives for
existing homes.
 Average home loses 10 - 50 % of its energy through
inadequate insulation and inefficient lights and appliances.
 Energy bill offers consumers tax credits for making energy
efficiency improvements in homes.
• For 2011: cost-based credit to for energy
improvements (limit $500):
 10% up to $200 for Energy Star doors & windows.
 10% up to $500 for insulation, duct sealing, and infiltration
reduction.
 30% up to $150 for furnace or hot water boiler.
 30% up to $300 for any energy-efficient heat pumps,
central air conditioners, and water heaters.
http://www.keepwarm.illinois.gov/