...And three you may already be doing
We talk and write a lot in our business about conserving energy and saving money in commercial buildings, but there are many simple, inexpensive steps you can take to save money and energy at home, too. Three of them you probably are already doing (if you’re not – start now!). Three are ones we recommend for commercial and industrial buildings, but people don’t think about them as much for the home – even if they have had a professional energy audit.
As you visit with family and friends this holiday season you can share "Jim Newman’s Top Six Recommendations for Saving Energy and Money," and give them the gift that gives throughout the year.
Here are three things you may already be doing:
- Turn off lights/use timers. Even if you have switched to CFLs or LEDs, it’s still good practice to use lights only when and where you need them. If you haven’t switched, start now, the cost of LEDs has come down quite a bit, and when you factor in how long they last, it’s a small investment for the value of the return.
- Plug your TVs, and the chargers for your computers, tablets, phones, and other home electronic devices into remote strips so you can turn them off easily when not being used. According to some reports, the average US household has about 24 electronic devices – go ahead and count yours! Taken all together, these “vampire” loads use quite a bit of energy. Remember, if you see any of those little lights on when the device is supposedly “off,” it is still using some electricity while waiting to be used again (often with a remote).
- If you have multiple speed or variable speed ceiling fans, set them to run in reverse at a low speed to bring the warmer air down to the floor.
Here are three tips you may not know:
- Use humidification in cold weather. With more moisture in the air you feel warmer, so you can lower the temperature on your thermostat. For every degree you turn down your thermostat you will save 2-3% in energy. Here are some easy ways to increase humidity:
- Leave bathroom doors open when showering to let the moisture escape into the rest of the house rather than simply condensing on your mirrors.
- Leave pans of water or ice cube trays filled with water near heating registers.
- Use individual room humidifiers if you don’t have one on your furnace.
- If you have a high-efficiency furnace, set the fan to run continuously. The fan on a high-efficiency furnace typically operates at a considerably lower speed when not heating. This means it’s using very little energy, but keeping your home more comfortable overall from floor to ceiling. But be aware, if you have an older furnace this won’t work. The fan will run at the same high speed as it does when heating, thereby using a lot more energy.
- Use inside storm windows or put plastic wrap on the inside of your windows to make an air barrier between the outside window and the room. Window kits are available from many hardware stores. Watch this video for tips.
The bottom line is, you can save on your bottom line – and help your family and friends save on theirs too by sharing these simple tips! When you do the right thing, it’s cost effective and earth protective.
