B. Your Energy Research &
Information
___By Patricia
A. Allen & Robert T. Lord
Let There Be Light!
At the turn of the century, only a handful of
homes in America were wired for electricity, and that wiring delivered
approximately 100 watts of power in most instances. The more affluent
households would find that they could do but one thing at a time…burn
a bulb or plug in the prized electric iron…one thing at a
time, all with on-again-off-again power failures. Power was devoted
primarily to the manufacturer and the commercial user.
Even as we moved through the Roaring Twenties,
it was industry that received the vast amount of the power &
energy which was produced…not America's homes. The change
was primarily due to the utility companies' revenue expansion…when
industry shut down, so did their profits. The move to "lighting
up America" had begun!
The sales of now-cherished nostalgia items from
that time skyrocked…hot plates & toasters became a necessity.
Convenience had now come into its own, and utility companies enjoyed
the income from these new customers. When industry shut down at
the end of the day, the hot plates powered up at night. By the
end of the 20's, 70% of America's homes were wired for power.
In the 30s's, non-commercial usage doubled and left industry behind
and became energy's primary customer.
In the 40s, especially after World War II, The
American family shifted to the suburbs, experienced financial
gain, and new inventions such as television replaced Saturday
night radio and the ice box was out in favor of refrigerators!
At this time, governmental agencies began keeping statistics on
energy consumption.
The 70's brought the arrival of the Personal
Computer in the home, and today, the Energy Information Administration
reports that more than 80% of American homes have some form of
electric office equipment. All of this lends veracity to "We've
come a long way!"
Now That There's Light!
Take a look around! How many TVs do you have?
How many computers…and are they always on? Don't forget your
microwave, and count the hair dryers!
Your home probably is wired for 12,000+ watts
of power with an abundance of outlets for energy-driven appliances
and gadgets. Remember the government beginning to track usage
in the 40's? Reports now indicate that since 1949, each year American
homes have increased in consumption 17-fold, from 67 billion kilowatt
hours to the current 1.1 trillion kilowatt hours being used!
We are all aware of our government's urging
the development of new power sources; however, there is little
if any restraint on usage. There are reasons for this: larger
homes, expanded use of air conditioning, and online-all-the-time
computers and auxilary equipment. Your pool pump uses electricity,
as does your security system…the demand seems infinite as
our monthly bills continue to increase.
The 1987 Federal Regulations requiring larger
home appliances to be energy-efficient helps; however, increased
consumption in multiple convenience items often offsets any savings.
The Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory does
outstanding work in monitoring power consumption by Americans.
In a 1998 study, Dr. Marla McWhinney, lead author, says "In
some homes, conventional uses of energy are dwarfed by miscellaneous
appliance loads." The study indicated that "miscellanous
appliance loads" accounts for approximately 20% of ALL home
electricity consumption, with miscellanous consumption having
more than doubled in the period of 1976 - 1995.
Jonathan Koomey, an energy specialist at Lawrence
Berkeley says that "The trap we're in is there are all these
small things no one is paying much attention to, and if they're
not designed right, a log of energy can get wasted…Nobody
is going to call Sony and complain, 'This television is wasting
$4.00 a year.' But in the aggregate, it's a big number."
Your heated water bed may well require more
electricity than your central heating/air-conditioning AND frost-free
refrigerator combined! Since Lawrence Berkeley's study in 1998,
many consumer electronics manufacturers have joined the Federal
"Energy Star" Program, which indicates compliance agreement
to Federal energy conservation standards. However, additional
high-usage convenience purchases can offset any savings you may
experience by having an "Energy Star"-stamped stereo!
TENNESSEE, MISSISSIPPI, &
ARKANSAS
Rates & Rankings
The regional areas in the United States have
some significant differences in energy consumption. Take a look
at The Center for the of Energy Markets' research showing some
interesting statistics on cost of energy consumption in Tennessee,
Mississippi, and Arkansas:
| Tennessee |
|
| Annual bill |
$950 |
| Rank by highest to lowest bill |
16 |
| Average household income |
$34,393 |
| Percent of income spent on
electric bill |
2.8% |
| Rank of percent
of income spent |
9 |
| Mississippi |
|
| Annual bill |
$956 |
| Rank by highest to lowest bill
|
15 |
| Average household income |
$30,628 |
| Percent of income spent on
electric bill |
3.1% |
| Rank of percent
of income spent |
3 |
| Arkansas |
|
| Annual bill |
$900 |
| Rank by highest to lowest bill |
19 |
| Average household income |
$28,298 |
| Percent of income spent on
electric bill |
3.2% |
| Rank of percent of income spent |
1 |
What Can We
Do?
Read on…Print it Out…Take Charge…and
Save $$!
Time-Investment & "Under
$10" Energy Tips!
- DO close the heating/air-conditioning grates
in rooms infrequently used. You'll find that your central system
heats and/or cools much more quickly the primary active rooms
in your home, allowing you to experience immediate savings.
- DO set your thermostat lower at night…at
least 10 degrees will shave up to 20% off your bill, and NEVER
heat or cool rooms which are not used. Turn the grates off in
these areas and start using less and saving more. It has been
estimated that for every degree you lower your thermostat, you'll
save approximately 3% of your energy costs in the wintertime.
The Department Of Energy's (DOE) Energy Efficiency and Renewable
Energy Network (EREN) reports that up to 44% of your utility
bill goes for heating and cooling.
- DO become consistent in not having power
on to areas of your home you are not using: lights, computers,
etc. After heating and cooling taking up approximately 44% of
your utility bill, the next 33% is for lighting and appliances
(not counting your refrigerator, which, if over 15 years old,
can take up 9% of your monthly power costs.
- DO take a long look at that old refrigerator
in your garage that keeps your "extras" cold…The
energy consumption for this convenience can be staggering. Then,
visit your primary refrigerator and set its temperature @ 37-40
degrees for optimum savings.
- DO mark your calendar to replace furnace
filters on a regular basis; not doing so increases the electricity
output of central fans.
- DO keep your water bill down by purchasing
an easy-to-install aerating, low-flow shower head and shower
more than bathing; the hot water savings are significant.
While you're shopping for one, pick up an aerating, low-flow
faucet to match!
- Do know that your water heater is the 3rd
energy culprit, accounting for 14%-20% of your energy consumption.
Turn off your electric water heater before leaving on vacation;
use the "vacation" setting for gas water heaters.
Upon returning, reset it to 120 F and keep it there! Buy it
a blanket if it's warm to the touch.
- DO use warm or cold water in your washer.
Today most detergents work just as hard in lower water temperatures;
rinse in cold water and AIR DRY!
- DO wait until there's more than several
glasses and 2 dinner plates to run your dishwasher…some
instruction to the family will go a long way here! Each time
you run it, approximately 17 gallons of hot water is used, compared
to 8-10 gallons when washed by hand.
- DO open southerly window drapes and/or blinds
during the days and close ALL at night to capture heat. The
sun's heat is free.
Fuel
& Power Energy-Saving TIPS!
It may bring you significant cost-saving dividends
to refinance and create cost-saving energy improvements in your
home. As energy costs rise and demand exceeds supply, this is
an opportune time to improve energy-efficiency and obtain an advantage
of tax deductible interest on these upgrades.
Major Impact Energy
$avers
- DO Caulk & Weather-Strip around windows
& doors to seal power-stealing cold & heat out. This
will seal heat loss points and prevent outside air entering.
- DO caulk any cracks and seal any openings
on the exterior siding while you're considering either repairing
storm doors & windows or installing them. It's costly to
heat the air in your home; don't let it escape! Insulated windows
increase resale value. Low-E or gas-filled windows are superior
products.
- DO INSULATE…INSULATE…INSULATE…for
cooler summers & warmer winters inside. As up to 20% of
your heating can disappear through your ceiling, insulate that
attic! It's the most accessible area & doing so will reward
you with immediate $avings.
- DO install ceiling fans, especially in rooms
with high ceiling levels. Trapped warm air near the ceiling
can be circulated downward in the winter by running your ceiling
fans on reverse setting.
- DO make certain that your ridge & power
vents are performing at optimum levels. When operating properly,
they remove summer heat build-up and work with you to save on
energy.
- DO invest less than $100.00 in a thermostat
that is programmable. It is reported that doing so can save
as much as 20%-30% on heating and cooling costs. When the outdoor
temperature changes, they automatically adjust, and allow for
multiple settings. Look specifically for the following features:
2 programs minimum, 4 temperature settings, and a temperature
recovery system.
- DO look for the energy-efficient Energy
Star label replacement appliances when you purchase new appliances,
water heaters, and home electronic systems.
HELPFUL RESOURCES
www.energyguide.com
- A Free 33 Page Color Booklet entitled
"Energy Savers: Tips on Saving Energy & Money at Home"
is available at www.eren.doe.gov/consumerinfo/energy_savers.
- TIPS and Calculators for improving
your home's energy efficiency at Home Energy Saver, a Web site
sponsored by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
and the Department of Energy (DOE). Jot down www.homeenergysaver.lbl.gov.
- TIPS on purchasing light bulbs to
appliances are available on MSN's eShop under guide to energy-saving
appliances.
