Title: Energy Saving Tips For the Home and Office Energy Usage
1Energy Saving Tips
2Energy Usage
- About 52 of the energy used in a household goes
towards heating and cooling,19 to heating water,
and 29 to other household appliances. - In office buildings, 34 of the energy used goes
towards heating and cooling, 29 to lighting, 9
to heating water, and 28 to office equipment,
ventilation, and other miscellaneous uses.1
3Energy Usage
- Heating and cooling constitute the largest energy
use in both homes and offices.
4Energy Saving Tips Heating and Cooling
- Invest in a programmable thermostat.
- In the summer, set the thermostat between 78 and
80F, and close window shades (to reduce ingress
of solar heat). - In the winter, set the thermostat between 68 and
70F, and open window shades to admit direct
sunlight (which helps to heat your home). Use of
a humidifier makes lowering the thermostat more
comfortable.
5Energy Saving Tips Heating and Cooling
- Run the fan instead of the AC to circulate air.
- To maximize heating and cooling efficiency,
change air filters once a month, and keep air
delivery and return vents clear of blockages. - Thoroughly insulate your home or office building
to minimize heat loss in the winter and heat gain
in the summer.
6Energy Saving TipsElectricity and Lighting
- Turn off lights and appliances after use.
-
- Unplug appliances whenever possible to eliminate
standby electricity loss.2 - Use compact fluorescent light bulbs in place of
incandescent light bulbs. CFLs last longer and
use less energy but do contain a small amount of
mercury which requires proper disposal. This is
often done at your local Home Depot or Lowes
store
7Energy Saving Tips Kitchen Appliances
- Set refrigerator temperature between 37- 40F,
and freezer temperature at 0F. - Be sure to vacuum the condenser coils every 6
months. - Do full loads when washing or drying clothes. Use
only warm or cold water. Drying loads
consecutively saves energy so the dryer does not
have to heat up each time. Be sure to clean the
lint filter after each load. - Or Air Dry your clothes using a clothes line or a
hanging rack inside
8Energy Saving Tips Kitchen Appliances
- When cooking try to use the range rather than the
oven as much as possible. - Use pressure cookers and microwaves to lower
energy consumption. - Buy energy star products for greater energy
efficiency.
9Energy Saving TipsWater Heating
- Insulate water heater and surrounding pipes to
reduce heat loss and water consumption. - Set water heater thermostats to 120F (or 140F
if you have a dishwasher).
10Water Saving Tips
11Water Saving Tips Kitchen and Bathroom
- Check for and fix leaks. A leak from a worn
faucet washer can waste 20 gal. of water a day.
3 - Read your water meter after 2 hours of not using
water. If the meter has changed, there is a leak
and it should be repaired. - While waiting for a shower to heat up, capture
cold water in a bucket or pan and use it for
watering plants or other household uses.
12Water Saving Tips Kitchen and Bathroom
- Take shorter showers. A 4 minute shower uses
20-40 gal. of water. 3 - Turn off the faucet when you brush your teeth,
shave, wash your face or rinse dishes. - Invest in a high efficiency toilet, or put a
plastic bottle filled with sand in your toilet
tank to reduce the amount of water used per
flush.
13Water Saving Tips Kitchen and Bathroom
- Use aerators on all faucets and low-flow shower
heads for better water pressure while using less
water in total. - Only wash full loads of clothes, and do the same
with dishes. - Use a vegetable brush to clean food items to make
washing/preparation quicker and more efficient.
14Water Saving Tips Outdoor Water Use
- When washing your car, dont run the hose until
you need to rinse. This can save up to 150
gallons of water. 3 - Use a broom to clean your driveway, front stoop
or porch, rather than a hose. - When planting a garden, practice xeriscaping.
Group plants according to their water needs, and
plant drought-resistant plants and bushes.
15Water Saving Tips Outdoor Water Use
- Add compost to your garden and lay down mulch to
help the soil retain moisture. - Water your lawn in the morning or when it is
overcast to minimize evaporation. Avoid watering
when it is sunny or windy. (When Allowed) 3 - Deep-soak your lawn. Water the lawn long enough
for the water to seep down to the roots to
promote deeper root systems. (When Allowed) 3
16Water Saving Tips Outdoor Water Use
- Collect rainwater in a rain barrel and use this
to water plants. - Be sure to follow watering restrictions specific
to your local area. - Position sprinklers to avoid watering the
sidewalk, street, or driveway.
17Water Saving Tips Facts
- If a faucet drips at a rate of 1 drop per sec.
you can waste 2,700 gal. per year. - The average daily indoor water use for a single
family home with no water-conserving fixtures is
74 gal.
18Fuel Saving Tips
19Gasoline Saving Tips
- Dont drive like a demon on wheels! Quick
accelerations reduce fuel efficiency and put wear
and tear on your transmission. - At 60 mph, having your windows open reduces your
MPG by the same amount as having your A/C running
full blast. - Under 60 mph having the windows open is a
reasonable alternative to using the A/C.
20Gasoline Saving Tips
- Be sure to keep the belts tight, fans running and
filters clean in order to get the most MPG out of
your vehicle. - Make sure your tires are inflated to the factory
mandated pressure failure to do so can take a
serious toll on MPG.
21Natural Gas Saving Tips
22Natural Gas Saving Tips
- Have your heating system professionally checked
on a regular basis. - Get a carbon monoxide detector for your own
safety and so leaks dont increase your energy
bill.
23Natural Gas Saving Tips
- Check the insulation in your attic. If you have
less than 7 inches of insulation, consider adding
another layer to keep heat trapped within your
home. - Add weather stripping and caulk around windows
and doors to improve insulation. - Dont heat unused spaces or vacant rooms.
24Natural Gas Saving Tips
- If you have a fireplace, be sure that the dampers
are closed when the fireplace is not in use. - Replace gas appliances that are more than 10
years old with new energy-efficient appliances.
25Sources
- 1http//www.eia.doe.gov/emeu/consumptionbriefs/c
becs/pbawebsite/office/office_howuseenergy.htm - 2http//berkeley.edu/news/media/releases/2001/02
/09_energ.html - 3http//www.eartheasy.com/live_water_ saving.htm