Checklists and online resources to make your household more energy efficient
 No comments posted.
By The Chippewa Herald
Monday, January 28, 2008 8:53 AM CST
Make your household more energy-efficient:
- Upgrade old, worn out or inefficient appliances with new, more efficient models. Focus on Energy and rebates through your energy provider make it more affordable. Make sure to read through rebate requirements and double-check the rebate qualifications of the model of appliance with your representative.
- Purchase a programmable thermostat. For example, temperature can be set to lower several degrees when house occupants are asleep or away for the weekend. Some energy service providers offer rebates for programmable thermostats.
- Caulk, seal, weatherstrip or use low-expansion foam to seal obvious gaps around windows and doors.
- Blow in or lay insulation in easily accessible areas in the attic, basement or crawlspaces.
- Place draft dodgers against all doors leading to porches, garages or the exterior of a home. Put blankets in between inner and outer doors of seldom-used entryways.
n Replace incandescent light bulbs with ENERGY STAR qualified compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) to save at least $60 per year and use 75 percent less energy (when five bulbs are replaced).
- Close the damper of your fireplace when not in use. This prevents cold air from coming down the chimney and into the house.
- Maintain furnaces by regularly changing the filter.
- Reverse ceiling fan direction so they distribute warm air from the ceiling evenly to the rest of the room.
- Check to make sure storm windows are completely closed in the winter.
- Apply a layer of clear plastic to windows in the winter.
- Invest in window treatments, such as cellular shades and foam-backed drapery panels, which insulate in cold and hot weather.
- Maintain air conditioners by scheduling yearly maintenance and regularly check the refrigerant charge as well as indoor and outdoor air coils.
- Look into getting low-flow shower heads and low-flush toilets installed.
- Fix leaky faucets.
- Get an energy evaluation to get an expert recommendation of how to make your home more energy-efficient.
Red flags
All homes, especially those which may soon be undergoing construction, can benefit from an energy evaluation. Here are a few major problems which indicate it’s time for the energy evaluation.
- Ice damming or icicles forming on edge of roof
- Snow next to the foundation has melted
- Frost on edges of doors or windows
- Noticeable drafts around windows and doors
- Excessive use of fuel
Get an energy assessment
ENERGY STAR consultants are independent professionals who have been trained by Focus on Energy and uphold standards set for home performance with ENERGY STAR. Consultants first discuss any concerns with the homeowner and ask about planned changes. He or she then evaluates the systems that contribute to a home’s performance such as insulation levels, air leakage testing, mechanical equipment, moisture assessment and combustion safety and carbon monoxide testing. Consultants then provide a written report of recommended solutions. If the homeowner chooses to make any changes, the consultant will return for an evaluation after work has been done to ensure the changes are made completely and effectively. The entire energy evaluation costs $200-$400, and many people quality for money-back incentives. To find a consultant, call (800) 762-7077.
Energy savings checklist
For a checklist of ways to save energy, visit www.focusonenergy.com/Information-Center/Residential/Fact-Sheets/Energy-Savings-Checklist.aspx
Is it time to replace your refrigerator?
Find out if you would save money in the long run by replacing your refrigerator today. Visit www.focusonenergy.com/Information-Center/Residential/ then click on “Refrigerator energy use.” From there, click the link “Is it time to replace your refrigerator?”
Household energy assistance
The Energy Assistance Bureau, within the Wisconsin Division of Energy, provides services to Wisconsin qualified residential households with energy assistance and weatherization needs. For more information visit www.homeenergyplus.wi.gov/ or call (866) 432-8947.
Find people who understand
Find ENERGY STAR retailers and builders, heating and cooling consultant, or home energy evaluators by visiting www.focusonenergy.com/Resources/ and scrolling down to the “Residential resources” section. Among the available lists are builders organized by county, with information available on how many homes the company has built which were ENERGY STAR certified.
SOURCE: www.focusonenergy.com and certified energy assessor, David Geissler
|
Archives