Energy Savers Blog

Oh, the (Energy-Related) Stories I Have Heard...

2012-02-07T07:19:00-08:00

I don't have an interesting tidbit, video, or page to link to today, so I thought I would share a few things I've heard people say about saving energy. I'd call them "stories," except I'm paraphrasing and summarizing so much that it's more like random advice that I've heard people give. I think they're kind of fun reminders that, well, we are all pretty energy-savvy here, but there's still a lot of education that needs to be done.

Let's get this started!

Once upon a time, I knew someone who was sure that it would cost less to use a gas fireplace to heat their living room than it would to let the central heating run. They figured the fireplace could heat a small area better than the central air, which would have to heat the whole house.

Is that true? It depends! You need to check your utilities to know that, because they charge you differently for gas than for electricity. But to do that, you need to know how much gas your fireplace actually uses. (And that's useful information. I wonder if my apartment could tell me that much about my fireplace?) For me, though? Gas is kind of pricy. If I had a wood and pellet-burning fireplace I could at least look that up on Energy Savers.

I once knew someone who thought they could turn the heat off and use a space heater instead. This would only be the case if you had a space heater that used less energy while it was on than your central heating did. So! Look into how much energy your space heater uses. Learn about your space heater. I can assure you that every single one of the cheap-o brands I've bought were so grossly inefficient that they couldn't be used as my primary heating source.

...Of course, there's another reason to not try to heat your entire house with a space heater. And that's because most of you live in a place where it will freeze, and you can't decide to just turn your heat off to save money.

Because, you see, I also knew someone who thought it was fine to just turn the heat off all winter and rely on blankets and sweaters instead. Think of your pipes before you do that!

And, finally, here's a weird one. I knew someone who had heard the truism that running the oven heats up your kitchen. That's true! This person decided that, consequentially, this meant that running the oven with nothing in it was a good way to heat a kitchen. And... yeah, don't do that. If you want to heat your house, do it with something that's designed for heating. If you try to be creative about it you might burn down your house.

I think the lesson is this: If you're serious about saving energy, you have to do a little research. Yes, yes, "research" is a word that makes some people cringe. Sorry. But you have to know how much energy you use to know how to cut back in the right places.

Figure out where you're wasting energy. Read your utility bill. Know how much you have to pay for electricity or gas. Know how much it costs to run your appliances. (If you want to do the math, you can estimate your energy use with this handy formula) Then you can decide what you should heat your home with and for how long.

Have you heard anyone pass along not-so-good advice about saving energy? Share your stories in the comments!

Elizabeth Spencer is a communicator at DOE's National Renewable Energy Laboratory, which assists EERE in providing technical content for many of its websites.

Light My Fire...Or Yours

2012-02-06T10:15:00-08:00

It comes as no surprise that 9-out-of-10 American homes burned wood for heat a little more than a century ago. Likewise, it's also probably not news that the number dwindled to less than 1% by the 1970s. After all, who wants to chop and stack cordwood when you can set the thermostat to be comfortable? Perhaps that's why Paul Bunyan is so rarely spotted around town these days.

Still, there is something irresistible about the warmth of a crackling fire. That appeal probably explains why fireplaces and wood-burning heating stoves haven't disappeared in many communities, and that upgrades such as energy efficient inserts and stoves are common.

Our house fit somewhere in between the new school and traditional infernos. For years we used our fireplace only on special occasions. But we didn't have many fires because, due to a design quirk in our 1970's vintage structure in the Colorado foothills, the hearth faced the dining room--not the adjoining living room. As a result, the living room was chilly, featuring only the back of a moss-rock chimney. And why make a fire for the dining room? Nobody lingers for three hours at table, sipping coffee and commenting on blazing logs. If anything, we might curse the clattering flue damper that blew open in gusty weather and open fireplace screen which added to drafts in our already leaky home. As my colleague Drew reminded us, keeping a flue shut is an easy way to be more energy efficient. But despite a bungee cord, we couldn't get ours to comply.

While we debated adding a wood pellet-burning stove, there wasn't enough room. So we decided to take a leap back in time—while still being cutting edge by cutting energy bills—and re-build a two-sided fireplace that includes the living room. As a bonus, we added a damper that actually closes and tempered glass fire doors to reduce the draw as the embers burned out.

After the work was completed by the Michelangelo of masons, the two-sided hearth worked perfectly. While it doesn't compare in efficiency with my brother-in-law's 47,300 BTU Quadra Fire Classic Bay pellet-burning stove—which keeps his basement floor toasty—it does crank out. And by keeping our thermostat turned down to about 55 degrees, we can now enjoy a cozy feeling in the living room when the logs are ablaze. While pellet-burning stoves may burn more cleanly, they do require some electricity (estimated at $9 per month on average) to run, and have parts that can break. Not so with the fireplace. The only decision we have to make is when to get up from the dinner table and saunter around to the other side of chimney where three-hour conversations can take place in the retro-glow of our living room.

Ernie Tucker is editor of the weekly EERE Network News newsletter who is spending an increasing amount of his winter leisure time stoking a renovated fireplace, which his cats appreciate as much as his family does.

This Month on Energy Savers: January 2012

2012-02-02T06:31:00-08:00

In the coldest parts of winter, we've turned our thoughts toward the best seasonal tips, conservation of water and lighting power, and what's new in 2012. If you've missed any of January's posts, here's a recap.

What's New in 2012

Are you looking for an easy way to save energy in your home quickly? Learn about the New Lighting Facts Label to compare efficient light bulb choices and determine which ones may be best for your home.
Learn about electric vehicles in DOE's new Electic Vehicle 101 Video and connect with a handy listing of calculators, fueling station finders, and financial incentives.
Thinking about installing renewable energy in your home? See which renewable energy systems and products are eligible for tax credits through 2016, and which credits expired in 2011.

On the Blog, In Case You Missed It…

This Month

Weekly Questions—Did You Share Your Answer?

Comment Spotlight

Home Maintenance Tracker commented on Have You Found Any Energy-Efficient Bargains?: "LED lights are also more durable than traditional lights. We all know how frustrating it can be for one light to break and shut down the rest of the string."

king singh commented on Musings on Water (and Power): "It takes about 1.75 gallons of water washed down the drain for the first hot water to arrive at the showerhead in the bathroom on the top floor, and only one gallon to the showerhead in the bathroom on the lower floor. Assuming five showers a week per person for 50 weeks (the rest of the time is at the gym or on vacation), that’s 250 showers times .75 gallon wasted per person annually, What a great calculation"

Mike commented on New Years Revolutions: "1. Use the travel mug I bought last year every time I buy coffee so I'm not using unneeded paper/plastic/styrofoam cups.
2. Try to be more conscious of the things I do daily that have an impact on the environment like turning water off while brushing my teeth or soaping up in the shower, etc.
3. Replace more bulbs with LEDs."

Green Up Your Next Movie Night!

2012-02-01T05:30:00-08:00

Winter. For many of us, the season means hot chocolate, winter sports, exercise indoors, and the classic American pastime—movie night. So, if you find yourself caught in a chilly day, and are in the mood for popcorn and a good flick at home, check out the following movies that have environmental or clean energy innuendoes/themes:

Back to the Future—In parts II and III of the popular series, the DeLorean time machine was powered by the Mr. Fusion Home Energy Reactor. In the end of the first movie, we see Dr. Emmett Brown putting a banana peel, beer (and the can), and other waste products into the Mr. Fusion unit, and in turn, suggesting that the car's flux capacitor is run on biomass energy. Another interesting tidbit is that the cool DeLorean car that was featured in the series is actually being made in real life as an electric vehicle.
Avatar—This 3D box office megahit carries a strong environmental theme. The film's depiction of corporate mining for unobtanium in the Na'vi lands is a futuristic caricature of the oil and coal extraction that we're familiar with here on Earth. The film shows the damage to wildlife habitats and impacts on the livelihoods of native residents from the excessive exploitation of interplanetary mineral resources. In his interviews on the film, Avatar Director James Cameron has urged the rapid transition to renewable energy.
Iron Man—Tony Stark, the superhero of this Marvel Comics hit flick, owns a shiny battery-powered Tesla Roadster, boosting the appeal of the electric vehicle. In real life, Hollywood stars Leonardo DiCaprio and Cameron Diaz bought the Toyota Prius in 2001, helping to kick off the hybrid car boom. Actor Ed Begley, Jr., one of Hollywood's prominent environmentalists, has owned electric vehicles since the 1970s. Find out more about advanced vehicle technologies.
An Inconvenient Truth—Last, but certainly not least, is former Vice President Al Gore's documentary on climate change. The end of the movie features simple, effective steps that consumers can take to save energy and money in their home, such as using energy-efficient lighting, installing a programmable thermostat, choosing energy-efficient appliances, and getting a home energy assessment.

All you clean energy/environment-loving movie fans out there, please chime in with your thoughts or suggestions in the comments section below.

John Chu is a Communications Specialist with the Department's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy.

Be a Lean, Mean, Green Eating Machine

2012-01-31T12:53:00-08:00

Like most Americans, I watched the State of the Union to hear President Obama outline his goals for the year ahead, to understand his energy outlook and plans, and of course, to see what Michelle would be wearing (a stunning royal blue, of course).

When listening to the President highlight his administration’s clean energy initiatives, I couldn’t help but remember the First Family's goals to reduce childhood obesity in America. By no surprise, the link between nationwide health improvement and energy efficiency efforts is strong. By reducing our demand for processed and imported foods, we can improve the health of generations to come, extend our overall lifespan and reduce the energy we waste on packaging.

In the First Lady's health program, she outlines goals of improving the quality of food in schools and making healthy foods more affordable and accessible for families. The message resonates with many of us who are steadfastly moving forward with our new year’s resolution to drop the pounds – and save some energy along the way.

If you were born in 1975 or later, you are probably well-versed on the topic of organic growing and eating. We’ve heard it a million times: Organic foods are foods that have not been produced using pesticides, chemicals or unnatural ingredients. So, what exactly is it about organic food that is green-friendly? Research has shown that foods grown by sustainable agricultural methods avoid unnecessary pollution and oil consumption caused by synthetic, petroleum-based fertilizers and pesticides.

In addition to the energy savings that comes from producing organic foods, growing them locally (perhaps in your own garden) saves the energy cost of shipping and importing. And while we're on the topic of growing in your backyard, it really is the least expensive option, as opposed to buying the sometimes overpriced organic produce in your grocery store.

Gardening websites suggest that many of your regular vegetables can be successfully grown in late winter/early spring, such as broccoli, beets, potatoes, radishes, collards, lettuce, peas and turnips. We've talked about composting several times – it's important to remember that your garden will benefit from the rich in nutrient soil you can obtain from composting.

While it isn't scientifically proven that organic food is more nutritious or can promote weight loss, there are thousands of testimonies online from people who have experienced firsthand that an organic diet can vastly improve health. From the reduction in pesticides and hormones to the fresher and “cleaner” taste of the foods, Americans have seen the difference in selecting organic for the foods they consume.

Looking ahead to rest of 2012, I hope we can all work alongside each other to improve our health and energy outlook and begin taking those baby steps to reach our goals – both as individuals and as a country.

Kristin Swineford supports DOE's Weatherization & Intergovernmental Program in Communications & Outreach.

What Are Your Favorite Winter Energy Savings Tips?

2012-01-27T08:06:00-08:00

This week, Amanda highlighted the Energy Savers seasonal website as a great place to get tips to save money and energy in any season. We want to know which winter energy savings tips you've tried. Have you covered your drafty windows, added weatherstripping to your doors, or opened your south-facing window curtains during the day? How well have these tips worked for you?

We want you to share your own favorite tips and tricks with us. What have you done to save energy and money in your home this winter? Tell us!

Each week, you have the chance to share your thoughts on a question or frequently-asked-question about energy efficiency or renewable energy for consumers. Please comment with your answers, and also feel free to respond to other comments.

Energy Department Announces Student Teams, New Location for Solar Decathlon 2013

2012-01-26T11:49:00-08:00

At an event today in Albuquerque, New Mexico, U.S. Department of Energy Secretary Steven Chu announced the 20 collegiate teams selected to compete in the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon 2013 and unveiled the competition's location, the Orange County Great Park in Irvine, California. The 20 teams from colleges and universities across the United States and from around the world will now begin a two-year process to build solar-powered, highly energy-efficient homes that combine affordability, consumer appeal and design excellence. Throughout the two-year process, the teams will design, construct, and test their homes before reassembling them at the Solar Decathlon 2013 competition site. As part of the Solar Decathlon, teams compete in ten different categories—ranging from best architecture and engineering to energy production for heating and cooling—while gaining invaluable real-world experience in a growing global industry.

Orange County Great Park in Irvine, California.

"As President Obama made clear in the State of the Union address this week, we need to ensure that the next generation of America's architects, engineers and entrepreneurs have the hands-on experience and training they need to lead our nation's clean energy future," said Secretary Chu. "The Solar Decathlon will unleash the ingenuity, creativity, and drive from these talented students to demonstrate new ideas for how families and businesses can reduce energy use and save money with clean energy products and efficient building design."

In fall 2013, the student teams will showcase their solar-powered houses at the Orange County Great Park, highlighting renewable energy systems and energy-efficient technologies, products and appliances that are already available to homeowners. The selected teams and their proposed projects represent a diverse range of design approaches, building technologies, target markets, geographic locations, climates, and regions, including urban, suburban, and rural settings.

Since 2002, the National Mall in Washington, DC, has been the venue for five successful Solar Decathlons. For 2013, Solar Decathlon organizers decided to extend the competition's reach beyond Washington and showcase energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies to a new group of visitors and sponsors. The Orange County Great Park, located between Los Angeles and San Diego, is a dynamic venue that can accommodate the 20 competition houses and the special needs of the Solar Decathlon event—featuring flexible space, ample visitor parking, existing facilities for large special events, and nearby services for visitors. With direct freeway and rail access and generally favorable weather conditions, the park will also ensure that residents across Southern California have an opportunity to experience the Solar Decathlon.

More photos of the Great Park venue are available.
A map of the Great Park venue is available.

The following teams have been selected from around the world to compete in Solar Decathlon 2013:

Arizona State University and the University of New Mexico (Tempe, Ariz., and Albuquerque, N.M.)
Czech Technical University (Prague, Czech Republic)
Hampton University and Old Dominion University (Hampton and Norfolk, Va.)
Middlebury College (Middlebury, Vt.)
Missouri University of Science and Technology (Rolla, Mo.)
Norwich University (Northfield, Vt.)
Queens University, Carleton University, and Algonquin College (Kingston and Ottawa, Ontario, Canada)
Santa Clara University (Santa Clara, Calif.)
Southern California Institute of Architecture and California Institute of Technology (Los Angeles, Calif.)
Stanford University (Palo Alto, Calif.)
Stevens Institute of Technology (Hoboken, N.J.)
The Catholic University of America, George Washington University, and American University (Washington, DC)
The University of North Carolina at Charlotte (Charlotte, N.C.)
The University of Texas at El Paso and El Paso Community College (El Paso, Texas)
University of Calgary (Calgary, Alberta, Canada)
University of Louisville, Ball State University and University of Kentucky (Louisville, Ky.; Muncie, Ind.; and Lexington, Ky.)
University of Nevada Las Vegas (Las Vegas, Nev.)
University of Southern California (Los Angeles, Calif.)
Vienna University of Technology (Vienna, Austria)
West Virginia University (Morgantown, W. Va.)

Follow the progress of Solar Decathlon 2013 on Facebook, Twitter, and U.S. Department of Energy website. To learn more about the Solar Decathlon and take a virtual tour of Solar Decathlon 2011, visit the Solar Decathlon website.

DOE's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy invests in clean energy technologies that strengthen the economy, protect the environment, and reduce America's dependence on foreign oil. The Solar Decathlon supports the Administration's goal of creating a clean energy economy, while saving American families and businesses money and reducing our dependence on fossil fuels. Learn more on the Solar Decathlon website.

Originally posted on Energy.gov. View original.

New Lighting Facts Label: Takes the Guess Work Out of Shopping for Light Bulbs

2012-01-25T03:52:00-08:00

If you're like me, it sometimes feels overwhelming standing at the store and staring at a big wall of light bulbs, trying to understand all the lighting choices. With new lighting standards taking effect this year, now's a great time switch to energy-saving incandescent, CFL, and LED light bulbs, which are available in most hardware and home improvement retailers. They all are more energy-efficient than traditional incandescent bulbs, and upgrading 15 of the inefficient incandescent light bulbs in your home could save you about $50 per year.

I've learned that when I'm shopping for light bulbs, it's most important to compare lumens to be sure I'm getting the amount of light, or level of brightness, I want. More lumens means it's a brighter light; fewer lumens means it's a dimmer light.

The brightness, or lumen levels, of the lights in your home may vary widely, so here's a rule of thumb:

To replace a 100-watt (W) incandescent bulb, look for a bulb that gives you about 1600 lumens. If you want something dimmer, go for less lumens; if you prefer brighter light, look for more lumens.
Replace a 75 W bulb with an energy-saving bulb that gives you about 1100 lumens.
Replace a 60 W bulb with an energy-saving bulb that gives you about 800 lumens.
Replace a 40 W bulb with an energy-saving bulb that gives you about 450 lumens.

To help people like you and me better understand the switch from watts to lumens, the Federal Trade Commission will require a new product label for light bulbs in the coming months. It will help people buy the light bulbs that are right for them.

Example of a Lighting Facts label.

The Lighting Facts label will help consumers understand what they are really purchasing. The label clearly provides the lumens—or brightness—of the bulb, the estimated operating cost for the year, and the color of the light (from warm/yellowish, to white to cool/blue).

Download our placard Lumens: the new way to shop for light to see how to use the Lighting Facts label to buy the right light bulb for your needs.

For more information:

View the Energy 101: Lighting Choices video
Learn about the new lighting standards and how they affect you
Find out how to shop for energy-efficient lighting
Get answers to frequently asked questions.

Chris Stewart is a senior communicator at DOE's National Renewable Energy Laboratory, which assists EERE in providing technical content for many of its websites.

Seasonal Tips

2012-01-23T09:30:00-08:00

I’ve often wished I lived in one of those fabulous places where it’s 72 degrees and sunny year-round. But unfortunately, most of us don’t. And to stay comfortable, we need heat and hot coffee in the winter, and air-conditioning and lemonade in the summer. Luckily, part of the Energy Savers site is dedicated to helping us save energy during all four seasons.

Bring up the dedicated Energy Savers seasonal website and learn great ways to reduce your energy bill. Tips range from small changes you can make immediately, such as closing your drapes, to information on modifications you can make to your home for even larger benefits. There is even information on assistance for energy-savings improvements to your home.

On the page you’ll also find the Weekly Tips widget, with fresh tips on how to stay warm and toasty without your heating bill skyrocketing. Imagine if you utilized one easy tip a week, the savings could have a tremendous effect on your energy costs! The widget is downloadable as well, so improve your personal webpage or blog with the weekly tips, and spread the savings!

So even though I’m not spending the winter on a sunny beach in Hawaii, I’m going to make a cup of hot cocoa, and learn how to make my energy bill much brighter.

Amanda McAlpin works for New West Technologies supporting the Vehicle Technologies Program at the U.S. Department of Energy.

Have You Ever Tried Composting?

2012-01-20T08:07:00-08:00

This week, Erin talked about how she's helping her parents (and learning from them) as they maintain an outdoor compost pile. By composting, you can nourish your garden for very little cost while keeping organic garbage out of sewer systems and city dumps. Compost materials range from food scraps to worms, and you can keep your compost in an open pile outdoors or in a specialized container.

Of course, composting isn't just for homes - you can also participate in composting at the office.

Whether at work or at home, indoors or outdoors, worms or food scraps: Have you ever tried composting? Why or why not?

Each week, you have the chance to share your thoughts on a question or frequently-asked-question about energy efficiency or renewable energy for consumers. Please comment with your answers, and also feel free to respond to other comments.