Recomendations
Conservation:
The most effective and cheapest of measure of energy efficiency is to simply cut back on usage. It has a real and immediatConservation:
The most effective and cheapest of measure of energy efficiency is to simply cut back on usage. It has a real and immediate pay off. Many of the recommendations in this report are methods to keep your house as comfortable as possible with using less energy. It is not my intention for my customers do with less. It is my goal to provide my customers with methods and strategies to do more with less.
Use the switch:
I cannot think of any other thing that will help the bottom line of an electricity bill more than simply turning it off. If you are not using it turn it off. This is so simple yet so powerful.
Infiltration:
Having unconditioned air infiltrating your house can have a host of negative effects. I recommend that you caulk the top and bottom of all baseboards. The flue for your water heater also needs to be sealed. The attic access should be a priority as well. Check all plumbing penetrations even under cabinets and seal them. Inspect the entire attic space and look for any penetrations and seal them. Inspect all HVAC penetrations and seal them as needed. You have excellent crawlspace access. From under the building check all electrical and plumbing penetrations and seal them. Should you not replace your windows inspect and caulk them as needed. The doors weather stripping should be inspected and repaired or replaced as needed.
Windows:
For most homeowners new windows are the most appreciated upgrade in an older home. They also provide more comfort and energy efficiency. They are also costly. Good window covers compliment good windows and provide privacy as well as reduce solar gain.
Insulation:
Few upgrades will give you more bang for buck like insulation. It is by far the best thing you can do for your home. It will produce a more comfortable environment and will pay for itself if you use your HVAC system. Most homeowners comment on how much noise is reduced after this upgrade.
Solar Hot Water:
No other upgrade will reduce your carbon footprint more. Depending on the cost and usage this system should pay for itself in three to five years, making a wise economic choice as well. You have excellent southern exposure on your roof. It is wise to have a roofing contractor inspect the roof before the system is installed. Mounting a new panel on an old roof can be a problem.
PV:
Photovoltaics are a wonderful technology they provide clean sustainable energy. PV is expensive. If you can reduce your energy consumption you can reduce your cost for the system.
HVAC:
Energy Star HVAC units with high SEER ratings save a lot of energy. Especially if you often cool your house. Sealing your ducting system is the easiest and best way to save on your energy bill for heating and cooling. Wasted energy heating or cooling your attic comes out of your pocket book. Gaps in the system can cause other ill effects like pulling unconditioned air from your attic and distributing through your home. This will also produce inefficiency in the unit itself. Have the thermostat set to levels that do not stress the system and your budget. Do not run the systems at night if possible. Buy a programmable thermostat if you want your house hot or cold at certain times. Having a qualified technician to a preventive maintenance check up is always a good idea. Change your filter as the manufacturer specifications.
Attic Fans and Crawlspace Fans:
Attic fans can reduce your cooling loads in the summer and keep fresh air circulating in the attic. I have used one for years and noticed and immediate difference in the summer months. I like the solar fan which is quiet and turns off and on automatically. Infiltration issues must be addressed before their installation
Crawlspace fans:
Keeping the underside of your home dry can prevent a host of problems.
Shade:
Shade is often overlooked but can reduce the solar gain while providing natural beauty. This strategy is almost free and extremely effective. There is a program at the CCSE that you can get a free shade tree for your yard.
Lighting:
Furnishing your house with efficient lighting is easy and cost effective. Most people would agree that leaving the lights on in their car is a bad idea. The same principal applies for the house. Lights left on cost money no matter how efficient. CFL are a great choice as they are cheap and available in many different styles and light spectrums. L.E.D. lights are fantastic as they use even less watts than CFLs. The cost of these lights is high at this time. High efficiency lighting can have a major impact on your monthly bill.
Vampire loads:
There are many modern products in our home that are slowly bleeding watts away. A power strip can cure your home of this ailment. Items such as TV set and all the items that go with them can be put on a power strip and turn off when not in use. The same goes for the computer items including routers printer and the like. It should be noted that some manufacturers do not recommend this. I have done it with no ill effect personally. I do not own state of the art equipment so I am at less risk than many. Use common sense when approaching this task. It does not make sense to ruin a $ 5,000 television set to save pennies on your electric bill.
Energy Star Appliances:
Today we have many options in the market place. Choosing an Energy Star product is a great idea. The market has demanded a standard and the EPA teamed up with the DOE to launch this program. Products with the energy star label save 10 to 50 percent more than their counterparts. This makes sense for the environment and for your pocketbook. These savings over time should outweigh the extra cost of the appliances. As a bonus many Energy Star products come with a rebate, a real win win situation.
Refrigerators:
Refrigerators are one of the biggest power consumers in most homes. They are always running. If you own a pre 1993 refrigerators do yourself and the environment a favor and get rid of it. I believe SDG&E will pay you 50 dollars for your old refrigerator and pick it up. When shopping for a unit study the label. Find a unit that best fits your family and your lifestyle. Set the thermostat at a rate that makes sense to you.
If you have a refrigerator in your garage considers getting rid of it. This will have a huge impact on your energy consumption. Often the “ extra†refrigerator can be done without. A full refrigerator is more efficient as the storage mass in the food and beverages stores the cold better than empty space. If you entertain and use it for those occasions unplug it and put in a safe storage mode in between those times. The environment and your bank account will thank you.
Water Heater:
There are many choices for the consumer today. From the instantaneous units and high efficient standard units and Solar thermal units that produce hot water from sunshine. A water heater like a refrigerator is always in operation. Set the thermostat at 120 degrees and it will save you money and provide water hot enough for daily use in most homes.
Small Appliances:
Microwaves and toaster ovens are good energy wise. They use a lot of watts but for a short period of time. This makes there use effective energy wise. Coffee makers are wonderful. The warming pads I think are unnecessary. Buy a thermos or dust the one off you have in storage and put it to good use. Turn the unit off after it brews. The coffee in the thermos tastes better than the stale coffee on the burner and saves energy. If you need it warmer nuke it your still saving watts.
Dishwashers:
Energy efficient dishwashers use less water and less electricity making them a great choice for the environment. Using your dishwasher will always save more water than washing by hand. Turn off the pre heat and dry cycles and you will save even more.
Washing Machines:
Energy efficient washing machines wash more clothes with less water and less electricity.
Clothes Dryer
There are no Energy Star dryer on the market that I know of. That is because drying your clothes is costly energy wise. A gas unit will always be more effective than an electric unit. Here in San Diego we are blessed with good weather year round. Try line drying your clothes. This has other benefits. I have noticed that my clothing seems less beat up over time as it is not tumbling for 45 minutes after each wash and seem to last longer. Reuse your towel for bathing. You should be clean after each shower and this reduces both washing and drying loads. If your dryer is in your living space it is a good idea to open a window or door when you operate it. CFM in equals CFM out the dryer is going to pull it through like a freight train. You should control where this air is coming from and preventing unconditioned air finding it way in by any means possible