Saving Energy in Your Home Presented by Jim Phillips, P.E., CEM, CEA, - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Saving Energy in Your Home Presented by Jim Phillips, P.E., CEM, CEA, GBE VP - Independent Energy Alternatives

Introduction  The Cost of Energy – how to read your electric, gas, & water bills  Energy Wasted – how energy is lost in your home (envelope, appliances, control)  Measuring Energy –devices that let you see how much electricity is used by appliances  Changing Behavior – thinking & becoming energy efficient – what you can do to lower energy usage or eliminate wasted energy  Measuring Results & Calculating Savings – a simple excel program to calculate energy & dollar savings 2

The Cost of Energy – reading your energy bills  Electric Meters 3

The Cost of Energy – reading your energy bills  Electric Meters 4

The Cost of Energy – reading your energy bills  Electric Bill 5

Residential Electric Energy Usage – one week

The Cost of Energy – reading your energy bills  Gas Meter

The Cost of Energy – reading your energy bills  Gas Meter 8

The Cost of Energy – reading your energy bills  Gas Bill 9

The Cost of Energy – reading your energy bills  Water Meter 10

The Cost of Energy – reading your energy bills  Water Bill 11

Energy Wasted  Building Envelope – Leaks & Insulation ◦ Attic/Roof/Floor  Insulate attic to R-49 (14”) – each inch to R-49 saves approx. $350/yr  Install Radiant Barriers (saves 15% of cooling bill)  Insulate Peer&Beam floors to R-25 (6”) ◦ Windows/Doors  Seal all cracks – a ǒ” wide 6’ long crack costs about $28 a year in lost AC cooling. ◦ Walls  Insulate walls to R-13 (3”)  Install electrical outlets & switches on exterior wall with sealers 12

Energy Wasted  Building Envelope – Insulation ◦ Research has found that, due to improper installation (gaps and misalignment), Batt Insulation often achieves less than one half of its rated R-value. ◦ Insulation must be in contact with the attic or wall surface to be insulated.  Chimney – chimney balloon keeps warm air from escaping up the chimney.  Windows – mist window and apply bubble wrap to the inside of the pane (bubbles against the glass).  Pools – install solar pool covers to reduce evaporation and heat pool 13

Energy Wasted  Building Envelope – Leaks & Insulation ◦ Piping & Ducts  Water Leaks – a slow drip = 36 gallon per day, costing approx. $187 annually for cold water; $270/yr for gas heated hot water; $444/yr for electric hot water A leak of 1 drip per second cost $1 per month  Low Flow Showers = 2.2 gpm – saves approx. 40%  Aerated faucets reduce water flow to 2.2 gpm or less  Air Duct Leaks – the loss of heated or cooled air (velocity x area x delta T x energy cost = Dollars lost)  Air Duct Insulation – eliminates the loss of heated or cooled air into the attic or under the home (1/R x area x delta T x energy cost = Dollars lost) 14

Energy Wasted  Building Envelope – Leaks ◦ Ducts  Leakage increases required HVAC size by about 40%  Supply leaks draw in hot, moist air, causing mold, and creating negative pressures  Return leaks bring air from attic or crawlspace and bypass filter grille, caussing dust, discomfort, backdrafting (CO), high bills, and mold 15

Energy Wasted  Appliances – High Efficiency ◦ AC units (13 SEER+) – each SEER improvement saves approx. $250/yr  Tonnage - Bigger is NOT Better  Causes short cycling  Reduced Life, Efficiency, Dehumidification, Filter Effectiveness ◦ Energy Star Appliances – are generally 40%+ more efficient than standard appliances ◦ LED or CFL light bulbs – reduces lighting costs over 50% and increase bulb life 300% ◦ Low Flow Toilets & Showers – reduces water flow 40+% ◦ Choose Gas over Electric Appliances – 1 to 4 cost ratio 16

Energy Wasted  Controls ◦ Programmable Thermostats  Raise/lower “away” temperature 10 degrees – each hour saves about $1.50  Raise/lower living temperature – each degree is worth 3%-6% in cooling/heating cost ◦ Hot Water Heater Settings  Set at 120°F (minimum due to germs)  Each 20°F reduction saves $17/yr (gas) $95/yr (elect) 17

Measuring Energy  Measuring Devices ◦ Kill-A-Watt Meter – used to test the energy use of plug-in appliances ◦ Blue Line Meter – monitors the electric meter, registering changes in energy usage and real time cost of energy usage ◦ Incense Sticks – place a lit stick near windows and doors. If the smoke moves, you have a leak. Seal it. ◦ Your nose – if you smell gas (rotten egg smell), leave the house and then call 911. 18

Changing Behavior  Turn it OFF ◦ Lights & Computers – 100 watts, 10 hrs/day, at 10±/kWh = 10±/day or $36.50/yr Use “smart” surge protectors.  Keep it CLEAN –filters and coils; air conditioner & furnace (savings of 15%)  COVER it UP – pools; roof turbines  Have it TESTED – AC & furnace  Keep a LIST ◦ Appliance maintenance dates ◦ Service companies & personnel 19

Measuring Results & Calculating Savings  Tracking your energy usage using your energy bills ◦ Benchmark – record your past year’s bills ◦ Make changes to more efficient appliances ◦ Record each month’s energy bill ◦ Look for changes – reduction in energy & cost  Use a simple excel program to record energy changes & calculate energy savings 20

Sample Excel Program ENERGY Management Program for: Name Enter data in Blue areas Location City/Zip Base Year Before Changes Electricity: Natural Gas: Year: 2012 Energy (kWh) Base Rate ($/kWh) Cost ($) Base Usage (MCF) Base Rate ($/MCF) Cost ($) Base January 701 $ 0.0959 $ 67.20 13.2 $ 8.3114 $ 109.71 February 505 $ 0.0977 $ 49.33 18.0 $ 7.5467 $ 135.84 March 506 $ 0.0976 $ 49.41 4.7 $ 10.9170 $ 51.31 April 587 $ 0.0967 $ 56.79 3.0 $ 12.0467 $ 36.14 May 933 $ 0.1054 $ 98.36 1.5 $ 14.3800 $ 21.57 June 1,027 $ 0.0990 $ 101.71 1.8 $ 14.1056 $ 25.39 July 1,238 $ 0.0964 $ 119.40 1.6 $ 16.1188 $ 25.79 August 1,323 $ 0.0987 $ 130.56 1.5 $ 17.4867 $ 26.23 September 1,077 $ 0.1000 $ 107.70 1.0 $ 20.7800 $ 20.78 October 638 $ 0.1138 $ 72.59 1.7 $ 14.3588 $ 24.41 November 591 $ 0.1157 $ 68.37 4.8 $ 10.7792 $ 51.74 December 573 $ 0.1165 $ 66.77 11.8 $ 9.1322 $ 107.76 Total: 9,699 $ 0.1028 $ 988.19 65 $ 12.9969 $ 636.67 21

Sample Excel Program ENERGY Management Program for: Name Enter data in Blue areas Location City/Zip Base Year Before Changes Electricity: Natural Gas: Water: Usage (MCF) Usage (gal) Year: 2012 Energy (kWh) Base Rate ($/kWh) Cost ($) Base Base Rate ($/MCF) Cost ($) Base Base Rate ($/kgal) Cost ($) Base January 701 $ 0.0959 $ 67.20 13.2 $ 8.3114 $ 109.71 4,000 $ 8.3925 $ 33.57 February 505 $ 0.0977 $ 49.33 18.0 $ 7.5467 $ 135.84 5,000 $ 7.6800 $ 38.40 March 506 $ 0.0976 $ 49.41 4.7 $ 10.9170 $ 51.31 4,000 $ 8.3925 $ 33.57 April 587 $ 0.0967 $ 56.79 3.0 $ 12.0467 $ 36.14 5,000 $ 7.6800 $ 38.40 May 933 $ 0.1054 $ 98.36 1.5 $ 14.3800 $ 21.57 5,000 $ 7.6800 $ 38.40 June 1,027 $ 0.0990 $ 101.71 1.8 $ 14.1056 $ 25.39 4,000 $ 8.3925 $ 33.57 July 1,238 $ 0.0964 $ 119.40 1.6 $ 16.1188 $ 25.79 11,000 $ 6.0109 $ 66.12 August 1,323 $ 0.0987 $ 130.56 1.5 $ 17.4867 $ 26.23 14,000 $ 5.4879 $ 76.83 September 1,077 $ 0.1000 $ 107.70 1.0 $ 20.7800 $ 20.78 12,000 $ 5.8075 $ 69.69 October 638 $ 0.1138 $ 72.59 1.7 $ 14.3588 $ 24.41 11,000 $ 6.0109 $ 66.12 November 591 $ 0.1157 $ 68.37 4.8 $ 10.7792 $ 51.74 9,000 $ 6.4133 $ 57.72 December 573 $ 0.1165 $ 66.77 11.8 $ 9.1322 $ 107.76 6,000 $ 7.2050 $ 43.23 Total: 9,699 $ 0.1028 $ 988.19 65 $ 12.9969 $ 636.67 90,000 $ 7.0961 $ 595.62 Next Year Following Changes Electricity: Natural Gas: Water: Usage (MCF) Usage (gal) Year: 2013 Energy (kWh) New Rate ($/kWh) Cost ($) New New Rate ($/MCF) Cost ($) New New Rate ($/kgal) Cost ($) New January #DIV/0! #DIV/0! #DIV/0! February #DIV/0! #DIV/0! #DIV/0! March #DIV/0! #DIV/0! #DIV/0! April #DIV/0! #DIV/0! #DIV/0! May #DIV/0! #DIV/0! #DIV/0! June #DIV/0! #DIV/0! #DIV/0! July #DIV/0! #DIV/0! #DIV/0! August #DIV/0! #DIV/0! #DIV/0! September #DIV/0! #DIV/0! #DIV/0! October #DIV/0! #DIV/0! #DIV/0! November #DIV/0! #DIV/0! #DIV/0! December #DIV/0! #DIV/0! #DIV/0! 22 Total: 0 #DIV/0! $ - 0 #DIV/0! $ - 0 #DIV/0! $ -