Refrigerators and Freezers

• Keep Condenser coils clean and unobstructed for maximum energy savings.

• Locate your refrigerator or freezer away from heating equipment, heater vents and direct sunlight. Provide adequate clearance above, behind and on the sides for good air circulation.

• Set the temperature of your refrigerator between 37°F and 40°F and your freezer at 0°F for top efficiency. The Food and Drug Administration also recommends these settings to prevent rapid bacterial growth.

• Clean door gaskets with warm water or a detergent that leaves no residue since a tight-sealing door gasket is critical to the efficiency of your refrigerator.

• Keep your refrigerator or freezer full, but do not overload it. Overloading caused the compressor to have to run longer. Place foods slightly apart on shelves, making sure they do not block the unit’s interior air vents.

• Cover all liquids stored in the refrigerator. Moisture can be drawn into the air, making the unit work harder.

• When shopping for a refrigerator, look for ENERGY STAR® labeled models. The energy Guide label tells how much electricity it will use in a year. Refrigerators built prior to 1990 can use two to three times more energy as a high-efficiency one built today.

• Top-freezer models are typically the most efficient. The Department of Energy indicated that typically the most energy-efficient models are within the 16-20 cubic feet size.

• When determining the appropriate size refrigerator for your home, the rule of thumb is 8 to 10 cubic feet of refrigerator compartment space for two adults. Add an extra cubic foot of refrigerator space for each additional member of the house hold.

• Features like automatic ice-makers and through-the-door water and ice service add 10-25 percent to the cost of operation. Models with these features typically also have higher repair rates.

Dishwashers
Washing and rinsing dishes by hand three times a day actually used more hot water and energy than one load a day in an automatic dishwasher. Here are some tips for operating your dishwasher efficiently:

• Run your dishwasher only when it is filled to capacity, but not overloaded. This will cut the costs of energy, water and detergent.

• Use partial-load cycles, rinse-only cycles, mid-cycle turn-offs and other special features designed for better energy use and more convenience.

• Choose the shortest wash cycle that will clean your dishes, and scrape off heavy food accumulated before loading dishes into the dishwasher.

• Wait to use your dishwasher until night on hot days. You will avoid adding heat in the house during the hottest time of the day.

• When shopping for a dishwasher, look for features that will reduce water use, such a booster heaters and smart controls. Ask how many gallons of water the dishwasher used during different cycles. Dishwashers that use the least amount of water will cost the least to operate. Look for ENERGY STAR® models with consumption of 575kwh or less.

Cooking Appliances

• If you have both a large and small oven, use the smaller one whenever possible.

• Save time and energy by using one oven to prepare the entire meal. A pie or cake can go into the oven as a main dish is removed.

• Warming foods, plates and platters with the oven’s stored heat after baking, requires no energy. If the food must be kept warm for an extended period of time, set the oven no higher than 140°F to 200°F.

• Consider using a microwave oven, small portable electric frying pan, grill or toaster/broiler instead of the oven.

• Cook by time and temperature. Precise timing eliminates repeated opening of the oven door to check on cooking progress. Each time the door is opened, the temperatures drops 25°F to 50°F.

• Choose pots and pans that evenly cover the heating elements. Use pans with flat bottoms, straight sides and tight-fitting lids that hold heat and permit lower settings.

• Use a slow cooker to crockpot to cook stews and single-dish meals.

• When shopping for a new oven, consider self-cleaning ovens which have more insulation. They hold in heat better and cost less to use.

• Calrod burners use less energy than sold disk electric elements. Halogen burners offer better temperature controls as well as energy savings.

Clothes Washer

• Wash with warm or coldwater rather than hot. Rinse all loads with cold water.

• Run full loads. Reduce the water level setting for small loads.

• When shopping for a washer, look for the following design features that will help clothes washers cut water usage: Water level controls, “suds-saver” features, spin cycle adjustments and large capacity. For double the efficiency, buy ENERGY STAR® resources efficient unit. You will benefit from the fact that it used 60 % less energy and 40% less water and less detergent.

Clothes Dryer

• Hang clothes outside when it is sunny.

• Clean lint filter after every load.

• Run separate loads for fast and slow-drying clothes.

• When purchasing a new dryer, look for humidity or moisture drying control which can reduce costs by 10-15%. “Tumble action” reverse the spin direction during the cycle and dries clothed 10% faster. Also look for an ENERGY STAR® labeled clothes dryer.

Home Sealing

DO YOU NEED HOME SEALING?

• Are your energy bills high?
  Typically, more than half your energy bill goes to heat and cool your home. Home Sealing can help lower your energy bill.

If you answered yes to any of the questions above ENERGY STAR Home Sealing may be right for you

Why is air sealing important?
Ceiling, wall, and floor systems with insulation generally provide barriers to outside air coming into the home. However, small gaps, cracks, and spaces that are not closed around penetrations will allow uncontrolled outside air from entering temperature-controlled spaces. You will feel air infiltration from larger gaps as drafts that make a room uncomfortable. To detect smaller cracks that affect the energy efficiency of your home, you may need to hire a professional contractor who uses a blower door and other tools to determine the location of air leakage.

Information: www.energystar.gov, Home Sealing, 2002.

Why is insulation important?

The proper type and level of insulation for your home provides a continuous thermal barrier minimizing heat flow through the walls, ceiling, and floor. The result is a more comfortable home and reduced heating and cooling costs. Installing insulation properly is as important as the type and level of insulation because gaps, voids, compressions, and moisture reduce the effectiveness of insulation and allow unconditioned air to enter your home. (See table of insulation levels)

Climate	Heating System	Insulation
		Ceiling	Wood Frame Walls	Floor	Basement/Crawl Space Walls
Cold Environment	gas/oil	R-38 to R-49	R-11 to R-22	R-25	R-11 to R-19
	heat pump or electric resistance	R-49	R-11 to R-28	R-25	R-13 to R-19

Insulation level is specified by R-Value. R-Value is a measure of insulation's ability to resist heat traveling through it. The higher the R-Value the better the thermal performance of the insulation. The table below shows what levels of insulation are cost-effective for different climates and locations in the home.

For more information provided by the Department of Energy see fact sheets on wall insulation and attic and ceiling insulation.

Want to learn how to replace your insulation on your own? Find out here.

Information: www.energystar.gov, Home Sealing, 2002.

Windows

If all residential windows in the United States were replaced with ENERGY STAR qualifying models, the nation would save $134 billion in energy costs over the next 15 years. Using new technology in frame materials, glass coatings, design, and gas fills, today's ENERGY STAR qualified window products help achieve significant heating and cooling cost savings.

Earning the ENERGY STAR

ENERGY STAR qualified windows, doors, and skylights can help reduce your utility bills up to 15%.

ENERGY STAR qualified window products also provide protection against sun damage to fabrics in your home.

Remember, saving energy prevents pollution.
To achieve maximum energy and pollution savings, keep these things in mind when shopping for windows:

• Window products are tailored to fit the energy needs of the country's three main climate regions: Northern, Central, and Southern. Learn how to select the best window product for your home.

• Window performance is based on the following factors:
  • U-factor: The rate of heat transfer either from your home or the outside through your window, door, or skylight. A lower U-factor means less heat is transferred.
  • Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC): How much heat your house gains from the sun. A lower SHGC results in less heat gain from the sun.

• All ENERGY STAR qualified window products also bear a label from the National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC), which provides independent energy performance ratings by product for U-factor, Solar Heat Gain Coefficient, and Visible Transmittance.
  

 

Information: www.energystar.gov, Home Sealing, 2002.

Room Air Conditioners

Replacing a 10-year-old room air conditioner with a new ENERGY STAR qualified model could save up to $20 a year on electricity.

Earning the ENERGY STAR means a product meets strict energy efficiency guidelines set by the US Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Energy.

ENERGY STAR qualified room air conditioners use at least 10% less energy than conventional models.
Remember, saving energy prevents pollution. By choosing ENERGY STAR, you are helping prevent global warming and promoting cleaner air without sacrificing the product quality and performance you expect.

You may also be interested to know that many people buy an air conditioner that is too large. ENERGY STAR suggests making sure your unit is properly sized.

Set-Top Boxes

Set-top boxes that meet the ENERGY STAR specification consume up to 20% less electricity than a conventional set-top box while delivering the same quality and features.

Earning the ENERGY STAR

Set-top boxes that have qualified for the ENERGY STAR have improved performance features that help save energy normally lost when the product is not in use.

A wide range of devices including cable boxes, satellite receivers, Internet access devices, and video game consoles meet ENERGY STAR criteria. With the exception of cable boxes, ENERGY STAR qualified models will soon be available through local retailers. To find an ENERGY STAR qualified cable box, contact your local cable operator.

Remember, saving energy prevents pollution.. ENERGY STAR qualified set-top boxes cost about the same as conventional models, but are better for the environment because they save energy - so you can save without sacrifice.

Answering Machines & Phones

If all cordless phones, answering machines, and combination units sold in the US during the next ten years were ENERGY STAR qualified, consumers would save $4.4 billion on their electricity bills.

Earning the ENERGY STAR means a product meets strict energy efficiency guidelines set by the US Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Energy.
Cordless phones, answering machines, and combination units that have earned the ENERGY STAR perform much more efficiently than conventional units and use about one-third of the energy.

These products use less energy by incorporating improved energy performance features such as switch mode power supplies, "smart" chargers, and improved circuit design.

Remember, saving energy prevents pollution. By choosing ENERGY STAR, you are helping prevent global warming and promote cleaner air without sacrificing the product quality and performance you expect.

TVs, VCRs, & Combination Units

If half of all US households replaced their regular TV with an ENERGY STAR model, the change would be like shutting down a power plant.

Earning the ENERGY STAR means a product meets strict energy efficiency guidelines set by the US Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Energy.

ENERGY STAR qualified TVs, VCRs and combination units use about 25% less energy than standard units.

Remember, saving energy prevents pollution. By choosing ENERGY STAR, you are helping prevent global warming and promote cleaner air without sacrificing the product quality and performance you expect.

DVD & Home Audio

Americans spend more money to power home audio and DVD products when turned off than when actually in use.
Earning the ENERGY STAR means products meet strict energy efficiency guidelines set by the US Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Energy.
When they're off, ENERGY STAR qualified audio and DVD products use as little as one quarter of the energy used by standard models.
Remember, saving energy prevents pollution. By choosing ENERGY STAR, you are helping prevent global warming and promote cleaner air without sacrificing the product quality and performance you expect.

Lighting
While your home’s lighting uses less energy than heating, cooling and water-heating, you can still reap considerable energy savings by making a few changes.

• Place compact fluorescent bulbs in light fixtures that are most frequently used (those operated more than three hours per day) They draw about one-quarter the energy and can last 10 times as long. And many of the new bulbs fit into standard screw-in socket fixtures.
• Keep lights off in unoccupied rooms and get in the habit of turning off the light every time you leave a room for more than a few minutes.
• Use low-wattage bulbs when you can. Bright lights are often not needed in hallways or closets.
• Clean light bulbs and fixtures since dirt can reduce light output by as much as 10 percent.
• Remove unnecessary bulbs in track and recessed lighting. Positioned correctly, three bulbs can sometimes provide nearly the same light as four.
• Install electronic dimmers in areas where they make sense, like the dining room and bedroom. The amount you dim equals your energy saved. For example, lights dimmed 15 percent reduces energy consumption up to 15 percent.
• When working at a desk or work bench, use task lighting. Other light in the room could be turned off or dimmed.

Compact Fluorescent Replacement Chart
Incadescent Wattage Replace With	Compact Fluorescent Wattage
40-60 watt	13-15 watt
60-75 watt	18-22 watt
75-100 watt	23-27 watt
100-150 watt	30 watt

Lighting Controls

Photocells (Daylight Sensors)

If you want lighting on at night for safety reasons, consider photocells (daylight sensors), which automatically turn lights on at dusk and off at dawn. For $10 or less, you can buy a screw-in adapter for either inside or outside lights. Also consider timer if light only have to be on part of the night.

Motion Sensors
A motion sensor can detect movement in an area and turn on lights. Then sensors cost about $25 and are handy for areas like workshops or laundry rooms, where you often have your hands full when coming into the room making it difficult to fumble for the light switch in the dark. The sensors will also turn lights off if they haven’t detected motion for a certain period of time, usually three to 10 minutes.

Timers
For indoor lights, consider using timers to turn lights on and off when you’re away from home. Timers are plugged directly into a wall outlet and can be set so lights go on and off at specific times. You’ll have to adjust the settings throughout the year because of difference in daylight hours. Timers cost around $10 or less.
Inexpensive wall-switch timers are often used to control lights and fans in bathrooms. You operate them by turning the dial to set amount of time. When time expires, the lights and fan will turn off.

 

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