Whole House Energy Plan

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Insulation & Weatherization

A good insulation “system” reduces energy wasteA good insulation “system” is more than just insulationA small investment in an insulation system yields Increased comfort Reduced heating/cooling needs Save up to 30%

Weatherization Tips

Test your home for air tightness Caulk and weatherstrip doors and windowsCaulk and seal air leaks around plumbing, duct work, and electrical outlets/switch platesInstall gaskets behind outlet/switch plates

Sources of Air LeaksDoors11%

Windows10%

Electric Outlets2%

Floors, Walls, Ceilings31%

Fireplace14%

Fans & Vents4%

Plumbing Penetrations13%

Ducts15%

WeatherizationWindows

Windows provide views, daylighting, ventilation, and solar heatingAccount for 10% to 25% of your heating billIn summer, a sunny window can make the air conditioner work 3 times harder

WeatherizationWindows

Single pane windows allow for faster heat transfer of conditioned airReplace single pane windows with insulated windowsInstall storm windowsInstall shrink fit window insulation kit, if replacing windows or adding storm windows is not an option

WeatherizationWindows

Curtains or draperies reduce heat loss or gain through windowsAdd mini-blinds to block out sunlight in the summerOpen curtains on south facing walls to allow sunlight into the home during the winter

WeatherizationFireplace

Keep fireplace damper closed when it is not in use Keeping the damper open is like having a

48-inch window open all the time

Install tempered glass and/or a heat-air exchange system, if possibleCheck the seal on the flue damperAdd caulking around the fireplace hearth

WeatherizationHeating and Cooling Systems

Have heating and cooling systems serviced at least once a yearSet your thermostat at 68° in the winter and 78° in the summerClean or replace filters monthlyKeep curtains on south facing walls open during the winter

WeatherizationHeating and Cooling Tips

Check duct work to make sure it is insulated and intactKeep furniture and curtains from blocking air registersClose unoccupied rooms that are isolated from the rest of the houseWhen replacing the heating system, replace with a more efficient unit

WeatherizationHeat Pump Heating Tips

Be careful not set the thermostat back too far -- this will cause the backup heat to cycle on.Do not close vents in unoccupied

rooms -- this could damage the system

WeatherizationFans and Vents

Use ceiling fans to circulate airUse exhaust fans in bathrooms and kitchen sparingly These fans can exhaust a house full of

conditioned air in 24 hours

Appliances

Account for about 20% of household energy consumption Refrigerators and clothes dryers top

the list

When purchasing new appliances, consider Price Annual operating cost

AppliancesLaundry

Eighty to 85% of the energy used for washing clothes is for heating the waterUse cold or warm, not hot, waterThe cost of drying a load of laundry in an electric dryer is 30 to 40 cents per load compared to 15 to 25 cents per load in a gas dryer

AppliancesLaundry Tips

Wash clothes in cold water whenever possibleWash and dry full loadsDry towels and heavier cottons separate from lighter-weight clothesDon’t over dry your clothesClean the lint trap after every load Use the cool down cycle if your dryer has one

AppliancesWater Heating

The third largest energy expense in the home Typically accounts for about 14% of utility

bill

Four ways to cut the water heating bill: use less hot water turn down the thermostat insulate your water heater tank buy a newer, more efficient unit

AppliancesWater Heating Tips

Repair leaky faucets, especially hot water leaksInsulate the hot water linesInsulate the hot water storage tankSet the thermostat to 115 degreesDrain a quart of water from your tank every 3 months to remove sediment

AppliancesRefrigerators and Freezers

Do not keep the refrigerators or freezers “too cold” Recommended settings:

37° to 40 ° for the fridge 5 ° for the freezer.

Check door seal for airtight sealCover liquids and wrap foodsPeriodically clean condenser coils

AppliancesKitchen Tips

When getting small amounts of water use cold waterKeep range-top burners and reflectors cleanUse covered kettles and pots when boiling water or cookingTurn the burners off several minutes before the allotted cooking timeUse the right size pot on the right size burner

AppliancesKitchen Tips

Use toaster ovens and microwave ovens when ever it is convenient Toaster and microwave ovens use

around $.11 cents per day compared to a range at $.24 per day

In gas appliances, look for the blue flameIf purchasing a new gas range, consider one that offers electric ignition rather than a standing pilot light

Lighting

Increasing lighting efficiency easily decreases energy billsReplace 25% of the lights in high use areas with fluorescent lighting can save about 50% on the lighting energy billUse lower wattage bulbs

LightingIndoor Lighting Tips

Turn off the lights in rooms that are not being usedUse task lighting, instead of whole room lightingUse compact fluorescent bulbsDuring the day, open curtains and draperies to allow in daylight

LightingOutdoor Lighting Tips

Use outdoor lighting that uses photocell or timers to turn them off during the dayInstall motion detectors on outdoor security lighting that will turn the light on when neededUse the lowest wattage bulb that will give you the coverage that you need

Landscaping

Carefully positioned trees can save up to 25% of a typical household’s energy for heating and coolingLandscaping is a natural and beautiful way to keep a house more comfortable.According to DOE: 3 properly place trees can save between $100 to $250 per year

Whole House Energy Planning

Conduct a systematic audit of key areas Insulation Windows Heating and cooling systems Water heater Vents and fans Kitchen appliances Lighting Landscaping

Whole House Energy Plan

Make improvements as neededEven small improvements yield results: Investment Savings Comfort