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Win it in a minute: Conserve resources with home energy management. Gina Peek, Ph.D . R. Scott Frazier, Ph.D., P.E. July 2, 2012 NEAFCS Webinar. OHCE and Win it in a Minute!. RESOURCE MANAGEMENT STATE GOALS – 2012 Focus Area I: “Kick It Up A Notch”
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Win it in a minute:Conserve resources with home energy management Gina Peek, Ph.D. R. Scott Frazier, Ph.D., P.E. July 2, 2012 NEAFCS Webinar
OHCE and Win it in a Minute! • RESOURCE MANAGEMENTSTATE GOALS – 2012 • Focus Area I: “Kick It Up A Notch” • Objective: Increase positive consumer practices and actions. • Win it in a minute – a program to teach consumers how to take quick steps to reduce energy costs.
A few words on Issue Teams… Issue Scan Results Go green, be eco-friendly, recycle Sustainable environment Medium term (behavior adopted): Increase number of Oklahomans who increase energy efficiency Increase the number of Oklahomans who maintain, conserve and protect natural resources (air, land, water) Long term change: Oklahomans will prevent/decrease the degradation of their environments
There are environmental and fiscal benefits associated with ‘going green.’ There are many simple no and low-cost actions which may be taken to reduce energy usage without sacrificing comfort. In fact, many of these things takeless than one minute! Win it in a minute with home energy management!
Did you know that the typical U.S. family spends about $1,900 a year on home utility bills? Source: US Department of Energy
Did you know that the typical U.S. family spends about $1,900 a year on home utility bills?Unfortunately, a large portion of that energy is wasted… Source: US Department of Energy
Some ways to save ENERGY • Set water heater temperature to 120 degrees • Use blinds in summer on south facing windows glass doors • Turn off lights not needed (including outside lights) • Weather strip doors and windows • Close doors to outside and ventilate when possible • Open windows in nice weather • Run full clothes wash/dry loads • Install and use a programmable thermostat • Turn off computers not needed (activate Energy Star options in Windows, idle mode etc.) • Replace incandescent light bulbs (compact fluorescent bulbs, LEDs, or newer models) • Unplug anything that draws current to power (ex. cell phone charger) when not in use • Unplug battery chargers not being used • Install air blocker in all light switch fixtures and power outlets in house • Make sun-tea • Use hot pasta water for soup • Put dog on treadmill hooked to small generator
Our focus today… ENERGY • Set water heater temperature to 120 degrees • Use blinds in summer on south facing windows glass doors • Turn off lights not needed (including outside lights) • Weather strip doors and windows • Close doors to outside and ventilate when possible • Open windows in nice weather • Run full clothes wash/dry loads • Install and use a programmable thermostat • Turn off computers not needed (activate Energy Star options in Windows, idle mode etc.) • Replace incandescent light bulbs (compact fluorescent bulbs, LEDs, or newer models) • Unplug anything that draws current to power (ex. cell phone charger) when not in use • Unplug battery chargers not being used • Install air blocker in all light switch fixtures and power outlets in house • Make sun-tea • Use hot pasta water for soup • Put dog on treadmill hooked to small generator
Let’s concentrate on the “important few” for average consumers
How We Use Energy in Our Homes Source: Energy Star.gov Data: Typical House memo, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, 2009 and Typical house_2009_Reference.xls spreadsheet.
BIG IMPACT stuff to do in a minute (or a few minutes) to control space heating • Set the heat to 68 degrees when you are at home; set it lower when you are away and at night • Consider using a programmable thermostat Source: http://www.energysavers.gov/your_home/space_heating_cooling/index.cfm/mytopic=12720
WAIT A MINUTE! • Aren’t you just wasting energy when you’re adjusting the thermostat so much? • Isn’t lots of energy being wasted bringing the house back to temperature? It takes too long for the house to warm up!
Thermostat Controls • Setting the temperature a few degrees down (or up in summer) for extended periods can save energy • Easily done with programmable thermostats
MORE BIG IMPACT stuff to do in a minute (or a few minutes) to control space heating • Check insulation levels in your attic • If you can see rafters, you need more insulation • Put on a sweater!
MORE BIG IMPACT stuff to do in a minute (or a few minutes) to control space heating • Check for hidden leaks • Think about the building envelope! • Consider holes, cracks, drafts, etc. • Check for obvious air leaks: Flashlight method; feather; incense stick
EVEN More Ways to Reduce Space Heating Costs • Change filters • Close damper • Schedule tune-ups • Schedule duct work inspection
One more thing! • Check the operation of your heating and cooling system with a fairly simple test…
Let’s take a moment… Please name one thing that you would be willing to do to save home heatingenergy! Please take a moment and write down your answer
Let’s take a moment… Please name one thing that you would be willing to do to save home heatingenergy! Please fill in evaluation
Space cooling • Remember last summer? Photo: ENERGY STAR
BIG IMPACT stuff to do in a minute (or a few minutes) to control space cooling • Set the air to 78 degrees when you are at home; set it higher when you are away and at night http://www.energysavers.gov/tips/thermostats.cfm
MORE IMPACT stuff to do in a minute (or a few minutes) to control space cooling • Basically … The same principles from space heating applies to space cooling! • Check for hidden leaks • Change filters • Close damper • Schedule tune-ups • Schedule duct work inspection
Let’s take a moment… Please name one thing that you would be willing to do to save home cooling energy! Please take a moment and write down your answer
Cadwalader Grant • Petrova and Peek • 4 focus groups (NE, SE, NW, SW) • N = 28 • Student involvement • 11 patterns developed • Watch for a new, fun, hands-on leader lesson!
Lighting Original art by Sydney Brown
BIG IMPACT stuff to do in a minute (or a few minutes) to control lighting • Use more efficient bulbs Photo: National Archives
Making a sustainable choice:Incandescents • Only about 8% of the energy they use creates visible light. • The rest of the energy is wasted as heat!
Making a sustainable choice:Compact fluorescents (CFLs) • About 21% of the energy they use creates visible light. • Most of our energy comes from coal-fired power plants that put mercury into the environment. • Even though CFLs contain a tiny bit of mercury, they reduce the overall amount of mercury that goes into the environment by using less energy.
Making a sustainable choice: Light emitting diodes (LEDs) • About 20-30% of the energy they use creates visible light. • LED technology is changing rapidly. • Check the stores often for new products as they hit the shelves!
When shopping for bulbs … • To make certain that you are choosing a quality product • Choose bulbs with the ENERGY STAR logo • Choose bulbs from a reputable manufacturer
When shopping for bulbs… what the package can tell you • How much power does the bulb use? Power usage is measured in watts. The greater the wattage, the more power used. • How bright is the light? Brightness is measured in lumens. The larger the number, the more lumens, the brighter the light. Think in lumens… This tells you how much light you are actually getting • How long does the bulb last? Average lifespan is measured in hours. All of these things can tell you how much the lighting really costs!
MORE IMPACT stuff to do in a minute (or a few minutes) to control lighting • Keep the fixtures and the light bulbs clean… Dirty bulbs reduce illumination! • Use daylighting
Let’s take a moment… Please name one thing that you would be willing to do to save home lightingenergy! Please take a moment and write down your answer