Valerie’s Final Project

1. Valerie’s Final Project

2. Saving Energy 7 Useful Tips to Implement in your site Valerie Henderson-Odell- Worcester HERC

3. Lighting • Saving lighting costs goes way beyond turning off the light switch when you leave the room—although that's still a good idea! Here are a number of low-cost actions you can take to save energy and money:

4. Compact Fluorescent Bulbs • For each standard incandescent bulb you replace with a compact fluorescent bulb, you can save from $10 or more on your electric costs over the life of the bulb. You get more hours of illumination (compact fluorescents have a life expectancy of 10,000 hours, compared to 750 to 900 hours for standard bulbs) and three to four times more lighting efficiency. Start by replacing bulbs that are on for more than three hours per day. You'll save time, effort and energy. • Use natural light whenever you can. Make the most of natural light by moving desks, reading chairs and work benches closer to windows. Keep in mind that lighter colors for walls, ceilings and floors reflect more sunlight.

5. Guidelines for Replacing Incandescent Bulbs with Fluorescent Bulbs National Grid- 2010

6. Cost Comparison National Grid-2010 60 Watts Reduced to 15 Watts = 45 Watt Reduction = $13.20 - $3.24 = $9.96 Savings per Year

7. Weather Stripping • Many older buildings, and even some newer ones, have numerous little cracks, holes and spaces through which, in the winter, warm air escapes and cold air enters. In the summer this works in reverse -- unwanted hot air enters and air conditioned air escapes. • All these little drafts of air can make your site uncomfortable in the winter and could cause ill health. Cold air entering the site means you have to raise the thermostat setting to keep warm. This forces the furnace to work harder and use more fuel to keep indoor air at a comfortable temperature.

8. Weather Stripping • In buildings that have been weatherized, air leaks account, on average, for 30-40% of the heat lost from the building. This is why making your site leakproof through steps such as weather-stripping is a step one should take to stop energy waste and save on fuel costs. • Weather-stripping is a narrow piece of metal, vinyl, rubber, felt or foam that seals the contact area between the fixed and movable sections of a joint. Weather-stripping prevents air infiltration around windows and doors by eliminating gaps between the frames and the moving parts when they are closed. All exterior doors, should be weatherized, as should all operable windows.

9. Weather stripping any gaps will pay for itself within one year in energy savings • Savings: The energy, time, and money you spend will pay for itself quickly - often in one winter! A thorough job of leak sealing can cut your site's total air leakage by 33-46% - reducing your heating bills up to 20%. This winter that could mean up to $300 or more in savings.

10. Caulking • Install caulking where there is none, and remove and replace worn-out caulking. • Use the highest quality caulking material; acrylics are easy to use and very long lived. • Check for foundation cracks

11. Inspect around the following for any cracks, and gaps that could cause air leaks ● Door and window frames ● Mail chutes ● Electrical and gas services entrances ● Cable TV and phone lines Outdoor water faucets ● Bricks, siding, stucco and foundation ● Air conditioners ● Vents and fans

12. Window Plastic ●One of the best ways to cut energy costs is to insulate windows before winter starts. This plastic window insulation provides extra protection against cold drafts. ●Window insulation kits are typically in stock at home supply and hardware stores, and, for less than ten dollars, you can usually get a kit that will insulate 5 standard size windows or at least one extra large window.They are available in shrink film, double sided tape adhesive and PVC channel. ● You can save up to $20 dollars per window per winter. (depending on furnace type and locale)

13. Insulation ●A properly insulated building will not only help reduce your heating and cooling costs but also make your site more comfortable. ●You need insulation in your building to provide resistance to heat flow. The more heat flow resistance your insulation provides, the lower your heating and cooling costs. ●A qualified energy auditor will include an insulation check as a routine part of a whole-building energy audit. An energy audit will also help identify areas of your home that are in need of air sealing.

14. Programmable Thermostats Did you know that properly using a programmable thermostat in your site is one of the easiest ways you can save energy, money, and help fight global warming? A programmable thermostat helps make it easy for you to save by offering four pre-programmed settings to regulate your site's temperature in both summer and winter and when you are away. The average household spends more than $2,200 a year on energy bills — nearly half of which goes to heating and cooling. Schools and businesses can spend 3-4 times that amount. Homeowners can save about $180 a year by properly setting their programmable thermostats and maintaining those settings, a site can save about $540 a year. You can save around 10% a year on your heating and cooling bills by simply turning your thermostat back 10°–15° for eight hours.

15. Advantages of a Programmable Thermostat ● Using a programmable thermostat, you can adjust the times you turn on the heating according to a pre-set schedule. As a result, you don't operate the equipment as much when your site is not occupied. ● Programmable thermostats can store and repeat multiple daily settings (six or more temperature settings a day) that you can manually override without affecting the rest of the daily or weekly program.

16. Energy Efficient Space Heaters ●Energy efficient space heaters are one of the best ways to cheaply lower your heating bill.  ● By lowering your sites’ thermostat only 5 degrees and employing the use of energy efficient space heaters in frequently used rooms you can lower your heating cost by 10% and eliminate 800 pounds of C02 emissions from the environment.  ●Space heaters will re-warm your space for a fraction of the cost associated with running the central heating. 

17. Portable Heaters ● Common fuels used in heaters are: electricity, propane, natural gas, and kerosene. ● Safety is a top consideration when using space heaters. ● Only purchase newer model heaters that have all of the current safety features. Make sure the heater has the Underwriter's Laboratory (UL) label attached to it. ● Choose a thermostatically controlled heaters, since they avoid the energy waste of overheating a room. ● Select a heater of the proper size for the room you wish to heat. Do not purchase oversized heaters. Most heaters come with a general sizing table. ● Locate the heater on a level surface away from foot traffic. Be especially careful to keep children and pets away from the heater.

18. Literature Cited National Grid Energy Savers- Gov/US Department of Energy Energy Star Useful Information Alliance to save energy, www.ase.org US DOE Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy, www.eere.energy.gov