Energy Conservation in the Kitchen

Energy Efficient Kitchen The normal routines associated with the kitchen have different impacts on efficient energy use depending on the season: During the winter, the use of a gas or electric over/range actually contributes to the heat needed to keep the house warm, thereby potentially reducing the amount of space heating energy needed to maintain comfort throughout the home. Conversely, during...

Solar Air Heater – Supplement to Conventional Heating

Solar Panels As homeowners are considering measures to reduce energy consumption solar energy invariably becomes a topic of discussion. The challenge in taking the discussion to the next step is that building a new solar home or implementing an extensive retrofit of an existing home is extremely expensive and it is particularly daunting given the uncertainties regarding economic payback. There...

Home Energy Audits

Renewed interest in energy conservation is driven primarily by skyrocketing oil prices and societal emphasis on environmental stewardship. This focus has resulted in an increase in home energy audits. Making one’s home more energy efficient reduces its carbon footprint and potentially reduces the energy bill by as much as 30 percent. These audits are proving invaluable in identifying air leaks,...

Mobile Communications with Home Energy Management Systems

In previous articles we have addressed the topic of reducing home energy consumption by applying good insulation, installing double-paned glass and weather stripping; installing alternative energy technologies such as solar panels, and simply lessening the use of energy by turning off basic electronics and air conditioners when not needed. An important part of managing the use of energy includes...

Low Cost Suggestions to Improve Home Heating and Cooling Efficiency

With the continuing increase in energy costs, homeowners are increasingly aware of the importance of maximizing the energy efficiency of their heating and cooling systems. There are a number of tips and changes that do not require major investments that can be applied in support of this universal desire: Start with the Thermostat Figure 1- Typical Thermostat Ensure the thermostat is not...

Reducing Home Energy Costs

Figure 1 - Real U.S. Electricity Prices In reviewing the electricity price trends over the past 50 years (see Figure 1) the current average U.S. real electricity prices (in 2007 dollars) are at a level consistent with the industry’s lowest real levels experienced in the 1960s. These relatively low real electricity costs have had the general tendency to discourage energy efficiency initiatives...

Energy Star Heating and Cooling

ENERGY STAR Label-Energy Efficiency Heating and cooling accounts for almost half of the total energy used by a typical residential customer. Independent of specific purchasing decisions and the choices regarding the selection of heating and cooling equipment, there are a number of operating and maintenance activities consumers should do to maximize the efficiency of these devices These activities...

Low-Income Residential Electric Customers

Unpaid Electric Bills – A Growing Problem Collecting unpaid electric bills has become a major and growing challenge to electic utilities as the number of low or no-income customers grows with changing economic conditions. Since 2006, utilties have seen a 70 to 80 percent increase in their uncollectible receivables, requiring the industry to implement programs that rely on the collaboration...

Programmable Controllable Thermostats (PCT)

Programmable Controllable Thermostats (PCT), typically key elements to any energy efficiency initiatives, allow customers to save energy and money by offering programmed settings to regulate temperature, be it winter or summer, day or night. Studies indicate that the average annual energy bill for a typical household totals $2,200, half of which goes to heating and cooling the premises. Properly...

Energy Efficient Dishwashers

Advanced Technology uses Less Water and Energy The consumer appliance market is flooded with improved dishwasher models that apply advanced technology to clean dishes while using less water and energy. These technologies include Soil sensors that can actually test the cleanliness of dishes throughout the wash cycle and adjust the cycle to maximize cleaning while minimizing water and energy...