Weekly Wildcat Energy Tip

 

 

April 12, 2010

Mercury thermometer exchange program

The HHWF offers a mercury thermometer exchange program. If you have a mercury thermometer, bring it to the HHWF and exchange it for a non-mercury thermometer free of charge. Remember, even the most minor recycling step matters! Household Hazardous Waste Facility (HHWF) 39649 Grand Ave., North Branch, MN 55084 (651) 237-0912/213-8920

 

April 5, 2010

No matter what time of year it is, shades and blinds can reduce the use of your buildings heating/air conditioning systems.  Please remember to close you shades or blinds each night when you go home.  By doing this you are not only conserving energy, but also adding another level of security to your building.

March 29, 2010

Aluminum Can Recycling Facts

·         It takes 16 times more energy to make a new aluminum can than it does to recycle one.

·          A used aluminum can is recycled and back on the grocery shelf as a new can, in as little as 60 days.

• Used aluminum beverage cans are the most recycled item in the U.S., but other types of aluminum, such as siding, gutters, car components, storm window frames, and lawn furniture can also be recycled.

• Recycling one aluminum can saves enough energy to run a TV for three hours -- or the equivalent of a half a gallon of gasoline.

• An aluminum can that is thrown away will still be a can 500 years from now!

• We use over 80,000,000,000 aluminum soda cans every year.

• At one time, aluminum was more valuable than gold!

March 22, 2010

Use outdoor motion detectors and timers. Instead of leaving outdoor lights on all night while you sleep, let these handy devices turn them on only when they detect motion. Of course, that means they’ll come on for passing cars, waving flags and swaying branches, so position them carefully. With motion detectors, use the lowest wattage incandescent bulb that will do the job. If security is a concern, leave a low-wattage porch light on all night. For maximum security, use a high pressure sodium bulb on a timer or light sensor. Set the timer to come on at bedtime and go off at dawn. High-pressure sodium bulbs perform best when they’re on for long periods of time.

 

March 15, 2010

If everyone who purchased a clothes washer in 2009 choose an ENERGY STAR model, together we would have saved 975 million kilowatt-hours of electricity, 34 million Btu of natural gas, and 54 billion gallons of water. The electricity saved in one year would power every household in Washington, D.C., for 4 months. Enough water would be saved in one year to fill the Rose Bowl Stadium 638 times. 

The State of Minnesota’s new rebate program may be able to help you replace that old washer or another old home appliance.  Please see below for program information.

U.S. Department of Energy - Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy

Energy Savers

Minnesota Appliance Rebates

For more information, download the Minnesota state appliance program fact sheet PDF.
Download Adobe Reader.

The State of Minnesota will implement a mail-in rebate program to help residents replace older, inefficient appliances with new, ENERGY STAR® qualified appliances. The program is tentatively scheduled to begin in March 2010, and will continue until funds are depleted.

Eligible products include

·         Refrigerators

·         Freezers

·         Clothes washers

·         Dishwashers

Consumers are required to "self-certify" proper recycling of replaced clothes washers and dish washers. Consumer are required to provide proof of proper recycling of replaced refrigerators and freezers, and can receive higher rebates for doing so.

Contact: Minnesota Office of Energy Security

Total Funding: $5,009,000

March 1, 2010
Wasting water wastes electricity. Why? Because the biggest use of electricity in most cities is supplying water and cleaning it up after it's been used!

About 75 percent of the water we use in our homes is used in the bathroom. Unless you have a low flush toilet, for example, you use about five gallons to seven gallons of water with every flush! A leaky toilet can waste more than 10,000 gallons of water a year. Wow!

Drippy faucets are bad, too. A faucet that leaks enough water to fill a soda bottle every 30 minutes will waste 2,192 gallons of water a year.

Another simple way to save water AND energy is to take shorter showers. You'll use less hot water - and water heaters account for nearly 1/4 of your home's energy use.

When at school, please report any leaky faucets or toilets to your building custodian immediately.

 

February 22, 2010
Each computer in the district uses approximately $34.00 of electricity each year. Almost 75% of that cost is just to operate the monitor.  It cost our district over $30,000 annually to power our 900+ computers.  You can help reduce this cost by turn off

-       the monitor if you aren't going to use your PC for more than 20 minutes

-       both the CPU and monitor if you're not going to use your PC for more than 2 hours.

February 15, 2010
 Lighting accounts for 20% to 25% of all electricity consumed in the United States. An average household dedicates 5% to 10% of its energy budget to lighting, while commercial establishments and schools consume 20% to 30% of their total energy just for lighting.  If every classroom teacher was able to reduce their room lighting by 1/3 throughout the day they would save almost $40 in energy annually.  It does not seem like much when you only look at one room, but if every teacher were able to do this it would calculate to a $10,000 annual savings.

February 8, 2010
Did You Know...

From the EPA website, as published in the following report:
Municipal Solid Waste Generation,Recycling, and Disposal in the United States: Facts and Figures for 2006
All benefit calculations are derived from EPA’s WAste Reduction Model (WARM).

·         Recycling helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions. In 2006, the national recycling rate of 32.5 percent (82 million tons recycled) prevented the release of approximately 49.7 million metric tons of carbon into the air--roughly the amount emitted annually by 39 million cars, or saving energy equivalent to 10 billion gallons of gasoline.

·         In 2006, nearly 7 million tons of metals were recycled in the U.S. (aluminum, steel, and mixed metals), eliminating greenhouse gas emissions totaling close to 6.5 million metric tons of carbon equivalent. This is equivalent to removing more than 5 million cars from the road for one year.

·         Every ton of mixed paper recycled can save the energy equivalent of 185 gallons of gas.

·         Recycling just 1 ton of aluminum cans rather than throwing them away conserves more than 207 million BTUs, the equivalent of 36 barrels of oil or 1,655 gallons of gasoline.

From the National Recycling Coalition

·         If every American home replaced just one light bulb with an ENERGY STAR qualified bulb, we would save enough energy to light more than 3 million homes for a year, more than $600 million in annual energy costs, and prevent greenhouse gases equivalent to the emissions of more than 800,000 cars.

·         ENERGY STAR qualified bulbs use about 75 percent less energy than standard incandescent bulbs and last up to 10 times longer.

o    Save about $30 or more in electricity costs over each bulb's lifetime.

o    Produce about 75 percent less heat, so they're safer to operate and can cut energy costs associated with home cooling.

From the The Recycle Challenge

·         Recycling 1 aluminum can saves enough energy to run your TV for 3 hours.

·         Recycling aluminum cans saves 95% of the energy used to make cans from virgin ore.

From the Paper Industry Association Council

·         More than 36% of the fiber used to make new paper products in the United States comes from recycled sources. 

·         In 2006, a record 53.4 percent of the paper consumed in the U.S. was recovered for recycling. Americans recovered an extraordinary 53.5 million tons, averaging 360 pounds per person.

Other Sources

·         Americans threw away 38 billion plastic water bottles in 20061.

·         A million and a half barrels of oil - enough to fuel 100,000 cars for a year - were used to produce the bottles2.

1Fishman, Charles. "Message in a Bottle." Fast Company Magazine July 2007: 110.
2 Arnold, Emily, and Janet Larsen. "Bottled Water: Pouring Resources Down the Drain ." Earth Policy Institute. 2 Feb. 2006. 28 June 2007.

Why Recycle - Five Good Reasons

1.     Recycling conserves our valuable natural resources.

2.     Recycling saves energy.

3.     Recycling saves clean air and clean water.

4.     Recycling saves landfill space.

5.     Recycling can save money and create jobs.

February 1, 2010
What's a kilowatt?

When you use electricity to cook a pot of rice for 1 hour, you use 1000 watt-hours of electricity! One thousand watt-hours equals 1 kilowatt-hour, or 1 kWh. Your utility bill usually shows what you are charged for the kilowatt-hours you use. The average residential rate is 9.4 cents per kWh. A typical U.S. household consumes about 11,000 kWh per year, costing an average of $1,034 annually.

Bar chart showing the appliance use of common home appliances in cost per year and kWh per year: electric blanket: <$42, <500kWh, TV: <$42, <500kWh, microwave oven: <$42, <500kWh, dehumidifier: <$42, <500kWh, well pump: <$42, <500kWh, home computer: $42-$83, 500-1000kWh, aquarium/terrarium: $42-$83, 500-1000kWh, dishwasher: $42-$83, 500-1000kWh, electric cooking: $42-$83, 500-1000kWh, freezer: $42-$83, 500-1000kWh, waterbed heater: $42-$83, 500-1000kWh, clothes dryer: $42-$83, 500-1000kWh, washing machine: $42-$83, 500-1000kWh, refrigerator: $83-$125, 1000-1500kWh, pool pump: $83-$125, 1000-1500kWh, spa (pump and heater): $166-$208, 2000-2500kWh.

How Much Electricity Do Appliances Use?
This chart shows how much energy a typical appliance uses per year and its corresponding cost based on national averages. For example, a refrigerator uses almost five times the electricity the average television uses. Visit www.energysavers.gov for instructions on calculating the electrical use of your appliances.

January 26, 2010
-       Make sure your refrigerator door seals are airtight. Test them by closing the door over a piece of paper or a dollar bill so it is half in and half out of the refrigerator. If you can pull the paper or bill out easily, the latch may need adjustment, the seal may need replacing, or you might consider buying a new unit.  To avoid potential health hazards from the exposure to microwave radiation leakage, you can also use this same test to make sure your microwave door seals properly. 

January 19, 2010
How to Read the EnergyGuide Label

The EnergyGuide label gives you two important pieces of information you can use to compare different brands and models when shopping for a new appliance:

EnergyGuide label shows how a purchaser can compare energy use of product with other similar models, given estimated yearly energy costs.

1.    Estimated energy consumption on a scale showing a range for similar models

2.    Estimated yearly operating cost based on the national average cost of electricity.

January 11, 2009

U.S. Department of Energy - Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy

Energy Savers Tips

Your Home's Energy Use

The first step to taking a whole-house energy efficiency approach is to find out which parts of your house use the most energy. A home energy audit will pinpoint those areas and suggest the most effective measures for cutting your energy costs. You can conduct a simple home energy audit yourself, contact your local utility, or call an independent energy auditor for a more comprehensive examination. For more information about home energy audits, including free tools and calculators, visit www.energysavers.gov or www.natresnet.org.

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How We Use Energy in Our Homes
Heating accounts for the biggest chunk of a typical utility bill.
Source: 2007 Buildings Energy Data Book, Table 4.2.1., 2005 energy cost data.

Energy Auditing Tips

Formulating Your Plan

After you have identified where your home is losing energy, assign priorities by asking yourself a few important questions:

Once you assign priorities to your energy needs, you can form a whole house efficiency plan. Your plan will provide you with a strategy for making smart purchases and home improvements that maximize energy efficiency and save the most money.

Another option is to get the advice of a professional. Many utilities conduct energy audits for free or for a small charge. For a fee, a professional contractor will analyze how well your home's energy systems work together and compare the analysis to your utility bills. He or she will use a variety of equipment such as blower doors, infrared cameras, and surface thermometers to find leaks and drafts. After gathering information about your home, the contractor or auditor will give you a list of recommendations for cost-effective energy improvements and enhanced comfort and safety. A reputable contractor can also calculate the return on your investment in high-efficiency equipment compared with standard equipment.

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Heat Loss from a House
A picture is worth…in this case, lost heating dollars. This thermal photograph shows heat leaking from a house during those expensive winter heating months. The white, yellow, and red colors show heat escaping. The red represents the area of the greatest heat loss.

January 4, 2010 - Wash clothes in cold water. With today’s cold temperature detergents, most modern clothing cleans just as well in cold water. Wash in cold water on economy cycles and always have a full load. Also, 15 minutes of presoaking and 5 minutes of agitation gets clothes cleaner than 15 minutes of agitation.

December 21, 2009 - To follow up on last weeks tip, attached is a link to the EPA's fact sheet regarding mercury and CFL's: http://www.energystar.gov/ia/partners/promotions/change_light/downloads/Fact_Sheet_Mercury.pdf

December 14, 2009 - What do I do with a CFL when it burns out? What is the proper disposal of a CFL bulb?
Follow these guidelines to dispose your CFL properly:

·         Like paint, batteries, thermostats, and other hazardous household items, CFLs should be disposed of properly. Do not throw CFLs away in your household garbage if better disposal options exist. To find out what to do first check www.earth911.org (where you can find disposal options by using your zip code) or call 1-800-CLEAN-UP for local disposal options. Another option is to check directly with your local waste management agency for recycling options and disposal guidelines in your community. Additional information is available at www.lamprecycle.org. Finally, IKEA stores take back used CFLs, and other retailers are currently exploring take back programs.

·         If your local waste management agency offers no other disposal options except your household garbage, place the CFL in a plastic bag and seal it before putting it in the trash. If your waste agency incinerates its garbage, you should search a wider geographic area for proper disposal options. Never send a CFL or other mercury containing product to an incinerator.

·         ENERGY STAR qualified CFLs have a two-year warranty. If the bulb fails within the warranty period, return it to your retailer.

December 7, 2009 - If everyone purchasing a refrigerator in 2009 chooses an ENERGY STAR model, consumers would save 914 million kilowatt-hours of electricity and more than $101 million in energy bills each year. If you aren't ready to replace your refrigerator, keep your existing one clean and in good repair.  Clean the condenser coils. Dust and pet hair can build up and cause the refrigerator motor to work harder. Clean them at least twice a year. Especially before relatives come to visit. The coils are located on the bottom or the back side of most models.

November 30, 2009 - If everyone in the United States changed out just one light to one that is a CFB we would save enough energy to light 7 million homes and prevent greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to 1 million cars.

November 23, 2009 - Though there is a small surge in energy when a computer starts up, this small amount of energy is still less than the energy used when a computer is running for long periods of time. For energy savings and convenience, consider turning off :

November 16, 2009 - Add energy- efficient showerheads and faucet aerators. These can reduce the amount of water delivered from the tap by up to 50%, with almost no noticeable difference in pressure. That means 50% less water needs to be heated. Put them on at home without telling your family and see if they notice the difference.

November 9, 2009 - Keep drapes and blinds closed. Drapes add an extra layer of insulation. If you don’t need the outside light, leave them closed. Mini-blinds also insulate, but to a lesser degree. Turn louvers down toward the ground outside. This diverts rising heat back into the room instead of trapping it between the blinds and the window.

 

November 2, 2009 - Yes, light bulbs make a difference! Lighting accounts for as much as 20 percent of energy use. Compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulbs utilize 75 percent less energy than incandescent bulbs, last ten times longer and provide the same amount of light. If every home in America replaced just one incandescent light bulb with an ENERGY STAR-qualified CFL, in one year it would save enough energy to light more than 3 million homes and would prevent the release of greenhouse gas emissions equal to that of about 800,000 cars.

 

October 26, 2009 - An easy first step for energy efficient heating is setting the thermostat as low as is comfortable during cool months. The American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air-conditioning Engineers recommends 68°F (20°C) when the house is occupied during the day and 60°F (15°C) at night. The Department of Energy estimates that five to 15 percent can be saved on energy bills simply by reducing the thermostat by 10-15 degrees for eight hours a day. Programmable thermostats can do this automatically and easily. They are inexpensive, reliable and easy to install.  Our school’s heating and cooling systems have occupied and unoccupied schedules that allow the building to go into a night setback mode just like a programmable thermostat would in your home.

 

October 19, 2009 - Make sure supply and return vents, radiators and baseboard heating units are not obstructed by furniture, appliances, paper, files or other objects and that air can flow freely to and from them. This will maximize the efficiency of your system and help distribute warm air throughout the room.  It takes as much as 25 percent more energy to pump air into the workspace if the vents are blocked.  Do this at home as well since heating and cooling accounts for over 40% of household utility bills.  Every small optimization adds up.

 

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