REDUCE YOUR ENERGY USE
| Many homes depend on generators on a frequent basis. Energy efficiency is of critical importance if you need backup power, if limited grid power exists, or if you decide to have the home solar energy powered. In addition to surviving power loss, reducing energy consumption will also save households money. This strategy focuses on identifying easy ways to conserve and use energy efficiently to save on home energy bills and reduce the cost of any renewables, battery, or generators. | Strategy in Action 1. Identify Your Electric Energy Consumption 2. Install Energy Efficient Equipment and Fixtures 3. Establish Critical Loads 4. Implement Passive Strategies 5. Conserve Energy |
| WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
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Use your electric energy bill to understand your monthly consumption. Plug the result in the equation below to know your yearly consumption.
UNITS
POWER (W)
DESCRIPTION
The amount of energy used over a period of time. It is measured in watts.
UNITS
KILOWATT-HOUR (KWH)
DESCRIPTION
A unit that equals 1000 watts in one hour. The AEE charges you per kWh.
UNITS
VOLTAGE (V)
DESCRIPTION
Voltage is the pressure from an electrical circuit’s power source that pushes charged electrons (current) through a conducting loop or circuit, enabling them to do work such as illuminating a light. In brief, voltage = pressure, and it is measured in volts (V).
UNITS
POWER (W)
DESCRIPTION
The amount of energy used over a period of time. It is measured in watts.
UNITS
KILOWATT-HOUR (KWH)
DESCRIPTION
A unit that equals 1000 watts in one hour. The AEE charges you per kWh.
UNITS
VOLTAGE (V)
DESCRIPTION
The amount of energy stored and available for use. Most appliances use 110/120V lines, but others need 220V. These typically have a double breaker (fusibles guaretos).
| PAPER BILL
| E-BILL
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- Replace old standard fixtures and appliances for more efficient new models.
- Use products that have an Energy Star label. These use up to 70-90% less energy than the regular models, while producing up to 70% less heat, which indirectly reduces the cooling system energy consumption. For more information, visit https://www.energystar.gov/.
- Properly install fixtures and appliances to avoid short circuits. When necessary, hire a professional.
LIGHTING
- Choose task-specific lighting to reduce lighting excess.
- Energy Star certified LED bulbs are the most cost-effective. They use 10% of the energy regular bulbs use, and last 25 times longer.
- In a multi-family building, consider automatic lighting controls, like occupancy sensors, to significantly reduce energy use.
WATER HEATER
- Insulate hot water pipes and storage tanks to lower heat loss and use 10-20% less energy in heating.
- Tankless and/or solar water heaters use 10% of the energy electric water heaters use.
- Design new plumbing layout to minimize water loss through hot water delivery.
- Consider a solar water heater and refer to Strategy 17 for more information on solar thermal systems.
COOLING SYSTEM – FAN
- Ceiling fans help cool a space.
- Use counter-clockwise spin during the summer to drive the warm air upwards, and counter-clockwise spin during the winter to drive the warm air downwards.
- Size equipment in accordance with the Air Conditioning Contractors of America Manuals J, S, or ASHRAE.
COOLING SYSTEM – AC
- Locate AC within the building envelope to reduce thermal loss.
- Replace AC filters once a month.
- Replace system with an energy efficient one.
| DETERMINE YOUR POTENTIAL ANNUAL ENERGY CONSUMPTION
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| ENERGY EFFICIENT LIGHTBULBS | ENERGY EFFICIENT WASHER | ENERGY EFFICIENT REFRIGERATOR | GAS STOVE |
- Critical load refers to the collective load of home equipment that should remain on consistently in order to safely inhabit the space (e.g., refrigerators and medical devices.)
- Produce at least the critical load needed to withstand an emergency.
- Use Chart 2 to determine the critical load that you need to produce using an alternative energy system.
REMEMBER
Take advantage of sunlight hours to complete tasks that will need a light during the night.
CRITICAL LOADS SINGLE FAMILY
CRITICAL LOADS MULTI FAMILY
Design and operation choices can help reduce energy use. See Strategies on Passive Habitability for more information.
CREATING MORE DAYLIGHT
SEE STRATEGY
12 - Benefit from Natural Light
USING LIGHT INTERIOR COLORS
SEE STRATEGY
10 - Reduce Heat Transfer
USING NATURAL VENTILATION
SEE STRATEGY
11 - Increase Ventilation
PLANTING VEGETATION
SEE STRATEGY
02 | Reinforce Site with Vegetation
SHADE
SEE STRATEGY
Strategy 10: Reduce Thermal Height Gain
WINDOW FILMS
SEE STRATEGY
Strategy 10: Reduce Thermal Heat Gain
ROOF
SEE STRATEGY
10 | Reduce Heat Transfer
Look for the Energy Star label on new devices. Products tagged with this logo use half the energy of standard models.
Turn off electronic equipment when not in use.
Invest in advanced power strips. These will prevent electronics from drawing excessive energy and protect them from surge damages.
Unplug devices when fully charged or not in use. Just by being plugged-in, these become “vampire charges,” adding up to 10% of your home energy use! Leaving devices unplugged will reduce energy use and prolong the device’s battery life.
- Clean or replace air-conditioning (AC) unit filters once a month.
- If your cooling system has been in use for more than 15 years, replace it with an energy efficient system.
