Checklist For Conserving Energy

Conserving energy begins with the design and construction of a new home and carries through to your daily living habits. Consumers who have the most success in terms of reducing their energy bills have made conserving energy a way of life, while enjoying their new homes in comfort.

Homeowners who have designed and insulated their home with energy conservation in mind, are saving money every day. The common objectives of living in a comfortable home and managing your energy consumption can easily be met by following a few simple rules.

In the winter we are concerned about the cost of heating our homes and the loss of heat through doors and windows. The summer brings the reverse, when we must cool our homes during hot days. In both cases solar heat plays a part.

Taking a systems approach to managing your energy costs is a good way to ensure that you maximize your savings through reduced energy usage.

One way of conserving energy is with home design and the orientation of your home on the lot in order to maximize the effects of sun in winter and wind in summer.

Next, homeowners can take advantage of existing natural shade, or by adding trees to provide shade, during hot summer days. Trees also act as wind breaks to reduce energy use in the winter.

Once you've considered these elements, you should design your home with high insulation values in the walls, energy efficient heating and cooling systems, and energy efficient appliances.

For example, your air conditioning unit should be energy star rated and placed where it will be in the shade as much as possible. This will maximize its efficiency.

Selection of fluorescent lighting, and taking advantage of natural lighting, are additional design elements to consider. This home energy checklist (below) offers more details on steps you can take toward conserving energy costs.

Homeowners may also want to try conserving energy by investing in an energy audit of their home's design before agreeing to the final design. A relatively low cost audit can sometimes save thousands of dollars in energy costs over the life of their home.

This checklist for conserving energy can apply to both the new home and the existing home. Saving energy can be divided into: Home Design; Appliance & Lighting Selection, and Lifestyle Habits.

You might have the most efficient energy saving home built, however if you move in and leave all of the lights on all the time, and frequently leave the windows open, your initiatives in conserving energy will not be as effective as you might think.

By taking into account natural lighting and selecting fluorescent lighting, you can reduce your lighting costs significantly. Incorporate timers, motion detectors, photocells at appropriate locations in your home to assist in managing your lighting needs, security issues, and energy usage.

In designing your bathroom, and other areas were water is used, you should incorporate flow restrictors to minimize the use of water.

Everyone loves to have a fireplace in his home. A fireplace can generate a huge loss of energy if not managed properly or designed with a focus on conserving energy.

Natural wood-burning fireplaces have the lowest efficiency, while sealed gas fireplaces can be very efficient and still provide the desired ambiance.

The selection and use of your appliances can have a significant impact on your energy costs. Old appliances may be energy guzzlers, while new appliances should be chosen based on their energy ratings.

Consider purchasing new appliances instead of moving your appliances from your last home. Electronic ignition of gas appliances, taking advantage of shade for your air conditioner and using a digital thermostat that allows timed control of interior temperatures, are all important elements of the energy design. These devices give significant help in conserving energy.

Many people are also concerned about the impact that conserving energy has on their comfort. Replacing an incandescent light with a fluorescent light will not only save you energy, but also provide you with a more comfortable light.

Energy Masters - Helping you with energy saving solutions for your home.

Filling up the dishwasher or the clothes washer before running them takes no additional effort on your part and saves you energy usage at the same time. There are many similar examples that will help in conserving energy consumption and not impact your comfort. In fact plugging leaks and designing ceiling fans into the home can improve aesthetics, while reducing drafts.

Review this Checklist For Conserving Energy and apply the items that impact your situation. You will be amazed at how much you can save by following a few simple steps!

Many homeowners have the potential to reduce their heating bills by as much as 50% or more. It's all about planning with conserving energy in mind.

NEW HOME DESIGN

General:

• Consider scheduling an energy audit of your new home’s design.

Site Selection:

• Leave remaining shade trees.

• Orient the location of your home on the lot, to maximize solar heating in northern climates and reduce heating in southern climates.

• Consider planting trees and shrubs to provide shade, especially on the west side of your home, which will also provide a wind break.

Foundation:

• For slabs, excavate deeper and put an extra layer of insulation beneath the slab.

• If you are planning exposed slab-on-grade, have the contractor dig down a couple of feet and install extruded polystyrene to provide insulation for the slab.

• Insulate basement walls.

Insulation:

• Use R-20 and R-40 in the walls and attic, respectively.

• Homes with crawl spaces should have the floors insulated between the floor beams.

• Insulate all exposed hot water pipes.

Windows:

• Even on new construction, check to ensure that all windows and doors are properly sealed.

• Use natural lighting wherever possible, such as skylights.

• Select insulated doors and windows that are double glazed, with low-E glass.

• Design reflective window films or solar screens on windows with high sun exposure.

• Select window coverings, such as curtains and blinds, to help insulate the home at night for cool weather and block the sun on hot sunny days. Flooring:

• Insulate floors between the main house and crawl spaces or cold basements.

Walls:

• Install seals at electrical outlets on all exterior walls. Doors:

• Since this is a new home, your home will have few leaks, however it is always a good idea when thinking about conserving energy, to ensure that all windows and doors are properly sealed.

• Select insulated entry doors. Lighting Fixtures:

• Design your lighting levels using natural light and fluorescent lights wherever possible.

• Design lighting control devices, such as dimmers, motion detectors, occupancy sensors, photocells into your home’s lighting system.

Attic:

• Insulate attic floors to R40 to reduce heat loss.

• Distribute the insulation evenly to ensure uniform insulating value.

• Ensure that your attic is properly ventilated. Bathroom:

• Design flow restrictors in lavatories and use water saving showerheads for showers. Bedrooms:

• Add ceiling fans to move the air and reduce cooling and heating needs. HVAC:

• Purchase energy efficient (high SEER units). There are often rebates given for conserving energy. They are available from your local utility company.

• Make certain the heating and cooling units you purchase are appropriately sized for your home.

• Locate your air conditioner in a shady location, usually on the east side of the home, with sufficient air circulation capabilities.

• Select an efficient water heater that is sized for your family’s use.

• Ensure that your furnace comes with a digital thermostat that allows you to control your home’s temperature on a timer.

• Design passive or active solar heating into your water heating system.

• Install at least two HVAC zones with separate thermostats to heat/cool sleeping areas separately from living areas.

• Consider using baseboard, hot water heat. This is more efficient than hot air heating systems.

Appliance Selection:

• Select high efficiency, properly sized appliances and air conditioners.

• If you use gas, select those appliances with electronic ignition.

• Select all appliances with energy savings in mind.

• Instead of moving old, inefficient appliances from your old home, replace them with new efficient appliances.

• Locate your thermostat away from heat sources and cold drafts.

• Locate the refrigerator away from heat sources, including direct sunlight. Leave room for air circulation around the refrigerator.

IN AN EXISTING HOME:

• Turn down the temperature of your water heater. This is a particularly effective way of conserving energy.

• Add an insulating blanket to your water heater. An insulating blanket can pay for itself in a short time!

• Use energy-saving settings on refrigerators, dishwashers, washing machines, and clothes dryers. Air dry clothes and dishes as often as possible.

• Replace your lights with compact fluorescent bulbs. These new lamps can save three-quarters of the electricity used by incandescent lights. Some states offer incentives to change over to fluorescent bulbs.

• Clean or replace all furnace, air-conditioner, and heat pump filters. Have a regular maintenance program.

• Install low-flow showerheads, faucet aerators on taps and showers to reduce water consumption.

• Check all windows and doors, even if they are new, to make sure they are properly sealed.

• Monitor your utility bills - electricity and fuel bills. Set objectives for energy conservation reduction.

• Check that your attics and crawl spaces were insulated properly. Bring the insulation up to today's standards (R20 in walls; R40 in floors).

• Insulate hot water pipes and heating ducts wherever they run through unheated areas and all exposed areas.

• Check for large air leaks in your house. Check utility cuts for pipes ("plumbing penetrations"), gaps around chimneys and recessed lights in insulated ceilings, and unfinished spaces behind cupboards and closets.

• Consider hiring an Energy Auditor and having them conduct a “Blower Door” test to find the worst cracks or leaks in your home.

• Conduct a draft test by closing all windows, turning off all fans, furnace, etc., and using an incense stick, test every possible air entry location for incoming air. Do this on a windy day for best results.

• Arrange furniture so that it does not block air vents.

Attic:

• Insulate attic access door by attaching foam insulation or fiberglass battens to the back of the access door.

• Add weather stripping to prevent airflow through the attic access door.

• Caulk electrical wire penetrations at all locations where wires penetrate the walls, e.g., at the top of the interior walls and wires into ceiling fixtures.

• Ensure that the plumbing stack(s) are sealed.

• Ensure that the chimney is sealed. Use a high temperature sealant, such as muffler cement and metal flashing, where necessary.

• In short, seal any holes between the heated space and the attic.

Main Level:

• Install foam gaskets on all outlets and switches in exterior walls.

• Use child safety plugs, to prevent cold air from coming through the sockets.

• Remove window air conditioners for the winter.

• Check all windows and replace broken glass and loose putty on window glazing.

• Caulk around window and door woodwork. You might have to remove the trim (casing) in order to do this properly.

• Another way of conserving energy is to seal around all ceiling fixtures, heat registers, medicine cabinet, bath tub, kitchen cabinets, drain and water pipes, where there are exterior wall penetrations.

• Add weather stripping to all windows and doors.

• Install storm windows and doors.

Basement:

• Seal the band joist and sill (that's the one running along the top of the foundation wall) with caulk or foam sealant.

• Seal and caulk around basement windows.

• Check all foundation walls for holes and seal any holes in the foundation wall with caulk or foam sealant.

• Seal all drains were they come down and any other plumbing or electrical penetrations into the basement ceiling with caulk or foam sealant.

• Insulate a crawl space - place a layer of plastic on the dirt floor, close vents (insulate any water pipes to prevent freezing).

• Insulate the walls by hanging fiberglass battens on the walls. Also insulate any hot water pipes and any air ducts.

• Tape heating vent joints to prevent air and heat loss.

Fireplace:

• Check to make sure damper closes tightly to prevent air from coming in, when not in use.

• Install tight fitting glass doors.

• Provide outside air for combustion.

DAILY HABITS FOR CONSERVING ENERGY

Heating & Cooling Tips:

• Replace your furnace filter on a regular basis, usually once every 3 months.

• Have your furnace serviced on a regular basis, usually every year.

• Close vents in unused rooms.

• Lock windows so they seal better.

• Close drapes on cold days, as well as hot days.

• Set your thermostat lower at night for sleeping during cold weather.

• Set your thermostat higher during the day during hot days.

• Adjust your thermostat appropriately if you are going to be gone for a few days.

• Plan cold meals during hot days.

• Turn off unnecessary lights and appliances.

• Turn off the pilot light on your furnace and fireplace during the summer months.

Water Issues:

• Repair all leaky water taps.

• Wash full loads of dishes in the dishwasher.

• Wash full loads of clothes in the clothes washer.

• Use cold-water detergent for laundry.

• Rinse dishes with cold water.

• Use cold water for the garbage disposal.

Refrigerator & Freezer:

• Clean and vacuum all vents and coils twice a year.

• Minimize the number of times you open the door.

• Keep refrigerators and freezers full.

Range:

• Light pilot lights by hand and turn them off when not being used.

• Use the microwave to warm up foods.

• Thaw frozen foods in the refrigerator, overnight.

• Cook several foods at the same time.

• Use the oven window to check your food without opening the door.

Dishwasher:

• Do not use the rinse and hold cycle.

• Wash full loads of dishes in the dishwasher.

• Allow the dishes to air dry.

Washing Machine:

• Wash in warm or cold water and always rinse in cold.

• Select the water level to match the load size, or wash only full loads.

• Don't over wash clothes. Use short cycles for lightly soiled and delicate clothes.

Dryer:

• Clean the lint filter often.

• Dry similar fabrics together.

• Don't overload, but dry full loads.

• Dry clothes outside, whenever possible, by hanging them on a clothes line.

Lighting Tips:

• Make use of natural light as much as possible.

• Turn off lights when not in use, even if you are out of the room for a few minutes.

• Install lower wattage bulbs in fixtures where you don't need much light.

• Wherever possible, use one higher wattage bulb instead of several lower watt bulbs.

• Dust your light bulbs periodically. Dusty bulbs can emit 20% less light.

• Install high efficiency bulbs in all lamps.

• Use fluorescent fixtures and bulbs wherever possible.

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I hope you will find this Checklist For Conserving Energy useful. I should point out that there is a more radical approach - going off the grid altogether.

If you have any interest in how to go about Living Off The Grid -- helping the family, helping the neighborhood, helping the planet! Check this out.

If you have a question, contact me about conserving energy by clicking here.

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