Home energy savings are most on the minds of consumers during extreme temperatures, according to a local hardware store owner.
However, with prices of everything from gasoline to corn flakes and chicken nuggets rising in recent weeks, many East Texans might be placing a renewed focus on saving money wherever they can.
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Kevin Green/News-Journal Photo | Jonathan Suber with K&S Insulation sprays foam insulation into the walls of a home Monday off FM 2276 in Rusk County.
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Randy James, owner of Hardin's True Value Hardware in Longview, said periods of high electric bills during the heat of summer and high heating bills during the coldest days of winter often bring consumers in for weather-stripping and to get tips on other measures they can take to cut energy bills.
"But there are some fairly simple things people can do to that can result in savings year-round," he said.
"Installing weather-stripping, using energy saving light bulbs, changing out filters on heating and air-conditioning systems at least once a month and checking your plumbing for leaks can all add up over time," he said.
"The new CFLs (compact fluorescent light bulbs) are becoming more and more popular as the price has come down and they're being offered in more variety," James said.
The brand his store carries cost almost $6 three years ago but costs less than $4 now. Compact fluorescent light bulbs now come in three-way bulbs, in shapes like tapered candlestick bulbs, bug light models and colored party lights, he said.
"We've had several of our commercial accounts, like nursing homes and offices, switch over and they're seeing significant savings on their electric bills," James said.
Scott McCloud, spokesman for AEP Southwestern Electric Power Co., said while the energy efficient light bulbs come with a higher price tag, they still result in savings over time.
"CFLs offer a longer life, lower operating costs and less heat gain," McCloud said. One brand sold at Hardin's True Value claims a $38 a year savings in electricity per bulb over year's time.
Newt Urber, owner of K & S Insulation of Longview, said installing additional insulation in a home or business can also result in a big energy savings over time.
"The Department of Energy reports that 31 percent of conditioned air escapes through floors, walls and ceilings in residential buildings," Urber said. Energy savings can result from sealing air leaks.
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Hot weather tips
— Set your thermostat at 78 degrees, and use ceiling fans to help circulate the cool air.
— Position lamps and televisions away from your thermostat.
— Install a programmable thermostat to use less energy cooling when you are away or sleeping.
— Use a microwave instead of a conventional oven.
— Hang laundry outside to dry. (A few minutes on your clothes dryer's "fluff" cycle will soften any stiffness.)
— If you must use them, avoid running heat-producing appliances (ovens and clothes dryers) during the hottest times of day.
— Keep sunny windows covered with blinds or draperies.
— Install light-colored window shades to reflect heat away from your house.
— Use moveable blinds, window shading film or awnings on windows that receive excessive sun in the late afternoon.
— Use fans with your air conditioning to move cool air throughout your home.
Source: AEP Southwestern Electric Power Co.
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Year-round energy saving tips
— Replace incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescents.
— Turn lights off when not in use.
— Turn off your computer and monitor when not in use.
— Wash only full loads of dishes and clothes.
— Allow dishes to air dry instead of using your dishwasher's "dry" cycle.
— Take showers instead of baths to reduce hot water use.
Source: U.S. Department of Energy
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Maintain your heating system
Seventy to 80 percent of a typical home's natural gas use is for heating and cooling. Use your energy dollars wisely with these tips:
— Change or clean furnace filters once a month during heating season.
— Have your furnace or boiler tuned by a qualified technician once a year to help improve your system's operating efficiency and help prevent breakdowns.
— If you have an old heating system, consider replacing it with a high efficiency system. The more of an efficiency upgrade you make, the more energy savings you will see on your heating bills.
— Turn down your thermostat. The easiest and most economical way to cut energy costs is to adjust your thermostat.
— Set thermostats between 65 degrees and 70 degrees during the winter, and to 58 degrees when away from the house for four or more hours. Warmer temperatures are recommended for homes with elderly people or children.
— Use a programmable thermostat for greater temperature control.
— Turn down your water heater setting. The water heater accounts for about 15 percent of the average household's energy use.
— To lower energy cost without sacrificing comfort, set water heater temperature to 120 degrees.
Source: Center Point Energy
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Cold weather energy saving tips
— For economy, set the thermostat for 68 degrees. Each degree above that adds to your cost. Setting it higher won't heat your home any faster. A five-degree lower setting will conserve energy when you plan to be away for the day.
— Keep filter clean. Check filters at least once a month. If it's a permanent-type filter, clean it according to the manufacturer's directions. A disposable one should be checked each month and replaced when needed. Dirty filters cause the equipment to work harder and use more electricity.
— Insulation is very important and can pay for itself by lowering your heating costs by as much as 20 percent. Use insulation with a high "R" value. SWEPCO energy experts suggest R-30 to R-38 for ceilings, R-18 for outside walls and R-19 for use under raised floors.
— The entire heating system should be inspected and serviced each year to operate at maximum efficiency.
— Weather-strip doors and windows to prevent expensive air leaks. Check caulking around windows, doors and other parts of the house.
— Air leakage through small cracks and holes in a home's exterior is a major reason for heat loss in the winter. Make sure all doors and windows are closed when the heating unit is operating.
— Open curtains or blinds on the sunny side of the house and allow sunshine into the home. Otherwise, keep shades closed to help keep the warm air inside.
— Inspect the attic. Heat rising through the ceiling into the attic is another major source of heat loss. Check the duct insulation to see that all tears are taped and the insulation is securely wrapped around the ducts. Over time, ducts that are not properly sealed can leak as much as 25 percent of heated air into the attic.
— When the fireplace is not in use, be sure the damper is tightly closed. Glass fireplace doors are also good for additional savings.
Source: AEP Southwestern Electric Power Co.
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Insulation and sealing air leaks
Checking your home's insulation is one of the fastest and most cost-efficient ways to use a whole house approach to reduce energy waste and make the most of your energy dollars, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. You can increase the comfort of your home while reducing your heating and cooling needs by up to 10 percent by investing in proper insulation and sealing air leaks.
Should I insulate my home?
The answer is probably "yes" if you:
— Have an older home and haven't added insulation. Only 20 percent of homes built before 1980 are well-insulated.
— Are uncomfortably cold in the winter or hot in the summer. Adding insulation creates a more uniform temperature and increases comfort.
— Build a new home, addition, or install new siding or roofing.
— Pay high energy bills.
— Are bothered by noise from outside. Insulation muffles sound.
Source: U.S. Department of Energy
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Sealing air leaks
According to the U.S. Department of Energy, air escapes from a typical home at the following rates: 31 percent from floors, ceiling, walls; 15 percent from ducts; 14 percent from fireplace; 13 percent from plumbing as it enters the house, 11 percent from doors; 10 percent from windows; 4 percent from fans and vents; and 2 percent from electric outlets.
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How does the air escape?
Air infiltrates into and out of your home through every hole, nook and cranny. About one-third of this air infiltrates through openings in your ceilings, walls and floors.
Warm air leaking into your home during the summer and out of your home during the winter can waste a lot of your energy dollars. One of the quickest dollar-saving tasks you can do is caulk, seal and weather-strip all seams, cracks and openings to the outside.
Tips for sealing air leaks:
— First, test your home for air tightness. On a windy day, hold a lighted incense stick next to your windows, doors, electrical boxes, plumbing fixtures, electrical outlets, ceiling fixtures, attic hatches and other locations where there is a possible air path to the outside. If the smoke stream travels horizontally, you have located an air leak that might need caulking, sealing or weather-stripping.
— Caulk and weather-strip doors and windows that leak air.
— Caulk and seal air leaks where plumbing, ducting or electrical wiring penetrates through exterior walls, floors and ceilings and soffits over cabinets.
— Install rubber gaskets behind outlet and switch plates on exterior walls.
— Look for dirty spots in your insulation, which often indicate holes where air leaks into and out of your house. You can seal the holes by stapling sheets of plastic over the holes and caulking the edges of the plastic.
— Install storm windows over single-pane windows or replace them with double pane windows.
— When the fireplace is not in use, keep the flue damper tightly closed. A chimney is designed for smoke to escape, so until it's closed, air escapes 24 hours a day.
— For new construction, reduce exterior wall leaks by installing house wrap, taping the joints of exterior sheathing, or comprehensively caulking and sealing the exterior walls.
Source: U.S. Department of Energy
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Water heating tips
— Install aerating, low-flow faucets and shower heads.
— Repair leaky faucets promptly; a leaky faucet wastes gallons of water in a short period of time.
— Lower the thermostat on your water heater; water heaters sometimes come from the factory with high temperature settings, but a setting of 120 degrees provides comfortable hot water for most uses.
— Take more showers than baths. Bathing uses the most hot water in the average household.
— Insulate your electric hot-water storage tank, but be careful not to cover the thermostat. Follow the manufacturer's recommendations.
— Insulate your natural gas or oil hot-water storage tank, but be careful not to cover the water heater's top, bottom, thermostat or burner compartment. Follow the manufacturer's recommendations; when in doubt, get professional help.
— Insulate the first 6 feet of the hot and cold water pipes connected to the water heater.
— If you are in the market for a new dishwasher or clothes washer, consider buying an efficient, water-saving model to reduce hot water use.
— Install heat traps on the hot and cold pipes at the water heater to prevent heat loss. Some new water heaters have built-in heat traps.
— Drain a quart of water from your water tank every 3 months to remove sediment that impedes heat transfer and lowers the efficiency of your heater. The type of water tank you have determines the steps to take, so follow the manufacturer's advice.
— Buy a new, more efficient water heater. Look for the EnergyGuide label.
— Consider installing a drain water waste heat recovery system. A recent Department of Energy study showed energy savings of 25 percent to about 30 percent for water heating using such a system.
— Consider natural-gas on-demand or tankless water heaters. Researchers have found savings can be up to 30 percent compared with a standard natural-gas storage tank water heater.
— Heat pump water heaters are very economical in some areas.
Source: U.S. Department of Energy
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Solar water heaters
If you heat water with electricity, have high electric rates and have an unshaded, south-facing location (such as a roof) on your property, consider installing a solar water heater.
The solar units are environmentally friendly and can now be installed on your roof to blend with the architecture of your house, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. More than 1.5 million homes and businesses in the United States have invested in solar water heating systems, and surveys indicate more than 94 percent of these customers consider the systems a good investment.
Solar water heating systems are also good for the environment. Solar water heaters avoid the harmful greenhouse gas emissions associated with electricity production. During a 20-year period, one solar water heater can avoid over 50 tons of carbon dioxide emissions.
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Make the switch to compact fluorescent light bulbs
Compact fluorescent light bulbs are one way to save energy and money in your home. Designed to replace incandescent light bulbs, they offer a longer life, lower operating costs and less heat gain.
Here are some benefits of compact fluorescent light bulbs:
— They last up to 10 times longer. While they might be more expensive to purchase, you don't have to buy as many or change them as often.
— They use one-fourth to one-third the energy. A 26-watt compact fluorescent light bulb will normally provide as much light as a 100-watt incandescent bulb. This means you can save money on your monthly electric bills.
— Compact fluorescent light bulbs produce less heat while providing more light. They produce 80 percent less heat, which makes them easier to work around and can help to reduce summer air-conditioning costs.
— According to Energy Star, a government program that promotes energy efficiency, every compact fluorescent light bulb can prevent more than 400 pounds of emissions from a power plant during its life.
Handling and disposal issues
Compact fluorescent light bulbs contain a small amount of mercury and should be disposed of properly, ideally recycled. More information regarding mercury in compact fluorescent light bulbs, including proper disposal options and what to do if a bulb breaks, can be found in a fact sheet from the Energy Star Web site, www.energystar.gov, from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Department of Energy.
Source: U.S. Department of Energy
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On the Web
For more information on making your home more energy efficient, visit:
— http://www.eere.energy.gov/consumer/tips/
— https:www.swepco.com
— www.centerpointenergy.com
