Tag Archives: efficiency

energy consuming devices

The Most Energy-Consuming Appliances in Your Home

Published April 3, 2018 / by EnergyEfficianado

Every month you plan on reducing your electricity bill, and yet when you receive the bill you get a shock. Why is that? The reason behind this is not planning properly. To reduce energy consumption and your electricity bill, the first and foremost thing to do is to identify the appliances that consume the most energy. Once you have identified them, then you can take necessary measures to reduce the consumption.

Replace Appliances like Washing Machines, Refridgerators, etc with Green Ones

If you go through this list and can see that a lot of your appliances are running up your energy bill, it may be worth the investment to replace them with ‘green’ machines. If you’re not sure which washing machines, dishwashers, or other home appliances are more energy efficient take a look at http://bestgear.org/, they have lots of great info and appliance guides. Yes there is a bit of up front cost involved with replacing machines, but long term it will more than pay for itself!

bestgear.org energy efficient appliances

Appliances that use the most Energy

So, let us start with identifying the most energy consuming appliances. From there you can work on either reducing their energy consumption or replacing them.

  1. Air Conditioner and Room Heater – Air Conditioners in summer and Room Heaters in winter are a major source of energy consumption. About 47% of the energy consumption is due to these appliances. Electric baseboard heaters are very inefficient, systems like heat pumps and gas heaters can be better.
  2. Water Heater – Another potent source of energy consumption is water heating. Heating water for both shower and washing clothes consumes a lot of energy, which in turn leads to a price hike in your electricity bill.
  3. Washing and Drying Machines – Laundry at home is also the main cause of high electricity bill. Washing and drying machines consume almost 13% energy and the time needed to complete one cycle is quite a lot, which leads to a lot of consumption.
  4. Refrigerators – Though with each passing day modernized refrigerators are being invented that reduce the power consumption, the refrigerator is still a big source of energy consumption. It uses almost 4% of the energy and as we all know, refrigerators are on for almost 24/7 so a whole lot of power goes there.
  5. Light Bulbs – Light bulbs though are small and consume less, we use them more. We tend to overuse them and forget to turn them off when we are not in the room. This leads to an accumulated energy consumption which in turn increases the bill.

Besides these, there are the vampire devices, the ones that use energy even when turned off, such as set-top box, laptop, printer, modem, TV, etc.

Though these devices consume a lot of energy, it is not impossible to stop them. Here are few basic steps following which can lead to a reduction in the consumption.

  • Unplug the appliances – After turning off the appliances, unplug them, so that the vampire devices cannot suck extra energy, as certain appliances even when left on a standby mode, can consume up to 20% energy. Therefore it is advisable to always unplug a device once the user is finished.
  • Insulation – Proper insulation can lead to a lot less power consumption. Insulate your home as well as your water lines, to keep them warm, so that less power is required.
  • Install solar and automatic light sensors – Installing them in the first place can be costly, but they will help you save a lot in the future. Install solar-powered light bulbs, so that the electricity consumption can be reduced. Also, installing an automatic light sensor on the outside or near the main door can help you save as well.
  • Use LED lights – LED lights to consume less energy, yet provide more light. They are perfect for home usage.
  • Buy Energy efficient appliances – You can check the energy star before buying an appliance. The more the no. of stars, the less power the said device consumes.

If you just make a few changes here and there, you should start to see a reduction in your energy bill even with the same appliances. Good luck!

energy efficient home

Green Homes and Their Construction

Published May 17, 2017 / by EnergyEfficianado

With the rise of the housing market and the desire to be environmentally friendly, individuals are putting more time and money into constructing energy-efficient, renewable homes. It is estimated that single family “green” homes represent approximately 1/3 of the housing market. They are designed to better conserve water and energy with renewable and safe materials, decreasing the impact on the environment and improving personal health. LEED, or The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, is a program responsible for certifying green buildings based on environmentally friendly and efficient building methods.

Water Conservation

Typical green homeowners experience a water savings of approximately 20%. This can be accomplished in a variety of ways by installing green plumbing systems or purchasing water-efficient appliances and fixtures. Green homes may be designed to conserve more water by recycling grey water – or waste water that is not contaminated with fecal matter–for irrigation systems. One of the simplest methods for achieving this is to deviate water from laundry washing machines straight into the garden or yard. Many experts advise having a professional install this system, as there are filtering processes that are put in place to make grey water irrigation as safe as possible.

Cisterns may also be installed to collect rainwater, which can be filtered passively and used for irrigation, or can be further filtered and safe to drink. Typically, gutters and drains from rooftops will be rerouted into large collection barrels for maximum accumulation. Passive filtration systems often use materials such as sand and charcoal to filter large particles and reduce chlorine and harmful compounds. Charcoal also assists in removing the taste and smell from rainwater. Added filtration can come from personal, high-end water filters or from systems installed within the home that can separate potable (for ingestion) and non-potable water.

Additionally, green plumbing systems can be installed to reduce water consumption and improve efficiency in the home. Placing a hot water heater in a central location can diminish the amount of heat loss from the water when traveling from the heater. There are also eco-friendly and cost-effective alternatives to PVC and copper piping that produce no negative byproducts during manufacturing and are better insulated and more durable. Together, there are many options for green and traditional homeowners to improve the capability and safety of their plumbing systems, including replacing the delivery system of the water.

Water-efficient fixtures such as faucets, shower heads, and low flow toilets may be installed to continue to regulate water consumption. These fixtures range in a variety of designs and functions and can be easily installed after construction as well. Additional appliances such as dishwashers and laundry machines have energy and water-efficient options for any homeowner.

Energy Conservation

To add to the overall cost effectiveness and renewable design, green homes use both passive and active design techniques to maintain energy efficiency. Heating and lighting are two principal consumers of electricity in a home. To counter this, many builders attempt to face the home south to increase the amount light and heat in the home. Many builders also plan with natural insulation in mind, which can decrease the amount of heat lost through radiation. A common way to accomplish this is to build the home into a hill or cover it with dirt and plants, which maximizes both yard and growing space. Energy efficient, well-insulated doors and windows are another popular passive strategy to reduce heating costs. Larger windows also allow more light to enter the home. Less square footage and more efficient layouts further improve passive heating and cooling. It is estimated that these expenditures can be lowered by 50% or greater with green construction, and LEED certified homes are designed to use 30-60% less energy overall.

Further measures to reduce energy consumption involve using renewable energy sources. Typically, these measures consist of solar, photovoltaic, or geothermal systems to provide renewable energy. Location of the home, however, has a huge impact on these sources. A heavily forested plot can significantly reduce sun exposure, as can placing panels on a home in an area that is overcast most of the year.

Healthier Materials

Green homes are also advertised as being healthier due to the use of environmental and health-friendly building materials. LEED-certified homes require non-toxic building and finishing materials, which may be present in many older homes. Paint, fixtures, carpet, and wood finishes may have unhealthy constituents such as lead and formaldehyde (sometimes found in manufactured wood). LEED certifications also require proper ventilation and high-efficiency air filters, reducing allergens in the air and improving air quality overall. Extra measures to reduce mold and mildew from the home also reduce allergens in the home. As noted above, alternatives to current piping may also have a lesser impact on health. The options vary, but many of these products are available for green homes and traditional homes, alike.

Cost

Overall, green homes are a smart choice for buyers looking to save money in the long run, as the durability of these homes reduces maintenance costs over time. Average upfront costs are estimated at 2.4% compared to a traditional home. Energy and water-efficient appliances are also a greater immediate expense, but may reduce bills in the long run. Adding renewable energy sources requires an even greater payout; solar hot water heaters, for example, run from $4,000 to $9,000, compared to a $700 price tag for a conventional heater. These heaters, however, can halve the buyer’s water heating costs. Furthermore, the Earth Advantage Study reported that green-certified homes sell for 30% more than conventional homes, which may increase as the demand for environmentally-friendly products becomes more apparent, while the average actual cost per square foot is roughly the same.

Overall, much can be done to improve efficiency and decrease the environmental impact of construction. With construction accounting for almost 40% of national CO2 emissions, LEED-certified buildings consume less energy, water, and, according to the United States Green Building Council, have helped to keep more than 80 million tons of waste from landfills. With this positive impact, it is no wonder that more LEED-certified green homes are being built and the resale is so high. The decision to purchase or build a green home is up to each individual, but even if the final choice is for a traditional home, the options and practices that can reduce waste, bills, and environmental impact can still be put into place.