Top 10 Summer Energy Saving Tips

Top 10 Summer Energy Saving Tips:  Questions to ask yourself

Source: Typical House memo, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, 2009 and Typical house_2009_Reference.xls spreadsheet.

1) How can I save energy in the summer?

The temperature is rising and so are your energy bills. Seeing a spike in your electricity usage in the summer is common (especially if you have an AC) but does not need to be so large! You are paying the utilities all this money and things still aren’t as comfortable as you’d like. Here are a few things to ask yourself, answers to those questions, and just good general information to know about common summer time energy usage problems:

2) Should I replace my ducts and seal up my house?

If you haven’t had your ducts and air leakage tested, it’s definitely worth doing as part of an energy audit. At the same time the duct system is sealed or replaced, the system can be balanced (within the limitations of the duct design) to redistribute more or less cold air where needed. These are the two most effective ways to save energy and improve home comfort. If you schedule an energy assessment, your technician will check your ducts and air leakage with a blower door test, and then will be able to recommend the most cost effective options.

3) Do I need insulation during the summer?

Whether you want to keep cool air or warm air in the house, insulation works the same way. So yes, insulation will help you out during those hot summer months. Attic insulation is a big one, because it’s not only effective (the fact that hot air rises makes attic insulation a priority in a home) but also generally less expensive to install than other types. But it needs to be done right – if not, it can become uneven, ineffective and a lot of work for very little benefit.

4) Will insulating my Garage help keep it cool?

Short answer is “no, not really”. First off, what is insulation? It’s merely a material that slows the transfer of heat. So if the sun is beating down on your garage then it will eventually heat up. And when it does finally heat up, it will retain that heat for longer because it is insulated. If a space is not being actively cooled by an AC, then it simply postpones the inevitable. If insulated, your garage will be cooler in the early afternoon, but hotter in the late afternoon than if it wasn’t insulated.

5) Is it worth it to install a new air conditioner?

Well, how much do you use it? If you tend to leave your AC running all day during several months of the year, you will definitely benefit from having an efficient one (15 SEER +). Also, if you hear it turning on and off a lot, then you should be aware that you probably have an oversized unit, and you are losing a lot of efficiency there. This is a common issue. A home performance technician, whose goal is efficiency, cost-effectiveness, long-term reliability, health safety and low environmental impact, will take great care to ensure you purchase the right size HVAC system and will install it properly. On the other hand, the contractor who initially built the home had very little motivation to do a thorough job there. Unfortunately, there is just no accountability for proper duct work and correctly sized HVAC units in most new homes, as no one comes to test it and it’s not immediately noticeable. So the sad truth is that most new homes have sloppy, inefficient duct systems and oversized units. It’s worth it to have yours checked out as part of an Energy Audit (aka Energy Assessment).

6) Do low energy appliances make a difference?

Your air conditioner is not the only appliance that is sucking up lots of power. Your refrigerator is another big one. First of all, if you have a spare fridge running in the garage, and you don’t really need it….unplug that thing and get rid of it. It is a huge waste, especially when your garage heats up during the summer. Other appliances like washers and dryers, dishwashers, computers and tvs can make a big difference too. If you want to conserve, there are low energy options out there, even for tvs! Look for the Energy Star certification.

7) What is Energy Star?

Energy Star is an international standard for energy efficient appliances, heating and cooling systems, computer products, and others. In general, it requires that a product uses about 20-30% less energy than the minimum standard. Energy Star is a good program, but be aware that there are lots of other options out there may be just as efficient, but may not have the Energy Star certification for various reasons. And energy efficiency isn’t the only factor. If a product is made slightly more efficient at the cost of long-term reliability, and must be replaced twice as often, it’s not worth it.

8) Are Energy Efficient Lights worth the cost?

Be aware that incandescent and halogen lights often emit a significant amount of heat due to inefficiency, which is never good, and particularly undesirable in the summer. Energy star rated fluorescent bulbs are a good choice, especially for lights that are on all the time, like a porch light. For LEDS, the quality of the product is still hit and miss. We suggest you look for brand names such as Phillips or LG. Find one you like based on the color temperature and how directional it is.

To answer “Are they worth the cost?” first ask yourself how often do you use that specific light or fixture. If you use it daily for around 20 minutes, then yes. If you use it about 30 minutes a week in total, then perhaps not. Calculate it yourself if you like. Find the wattage of the light. Then use this:   Wattage  x  1000  x  $0.30/kWh  x  # of hours per week  x 52 weeks = Annual cost.

*note that $0.30 is an average rate is for top tier electricity rates for PG&E territory. Depending on how much you use per month, your average rate could be lower at around $0.20 or $0.25 per kWh (kilowatt hour).

9) Solar Attic Fan

These fans are a brilliant way to improve your home’s energy efficiency during the summer. They are solar powered, so won’t hurt your energy bill. Attics are required to have ventilation, but not required to have any air flow. Without air flow, the vent accomplishes little. These fans will help to pull in outside air and vent out the hot inside air, providing two benefits:

1) They can reduce the attic temperature by a huge chunk (as much as 40 degrees). Decreasing the temperature difference from the attic to the inside of the home greatly slows the rate at which heat will conduct into the house (even with insulation),

2) Attic fans also greatly reduce the risk of condensation and mold growth. These are a great investment, especially for the summer.

10) Shade and Window Films

Trees, awning, patio covers, any way you can get more shade on your home is a boost to energy savings. Also, take a look at solar control window films. Recent technology, such as ceramic film, has been performing quite well. These are applied to existing glass in windows and doors to reduce incoming light. These will not only reduce heat transmission by a large percentage, they will also reduce glare and UV light exposure. Ceramic and metallic films are a little bit more expensive but are extremely effective (reducing transmission by up to 80%). If you don’t like the tinted light, and you want the full natural light look, there are “spectrally selective” films which only block certain wavelengths of light.

More Quick Energy Saving Tips

Finally, one of the best ways to save energy is to force yourself to make good habits.

1. Use your dishwasher to wash dishes, it is more efficient than doing it by hand! Only run full loads, and let them air dry for maximum savings.

2. Use the warm or cold setting for your laundry, and always rinse in cold water. Again, full loads.

3. Unplug electronics when not in use. Many devices will continue to draw some power even when off. Unplug phone chargers or other chargers, turn off power strips after shutting down computers and home entertainment systems (tv, receiver, etc).

4. Be smart about your AC and windows! If it’s blazing hot during the day and cool at night, then close up all the windows and blinds in the morning, and open them up at night! Don’t run the AC with the windows open! If you want to run the AC all day, set the thermostat to 78 while you’re home and 85 while you’re out.

5. Turn off lights when you leave a room. I know I know, everyone knows this already. But we still leave them on all the time and it doesn’t hurt to remind.

6. Again… get rid of that fridge in the garage, or at least don’t use it over the summer. It’s a huge energy sink, especially when your garage is hot.

7. Install a ceiling fan. Simple, cheap and effective.

Get in contact:

[dropshadowbox align=”none” effect=”lifted-both” width=”640px” height=”” background_color=”#ffffff” border_width=”1″ border_color=”#dddddd” ]For more information about how to reduce your energy bills and stay comfortable in the summer, call (925) 363-4498 to speak to a technician or schedule an Energy Assessment. You can also e-mail:  info@epbuilders.com[/dropshadowbox]

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