Issue 13
Energy Savings Begin at Home
by Gary Delfiner
The single greatest consumer of energy in your life is your home. Since Americans use about one quarter of the world's energy and comprise less than 5 percent of the world's population, even small habit changes can have a global impact. How we derive and use energy says much about who we are and what future we will face together. For nearly 10 years, our family has been guided by a willingness to question and modify our relationships to the natural world; our choices about what we consume are based on the awareness of the interconnectedness of all life. The following ideas come from the experience our family has gained from that ecologically guided life. These are conservation measures that you can adopt now — sometimes very quickly and at very little cost. In future articles, we'll explore topics such as installing solar energy and using “green” building materials.
Water heaters: Start by turning your water heater way down (to about 110ºF). Try to take five-minute showers and/or shut off the water while soaping. A dishwasher isn't affected by the lowered temperature since it has an internal heater. If you are concerned about having the whitest whites, many of the new front-loading washing machines come equipped with internal heaters that help sanitize clothes and diapers. The usual 140ºF setting in your water heater is no longer necessary. This single adjustment could net you as much as 2,000 kilowatt-hours a year.
Personal heating devices: Thermal underwear is the cheapest heating system going. If you get used to wearing them, you can easily turn down your thermostat from 70ºF to 65ºF. Add a sweater and a cap, and you will be amazed that 60°F can feel comfortable. The energy savings will vary but can exceed 30 percent or more of your heating bill. Unless you live in the dry Southwest, leaving infrequently used rooms unheated can cause very unhealthy mold to grow on carpeting or on or inside the walls — especially behind furniture. Consider subletting your extra rooms instead.
Cooking: The way we prepare food also plays a role in energy savings. For example, the use of a pressure cooker cuts down on cooking times by about 50 percent and retains more nutritional value. Presoaking legumes and certain grains shortens cooking times considerably. Although microwave ovens are energy efficient, their molecular impact on food is still controversial. The most energy-efficient and possibly the healthiest way to eat is to consume plenty of certified organic, locally grown, raw foods.
Lights: Compact fluorescent lights save 75 percent over incandescent light bulbs and last 10 times longer. You can buy them for just a few dollars apiece.
Appliances: Replacing your old appliances with Energy-Star-labeled models of frontloading washers, dishwashers and refrigerators can easily save you at least half the energy your old ones used. (An Energy Star label denotes that the product meets energy-efficiency guidelines set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy.) Check with your utility company about the many incentives offered to help with this costly transition. Dryers are especially energy consumptive, so consider drying your clothes on a line whenever possible.
Windows and window coverings: Low-emissivity glass (Low-E) is a clear glass with a thin coating of metal oxide. This allows heat and light to pass through the glass into a room. At the same time, it blocks heat from leaving the room, greatly reducing heat loss. The effect is like adding a third pane of glass without adding the weight. Upgrading to Low-E windows will net you substantial energy savings. The key issues with windows are orientation, air leakage and condensation — especially on metal windows, where it can lead to unhealthy mold growth. Be aware that skylights add about 50 percent more light than regular windows, but you pay a big price in heat gain and loss. Insulative shades or curtains help regulate house temperatures throughout the seasons and are available for skylights.
Insulation: Insulate and seal your home to the highest degree affordable and/or possible. Reduce heating needs by installing R-30 walls and floors and R-50+ ceilings in colder climates. (“R” ratings represent the ability of insulation to resist heat loss.) If your home is going to need re-siding or you are building from scratch, a 1 - 2-inch foam board (a petroleum product) alone will add as much as R-14 to your insulation rating. This is a sensible way to use petroleum-based products, because they will keep saving energy for decades to come. Alternatively, soy-based spray and hard-board foam products are now available in many areas.
Ventilation: The only downside of tightening up your home to save energy is the lack of fresh air exchange, potentially leading to the “sick home syndrome.” A sick house does not allow fresh air to enter and traps CO., dust and other chemicals, causing respiratory irritation and other ailments. So allow $1,500 to $2,500 in your budget for an Energy Recovery Ventilator (ERV), which will bring fresh air in while retaining your hard-earned heating or cooling savings in the process. Your long-term health is worth every penny spent
Your home's footprint: Size matters! If you are building or moving, no choice has a bigger impact on energy savings or simplifying your life than downsizing. It takes half as much energy to heat a 1,000-square-foot home as a 2,000 square-foot one, and reduces the cost to build or buy by about $100 to $200 per square foot — not to mention the savings in future maintenance. Consider taking those extra savings and investing them into renewable systems and enjoy all the benefits of a net zero home — never paying another energy bill. It was only about 20 years ago that 1,100 square feet was the average new home size, anyway. (Check out the videos "The End of Suburbia" and "Affluenza.")
Landscape design: Landscape with energy conservation in mind. Deciduous trees, vines growing on pergolas and strategically placed overhangs can increase winter passive-solar-heat gain while helping to cool your home in the summer. Be aware not to block your southern exposure in case you plan to add photovoltaic modules (solar panels) at some point.
Between downsizing our living space, being diligent about energy conservation and adding some active solar panels, our family now produces all of the energy that we consume — without any further impact on the environment — right here on our urban lot. The goal of sustainably acquired energy independence is achievable if we shift our focus to living lightly and drastically curbing our energy appetites. The future depends on our choices now.
Gary Delfiner is a green builder and consultant. He started Eco Building Solutions to help promote healthier, more sustainable ways of living. He and his family now produce all of their needed energy through conservation and the use of solar energy in their 800-square-foot urban home site in Eugene, Oregon.
 If you like this article, please consider
donating to The Polishing Stone,
ordering back issues,
or doing both!
Thank you for making our work possible...
Top of Page
|
Order
