Where Are You Using Your Electricity?

Dec 27, 2008 – As our readers know the quickest return on your green energy investment in the short term is with energy conservation.  And energy conservation is also valuable in the long term because the items you install and the habits that you change affect your energy usage over the long term also.  As we are rapidly approaching 2009, here is a guide to the average monthly energy charges in your home [remember that although these figures are in $, they are proportional to the amount of energy used per item]:

 Bathing/water heating:       $18.00

Bedroom/Living Room:       Fan [each] $7.00

                                           TV $4.00 to 5.00

                                         Lamp [each] $1.00 – 2.00

Air Conditioning:                  $1.10 per hour

Central Air Conditioning:   $103.00-113.00

Kitchen Appliances:                 Microwave     $3.00

                                                Range                        $8.00

                                                Oven              $4.00-5.00

                                                Refrigerator   $9.00-18.00

                                                Dishwasher  $12.00

Office                                     $8.00-15.00

Laundry                                 Washing Machine [cold water]      $4.00-$5.00

                                                Washing Machine [warm water]    $12.00-14.00

                                                Dryer  $15.00

Outdoor Area                        Pool Pump    $27.00-30.00

                                                Hot Tub          $22.00

                                                Outdoor Lights:         $5.00-6.00

 So what are the easiest ways to conserve energy?  Look at the list above and decide to use a cold water detergent and save $8 to 9 per month.  Replace incandescent light bulbs with CFLs.  Raise the temperature on your AC thermostat 2 degrees and save 3% per degree.  If you are heating move the thermostat down 2 degrees.  By the way, either with heating or AC, be sure to replace or clean air filters once a month.  Leave the fan switch on “auto” so that the fan is not running constantly.  Dry more of your clothes by putting them on a hanger and letting them air dry.  Run your pool pump for 7 hours instead of 8 hours and immediately save 12.5% of that monthly energy.  Do I suggest that you shut off your hot tub?  Sure, just use your neighbor’s tub while you discuss more ways to go green.  Now, there are ways to save energy that will require initial investments.  New EnergyStar appliances may save considerable amounts of energy and repay your initial investment in several years.  New central air conditioner units may have a SEER rating of 18-20 compared to the original 9 or 10 of the unit that you have.  And that number was calculated when the unit was brand new 8-15 years ago.  If your unit was originally 10 and you replace it with one with a 20 rating, you will cut your AC energy use by 50%.  And there are tax credits and credits from many utility companies.  Many refrigerators, dishwashers, washing machines, and dryers are also much more energy efficient and have relatively short payback periods.  The earlier you make the changes in 2009 the greater will be the effect for earth and yourself.  Please post and comment here on the green energy savings that you are implementing in 2009.