Q We'repretty sensible in our house about how much energy we use. We use compact fluorescent light bulbs, for example. So I can't figure out why our electric bills are so high. I want to get to the bottom of this but I'm not sure how. Can you advise me?
Sure thing. I suggest that you use a plug-in meter, which measures the power use of nearly any electric device.
You can borrow a meter from Efficiency Vermont at no cost. These meters are easy to use; they plug into an appliance and a wall socket, and then show you how much energy is being used. Armed with that info, you?ll be able to work with an Efficiency Vermont Customer Service Specialist, by phone, to see what actions you can take to reduce your electricity costs. Your loaned meter will arrive by mail in a postage-paid box that you can use to return the meter.
To borrow a meter, you can fill out a simple on-line form. Or, if Burlington Electric Department is your electric company, give them a call about a similar meter-loan service. Thanks for a great question!
Q Ourelectric bills are high and I know a good part of it is how much my daughter uses her hair dryer. Are there good, energy-efficient hairdryers out there?
Hand-held hair dryers are pretty similar when it comes to energy use. A typical model uses about 1,200 watts on high. At 10 minutes per day, it will use six killowatt hours per month. That's about 1% of the average Vermont household's monthly electric bill. Sure, it's logical to use a hairdryer or any electric device only as much as necessary. But focusing only on the hairdryer isn't likely to be the most effective energy-saving action you can take. There are bigger energy-using fish to fry.
I suggest taking two steps. First, swap your incandescent light bulbs for compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs). You'll reduce the lighting portion of your electric bill by as much as 75%. Second, find the biggest energy users in your house. You can start by borrowing a plug-in meter, from Efficiency Vermont, that will show you how much energy is used by electrically-powered household products. You can then discuss your results with an Efficiency Vermont Customer Service Specialist, who can help you determine the solutions that will give you the most savings for your time and money. Best of luck with your efforts.
Q Iinstalled an ENERGY STAR® ceiling fan last summer and I was able to go the whole season without air conditioning. The guy who sold it to me said that I can save energy in the winter by reversing the spin direction of the blades. It just doesn't seem logical to blow cold air in any direction in the winter. What do you think?
Your guy's right. By setting the fan to turn clockwise, (looking up at it), and at a low speed, you'll allow it to force hot air down without creating a cold draft. You see, because hot air rises, it collects at the ceiling. This not only robs you of the comfort of having that warm air around you, but it also forces you to keep supplying more heat because the warmest part of the room isn't near the thermostat. The higher your ceiling, the worse this phenomenon is and the more useful a ceiling fan is. Your reverse-set fan will push the heat at the ceiling down the walls to mingle with your room air. This creates a more comfortable, evenly-heated space and allows you to lower your thermostat setting. Between the savings in heating costs and your ENERGY STAR® fan's low electricity use, you'll be staying warm while reducing your utility bills. It's a win-win!
QIdon't have much shoveling in the winter - just about 40 square feet from the house to the garage - but it's getting tougher as I get older. Would an electrically-heated mat under the sidewalk add much to my utility bills?
The added utility costs would depend on the amount of time you?d use the mat. It would be important to only have the mat on when you need it, so you would need either to be available to switch the mat on and off or to get a mat with a properly-adjusted moisture sensor.
If you keep careful control of the mat?s operational hours, we can make a conservative estimate of 30 hours of use over the course of the winter. Then, your added energy costs wouldn?t be very high; you?d pay about $8.40 more in electricity costs for the season (at an average electricity rate of 14 cents per kilowatt hour). However, there would be other expenses involved. You?d need to hire an electrician to install in a 240-volt outlet near the walk, and you?d buy a timer or snow sensor. You would pay an installer to remove your sidewalk, put down the mat, and lay a new sidewalk. And you?d spend several hundred dollars on the mat. If it were my walk, I?d be curious to see how those costs compare to what I?d have to pay somebody to shovel my walk for me.
QLastChristmas, my parents gave me a TV that's got the ENERGY STAR® label, which was great because I was in college and I couldn't afford a TV or higher electric bills. This year, I've got my first job and I'd like to return the energy-saving favor. My younger sister wants to get in on the act too, and she's still a broke student, so can you give us some ideas on efficient gifts of different price ranges?
A: Great idea! Glad to help. You and your sister definitely don't have to pay a lot to get energy-saving gifts. But if you're aiming to be as generous as your folks were last year, I'll give you a range of spending options, from low-cost items to appliances and home-improvement investments that can bring your folks sizeable energy savings.
CFLs - Compact fluorescent light bulbs use up to 75% less energy and can last as much as 10x as long as traditional incandescents.
Weatherstripping, window-plastic, caulk, and maybe even your time to help stop drafts at exterior doors and windows.
Low-flow shower heads & faucet aerators reduce costs for water and water-heating.
LED Christmas lights use about one-tenth the energy of traditional mini lights, they don't get hot like the old lights do, and they can last for as long as 20 years.
Programmable thermostats - Your parents can come home to a warm house, wake up to a warm house, and lower their heat bills. Programmable thermostats automatically turn the heat up when you need it and down when you don't. That costs far less than keeping a home warm around the clock.
Advanced power strips - When home electronics are off, they still use power. This power strip automatically shuts off electricity to idle devices like TVs, game consoles, printers, and more.
Home electronics & home office equipment - Look for the ENERGY STAR label to find top-quality, energy-saving products from major manufacturers of TVs, recording devices, computers, printers and more. Learn more at www.efficiencyvermont.com. In the Residential section, click on Saving Energy and you'll see the Home Electronics option.
A home assessment from the experts - If your parents are ready to invest in energy-saving home improvements that will improve their comfort year-round, give the gift of a whole-house assessment from a certified Home Performance with ENERGY STAR contractor. These pros find and fix and the causes of high energy bills, drafts, moisture problems, indoor air-quality issues, and more. After the assessment, your parents can decide what recommended improvement they'd like to invest in.
Appliances - ENERGY STAR® qualified clothes washers, refrigerators and other major appliances save significant amounts of energy over traditional models.
I hope that you and your sister have fun finding the right gift for your parents. I'm sure they'll feel as glad as you did to get an energy-saving gift that, truly, keeps on giving.
A: Yes and no. You'll most likely be using less electricity with the grill than with the full-size oven's broiler if you're cooking a small amount of food. But if you're making a large amount of food that could be cooked all at once under your broiler but not on your grill, you'll probably use less energy with the broiler.
As for the toaster oven, it heats up faster than a full-size oven, so it's good for preparing smaller quantities or foods with shorter cooking times. A model with convection baking cooks food faster. The longer the food needs to be in any toaster oven, though, the less advantage the small oven has over the full-size one. The big oven has the advantages of being insulated and having a door that closes well while most toaster ovens have neither.
A: Of course, the most energy-saving method is an outdoor clothesline. If that's not an option for you, here are some tips to make drying a bit less energy intensive:
- Look for a dryer with a moisture sensor that will turn the machine off when the clothes are dry.
- You can optimize the efficiency of any dryer by clearing lint from the filter before each load. Also, once or twice per year, clear lint and dust from the venting system and from the interior and back of the dryer.
- Running back to back dryer loads can save a small amount of energy.
- When you install your dryer, remember that a short, smooth dryer duct allows the dryer to remove moisture faster. Replace flex-ducts with rigid metal ducts, screwed together at the joints and sealed with foil tape.
- Here's another way to reduce drying time: If your washer has spin options, choose a high spin speed or extended spin, to reduce the amount of remaining moisture.
- When it's time to replace your clothes washer, be aware that ENERGY STAR qualified washing machines remove more water from clothes. This reduces dryer-use time.
A: Congrats on your new ENERGY STAR refrigerator. ENERGY STAR models can use half the energy of fridges manufactured prior to 1993. As for the old fridge, I suggest asking yourself how much the convenience of a second refrigerator is worth to you. It could cost you as much as $250 in electricity to keep it running all year. It would be more cost-effective to get rid of the old unit and buy a new ENERGY STAR model big enough for both your daily and weekend needs.
But if you determine that you must have a second fridge, keep it full to enable it to run more efficiently. When you don't have much food to put in there, stock it with jugs of cold water and keep ice in the freezer. Whenever possible, put in items that are already cold, as it's easier on the fridge to maintain the temperature of cool items rather than to cool down room-temperature items. Minimize the number of times you open the door and make sure that there is plenty of airspace between the back of the unit and the wall. Vacuum the coils twice a year.
I wouldn't unplug a fridge unless it's not needed for a couple of weeks. If you do unplug it, make sure that you block open the doors and use an open box of baking soda to deal with the smells. Bottom line, as you probably gathered: I sure hope that you find a way to do your weekend entertaining with one fridge.
A: Good question. You probably won't notice a difference in your gas or electric bill either way. Each method has its energy-saving plusses and minuses. A toaster oven heats up faster, so it's good for preparing foods with shorter cooking times. The longer the food needs to be in there, though, the less advantage the small oven has over the full-size one. The big oven has the advantages of being insulated and having a door that closes well while most toaster ovens have neither.
If you want to do the most to reduce your toaster-oven cooking energy, get a model with convection baking, so foods cook faster. If you're after the method that uses the least energy, a microwave oven is a great option for many cooking, reheating and defrosting needs. Good luck in this new phase of your life.
A: From an energy standpoint, common fridges are the better option. Because compact refrigerators are so small, manufacturers often maximize interior space by reducing the amount of space given to insulation. As a result, mini fridges are less energy-efficient per cubic foot than full-size fridges. So, if you can work out the details of ensuring that your dorm mates can reasonably share a larger fridge (such as agreeing to eat only their own leftover pizza) then by all means share the space! For the most energy savings, have your school purchasing agent look for an ENERGY STAR® labeled refrigerator. You can find information about available rebates at the Rebate Center in the Residential section of Efficiency Vermont.
A: I give no guarantees on saving marriages, but I can help prevent some potentially costly problems. Sorry, hubby: Venting the dryer inside the house isn't a good idea. Indoor venting brings moisture into the house. Some of that moisture is pulled back into the dryer through the air-intake, which means that it will take slightly longer to dry clothes. But the increased electric costs from this phenomenon are minimal and, frankly, the least of the problems associated with indoor venting.
More importantly, moisture from indoor venting can create undesirable conditions in your house, such as window condensation as well as mildew and mold, which can result in stained paint, wood rot, and unhealthy indoor air. Dryer lint and chemicals from dryer sheets, clothing dyes and detergents also decrease indoor-air quality. Note to readers with gas dryers: If you vent indoors, you will bring dangerous carbon monoxide and other combustion by-products into the house. So, get that dryer vented outdoors and breathe easy.
Q Is it worth moving a freezer to the garage or porch in the winter to save energy?
The appliance will run for shorter times when the temperature of the air outside of the freezer is close to the desired temperature inside the freezer. However, the mechanical parts of freezers are designed to work at room temperature. If you place a freezer in temperatures below about 45 degrees, the components may fail prematurely.
A good compromise, if feasible, may be to keep the freezer in the basement year-round. If the basement is colder than the kitchen but stays above 45 degrees, you get the benefit of slightly lower electricity costs without creating as much risk for valuable components of the freezer or of your back.
Q What's the most energy-efficient way to cook - my electric stove, a slow cooker or a microwave?
A. In general, a microwave oven uses less overall energy for cooking than an electric stove or a slow cooker. Of course, if you're cooking a large roast or baking a cake, the oven is the best choice because you want a certain result. A slow cooker is a good way to cook or keep small amounts of food warm, as is a toaster oven. Use the microwave whenever possible for reheating or cooking appropriate foods.
A. Absolutely! All ENERGY STAR qualified clothes washers save energy and water. The most efficient ENERGY STAR qualified clothes washer can save up to 6,500 gallons of water per year per household and can save you more than $100 annually in energy and water costs over standard-efficiency models. They also require less detergent, decrease drying time and offer gentler cleaning action, which reduces wear and tear on your clothes.
Q How much electricity do ranges/ovens use? Do newer models save more energy?
A. Cooking is one of those energy costs we can't live without. An average family of four uses about 500 kilowatt-hours (about $60) per year to cook with an electric range/oven combination. Switching to a natural gas oven would be cheaper, but not by very much, and a propane oven may cost more or less to operate depending upon your propane and power costs.
New cooking equipment is generally no more or less efficient than older units except for the possible addition of more insulation around the oven. In the near future, you may see inductive heating elements which use electromagnetic energy to heat food rather than a heating element or flame. And in the meantime, for smaller things that just need a quick re-heat, think about using your toaster oven or microwave.
A. I can see where you're coming from, but it's not a good idea. Here's why: the hot air coming out of your dryer is full of lint and moisture. Breathing all that lint just isn't healthy. And the excess moisture will condense on cold surfaces (like basement walls or windows) and cause all sorts of problems.
If your house is too dry in the winter, it's probably because it's drafty. It's best to seal the air leaks to save energy, warm things up and help maintain a healthy indoor humidity level. Contact us for help and advice on indoor humidity and sealing air leaks.
Q I can't find an ENERGY STAR clothes dryer. How can I dry my clothes in an energy-efficient way?
A. A clothesline is a good idea, especially in the summer. But for many of us this is not an option. As you've discovered, ENERGY STAR does not have a standard for clothes dryers so here are some tips to make drying more energy-efficient:
- Look for clothes dryers with a moisture sensor that will turn off automatically when the clothes are dry.
- Running back to back dryer loads can save a small amount of energy.
- ENERGY STAR labeled washing machines, such as front loaders, remove more water from the clothes. Since less drying time is required, these are actually your best opportunity to save dryer energy.
- When you install your dryer, remember that a short, smooth dryer duct allows the dryer to remove moisture faster. Replace flex-ducts with rigid metal duct, screwed together at the joints and sealed.
- You can optimize the efficiency of any dryer by clearing lint from the filter before each load, and clearing lint and dust from the venting system, the interior of the dryer and from the back.
Q Where is the best location to put my extra freezer in my house to reduce energy use?
A. You want a location that's clean, easily accessible with moderate temperatures. Many people find basements are a great location for freezers. If you can't find an indoor location for your freezer, unplug the unit if the temperature drops below freezing (a common occurrence in the winter in Vermont garages!) to avoid damage to the compressor. Some people find that their freezer is empty or full at different points in the year. If that's true for you, you might think about squeezing things from a nearly empty freezer into your main refrigerator/freezer and turning it off. If that's not possible, fill up the freezer with bags of ice or jugs of water. A full freezer will use less power than an empty one.
Q What should I look for when buying an energy-saving appliance?
A. First, make sure that the appliance is sized appropriately for what you want it to do. Once you have decided on the required size and desired features, look for the ENERGY STAR to guarantee an energy-efficient, high-quality product. Visit the ENERGY STAR website to learn more about how to choose an appliance that's best for your needs.
Q Where can I find these ENERGY QSTAR appliances and lights I keep hearing about?
A. You can purchase ENERGY STAR qualified products all over Vermont. You can find a list of stores in the Marketplace section of this site. Just about any major manufacturer makes products that meet the ENERGY STAR standard for high quality and low energy use. While you're at the store, don't forget to ask about Efficiency Vermont's rebates for buying ENERGY STAR qualified lighting and appliances.
Q What can I learn from reading the Energy Guide label?
A. You'll find Federal Trade Commission Energy Guide labels on almost everything that uses any kind of energy. They're a good way for you to see how much energy the item you're thinking of buying will consume in a year. You can also see how much it will cost you to operate, based on a national average fuel price and how it is typically used. To determine your actual costs, multiply the fuel units (gallons, therms, or kilowatt-hours) by the price you pay per unit. Since labels are standardized, you can compare models in order to make a smart purchasing decision.
The label also has a bar scale showing the range of energy consumption for similar appliances with an arrow indicating where the appliance you're looking at falls in the range.
Remember, too, that the Energy Guide is simply a rating system, while the ENERGY STAR indicates the product you're thinking of purchasing has passed strict energy-saving guidelines.
Q Is it worth buying a new refrigerator to save energy?
A: If you are thinking of shopping for a new refrigerator, look for an ENERGY STAR qualified model. It can use as little as half the energy of a 10-year-old fridge. But if your refrigerator is less than 10 years old and it's working fine, it might not be cost-effective to buy a new one. A simple way to find out if your fridge is operating efficiently is to meter it, to see how much electricity it's using. We can lend you a meter, at no charge, that plugs into your fridge. Just contact us and someone in customer service will be happy to help.
Q What's my best energy-saving refrigerator choice? Are top-freezer models most efficient?
A. There's some basic advice to remember when you buy a new refrigerator: Don't get more than you need. Refrigerators these days come with lots of "bells and whistles" that can seem very attractive, until you consider the costs to use them. For starters, larger models use more energy. Contrary to the theory that they keep you from opening the door as often, automatic ice makers and through-the-door dispensers actually increase energy use - not to mention the price of the model. Refrigerators that feature "anti-sweat" heaters (sometimes seen as a "summer" or "humidity control" switch) will also consume more power.
To answer your second question, top or bottom freezer models tend to be more efficient than side-by-side units. Regardless of the style you choose, it will give you the best energy performance if you keep it full, take the time to clean the condenser coils at least once a year; keep cool air inside by limiting frequency and length of door opening, keep your refrigerator out of direct sunlight and away from heating sources and keep door seals in good repair.
My best advice is to look for an ENERGY STAR refrigerator. These exceed Federal Energy use standards by using high efficiency compressors, improved insulation and more precise temperature and defrost mechanisms.
Q Would I save more energy by replacing my old dishwasher or doing my dishes by hand?
A. Many new dishwashers have a better cleaning action and use less energy and water than doing dishes by hand.
Things you'll want to look for in a new model include the ENERGY STAR label, of course, plus a feature that lets you turn the internal water heater and dryer heating elements on and off separately. You'll cut back on energy use if you avoid using these heating elements unless absolutely necessary. And if you must wash your dishes in very hot water, keep your main water heater temperature low and use the dishwasher's internal water heater.
By the way, it's not necessary to "wash" dishes before putting them in the dishwasher! Just scrape leftovers off dishes and put them in unrinsed.
Q What is the best way to recycle appliances?
A. That's really a multipart question with several different answers! Different appliances have different recycling rules - but all appliances are banned from landfill disposal in Vermont. You can find out how to recycle a specific appliance by calling your local Waste Management District. There's also a list online at the Vermont Solid Waste Districts, or you can call the Vermont Solid Waste Management Program at 802-241-3888.
We've got a few major appliances that are ready to be replaced. We calculate that we can afford to replace just one of them. How do we figure out which one is using the most electricity?
A. I suggest that you use a plug-in meter, which measures the power use of nearly any electric device. They're easy to use and Efficiency Vermont loans them at no cost. You can fill out a simple on-line form to request one.
When you determine which appliance you'll replace, look for an ENERGY STAR® qualified model. The ENERGY STAR label indicates that a product exceeds minimum federal energy-efficiency standards. Qualifying products of any brand can receive this label. Efficiency Vermont offers rebates for select ENERGY STAR products available in retail stores throughout the state. For more information, visit the Rebate Center. Thanks for a great question!
