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- When replacing lights, use compact fluorescent or other high efficiency bulbs.
- When replacing streetlights, use high efficiency bulbs.
- When replacing traffic signals and exit signs, use light emitting diodes (LEDs).
- Turn off lights when not in use. Used focused task lighting instead of lighting entire room.
- Take advantage of daylight with light weave curtains and decorating with lighter colors.
- Use outdoor lights with a photocell unit or timer so they turn off during the day.
- Look for outdoor lighting powered by small photovoltaic (solar) modules.
- Install storm windows to keep out cold and double glazed windows to reduce heat gain.
- During hot summer days, closing curtains and shades will reflect heat, and during cold winter nights, will keep out the cold.
- Install reflective window coverings or films to keep heat away from house.
- Install awnings on south and west facing windows.
- Deciduous trees planted on south and west sides of the house will keep you cooler in the summer and let the sun shine through in the winter.
- Vines grown on trellises can shade windows or the whole side of a house.
- Evergreen trees and shrubs on the north and west sides of the house can deflect winter winds.
Solar Collector Windows Tested
April 6th, 2009A 4′ X 4′ In’Flector window insulator can produce as much heat as a 600 watt electrical heater per sunlight hour and reflect up to 72% of the room heat back into the room. During the summer, product reduces air infiltration up to 71%, stops solar heat gain up to 65%, and blocks up to 90% of harmful UV Read the rest of this entry “
Energy saving tips for the workplase
January 3rd, 2009Personnel
Educate all employees about the importance of conserving our resources. Turn off lights when not in office/rest room/break room. Enable energy saver settings on computer monitors, or if not available, turn off monitor when leaving office (even for an hour or two). There is software available that can be put on a network to put monitors “to sleep” when not in use. Turn off computers, printers, copiers, and lights when leaving for the day. Put signs by elevators asking people to walk up one flight and down two.
Ask employees to consider alternate methods of transportation to get to work and around town: walking, biking, carpool, and van pool. Overuse of vehicles is the greatest contributor to our warming climate. We can cool down by getting out of cars. There are incentives like “cash out,” paying employees the cost of their parking not to drive.
Purchasing
When purchasing new office equipment, look for Energy Star labels—only purchase energy efficient equipment. Buying recycled and recycling decreases energy use on the macro scale, so it is the right thing to do even if it doesn’t result in direct energy savings for the local government. It is an example of “Think globally, act locally.”
Maintenance/Building
Train maintenance staff about energy efficiency measures. Caulk windows and doors where fittings are not snug. Install UV protective film on windows that reduces heating through the glass. Perform routine maintenance of heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems. When replacing, go with high efficiency systems.
Keep temperatures at comfortable yet reasonable levels for season—high seventies in summer, high sixties n winter.
When possible, allow more daylight into rooms to reduce the need for artificial lighting. Workers are more productive with natural lighting. When building new facilities use green design, consider solar panels; use new International Energy Conservation Code (IECC).
Other
Plant trees and lighten pavements and roofs to reduce urban heat island effect. Lots of paved, dark, impermeable surfaces raise temperatures and create the need for more artificial cooling. Encourage local utilities to purchase more renewable energy.
Include water conservation in efforts. The State Energy Conservation Office (SECO) considers this an important part of SB5. Repair leaky sinks and toilets and water fountains. Replace old toilets with the low flow variety. This also saves energy for the area because water pumping is a huge energy drain.
Lighting
January 3rd, 2009You can save about 50% of your lighting energy bill by replacing 25% of your high use lighting with fluorescents. Fluorescent lamps are more efficient and last 6 to 10 times longer than the standard incandescent bulbs. Replace all standard light bulbs (incandescent and halogen) with compact fluorescent light bulbs.
Appliances
Appliances account for about 20% of household energy consumption with refrigerators, washing machines and dryers using the most. When buying new appliances look for the EPA ENERGY STAR label, which guarantees that the item is energy efficient. Look at the Energy Guide label on the appliance and make sure the energy use level is closer to the end that says “Uses Least Energy.” Make sure dishwashers and washing machines are full when you use them. Use cooler water and air-dry settings and don’t over-dry clothes.
Don’t keep refrigerator or freezer too cold: recommended temperatures are 37°F to 40°F for the refrigerator and 5°F for the freezer.
Windows
January 3rd, 2009Windows can account for 10% to 25% of your heating bill. To keep windows from letting in too much heat or cold:
Landscaping
AACOG also advocates planting trees as they filter many pollutants from the atmosphere including nitrogen dioxide (NO2), sulfur dioxide (SO2), ozone (O3), carbon monoxide (CO), and particulate matter of ten microns or less (PM10).
Computer models from the Department of Energy show that three properly placed trees around a house can save between $100 and $250 in annual utility bills.