Charles asks…
What are the best way to save energy on my apartment?
I would like to know to reduced my emissions of CO2 by changing little by little my apartment. I have already changed all my light bulbs to CFLS. I got 4 free CFL’S from my utility company, and I bought 4 more for $10.00.
Does anyone has a list showing how much it would cost to change lights bulbs, insulation, windows, appliances, solar water heater, solan panels? How will each saved me on electricity?
I would like to start upgrading my apartment for the least expensive changes to the most.
Is there anything else i should change too?
admin answers:
I had the same questions! So I did a search on the internet looking for an answer to save some energy at my home. In my search on the net I find a great website that tells you the amount of money that you can save when you use energy efficient products.
The website is:
http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=products.es_at_home_tips_renters10
There you can find, for example, that you can save up to $150 a year in energy costs by using a programmable thermostat. Or that you can save up to $145 each year on electricity with a new 2.5 gallon-per-minute (low-flow) shower head. There are a lot of practical information in that website that helped me. Hope it help you too! 
In addition, by the info I learned on the net, I was able to prepare a list of things you can do to save energy during the summer. Here are some basic practical things you can do:
1. Shade south- and west-facing windows. Cross-ventilate by opening windows on facing or adjacent walls at night when the outside temperature drops.
2. Apply heat-blocking window film.
3. Turn on a ceiling fan so you can raise the temperature setting on the air conditioner. (And turn off the ceiling fan when you leave the room.) Sign up if your utility company offers money back for cycling your air conditioner on and off during peak use periods.
4. Power down your computer when not in use.
5. Make sure your house is sealed tight. Seal gaps and cracks with caulk and weather stripping, especially around windows and doors.
6. Insulate and seal air-conditioning ducts, especially exposed ducts in the attic or crawlspace. Ventilate the attic with a thermostatically controlled fan in the gable end or on the roof.
7. Operate your dryer in the morning when the conditioned air it vents to the outside hasn’t taken so much electricity to cool.
During hot summer days, close cooling vents in unused rooms.
8. If you don’t have one now, get a programmable thermostat and use it to control the temperature in your home. There’s no need to cool an empty house, so set a higher temperature when you’re away.
9. Maintain your central or window air-conditioner by hosing out leaves, debris, and dust from between the fins on the condensing unit outside of the house.
10. Change filters on a regular basis, and check to be sure the condensate drain is clear (the tube that carries off excess moisture during humid weather). Have your cooling system checked each spring.
Sharon asks…
What are some ways a corporation can save energy in order to combat Global Warming?
After bringing Global warming concerns to the CEO of the company I work for, I was asked to meet with the head of HR to come up with some ideas on what we can do to become green certified. I am so very excited that I am being included in this process, and I want to make sure I’m not missing anything.
What are some ideas we can implement at a corporate level? We have to meet OSHA standards, so that has to be taken into account too.
The company employs over 1000 people, has offices worldwide, and deals with educational software. We already have moved towards being paperless, although there are some who refuse to keep electronic records and notes.
admin answers:
Http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leadership_in_Energy_and_Environmental_Design
Following accepted standards will help.
Also, find out who provides electricty to your employer’s building. It’s likely they provide inncetives to become more energy efficient.
I checked out the LEED website and oyu might have to spend some money to get to the nitty gritty: http://www.usgbc.org/DisplayPage.aspx?CMSPageID=221
But off of the top of my head I can tell you that timers on lights may help. Or lights that only turn on when a person is in the room. Some themostats are more efficient than other ones.
Many cities have a Bike to Work Day; see if yours does. The City Council awards the company with the highest rate of cycling on that day. See if your company can promote a day like that to the employees including raffle prizes and whatnot. If it is in a business or financial district, it is much easier to collabrate with other businesses to make this a bigger event. In Chicago for example, it is so big the police shut down streets for bicycle commuters.
Reference the ISO 14000 series for more ideas. Maybe there is a Green-Upgrade for Existing Buildings for Dummies. Or Operating Green for Dummies, haha.
Donna asks…
Does anyone use reflective technology to save money on energy bills?
I have a friend who just had his entire attic blanketed with aluminum radiant foil. The idea is to reflect heat back into his home this winter and reflect it out of his attic during the summer. The company that installed it put in writing that he will save at least 35% of his last year’s energy bill. Who know about this?
admin answers:
Yep. And white shades work in windows, too.
James asks…
Why do energy companies promote energy conservation and efficiency?
My gas company gave me a free energy audit of my home, and offers generous rebates to install insulation and other energy saving products. I don’t understand why they do this. If I use less gas, they make less money. Why are they doing these things?
By the way, I won’t believe any answers that say “it’s the right thing to do”, or “they want to be green”. I don’t buy that. Profit drives almost all business decisions, and this doesn’t seem profitable to me.
admin answers:
They have a set price they can sell their product for. They have to go through a long process to raise their prices. By keeping the volume of gas for sale down, they don’t need to expand infrastructure which costs lots of money and would necessitate a price hike.
Robert asks…
How much can a digital thermostat save in energy per month?
In October I installed a 95% variable speed furnace, but have a 30 year old thermostat. My gas bills are still high! My gas company rep said she had the same thing happen to her, changer her stat to a digital and saved 100/month!!
admin answers:
This depends on what temp extreme your willing to set it at. You can save 10% of your heat bill by turning down the temp 8-10 deg at might. Having it at 68-72 during the day when you are present.
The savings come from it automatically setting it down when you sleep.
John asks…
What is a good name for an home energy audit company?
I am thinking of starting a business where I would help people save on utilities by testing their home for air leaks, insulation problems etc. I think a catchy name for the business would be helpful. Thanks!
admin answers:
Energy Misers
Energy Savings and More
Energy Cost Containment
Energy Cost Slashers
Energy Cost Minimizers
Complete Home Energy Audit Professionals (CHEAP)
Home Energy Reduction Specialists
Linda asks…
Energy companies will always put up prices right?
We are always being told to save energy right?
This means we use less energy right?
This means the energy companies make less money Right?
This means they put up their prices right?
This means we cant win…RIGHT???
admin answers:
Yes it makes sense that if we economise on energy in the home the companies will make less money and will have to increase charges to pay their share-holders.
You are quite RIGHT.
Sandra asks…
what is that electricity company advertised on the telly that comes with the wee energy saving box?
admin answers:
I think it was n-power (the robbing evil-doers)
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