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Get Green Challenge ApplicantTRANSCRIPT
3/19/08
Average Energy Cost for121 Leon St, Madison
Gas: Monthly Average: $33 (22 therms ) Electricity: Monthly Average: $29
(178 kWh) Track use to see if improvements are succeeding
View average energy use of homes at:
mge.com/myaccount/averagecost
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3/19/08
Home Heating Rating on mge.com
Compares houses of same size and age. Rating for 121 Leon St is:
Your Home Heating Rating is: 4.2 - Good
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3/19/08
Small house
Less than 800 sq. ft.
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3/19/08
How was energy use reduced for this house built in 1951?
By using easily available measures!
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3/19/08
Set back thermostat in winter when
sleeping or gone. Wake up to warm house with a programmable thermostat
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3/19/08
Keep warm at night with thick comforters
•Use electric blanket when needed•Timer turns off electric blanket in morning
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3/19/08
Changed to fluorescent lights
Now available in many shapes
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3/19/08
Few ceiling fixtures, so bought compact fluorescent torchieres
Focus On Energy rebate for torchieres with ENERGY STAR® label
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3/19/08
Bought compact fluorescent torchieres
$15 Focus On Energy rebate for torchieres with ENERGY STAR® label
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3/19/08
Change to fluorescent lights
(paper shade hides bare bulb)
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3/19/08
Y-adaptor allows 2 bulbs inside paper shade for bright light
Bulb on right is 20 years old, and is used several hours per day
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3/19/08
Motion detectors on outside lights
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3/19/08
Installed 95% efficient furnace
Vents through side wall
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3/19/08
Furnace has blower motor that saves
about $40 per year in electricity. (ECM motor)
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3/19/08
Received rebate from Wis. Focus on Energy for efficient furnace motor
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3/19/08
New showerhead uses 1.75 gallons
per minute (vs. 2.5 GPM standard)
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3/19/08
Water-saving aerator has “trickle lever”
Reduces flow without turning off. (No need to adjust temperature)
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3/19/08
Tested house for air leaks using
blower door . Air leaks were only a small problem.
Photo by The Energy Conservatory
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3/19/08
Ducts are in attic. Tested for duct leaks to outdoors using “Duct
Blaster”
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3/19/08
Ducts are tight and already had some insulation on them
Blew more cellulose in attic, burying ducts
Duct buried in insulation
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3/19/08
Sealed gap between ceiling diffuser
and ceiling (ducts are in attic)
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3/19/08
Replaced electric water heater with gas water heater
Cut water heating costs in half, carbon dioxide by two thirds
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3/19/08
Gas tank-style water heater rated at .62 Energy Factor (E.F.)
Couldn’t do tankless heater – no room to vent the exhaust
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3/19/08
Insulated hot and cold water pipes
on heater. Heater came with heat traps
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3/19/08
Water temperature reduced to
120 degrees at the tap
(Thermostat on a gas water heater)
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3/19/08
Water temperature set to 120ºF.
Saves energy and prevents scalding
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3/19/08
Cold water wash for most loads
Consumer magazine rated cold water detergent #3 out of 22 tested
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3/19/08
Air dry clothes
(after the snow melts)
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3/19/08
Borrowed portable meter from library to check refrigerator.
Fridge was guzzler, so replaced. Cut costs by two thirds
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3/19/08
Put computer and peripherals on power strip. Turn off power strip
to reduce standby electric use. Otherwise some energy used even when switched “off”.
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3/19/08
Replaced plastic dryer vent with metal vent
Reduces drying time, prevents house fires
Metal dryer vent cleaned annually
3/19/08
Signed up for 100% Green Power fom MGE
According to the EPA, my 2136 kWh of Green Power per year is equivalent to 242 gallons of gasoline not used. That’s like not driving my car for seven months.
Source: www.epa.gov/solar/energy-resources/calculator.html
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3/19/08
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Next Steps:
•Replace electric clothes dryer with gas dryer. Reduce carbon dioxide by a factor of four, cut drying costs in half•Replace washer with ENERGY STAR® washer•Perhaps insulate walls? Requires removing interior wall boards due to partial insulation. Big job.•Perhaps insulate foundation? Requires trenching around house. Big job.
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3/19/08
3/19/08
Resources:
•Energystar.gov•Wis. Focus On Energy 1-800-762-7077 or•Focusonenergy.com•For MGE customers, track energy use online at mge.com
