Spring 2013

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welcomeSpring is in the air—and while everything else is greening up, why not make some improvements that can “green up” your home, too?

In this issue of Home Comfort Digest, learn about whole house fans and how they can help you keep your home more comfortable. We’ll also help you improve your water savings, with information about low-flow showerheads and hybrid water heaters, plus tips for buying your next washer and dryer.

Ready to get outdoors and start digging? Read our article about native plantings. These drought-hardy plants can help reduce water usage, chemical runoff, and the fuel used in mowing.

And if you’re shopping for a new appliance this spring, make sure to look for the ENERGY STAR® label. Purchasing ENERGY STAR-certified products save you both money and energy—and we’ll tell you what to need to know before you buy.

There’s a lot more to discover in this issue of Home Comfort Digest, so look for plenty of other ways to go green this spring.

Home Comfort Digest

did you know...

Power down your computer when you’re not using it. Turning a computer on and off uses less

energy than leaving it on for an extended period—and it won’t hurt your computer

a bit.

Spring 2013

Home Comfort Digest | 2

3 ENERGY-SAVING PROJECTS UNDER $30

try this today!Switch the setting of your dishwasher from heat-dry to air-dry to save energy. Or open the door after the final rinse cycle to speed up natural drying.

WHAT IS

Phantom Load?phantom loadDefinition: The electric power consumed by electronic appliances while they are switched off or in a standby mode; also called standby power, or energy vampire.

Example: Clocks, microwave ovens, and even cell phone chargers suck considerable amounts of energy when they’re plugged in—even if they’re not in use. In fact, according to the U.S. Department of Energy, 75 percent of the electricity used to power home electronics is consumed while they’re turned off.

You don’t have to spend a lot to save a lot. By shelling out less than 30 bucks, you can save energy and money. Try these easy and affordable home improvements today.

Swap incandescent bulbs for CFLs (about $20 for 12 bulbs). Using compact fluorescents

(CFLs) in place of old incandescent bulbs can reduce your home’s lighting-energy use by 50 to 70 percent, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.

1.

2. Plug in a “smart” power strip (about $30). Leaving your appliances plugged into a conventional power strip or directly into the wall allows them to draw “phantom” power even if the appliance is off. A “smart” power strip completely cuts off energy to appliances when they’re not in use.

Replace your furnace filter monthly ($10–$17). Your furnace works harder to

pass air through a dirty furnace filter than a clean one, meaning it uses more energy and costs more money. Replace your filter monthly for optimum efficiency, or buy a reusable filter that you can clean regularly.

3.

3 | Home Comfort Digest

Now’s the time to make sure your air conditioner is ready for warmer weather—an inefficient unit can cause your cooling bills to soar with the temperatures. Here’s how to whip your air conditioner into shape:

Schedule a tune-up. To ensure that your air conditioning unit runs efficiently, have it professionally inspected—catching even the smallest problems now reduces the chances of it breaking down during a heat wave. Ask your service technician to measure airflow, inspect the motor and belts, clear the drain, and check the refrigerant levels—even if your refrigerant level is only 10 percent low, the unit may cost as much as 20 percent more to operate. Also make sure the duct system is properly sealed for good airflow—approximately 20 percent of conditioned air escapes from the ducts, according to ENERGY STAR®.

Clean it up. Trim bushes, plants, and other foliage back at least two feet from your outdoor unit, which is called the condenser. After you shut off electrical power to the air conditioner, remove dirt and debris from the outside face of the condenser using a vacuum with a soft brush attachment. And gently straighten bent fins—the blades surrounding the unit—with a fin comb. To remove gunk from the inside of the condenser, remove the top part containing the fan and spray from the inside out with a garden hose. While you’re at it, if you can get to the evaporator (the accessible part of the unit found indoors), clean it by vacuuming debris from the blower compartment.

Change the filter. Clogged, dirty filters restrict airflow, making your air conditioner work harder—and use more energy—to keep you cool and to improve your home’s air quality. A clean filter reduces energy consumption anywhere from 5 to 15 percent—that’s why it’s important to clean or replace filters once a month.

Home Comfort Digest | 4

OPENING UP ABOUT

‘‘SMART’’ WINDOWS

Move aside, draperies. Windows may soon be doing your job.

5 | Home Comfort Digest

What if your windows could do more than give you a glimpse of the weather?

New technologies at various stages of development are creating a generation of “smart” windows, which hold the promise of adjusting views from 100% transparency to translucency to complete opacity in a matter of seconds. The windows also can block or permit the entry of radiant heat according to the season or your preferences.

Many of these smart window technologies are activated by small bursts of electrical current, which stimulate conductive materials within the glass panels. Homeowners control the current using rheostats, remote controls, and timers.

HERE’S A SAMPLING OF WHAT’S IN THE WORKS:• Suspended particle devicesSPD window technologies employ two panes of glass coated with a transparent conductive material. Between the panes are millions of suspended particles that, when charged with an electrical current, line up to let light through. When the charge is removed, the particles scatter and completely block the light.

• Electrochromic windowsThis technology allows windows to be completely translucent, often a blue color; remain transparent; or be adjusted to any opacity in between. Some technologies are “hybrids,” which allow for reflection of light so that radiant heat is blocked, rather than absorbed by the glass.

• Micro-blindsThin curled electrodes, or “microblinds,” are virtually invisible to the eye. They unfurl in response to an electrostatic charge to block heat and light, and curl up to let heat and light pass through the window.

try this today!Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adi piscing elit. Maecenas faucibus feugiat tellus, et sodales ante ultrices placerat. Vivamus et massa sodales felis varius posuere.

Home Comfort Digest | 6

If you’re in the market for a new home, you might already be looking for walk-in closets and granite countertops. But you may want to add one more amenity to your wish list: green.

The desire to save money and energy is a definite motivator among home buyers today—and everyone in the housing industry is paying attention.

According to the National Association of REALTORS’ 2010 Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers, 88 percent of home buyers said heating and cooling costs were a somewhat-to-very important aspect of

ENERGY EFFICIENCY: A HOME BUYER MUST-HAVE

their decision. And approximately 70 percent considered both energy-efficient appliances and lighting to be important features.

Research conducted by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) revealed that 68 percent of home builders anticipate green features to be key selling points in all newly constructed homes by 2015. And a survey by Better Homes and Gardens magazine revealed that 68 percent of home buyers viewed energy efficiency as a major factor in their decision.

7 | Home Comfort Digest

Make ImprovementsIf you’re selling a home, energy-efficient upgrades may tip the scale in your favor. Buyers are seeking:• CFLs and LED lights• Tankless water heaters• Abundant insulation in walls, attics, and

crawl spaces• Low-e windows• Air filtration and ventilation systems• EnergyStar-rated HVAC systems and/or

new ductwork • Low-flow faucets and showerheads;

water-saving toilets• Weather stripping, caulk, and other

evidence of air sealants

In new construction, buyers are also looking for these green features:• Solar, wind, and water power systems• Geothermal systems• Rainwater harvesting• Recycled/sustainable building materials

Get RatedMaking it easy to spot the greenest home, the U.S. Department of Energy offers the EnergySmart Home Scale (E-Scale), which assigns a home a number from zero to 150. Zero is given to the most energy-efficient home, while 150 is given to a home with a poor energy performance. The E-Scale is often posted near the home’s fuse box.

Builders and sellers also can use third-party verification methods to certify the efficiency levels of homes—among them, the NAHB Green Building Standard, ENERGY STAR, and Leadership in Energy and Design (LEED) for Homes.

Learn MoreWondering what improvements you could make to your home? Call a certified home energy auditor to perform an audit and make suggestions for efficient upgrades. Go to resnet.us or contact your utility to learn more.

did you know...

As much as half of the energy used in your home goes to heating and cooling. So making smart decisions about your home’s heating and air

conditioning system can have a big effect on your utility bills—

and your comfort.

Home Comfort Digest | 8

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