JOINT BASE ANDREWS, Md. –
The average American family spends almost 20 percent of its utility bill on cooling. Increased energy production to run cooling systems raises your costs and contributes to pollution that adversely affects the quality of the air we breathe.
With global energy prices rising, and environmental issues having increasingly more impact on DOD budgets, members of all U.S. Armed Forces and their families have a special responsibility to ensure our energy consuming systems are operating at the highest efficiency possible. While the problems are admittedly complex, in many cases, the solutions are not. Every American can and should do his or her part to control energy waste and unnecessary utility costs every day all year round.
With summertime now upon us, here are eight simple ways to help protect both your wallet and our environment, and help reduce America's dependence on foreign energy sources:
1. Use Ceiling Fans Optimally. Run your ceiling fan to create a cool breeze. If you raise your thermostat by only two degrees and use your ceiling fan, you can lower cooling costs by up to 14 percent. Remember that ceiling fans cool you, not the room, so when you leave the room make sure to turn off the fan. Using ceiling fans in the cooler months will also help save on heating bills. Simply reverse the fan's rotation so that it is bringing air upward, thereby forcing the warmer air near the ceiling down into the living space.
2. Maximize Shade. Pull the curtains and shades closed before you leave your home to keep the sun's rays from overheating the interior of your home. If you can, move container trees and plants in front of sun-exposed windows to serve as shade.
3. Find the Best Thermostat Settings. If you have a programmable thermostat, program it to work around your family's summer schedule--set it a few degrees higher (such as 78 degrees) when no one is home, so you are not wasting energy dollars cooling an empty house.
4. Reduce Oven Time. Use a microwave or an outside grill instead of oven cooking, when you can. Ovens take longer to cook food and can make your house warmer, requiring your air conditioning system to work harder to keep the house at a comfortable temperature.
5. Check Air Conditioner Filters. Check your cooling system's air filter every month. If the filter looks dirty, change it. A good rule is to change the filter at least every three months. A dirty filter will slow air flow and make the system work harder to keep you cool--wasting energy and money.
6. Change to More Efficient Light Bulbs. Change out incandescent light bulbs with more energy-efficient lighting choices like CFL (compact fluorescent) or LED (light emitting diode). Energy Star qualified lighting uses less energy and also produces approximately 75 percent less heat than incandescent lighting. While slightly more expensive that conventional incandescent bulbs, CFLs and LEDs will pay for themselves many times over through longer service life, and reduced heating and air conditioning costs.
7. Plug Duct System Leaks. As much as 20 percent of the air moving through your home's duct system is lost due to leaks and poor connections. Seal duct work using mastic sealant or metal tape and insulate all the ducts that you can access (such as those in attics, crawlspaces, unfinished basements, and garages). Also, make sure that connections at vents and registers are well-sealed where they meet floors, walls, and ceilings. These are common locations to find leaks and disconnected ductwork.
8. Purchase projects showing an Energy Star™ label. This simple step assures the consumer they are buying an appliance that has been certified energy efficient. Energy Star was started by the Environmental Protection Agency in 1992 as a market-based partnership to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions and utility costs through energy efficiency.
Today, the Energy Star™ label can be found on more than 60 different kinds of products, as well as new homes, and commercial and industrial buildings that meet strict energy-efficient specifications set by the EPA. Last year alone, Americans, with the help of Energy Star, saved approximately $18 billion on their energy bills while preventing greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to the annual emission of 33 million vehicles.
EPA provides the following data for all ENERGY STAR Qualified products:
· Product ID (EPA generated)
· Manufacturer Name
· Product Category
· Product Type
· Brand Name
· Model Name
· Model Number
· Product Description
· Product MSRP(if any)
A comprehensive list of Energy Star products and their specifications can be downloaded free from the Energy Star or EPA websites - www.energystar.gov , www.epa.gov.
For those military families living in base housing, contact your base housing point of contact for more information on how to ensure your home is as energy efficient at possible. For all energy related questions, ideas or suggestions, contact John Kitson at john.kitson.afncr.af.mil, or give us a call at (240) 857-8940
And remember, when it comes to saving America's energy resources and environment Every Drop, Every Watt, and Everyone Counts!