Energy

Americans Know How To Conserve Energy But Don't

A new poll is shedding light on just how much Americans know about conserving energy at home – and why they still aren’t doing all they can. The poll was recently conducted by the AP-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. The majority of those polled believe that their personal choices will not add up to a significant energy savings and say they look to the government and larger institutions to execute the bigger energy saving initiatives. In fact, 7% of those surveyed say what they do at home makes no difference at all.

Those surveyed say they understand that driving more fuel efficient cars, carpooling, and evening adding insulation to their homes can result in energy savings but most say those actions are not practical.

The poll also showed that the majority of people polled do not fully understand the government’s Energy Star programs or how to find out how much energy they are actually using at home. For more information, read more on the poll results here.

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New Efficiency Standards For Washers & Dishwashers

Higher energy standards are coming to clothes washers and dishwashers. In an effort to reduce water and energy consumption from our most used home appliances, there will soon be new government energy efficient standards in place.

Starting in 2013, dishwashers will be required to be 15% more energy efficient and conserve 20% more water. This will mean a savings of about $100 in utility bills. Starting in 2015, top loading clothes washers will use 15% less energy and consume 35% less water. The front loading versions will be 33% more energy efficient and use 19% less water. That means a savings of anywhere between $400 and $600 in utility bills for that appliance alone.

Many dishwashers and clothes washers already meet the standards. You can read more on the energy savings here at Energy.gov.

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Going Green Goes High Tech

We’ve all heard the excuses about going green – it’s too time consuming, too expensive, and just too difficult. Now, some high tech tools are making it downright easy to be energy efficient and save money. Do Your Part to find out which ones you can incorporate into your family’s life to make a powerful impact.

Knowledge Is Power

It takes a whole lot of energy to run a household. Consider your heating and cooling systems, appliances, and electronics. The average single-family household racks up more than $2,000 in energy bills each year. There are home electricity monitors that make it easy to see how much energy you use and what you spend on it. A device called The Energy Detective can monitor the energy your home consumes in real time and the exact amount it’s costing you. You can chart ten years worth of data and even review your information remotely. The basic model costs around $200. Then, there are free ways to help you see what’s using the most energy at home and help you target those hot spots. MyEnergy.com compiles your specific information directly from your utility companies and is able to compare your usage to that of some of your neighbors. You can also earn reward points for using less energy.

Hit The Energy Hogs

Now, that you know how much energy you’re really using at home, it’s time to hit those energy hogs and hit them hard. I recommend starting with making your heating and cooling systems more efficient. So-called “smart” thermostats are now available and are super easy to use. The Nest thermostat is one such device that actually learns from your family’s behavior. Soon after installation, it will automatically begin to lower or increase the temperature when you go to bed or leave the house. It even allows you to look at its daily energy use and access the thermostat from your computer or smartphone. There are also other intuitive devices to help you reduce your energy consumption at home. A power strip for sale by Belkin will shut down power going to a series of electronics by simply turning off one of the components. This is a great solution for home offices and entertainment centers.

Put It All Together

Then, there are high tech devices to help you put it all together. EnergyHub has a product that works as a command center for your home. You can access all your energy information in one place so you can control your thermostat, your lights, and appliances from a central home location or remotely. General Electric is also rolling out a hub system called the Nucleus that does the same thing and is compatible for homes with smart meters, too.

When you know how much energy your home is using, it’s easier to come up with strategies to lower your usage and lower your utility bills. It’s another important way to Do Your Part without wasting your energy.

Additional Resources:

Nest Thermostat

The Energy Detective

Energy Hub

GE’s Home Energy Manager


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A Wind Farm Without The Blades

Take a look at this! It’s a proposed wind farm that’s probably unlike any wind farm you’ve seen. Discovery News is showcasing a new design by Atelier DNA which has come up with a concept that does away with the traditional blades in favor of what looks more like stalks. These stalks capture energy when they are blown by the wind and that energy is stored in batteries at the base of the stalk. The design created for a proposed no vehicle park site in Abu Dhabi. Among the potential benefits are less noise pollution and less chance of injury for wildlife and birds in the area.

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IKEA's Big Solar Plans

IKEA is making big news but it’s not for anything they’re selling. In fact, it’s for something you’ll only be able to see from above. 85% of IKEA’s stores in the United States will soon be generating energy from solar panels on the stores’ rooftops. CleanEnergyAuthority.com reports the Swedish company is working to have solar panels operating on 38 of its 44 stores by this summer.


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Hurry! Earn Tax Credits Before 2012

We’re in the season of shopping but don’t forget, this is also the time to make improvements to your home to make it more energy efficient. That’s because certain upgrades made in 2011 will earn you a federal tax credit. Some tax credits will be given for new insulation, roofs, HVAC units, water heaters, windows, doors, and more. For a complete list possible tax credits, click here.

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Green Your Holiday Gift List With Gadget Guide

If your holiday gift list includes electronics this year a new guide will help you make eco-friendly choices. Greenpeace just released its annual Guide to Greener Electronics. The guide ranks 15 electronics companies on energy, greener products and sustainable operations. This year Hewlett Packard tops the list followed by Dell, Nokia and Apple.

The annual guide by Greenpeace has prompted changes in the electronics industry including the phasing out of hazardous chemicals like flame retardants and PVC. The group also helps persuade companies to green the life cycle of their products by increasing energy efficiency, using renewable energy, increasing the re-usability of the gadgets they make and providing free take-back programs for used electronics.

Hewlett Packard took the top position this year for reducing carbon emissions from its supply chain, reducing its own emissions and advocating for strong climate legislation. The company also has a policy that excludes paper from companies linked with illegal logging and deforestation.

Computer maker Dell moved up from 10th position to second this year with a plan to reduce its carbon emissions 40 percent by 2020. The company also committed to remove PVC vinyl plastics and flame retardants from computing products by the end of this year. Apple came in fourth largely due to big strides on e-waste management as the company exceeded its global recycling goal by 70 percent last year.

 

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First Passenger Jet Using Green Fuel Takes Off

Passengers on select United Airlines flights will be flying in eco-friendly fashion. The airliner just completed the first-ever passenger flight using fuel made from algae. The flight from Chicago to Houston used a blend of petroleum-based jet fuel and biofuel made from genetically modified algae that feeds off plant waste and produces oil. The fuel, called Solajet, is provided by renewable oil and byproducts company Solazyme. United also agreed to buy twenty million gallons of the eco-friendly jet fuel from Solazyme every year. United officials say if sustainable biofuels are produced on a large scale at an economically viable price it can one day play a meaningful role in powering everyone’s trip on an airline.

The biofuel flight is part of the airline’s Eco-Skies program. United also operates more than 3,000 alternatively fueled or zero-emission ground vehicles. Pilots have been trained to use innovative flight techniques including continuous descent or tailored arrivals and using only one engine while taxiing to save fuel. The airline is also increasing the use of ground power instead of aircraft engines to move aircraft from gate to gate.

Alaska Airlines is another airline making eco-friendly decisions. The airline this week started using a biofuel blend made from recycled cooking oil. Airline officials say the 20 percent biofuel blend will help reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 10 percent. The U.S. Department of Defense is also testing biofuels on helicopters and marine vessels. The efforts are all part of the Obama administration’s policy aimed at transitioning away from fossil fuel dependence to cleaner energy sources.

 

 

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Light Bulb Finder Wins Green App Contest

If you are making the switch from incandescent to energy-efficient light bulbs, a new phone app will help you make the right choice for your home. The Light Bulb Finder smartphone app makes it easier to find the energy-saving equivalent to conventional light bulbs and was just named best overall app in the Environmental Protection Agency’s App for the Environment Challenge.

The Light Bulb Finder app gives instant recommendations for energy-saving light bulbs with the fit and quality that matches the users needs. Users simply walk through their homes and enter simple information about their light fixtures and current incandescent bulbs. The Light Bulb Finder will then display an image of the bulb, price, dollar savings, payback period and carbon footprint reduction so users can make an informed purchase. The app also creates a shopping list and allows users to buy light bulbs directly through the app or at local retailers.

Other winners in the App for the Environment Challenge include HootRoot, an app that helps users find the most efficient routes while traveling. HootRoot provides directions and carbon footprints for driving, flying, and human powered transportation options on any route. EarthFriend was named best student app by the EPA. The application incorporates games, fast facts and data importation from the EPA. It encourages users to go green and take action to help our land, water, air and climate. The popular choice award went to CG Search, an app that gives users the air quality index, air pollution levels and energy consumption of various cities across the U.S.

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Ten States Form Electric Car Charging Network

Electric car drivers in the Northeast won’t have to worry about running out of battery power. Ten states from Massachusetts to Maryland are joining forces to install electric car charging stations throughout the region. The network of states will also work to attract private investment in clean vehicle infrastructure. The goal of the Northeast Electric Vehicle Network is to increase energy independence by reducing the use of petroleum and turning to clean vehicles and fuels. About 30 percent of the region’s greenhouse gas emissions come from cars, trucks, planes and trains.

President Obama has called for one million plug-in electric cars on the road by 2015. That would total 200,000 cars, based on population, for the ten states in the electric vehicle network. The installation of chargers is being supported by a nearly $1 million dollar grant by the Department of Energy.

In other parts of the U.S., there is a growing effort to add electric car chargers to public and private locations. Stores and restaurants like Walgreens, McDonalds and Cracker Barrel are installing charging stations for customers at some of their locations. Shopping malls including the King of Prussia near Philadelphia and the Mall of America in Minnesota also offer car charging stations for electric vehicle drivers.

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