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Energy Savers Blog

  • This Month on Energy Savers: January 2012

    In the coldest parts of winter, we've turned our thoughts toward the best seasonal tips, conservation of water and lighting power, and what's new in 2012. If you've missed any of January's posts, here's a recap.

    What's New in 2012

    On the Blog, In Case You Missed It…

    This Month

    Weekly Questions—Did You Share Your Answer?

    Comment Spotlight

    Home Maintenance Tracker commented on Have You Found Any Energy-Efficient Bargains?: "LED lights are also more durable than traditional lights. We all know how frustrating it can be for one light to break and shut down the rest of the string."
    king singh commented on Musings on Water (and Power): "It takes about 1.75 gallons of water washed down the drain for the first hot water to arrive at the showerhead...

  • Green Up Your Next Movie Night!

    Winter. For many of us, the season means hot chocolate, winter sports, exercise indoors, and the classic American pastime—movie night. So, if you find yourself caught in a chilly day, and are in the mood for popcorn and a good flick at home, check out the following movies that have environmental or clean energy innuendoes/themes:

    • Back to the Future—In parts II and III of the popular series, the DeLorean time machine was powered by the Mr. Fusion Home Energy Reactor. In the end of the first movie, we see Dr. Emmett Brown putting a banana peel, beer (and the can), and other waste products into the Mr. Fusion unit, and in turn, suggesting that the car's flux capacitor is run on biomass energy. Another interesting tidbit is that the cool DeLorean car that was featured in the series is actually being made in real life as an electric vehicle.
    • Avatar—This 3D box office megahit carries a strong environmental theme. The film's depiction of corporate mining for unobtanium in the Na'vi lands is a futuristic caricature of the oil and coal extraction that we're familiar with here on Earth. The film shows the damage to wildlife habitats and impacts on the livelihoods of native residents from the excessive exploitation of interplanetary mineral resources. In his interviews on the film, Avatar Director James Cameron has urged the rapid transition to renewable energy.
    • Iron Man—Tony Stark, the superhero of this Marvel Comics hit flick, owns a shiny battery-powered Tesla Roadster, boosting the appeal of the electric vehicle. In real life, Hollywood stars Leonardo DiCaprio and Cameron Diaz bought the Toyota Prius in 2001, helping to kick off the hybrid car boom. Actor Ed Begley, Jr., one of Hollywood's prominent environmentalists, has owned electric vehicles since the 1970s. Find out more about
    • Be a Lean, Mean, Green Eating Machine

      Like most Americans, I watched the State of the Union to hear President Obama outline his goals for the year ahead, to understand his energy outlook and plans, and of course, to see what Michelle would be wearing (a stunning royal blue, of course).

      When listening to the President highlight his administration’s clean energy initiatives, I couldn’t help but remember the First Family's goals to reduce childhood obesity in America. By no surprise, the link between nationwide health improvement and energy efficiency efforts is strong. By reducing our demand for processed and imported foods, we can improve the health of generations to come, extend our overall lifespan and reduce the energy we waste on packaging.

      In the First Lady's health program, she outlines goals of improving the quality of food in schools and making healthy foods more affordable and accessible for families. The message resonates with many of us who are steadfastly moving forward with our new year’s resolution to drop the pounds – and save some energy along the way.

      If you were born in 1975 or later, you are probably well-versed on the topic of organic growing and eating. We’ve heard it a million times: Organic foods are foods that have not been produced using pesticides, chemicals or unnatural ingredients. So, what exactly is it about organic food that is green-friendly? Research has shown that foods grown by sustainable agricultural methods avoid unnecessary pollution and oil consumption caused by synthetic, petroleum-based fertilizers and pesticides.

      In addition to the energy savings that comes from producing organic foods, growing them locally (perhaps in your own garden) saves the energy cost of shipping and importing. And while we're on the topic of growing in your backyard, it really is the least expensive option, as opposed to buying the sometimes overpriced organic produce...

    • What Are Your Favorite Winter Energy Savings Tips?

      This week, Amanda highlighted the Energy Savers seasonal website as a great place to get tips to save money and energy in any season. We want to know which winter energy savings tips you've tried. Have you covered your drafty windows, added weatherstripping to your doors, or opened your south-facing window curtains during the day? How well have these tips worked for you?

      We want you to share your own favorite tips and tricks with us. What have you done to save energy and money in your home this winter? Tell us!

      Each week, you have the chance to share your thoughts on a question or frequently-asked-question about energy efficiency or renewable energy for consumers. Please comment with your answers, and also feel free to respond to other comments.



    • Energy Department Announces Student Teams, New Location for Solar Decathlon 2013

      At an event today in Albuquerque, New Mexico, U.S. Department of Energy Secretary Steven Chu announced the 20 collegiate teams selected to compete in the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon 2013 and unveiled the competition's location, the Orange County Great Park in Irvine, California. The 20 teams from colleges and universities across the United States and from around the world will now begin a two-year process to build solar-powered, highly energy-efficient homes that combine affordability, consumer appeal and design excellence. Throughout the two-year process, the teams will design, construct, and test their homes before reassembling them at the Solar Decathlon 2013 competition site. As part of the Solar Decathlon, teams compete in ten different categories—ranging from best architecture and engineering to energy production for heating and cooling—while gaining invaluable real-world experience in a growing global industry.

      Aerial photo of Orange County Great Park in Irvine, California.

      Orange County Great Park in Irvine, California.

      "As President Obama made clear in the State of the Union address this week, we need to ensure that the next generation of America's architects, engineers and entrepreneurs have the hands-on experience and training they need to lead our nation's clean energy future," said Secretary Chu. "The Solar Decathlon will unleash the ingenuity, creativity, and drive from these talented students to demonstrate new ideas for how families and businesses can reduce energy use and save money with clean energy products and efficient building design."

      In fall 2013, the student teams will showcase their solar-powered houses at the Orange County Great Park, highlighting renewable energy systems and energy-efficient technologies, products and appliances that are already available to homeowners. The selected teams and their proposed projects represent a diverse range of design approaches, building technologies, target markets, geographic locations, climates, and regions, including urban, suburban,...

    • New Lighting Facts Label: Takes the Guess Work Out of Shopping for Light Bulbs

      If you're like me, it sometimes feels overwhelming standing at the store and staring at a big wall of light bulbs, trying to understand all the lighting choices. With new lighting standards taking effect this year, now's a great time switch to energy-saving incandescent, CFL, and LED light bulbs, which are available in most hardware and home improvement retailers. They all are more energy-efficient than traditional incandescent bulbs, and upgrading 15 of the inefficient incandescent light bulbs in your home could save you about $50 per year.

      I've learned that when I'm shopping for light bulbs, it's most important to compare lumens to be sure I'm getting the amount of light, or level of brightness, I want. More lumens means it's a brighter light; fewer lumens means it's a dimmer light.

      The brightness, or lumen levels, of the lights in your home may vary widely, so here's a rule of thumb:

      • To replace a 100-watt (W) incandescent bulb, look for a bulb that gives you about 1600 lumens. If you want something dimmer, go for less lumens; if you prefer brighter light, look for more lumens.
      • Replace a 75 W bulb with an energy-saving bulb that gives you about 1100 lumens.
      • Replace a 60 W bulb with an energy-saving bulb that gives you about 800 lumens.
      • Replace a 40 W bulb with an energy-saving bulb that gives you about 450 lumens.

      To help people like you and me better understand the switch from watts to lumens, the Federal Trade Commission will require a new product label for light bulbs in the coming months. It will help people buy the light bulbs that are right for them.

      example of a Lighting Facts label

      Example of a Lighting Facts label.

      The Lighting Facts label will help consumers understand what they are really purchasing....

    • Seasonal Tips

      I’ve often wished I lived in one of those fabulous places where it’s 72 degrees and sunny year-round. But unfortunately, most of us don’t. And to stay comfortable, we need heat and hot coffee in the winter, and air-conditioning and lemonade in the summer. Luckily, part of the Energy Savers site is dedicated to helping us save energy during all four seasons.

      Bring up the dedicated Energy Savers seasonal website and learn great ways to reduce your energy bill. Tips range from small changes you can make immediately, such as closing your drapes, to information on modifications you can make to your home for even larger benefits. There is even information on assistance for energy-savings improvements to your home.

      On the page you’ll also find the Weekly Tips widget, with fresh tips on how to stay warm and toasty without your heating bill skyrocketing. Imagine if you utilized one easy tip a week, the savings could have a tremendous effect on your energy costs! The widget is downloadable as well, so improve your personal webpage or blog with the weekly tips, and spread the savings!

      So even though I’m not spending the winter on a sunny beach in Hawaii, I’m going to make a cup of hot cocoa, and learn how to make my energy bill much brighter.

      Amanda McAlpin works for New West Technologies supporting the Vehicle Technologies Program at the U.S. Department of Energy.



    • Have You Ever Tried Composting?

      This week, Erin talked about how she's helping her parents (and learning from them) as they maintain an outdoor compost pile. By composting, you can nourish your garden for very little cost while keeping organic garbage out of sewer systems and city dumps. Compost materials range from food scraps to worms, and you can keep your compost in an open pile outdoors or in a specialized container.

      Of course, composting isn't just for homes - you can also participate in composting at the office.

      Whether at work or at home, indoors or outdoors, worms or food scraps: Have you ever tried composting? Why or why not?

      Each week, you have the chance to share your thoughts on a question or frequently-asked-question about energy efficiency or renewable energy for consumers. Please comment with your answers, and also feel free to respond to other comments.



    • New Energy 101 Video: Electric Vehicles

      Electric vehicles, sometimes called EVs, can give drivers like you a convenient way to get around, while saving you money on fuel, reducing emissions, and supporting the nation’s energy security. Learn about the advantages of electric vehicles, see EVs in action, and find out how they work by checking out DOE’s new Electric Vehicle 101 video.

      The basics principles behind this technology are this: the EV’s battery transfers energy to an electric motor, the motor turns a drive train, which then turns the wheels. Up to 80% of the energy in the battery is transferred directly to power the car, making it a highly efficient mode of transportation. With all-electric vehicles, you never have to fuel up at the gas pump—instead, you just recharge the batteries at home or at charging stations on your route.

      Compared to conventional vehicles, the driving range of an all-electric EV – typically about 100 miles per charge – may seem limited. However, when you consider the average American commutes fewer than 40 miles roundtrip, it becomes clear that EVs are a reliable and comfortable way to regularly get from point A to point B, while reducing energy waste and contributing to a sustainable environment. For longer trips, you can simply recharge the battery along your way. Use the Alternative Fueling Station Locator to find a charging station near you.

      For drivers looking for an energy-saving car with longer range, an “extended-range” electric vehicle makes longer trips easier by switching to a gasoline-fueled engine to power the car’s electric motor when the battery is low. Visit the Vehicle Cost Calculator on DOE’s Alternative Fuels and Advanced Vehicles Data Center to make side-by-side comparisons of a broad array of EVs, hybrids and conventional vehicles on the road today.

      The cost of today’s EVs is...

    • Reducing Waste and Saving Energy with Composting

      “Hey, don’t throw that away!” This a phrase I heard quite often when I visited my parents over the holidays. What were they referring to? All the banana and carrot peelings I would discard, nonchalantly into the garbage bin. My father, an avid gardener for as long as I can remember, has taken-up composting again, this time with renewed fervor and an ever watchful eye.

      photo of outdoor compost pile

      The aforementioned compost pile, started in March 2011 — a mixture of manure from a local farmer, kitchen scraps, grass clippings, and leaves.

      In addition to the usual suspects of compost (coffee grinds, apple cores, etc.) both parents insisted things as specific as the papery outer skins of onions, discarded bags of chai tea, and rinsed-out eggshells all go into the makeshift “compost bin” on the far side of the kitchen counter (to later be added to an outdoor pile).

      The result of my compost-conscious parent’s hard work? A humungous nutrient-rich compost pile, perfect for all their summer outdoor gardening projects.

      If you’re thinking, as I did, that composting is mainly for gardeners, think again. There are a multitude of reasons to give it a try, as evident in this 2010 Energy Savers post on composting from John Lippert:

      “We've been doing this not so much to obtain good compost for the garden, but to avoid sending the food through the garbage disposer and then via the wastewater pipe to the water treatment plant.

      It may not be obvious, but communities use a lot of energy pumping and treating water and wastewater. We may not see the results show up on our bills directly, but the more water that is used and treated, the higher our water bills (which include treating wastewater) are going to go.”

      So there you have it. In...

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