Today's Energy Insight

Warm Seasons Greetings
from the Energy Efficiency Coordinator!

Just a friendly reminder whether you are leaving your classroom, office of area for break or traveling away from home over the Holidays, be sure to shut down everything before you leave including monitors, speakers, printers, copiers, projectors, etc. Don't forget about smart boards and gaming systems. Any electronics drawing vampire energy should be turned off or unplugged. Every effort no matter how small truly does make a difference. Thank you for doing your part, everyone!

Today's Energy Insight

A Look at Lighting Facts

When switching between incandescent, CFL and LED bulbs, it can be hard to figure out which one is the best replacement. The Federal Trade Commission now requires a Lighting Facts label on all light bulb packages. In the past we merely looked at watts (which measure energy) but now with a variety of energy efficient options available you want to look at the lumens (the amount of brightness). If you are replacing a 100 watt bulb, look for something with an output of about 1600 lumens. For a 60W equivalent, look for around 800 lumens.

The lighting facts also include estimated cost, lifespan and appearance (from warm to cool).

Here are some sample labels for a side by side comparison…

Today's Energy Insight

What standard home building practice guarantees large heating and cooling losses?

A)  Locating heating units in basements

B)  Using fiberglass insulation

C)  Installing duct work in attics and crawl spaces

D)  Installing double paned windows

Scroll down for the answer...

Hiding duct work in attics and crawlspaces is a sure way to lose air. Scientists at the Department of Energy labs have shown that 40 percent of heated or cooled air supply is lost through duct leaks in unconditioned spaces.

Today's Energy Insight

According to ENERGY STAR, in 2015 alone, American families and businesses have saved $34 billion on utility bills and prevented greenhouse gas emissions equal to the annual electricity use of more than 63 million vehicles. To date, more than 1.6 million new homes and 28,500 buildings and plants have earned the ENERGY STAR. Americans purchased about 320 million ENERGY STAR certified products in 2014 across more than 70 product categories for a cumulative total of more than 5.2 billion products since 1993.