Today's Energy Insight

Geothermal energy is used to heat 85% of the homes in which country?

A) Japan                          B) Iceland


C) Turkey                        D) Denmark

Scroll down to check your answer...





























The correct answer is Iceland.

Today's Energy Insight

Visualizing Electricity

The following is an excerpt from a recent article on cnn.com entitled

Power Cord Lights Up as Electricity Flows

<<<  Here's one of electricity's dirty little secrets: You can't see it moving, so it's hard to know when you're wasting a bunch of it. Think about the "vampire electronics" in your kitchen -- all of those blenders, coffee pots, toasters and toaster ovens that are sucking down power simply because they're plugged into an outlet. These electronics gobble an estimated 5% to 10% of all the electricity used in U.S. homes, according to the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory.

But what if you could see your money going down the drain? Would visualizing power use help you save energy? That's one possible effect of a new smartphone charger from Dexim. When electricity is flowing down the charger's cord, blue lights travel down the cord, too, letting users see the energy that's needed to charge their smartphones. The lights zip down the cord more quickly when the phone is almost out of juice, since more electricity is needed. Patrick Tarpey, a spokesman for the company, said this "electro-luminescent wire" is intended as a visual reminder for phone users so that they can see from across the room whether their phone is almost charged. >>>

Happy New Year!

As we welcome in 2017, how about making a resolution to save some energy this year? It's easy if you try; just flip a switch, adjust the thermostat by a few degrees, change some light bulbs, make a conscious effort to be more efficient with your energy use this year. Thanks, everyone, for doing your part. It all adds up both at home and in our schools.

Together we are making a huge difference!
Thank YOU!!!

Wishing you a groovy and efficient New Year!

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.