Appliances

Appliances Rating Special Considerations

Shopping Guide

Natural Gas and Oil Systems

Look for the FTC (Federal Trade Commission) Energy Guide label with

an AFUE (Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency) rating for natural gas- and

oil-fired furnaces and boilers. The AFUE measures the seasonal or annual

efficiency. ENERGY STAR furnaces have a 90 AFUE or higher.

Special Considerations

Bigger is not always better! Too large a system costs more and operates inefficiently. Have a professional assess your needs and recommend the type and size of system you should purchase.

Air-Source Heat Pumps

Look for the Energy Guide label that lists the SEER (Seasonal Energy

Efficiency Ratio) and HSPF (Heating Seasonal Performance Factor) for heat

pumps. The SEER measures the energy efficiency during the cooling season

and HSPF measures the efficiency during the heating season. The ENERGY

STAR minimum efficiency level is 13 SEER or higher.

Special Considerations

If you live in a cool climate, look for a heat pump with a high HSPF. ENERGY STAR heat pumps are about 20% more efficient than standard models. Contact a professional for advice on purchasing a heat pump.

Central Air Conditioners.

Look for the Energy Guide label with a SEER for central air conditioners.

The ENERGY STAR minimum efficiency level is 13 SEER.

Special Considerations

Air conditioners that bear the ENERGY STAR label may be 25% more efficient than standard models. Contact a professional for advice on sizing a central air system.

Room Air Conditioners

Look for the Energy Guide label with an EER (Energy Efficiency Ratio) for room

air conditioners. The higher the EER, the more efficient the unit is. ENERGY

STAR units are among the most energy efficient products.

What size to buy?

Area in square feet                                        Btu/hour

100 to 150                                                   5,000

150 to 250                                                   6,000

250 to 350                                                   7,000

350 to 450                                                   9,000

400 to 450                                                  10,000

450 to 550                                                  12,000

550 to 700                                                 14,000

700 to 1,000                                               18,000

Two major factors should guide your purchase: correct size and energy

efficiency. If the room is very sunny, increase capacity by 10%. If the unit is for a kitchen, increase the capacity by 4,000 Btu per hour.

A

 

Programmable Thermostats

For minimum ENERGY STAR efficiency, thermostats should have at least two

programs, four temperature settings each, a hold feature that allows users to temporarily override settings, and the ability to maintain room temperature

within 2ºF of desired temperature.

Special Considerations

Look for a the ENERGY STAR label and a thermostat that allows you to easily

use two separate programs, one that can be programmed to reach the desired

temperature at a specific time, and a hold feature that temporarily overrides

the setting without deleting the preset programs.

Water Heaters

Look for the EnergyGuide label that tells how much energy the water

heater uses in one year. Also, look for the FHR (first hour rating) of the water

heater, which measures the maximum hot water the heater will deliver in the

first hour of use.

Special Considerations

If you typically need a lot of hot water at once, the FHR will be important to you.

Sizing is important—call your local utility for advice.

Windows

Look for the NFRC (National Fenestration Rating Council) label that provides U-values and SHGC (solar heat gain coefficient) values. The lower the U-value, the better the insulation. Look at the Climate Region Map on the

Special Considerations

ENERGY STAR label to be sure that the window, door, or skylight you have selected is appropriate for where you live.

Refrigerators and Freezers

Look for the EnergyGuide label that tells how much electricity, in kWh, the

refrigerator will use in one year. The smaller the number, the less energy it

uses. ENERGY STAR refrigerators use at least 20% less energy than required by

federal standards.

Special Considerations

Look for energy-efficient refrigerators and freezers. Refrigerators with freezers on top are more efficient than those with freezers on the side. Also look for heavy door hinges that create a good door seal.

Dish washers

Look for the EnergyGuide label that tells how much electricity, in kWh, the

dishwasher will use in one year. The smaller the number, the less energy it

uses. ENERGY STAR dishwashers use at least 41% less energy than required by

federal standards.

Special Considerations

Look for features that will reduce water use, such as booster heaters and smart

controls. Ask how many gallons of water the dishwasher uses during different cycles. Dishwashers that use the least amount of water will cost the least to operate.

ClothesWashers

Look for the EnergyGuide label that tells how much electricity, in kWh, the

clothes washer will use in one year. The smaller the number, the less energy is uses. ENERGY STAR clothes washers use less than 50% of the energy used

by standard washers.

Special Considerations

Look for the following design features that help clothes washers cut water usage:

water level controls, “suds-saver” features, spin cycle adjustments, and large capacity.

Renewable Energy

Renewable energy is energy which comes from natural resources such as sunlight, wind, rain, tides, and geothermal heat, which are renewable. Which means that the energy dissipated is naturally replenished.

Renewable energy replaces conventional fuels in four distinct areas: power generation, hot water/ space heating, transport fuels, and rural (off-grid) energy services. Renewable energy is one of the safest form of energy generation.

You have many options for using renewable energy at home—from solar-powered outdoor lights to buying renewable energy from your utility to even producing solar electricity at home with photovoltaic (PV) cells.

Renewable Energy Tips

• A new home provides the best opportunity for designing and orienting the home to take advantage of the sun’s rays. A well-oriented home admits low-angle winter sun to reduce heating bills and rejects overhead summer sun to reduce cooling bills. See the Heating and Cooling section for more about using passive solar energy in your home.

• Many U.S. consumers buy electricity made from renewable energy sources like the sun, wind, water, plants, and

Earth’s internal heat. This power is sometimes called “green power.” Buying green power from the utility is one of the easiest ways to use renewable energy without having toinvest in equipment or take on extra maintenance.

• Another use of solar power is for heating water. If you have a swimming pool or hot tub, you can use solar power to cut pool heating costs. Most solar pool heating systems are cost competitive with conventional systems. And solar pool systems have very low operating costs. It’s actually the most cost-effective use of solar energy.

          Long-Term Savings Tip

• If you’ve made your home as energy efficient as possible, and you have very high electricity bills and a good solar resource, you might want to consider generating your own electricity using PV cells. New products are available that integrate PV cells with the roof, making them much less visible than older systems.

If the following conditions apply, you might want to do more research to see if investing in PV is right for you:

• Your site has adequate solar resources.

• A grid connection is not available in your area or can be made only through an expensive power line extension.

• You are willing to pay more up front to reduce the environmental impact of your electricity use.

• Your power provider will connect your system to the electricity grid and buy any excess power you produce.

• Your state, city, or utility offers rebates, tax credits, or other incentives.

To find out about financial incentives in your area.

           

Did you know that the typical U.S. family spends about $1,900 a year

on home utility bills? Unfortunately, a large portion of that energy is wasted.

And each year, electricity generated by fossil fuels for a single home puts

more carbon dioxide into the air than two average cars. And as for the road,

transportation accounts for 67% of all U.S. oil consumption. The good news

is that there is a lot you can do to save energy and money at home and in your car. Start making small changes today.

The key to achieving these savings in your home is a whole-house energy

efficiency plan. To take a whole-house approach, view your home as an energy system with interdependent parts. For example, your heating system is not just a furnace—it’s a heat-delivery system that starts at the furnace and delivers heat throughout your home using a network of ducts. Even a top-of-the line, energy-efficient furnace will waste a lot of fuel if the ducts, walls, attic, windows, and doors are not properly sealed and insulated. Taking a whole house approach to saving energy ensures that dollars you invest to save energy are spent wisely.

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Energy-efficient improvements not only make your home more comfortable, they can yield long-term financial rewards. Reduced utility bills more than make up for the higher price of energy-efficient appliances and improvements over their lifetimes. 

                                         Energy Auditing Tips

• Check the insulation levels in your attic, exterior and basement walls, ceilings, floors, and crawl spaces.

• Check for holes or cracks around your walls, ceilings, windows, doors, light and plumbing fixtures, switches, and electrical outlets that can leak air into or out of your

home.

• Check for open fireplace dampers.

• Make sure your appliances and heating and cooling systems are properly maintained. Check your owner’s manuals for the recommended maintenance.

• Study your family’s lighting needs and use patterns, paying special attention to high-use areas such as the living room, kitchen, and outside lighting. Look for ways to use lighting controls—like occupancy sensors, dimmers, or timers—to reduce lighting

energy use, and replace standard (incandescent) light bulbs and fixtures with compact or standard fluorescent lamps. 

Formulating Your Plan 

After you have identified where your home is losing energy, assign priorities by asking yourself a few important

questions:

• How much money do you spend on energy?

• Where are your greatest energy losses?

• How long will it take for an investment in energy efficiency to pay for itself in energy cost savings?

• Do the energy-saving measures provide additional benefits that are important to you (for example, increased comfort from installing double-paned, efficient windows)?

• How long do you plan to own your current home?

• Can you do the job yourself or will you need to hire a contractor?

• What is your budget and how much time do you have to spend on maintenance and repair?

 Once you assign priorities to your energy

needs, you can form a whole house

efficiency plan. Your plan will provide

you with a strategy for making smart

purchases and home improvements that

maximize energy efficiency and save the

most money.

Another option is to get the advice of

a professional. Many utilities conduct

energy audits for free or for a small

charge. For a fee, a professional

contractor will analyze how well

your home’s energy systems work

together and compare the analysis to

your utility bills. He or she will use a

variety of equipment such as blower doors, infrared cameras, and surface thermometers to find leaks and drafts. After gathering information about your home, the contractor or auditor will give you a list of recommendations for cost effective energy improvements and enhanced comfort and safety.

A reputable contractor can also calculate the return on your investment in high-efficiency equipment compared with standard equipment.

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   Insulation & Saving Airleaks

Checking your home’s insulation is one of the fastest and most cost effective ways to use a whole-house approach to reduce energy waste and make the most of your energy dollars. A good insulating system includes a combination of products and construction techniques that protects a home from outside hot or cold temperatures, protect it against air leaks, and control moisture. You can

increase the comfort of your home

while reducing your heating and

cooling needs by investing in proper

insulation and sealing air leaks.

Insulation

First, check the insulation in your attic,

ceilings, exterior and basement walls,

floors, and crawl spaces to see if it meets

the levels recommended for your area.

Insulation is measured in R-values—the

higher the R-value, the better your

walls and roof will resist the transfer

of heat. DOE recommends ranges of

R-values based on local heating and

cooling costs and climate conditions in

different areas of the nation. The map

and chart on pages 6 and 7 show the

DOE recommendations for your area.

State and local code minimum insulation

requirements may be less than the DOE

recommendations, which are based on

Insulation and Sealing Air Leak Floors

Where to Insulate

Adding insulation in the areas shown above may be the best way to improve your home’s energy efficiency.

Insulate either the attic floor or under the roof. Check with a contractor about crawl space or basement

insulation.

When Can I Insulate My Home?

Insulate your home when:

• You have an older home and haven’t added insulation. Only 20% of homes built before 1980 are well insulated.

• You are uncomfortably cold in the winter or hot in the summer— adding insulation creates a more uniform temperature and increases comfort.

• You build a new home, addition, or install new siding or roofing.

• You pay high energy bills.

• You are bothered by noise from outside—insulation muffles sound.

$ Long-Term Savings Tip

• One of the most cost-effective

ways to make your home more

comfortable year-round is to add

insulation to your attic.

Adding insulation to the attic is

relatively easy and very cost effective.

To find out if you have enough attic

insulation, measure the thickness of

the insulation. If it is less than R-30

(11 inches of fiber glass or rock wool

or 8 inches of cellulose), you could

probably benefit by adding more. Most

U.S. homes should have between R-30

and R-60 insulation in the attic. Don’t

forget the attic trap or access door.

If your attic has enough insulation and

your home still feels drafty and cold in

the winter or too warm in the summer,

chances are you need to add insulation to

the exterior walls as well. This is a more

expensive measure that usually requires

a contractor, but it may be worth the cost

if you live in a very hot or cold climate.

If you replace the exterior siding on

your home, you should consider adding

insulation at the same time.

You may also need to add insulation

to your crawl space or basement. Check

with a professional contractor.

anNew Construction

For new homes in most climates, you

will save money and energy if you

install a combination of cavity insulation

and insulative sheathing. Cavity insulation can be installed at levels up to R-15 in a 2 in. x 4 in. wall and up to R-21 in a 2 in. x 6 in. wall. The insulative sheathing, used in addition to this cavity insulation, helps to reduce the energy that would otherwise be lost through the wood frame. 

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Sources of Air Leaks in Your Home

Areas that leak air into and out of your home cost you lots of money. Check the areas listed below.

1 Dropped ceiling

2 Recessed light 

3 Attic entrance 

4 Sill plates  
5 Water and furnace flues
 6 All ducts   7 Door frames  8 Chimney flashing   9 Window   
10 Electrical outlets and switches frames   11 Plumbing and utility access.

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