American homes are profligate users of energy. Whether it's the electric water heater or the gas range, our appliances use copious amounts of power. Saving energy can be as simple as turning off a light, or as complex as installing a solar water heater. It all depends on how much you spend, which then determines how much money you will save.
For instance, replacing your gas water heater with a solar water system doesn't make sense unless you plan to stay in your home more than seven years. The payback on the solar heater simply takes too long. On the other hand, an energy efficient compact fluorescent light bulb costs only $12 and pays for itself very quickly.
A whole new breed of energy efficient appliances have begun appearing in the American marketplace, ranging from the new Energy Star computers to the new super efficient refrigerators. Staber Industries, an Ohio company will soon begin production of a horizontal axis, top-loading, high-speed-spin clothes washer that cuts hot water usage by more than half. A similar technology developed in Florida uses no detergent, operates in cold water and recycles almost all of the water used in the wash cycle.
After pulling your clothes from the super-efficient washer, you can quick-dry them in a new microwave clothes dryer. The Electric Power Research Institute and several manufacturers have been working on this new use for the microwave for four years and are hoping to introduce a commercial model later this year.
Lighting consumes about 25% of all the electricity used in the U.S. Studies done by the Rocky Mountain Institute show that nearly all that electricity could be saved if the country retrofitted the lighting equipment now in place. Compact fluorescent bulbs last ten times longer and use 75-85% less energy than incandescent bulbs. Halogen lights also are more efficient than incandescents.
The most energy intensive activities in the home involve cooling. Air conditioning and refrigeration require massive amounts of power. In 1990, we Texans spent some $4 billion on electricity to cool our homes. Nationwide, according to the Energy Information Administration, the commercial sector spent $47.8 billion on electricity for air conditioning and cooling. Technological advances are improving the efficiency of cooling systems. But most cooling equipment depends on ozone-depleting chemicals which were banned by an international agreement known as the Montreal Protocols. The replacements for CFC's are expensive and many of the new cooling agents are less efficient than their predecessors.
Numerous companies are developing more efficient air conditioning units. One Austin company, Allied Energy, produces a mini-cooling tower system which dramatically increases air conditioner efficiency. Most cooling systems use air to cool the Freon or cooling agent. Mac Word, owner of Allied Energy, points out that water absorbs more heat than air. Thus, when used in a cooling tower, it increases cooling capacity with a smaller motor and decreases pressure in the system. Normally used for large buildings, the idea requires a bit more plumbing than conventional systems. But the efficiency should make up for increased complexity. Most central A/C units have EER's (energy efficiency rating) of 8 to 12. Allied's units claim EER's of 16 to 18.5.
De-humidification systems also increase cooling efficiency. Increasingly popular in supermarkets, where low humidity is essential (high humidity causes frost build up on frozen foods), decreasing the amount of moisture in a building allows the cooling systems to work more efficiently because the system doesn't have to work as hard to take the moisture out of the air. These systems are just becoming available to the residential market. Southern Union Gas Co. is working on development of this technology; contact them for more info.
An ancient idea, wind towers, can also help reduce air conditioning costs. Developed in ancient Egypt, the towers are common in the Middle East. Extending far above the roof line, the tower allows hot interior air to escape while directing cooler air into the building. The design relies on convection rather than mechanical means to move the air. Wind towers, wind scoops, and other ancient, low-tech cooling ideas are now being utilized in a few projects in Texas and other hot areas of the U.S. This may not be practical for most applications inside the city, but consult publications such as Earthword, or the Real Goods catalogs, for more information on this and other options, such as photovoltaic cells or solar water heaters.
Refrigerators have also been getting lots of attention. "Refrigerators have the biggest impact for year-round energy savings in the residential sector," says a recent report by the Center for Energy Studies at the University of Texas. The study showed that residential and commercial energy usage could be reduced by 25% if energy conservation became a priority. The report, titled, "Opportunities for Energy Efficiency in Texas," found that more than a dozen of the electrical generating units now being planned could be eliminated if Texas utilities adopted energy efficiency as their main goal.
Much of the focus on energy efficient refrigerators has occurred because as UT scientist Jay Zarnikau points out, "It is the single measure with the greatest potential savings because they [refrigerators] run night and day year round."
Perhaps the most notable and highest profile project in the sector was the so-called "Golden Carrot" refrigerator program, which encouraged manufacturers to develop an environmentally friendly refrigerator. 24 utility companies joined forces in the Super Efficient Refrigerator Program which required manufacturers to develop a high-efficiency refrigerator using no CFC's. Whirlpool beat out 13 other competitors last summer when the consortium announced the company had won the
$30 million prize. Some of the advances made by the contest are already benefitting consumers. For instance, in 1992, the average 20 cubic foot Whirlpool refrigerator used $72 worth of electricity per year. One year later, the same model used $51 worth of power.
You probably won't want to replace your fridge until you have to. But if you do, shop around and keep an eye on the yearly energy cost sticker. Whirlpool and KitchenAid appliances are probably the best in terms of energy efficiency. They are available at many local appliance dealers.
Other products that can reduce your home energy consumption include halogen lights which use less power than incandescent, high efficiency air conditioners, solar screens, and old-fashioned insulation. All of these products can help save energy. Their payback depends on how much energy consumers use and how much the products are used.
Shade trees are another good idea. They are cheap and help absorb solar rays. They also help reduce the "heat island" effect common in urban areas.
Tankless (also called demand) water heaters, have been used in Europe for decades. More efficient than conventional heaters, they can reduce water heating costs by a third. The heaters are available through the Sears catalog, Real Goods, or they can be ordered through some local plumbing supply stores.
Amory Lovins, the energy guru of the Rocky Mountain Institute, who coined the term "negawatt," thinks the best solutions may be the cheapest. He likes caulk guns. A couple years ago, he told Popular Science magazine, "We wouldn't have needed a single drop from the [Persian] Gulf last year. Instead of naval guns, we could have mobilized caulk guns."