Ways to save energy are many, and improvement costs are low

Friday, November 13, 2009

HOLLIS – Autumn’s bite is a harbinger of colder weather and higher energy bills.

But there are ways for consumers to use reduce both use and cost, including many that cost little, if anything.

“You get the first bill, and it’s, ‘Wow! We actually saved money.’ Then you try to figure out how to save more,” said Karen Cramton, owner and operator of Nashua Energy Options in Hollis, who offered the following tips, many taken from “Energy: Use Less – Save More,” published by Chelsea Green Publishing in White River Junction, Vt.,

To cut heating costs:

• Turn your thermostat down 2 degrees to reduce your energy bill by 10 percent.

• Use timers or programmable thermostats.

• Draw curtains at night and open them during the day to let the sunshine in.

• Seal gaps with plastic stripping.

• Add a layer to a single pane window.

• Install storm windows, window quilts (which qualify for federal energy rebates) and reusable cling film.

To cut water costs:

• Turn down thermostat on hot water heater. Usually, 120 degrees is hot enough.

• Shower rather than take a bath and use a low-flow shower head.

•Fix leaky faucets, paying particular attention to hot water lost with dripping.

• Insulate hot water heater, if allowed by manufacturer specifications.

•Add timer to hot water heater.

•Insulate hot water pipes.

To cut electric bills:

• Turn off lights when you leave a room.

• Use natural light.

• Switch to compact fluorescent lighting. (Ninety percent of energy used by incandescent light bulbs creates heat, not light.)

• Turn off appliances not being used.

• Turn off computers, radios, televisions and stereos.

•Use Smart Strips (with a $10 rebate through NH Saves) or other power strips.

• Connect any electric appliance with a clock to a power strip, and turn it off when not in use.

• Wash only full loads in the washing machine.

• Air dry laundry rather than use the dryer.

• Turn off cell phone and laptop chargers when not in use.

Cramton said she and her family have reduced their home energy costs by 20 percent by switching to compact fluorescent light bulbs and motion sensor lights, using power strips and surge protectors and manually shutting off appliances.

They dry clothing on dryer racks and heat with wood.

“We had a little TV plugged in that we never used, and I thought, ‘Why is this plugged in?’” Cramton said, explaining how she surveyed her home for places to reduce consumption and costs. “It became exciting, a challenge for my kids.”

Homeowners can further reduce heating costs with insulation and by replacing doors and windows, moderate expenses. And they can use solar panes and pellet and wood stoves as well to save energy and money.

In addition, Cramton said, on-demand hot water and an upgraded hot water storage tank are options.

And consumers might consider purchasing an energy meter, which costs about $50. This device determines the amount of energy various home appliances use and can help in targeting areas to cut back.

At the high end, there is radiant solar, geothermal and whole house biomass heating, solar hot water heating and a host of appliances with the Energy Star label (and rebates through NH Saves) for refrigerators, washing machines and other appliances.

Replacing a desktop computer with a laptop nets additional savings, as do solar, water and wind-powered electricity.

But using fewer resources and saving more money is an equal opportunity challenge, no matter one’s financial circumstances. And while the bigger investments are likely to produce larger savings, the little things do add up.

Of course, there is a trade off: Compact florescent light bulbs, for example, take a little time to light up, and using a wooden drying rack requires manual effort – removing the clothing from the washer and hanging each item.

But Cramton said that trading convenience for savings is worth it.

“It just feels good,” she said of her efforts to reduce her family’s carbon footprint. “I was saving money, and I didn’t have to make a large investment.”

Hattie Bernstein can be reached at 673-3100, ext. 24, or hbernstein@cabinet.com.