Personal Audit
(the energy in values and ideals) |
Questar Thermwise Program
($25 program with rebates) |
I have replaced my 10 most frequently used incandescent light bulbs with Energy Star Compact Fluorescent Lights (CFLs), which are 2/3 more energy efficient and last 10 times as long. | If every US household replaced 5 lights with ENERGY STAR bulbs, we could prevent the annual output of more than 21 power plants! CFLs give off the same amount of light and you can save around $25 in energy costs per CFL bulb. CFLs are not appropriate for all fixtures, including those with dimmers or motion detectors. |  | |
I turn the lights off when I am not in the room | Nearly 10 % of the average home’s electricity costs can be controlled with the flip of a light switch. | | |
My refrigerator and appliances are ENERGY STAR rated | Refrigerators account for 10% of your energy bill, and refrigerators built prior to 1990 can use two to three times more energy than new energy efficient models. | | |
I have recycled my extra refrigerator(s). | By discontinuing the use of a second refrigerator, you can save about $150 a year on your electricity bill and prevent 4500 pounds of global warming pollution each year. Rocky Mountain Power offers a cash incentive to recycle old, inefficient refrigerators, and they will even pick it up from your home. Contact your local utility to see about similar programs. | | |
| I have checked that the refrigerator door and gasket have a tight fit and no leaks -- the door closes firmly against the gasket. | You can check the tightness of the door by placing a flashlight inside the refrigerator and closing the door. If you see any light, the gasket may be worn and should be replaced. | | |
| The refrigerator temperature is set to 37° to 40°F for the fresh food compartment and 5°F for the freezer section. If I have a separate freezer for long-term storage, I keep it at 0°F. | Get an inexpensive appliance thermometer and place it in a glass of water in the center of the refrigerator. Check the temperature after 24 hours. To check the freezer temperature, place a thermometer between frozen packages. Read it after 24 hours. Also, regularly defrost your freezer, as frost buildup decreases the efficiency. | | |
| I only leave the refrigerator door open as long as necessary and I let the food cool before putting it in the refrigerator. | Decide what you want to get out before you open it and remove several items at once, you’ll reduce loss of cold air. | | |
| The coils on the back or underneath the refrigerator are cleaned at least once a year. | The coils at the back of the refrigerator are heat exchange surfaces. Keep them clean and the unit will operate at peak efficiency. Remember to unplug the refrigerator before cleaning the coils. Use a vacuum cleaner or soft brush. | | |
Appliances with adaptors, lights, clocks are unplugged or plugged into a power strip, which I switch off when not in use.  | Beware of phantom loads! Some appliances continue to use energy when they are not on but still plugged in. Buy ENERGY STAR products that save energy while in the off mode. In the average US home, 40% of all electricity used to power home electronics is consumed while the products are turned off. Across the US, this equals the annual output of 17 power plants. Power strips can be used to shut off any power to the electronics, so no energy is wasted. | | |
| Compared to a model manufactured before 1994, an ENERGY STAR qualified clothes washer can save up to $110 per year on your utility bills and save more than 20 gallons of water per load. | Compared to a model manufactured before 1994, an ENERGY STAR qualified clothes washer can save up to $110 per year on your utility bills and save more than 20 gallons of water per load. | | |
The dishwasher, washer and dryer are only run when they are fully loaded. | Run your dishwasher with a full load. Most of the energy used by a dishwasher goes to heat water. Since you can't decrease the amount of water used per cycle, fill your dishwasher to get the most from the energy used to run it. | | |
| I use the energy-saving mode on the dishwasher, washer and dryer, if they have one. | The Energy-Saving setting uses less water and less energy to wash and dry the dishes. | | |
| I wash my clothes in cold water. | Using cold water for laundry can save you up to $63 a year. | | |
| I dry my clothes on a line or drying rack, or I use the low heat seating for drying. | If you dry your clothes outside 6 months per year, you will prevent 1000 pounds of carbon dioxide annually. You'll save money and your clothes will smell summertime-fresh. | | |
| I use pots and pans that fit the stovetop burners and use a lid to reduce cooking time and energy use. | Pans that fit a burner absorb more energy, reducing the amount of wasted heat. | | |
| Ten minutes for preheating is sufficient, and it's not necessary to preheat if you're roasting, broiling or preparing foods with a cooking time of over an hour. | I don't preheat longer than necessary, and I bake as many dishes in the oven as I can at one time to make the most of the heat. | | |
| The oven temperature is lowered by 25?F to 75?F every time you open the door. | I keep the oven door closed and look through the window to check on my food. | | |
| I have aerator faucets and low-flow showerheads that save water while still providing adequate flow. | Inexpensive and simple to install, low-flow shower heads and faucet aerators can reduce your home water consumption as much as 50%, and reduce your energy cost of heating the water also by as much as 50%. | | |
| A water leak is just money, water, and energy down the drain. Repair leaky faucets as quickly as possible; a slow drip could waste up to 48 gallons of water a week. | None of my faucets have leaks, especially my hot water faucets. | | |
| The hot water heater thermostat is set to 120ºF. | For each 10ºF reduction in water temperature, you can save between 3%–5% in energy costs. Reducing your water temperature to 120ºF slows mineral buildup and corrosion in your water heater and pipes. Check your dishwasher’s manual for the appropriate water temperature. | | |
| The water heater is properly insulated with a water heater blanket, and my hot water pipes are covered with sleeve insulation. | Hot water heater blankets cost only around $10. You can recoup the cost of the blanket in less than a year from energy savings. | | |
| When I leave for a week or more, I turn my water heater down. | Remember to turn it back up when you return. | | |
| I have an ENERGY STAR qualified hot water heater. | Water heating accounts for 13% of your utility bill. If your water heater is more than 7 years old, you should consider upgrading. For even greater savings choose a solar hot water system or on-demand hot water heater. | | |
| I have and use a programmable thermostat to automatically set back the temperature while I am away or sleeping. | A programmable thermostat, when used properly, can save as much as 10% a year on your heating and cooling bills by automatically adjusting your thermostat while you are away or sleeping. They are easy to set according to your schedule. | | |
| During the heating season, I set the thermostat at 68 Fahrenheit (F) or lower when I am home. When away for 4 hours or more, it is set at 55F. I also set my thermostat lower at night while I am asleep. | For every degree you lower your heat, you save up to 5% on heating costs. | | |
| I use solar passive heating during the winter by opening the drapes/blinds on south-facing windows to let the sun shine in to heat my home. At night, I close the drapes to retain indoor heat. | In the summer, do the opposite by closing your drapes during the day to keep out the sun’s warm rays. | | |
| The furnace is clean and the filter is replaced monthly during the heating and cooling season. | Clean furnaces run more efficiently, thus saving energy and money. | | |
| If I have a fireplace, I close the damper when I am not using it. | Closing the damper prevents warm air from escaping out of the fireplace. | | |
| I have an evaporative or swamp cooler. With Utah’s arid climate, evaporative coolers are the most efficient way to cool in the southwest. | Cooling accounts for 30% of home energy use. Evaporative coolers use 1/5 the energy of a central air conditioner. If you have an air conditioner, make sure it has an ENERGY STAR label with a SEER rating of 13 or above. | | |
| I have an evaporative or swamp cooler. With Utah’s arid climate, evaporative coolers are the most efficient way to cool in the southwest. | Cooling accounts for 30% of home energy use. Evaporative coolers use 1/5 the energy of a central air conditioner. If you have an air conditioner, make sure it has an ENERGY STAR label with a SEER rating of 13 or above. | | |
| During the summer, the thermostat is set at 78F or higher when I am home. When I’m away for 4 hours or more it is set at 85F. | By combining proper equipment maintenance and upgrades with appropriate insulation, air sealing, and thermostat settings, you can cut your energy use for heating and cooling, and reduce global warming pollution by 20% - 50%. | | |
I have installed an ENERGY STAR ceiling fan. | A ceiling fan will make a room feel 5?F cooler, and ENERGY STAR rated ceiling fans are 50% more efficient than conventional fans. In the winter, you can set your fan to turn in the clockwise direction to help efficiently distribute warm air throughout your room. | | |
| I keep my windows and doors shut while heating or cooling. | NOTE: If you have an evaporative cooling system, a cracked window is necessary for air flow. | | |
| When rooms in my home are not being used, I shut the door to the room and close off any vents, so as to not heat or cool the room. | If you heat your house with a heat pump, do not close the vents – closing the vents could harm the heat pump. | | |
| The vents, radiators and other heating and cooling equipment are not blocked by furniture, rugs, drapes, etc. | Adequate space around heating and cooling equipment allows it to operate efficiently. | | |
| The air ducts are sealed and insulated properly. | Leaking ducts can reduce the efficiency of the system up to 30 %. Seal leaks with mastic or non-cloth backed tape labeled UL181 B-FX. This is especially important for ducts located in unconditioned space, such as your attic. | | |