Energy Articles | Energy Conservation and Electric Deregulation

Pros and Cons of BGE's Air Conditioning Shutoff

Mon, 23 Aug 2010 10:56:58 -0500

Pros and Cons of BGE’s Air Conditioning Shutoff

Baltimore Gas and Electric offers a Peak Rewards program for customers who are willing to shut off their home air conditioning on the hottest, highest demand days. This rewards program is certainly one way for you to save money on your home cooling but does it actually make sense to use it? Let’s take a look at the pros and cons.

Benefits of BGE’s Air Conditioning Shutoff

The main reason that customers are interested in BGE’s new program is because it is designed to save them money. BGE saves money if they don’t have to invest in energy megawatts during the most expensive peak times of use. They are passing this savings on to customers in the form of annual credits for people who choose to participate in the program. Getting a little money back at the end of the year while doing your part to reduce energy waste is surely a positive thing.

Drawbacks of BGE’s Air Conditioning Shutoff

The biggest drawback of this program is that it causes you to lose control of how cool you keep your home. BGE installs a device in your thermostat and then shuts off your central air at peak use times. Many customers find it uncomfortable for the electric company to decide when to turn off their home’s cooling system. An alternative would be to use a programmable thermostat to shut off the system on the hottest days while still retaining the control over that system in your own home.

Additionally, some people can’t help but point out that the hottest days of the summer are the times when you need your air conditioning most. Yes, you should do all that you can in order to reduce central air use during expensive peak times. However, if you’re going to be at home and need to cool off, you probably want to be able to do that on the days with the worst heat. Cutting back on energy use in other ways might make more sense in many homes.

In Summary

There are benefits to the new program in terms of cost savings. Additionally, the program does help raise awareness of peak use times and the higher cost of running home cooling systems during those times. Nevertheless, the solution might not be to save money by giving control of your central air to your electric company. Investing in a lower cost energy company, a programmable thermostat and good efficiency practices in the home might all be better ways to save during these hot days and lower your MD electric bill.

MD Reduces Cooling Costs with Great New Energy Rebates

Wed, 18 Aug 2010 09:25:51 -0500

MD Reduces Cooling Costs with Great New Energy Rebates

One of the best ways to save money on energy in the home is to replace your old appliances with new ones that are more energy-efficient. Unfortunately, many people fail to do this because they don’t want to pay the initial cost to get the new appliances. Government rebates are the answer. A Maryland rebate program has just been extended, providing a terrific low-cost way for residents of the state to reduce their cooling costs and save money on their Maryland electric bill.

The Maryland Energy Efficient Appliance Rebate Program, a program overseen by the Maryland Energy Administration, was launched earlier this year. In fact, it was launched on Earth Day, symbolic of how saving energy at home really does help to save the earth. The program has been a great success. Many Maryland residents have replaced their inefficient appliances with new Energy Star appliances and received rebates from the government for doing so. In fact, the program has been such a big success that it has recently been expanded.

What is really exciting for a lot of Maryland residents is that the program’s expansion aids residents in reducing their home cooling costs. This summer has been a hot one. Many people around the nation have been forced to spend more on home cooling than they would have liked. These new rebates allow those people to save money replacing their poor home cooling systems.

There are four different appliances that Maryland residents can now receive rebates on when they get new Energy Star efficient machines. Those four cooling appliances are:

Central Air Conditioning Units. People who are serious about improving their home cooling with big changes to their central air can get a $500 rebate on a new central air conditioning unit.
Room Air Conditioners. Even people who just want a new room air conditioner can benefit with a $25 rebate.
Freezers. Stock up on cool foods with an efficient freezer. Get $100 in rebates for your purchase.
Air Source Heat Pumps. These heat pumps use outside air to heat water in the home. They can also be used for cooling the home. A $500 Maryland rebate is now available.

These four new rebates aren’t the only rebates that Maryland residents can get for their home appliance upgrades. There are still ongoing rebates being offered for the purchase of refrigerators, washing machines and electric heat pump water heaters. The rebates are available on a first-come, first-served basis.

10 Ways Companies Can Reduce their Energy Bills

Thu, 12 Aug 2010 10:10:29 -0500

10 Ways Companies Can Reduce their Energy Bills

Businesses can help green the earth while decreasing profit losses by choosing to find ways to reduce the amount of money spent on energy bills. Here are ten ways that companies can reduce their spending on electricity:

Replace your thermostats. It is important to make sure that you are using Energy Star programmable thermostats in your building.
Set the thermostats properly for different times of day. You want to make sure that the building is a comfortable temperature for staff and clients but that you aren’t cooling or heating it unnecessarily. Program the thermostat to a comfortable temperature during the times when the building needs it most and alter that temperature accordingly for nighttime when the building is empty.
Use fans and space heaters properly throughout the workspace. You can use fans and space heaters to reduce the need for a whole-building heating and cooling system. This is especially good on days when there aren’t too many people working in the building.
Switch to LED light bulbs. You want to choose longer-lasting light bulbs that are highly energy-efficient over time. Right now the best choice is the LED bulb, which has a high initial cost but lasts for several years and is a very energy-efficient form of lighting. If you can’t afford to switch to LEDs right now then definitely make sure that you’re using CFL bulbs instead of traditional bulbs.
Turn off lights that aren’t in use. You make use of this practice around your home so why aren’t you doing it at your place of business?
Unplug appliances that aren’t in use. Your business may have a coffee maker, an electric stapler or a little-used copy machine. Unplug these things when they are not in use so that they aren’t draining your building of energy.
Power down computers when they aren’t in use. Set all of your business computers to enter sleep mode after only a short period of time.
Reduce the amount of printing that you do. You’ll find that a majority of the items that you currently print off of your computer don’t need to be printed out at all. Make an effort to print as little as possible at work.
Invest in renewable energy resources. Solar power, wind power and other forms of renewable energy are great because they allow you to power your business cheaply for a long time to come.
Get an audit or use a business energy analyzer. Different businesses lose energy in different ways. If you want to reduce your electric bills as much as possible then you should get a professional energy audit or purchase a business energy analyzer to determine where your energy expenses are going. Then you can focus on reducing energy use in the areas where you waste the most.

10 Energy-Saving Things to Look for When Choosing an Apartment

Mon, 09 Aug 2010 16:16:23 -0500

10 Energy-Saving Things to Look for When Choosing an Apartment

Many renters have to pay their own electricity bills. This can be frustrating because a lot of the energy-saving changes that you can make to a home to lower your electricity bill may not be allowed by your landlord. Making sure to choose the right apartment for low-cost energy bills can help to guarantee that your apartment's electricity costs will stay low.

Here are ten energy-saving things to consider when looking for a new apartment:

1. The size of the apartment. You want to choose an apartment that is big enough to meet your needs but not any bigger. The smaller your space, the less that you will spend on heating and cooling your home.
2. The height of the ceilings. Rooms with high ceilings require more energy especially during the summer months when you need to cool them off. Choose lower ceilings. If you choose an apartment with high ceilings, make sure that it has ceiling fans.
3. Look closely at the appliances in your apartment. Since you don't get to choose the appliances for the apartment, you want to look at them carefully before you move in. Make sure that they are Energy Star appliances that are highly efficient. You want low-wattage appliances.
4. Select an apartment with a shared laundry. Although there are benefits to having a washer and dryer in the apartment itself, you may pay out a lot in energy costs. Choose a building with a shared laundry so the cost of energy for the washer / dryer is covered by the landlord.
5. Aim for natural lighting. Choose an apartment with good natural lighting so that you don't have to spend a lot of money keeping lights on during the day.
6. Take a look at the light bulbs and fixtures. You want energy efficient light bulbs in your apartment. If your landlord has already installed CFL or LED lights then there's a good chance that this is an energy-efficient apartment. If not, make sure that there's no problem with you choosing these light bulbs when it comes time to replace what's there.
7. Look for proper window coverings. You want ones that will let in that natural light while allowing for proper air flow in the home. If the apartment doesn't have these, ask about your options before moving in.
8. Make sure that the windows are properly caulked. Ask when the apartment was last checked for energy leaks.
9. Request an energy audit for the apartment. It is possible that the landlord will allow this. If the landlord won't pay for it but you are serious about getting the apartment then it may be worth it to pay for it yourself. This will tell you where the landlord may need to make changes.
Look for a flexible, green-minded landlord. You want to choose a landlord that is going to easily work with you to save energy in your apartment.

Major CT Electricity Suppliers Leave Customers Dissatisfied

Fri, 06 Aug 2010 11:57:16 -0500

Major CT Electricity Suppliers Leave Customers Dissatisfied

If you want to be unhappy with your electricity company all you need to do is move to Connecticut and get service from one of the state's major electricity providers. This is due in part to the fact that the region's major electricity providers are among the most expensive in the entire nation. However, the problem is bigger than that. Connecticut's two largest electricity suppliers rank among the lowest when it comes to customer service.

California-based J.D. Power & Associates did an analysis of the nation's electricity providers based on customer service satisfaction surveys. They divided the country into four regions and assessed the customer satisfaction of more than 120 companies in those regions. The Eastern region (consisting of 29 electricity providers) was found to provide the worst customer service in general with Connecticut Power Utilities ranking among the very worst.

In fact, Connecticut Light & Power was tied for very last place with a New York electricity provider. United Illuminating, Connecticut's other major electricity supplier, didn't fare much better since it was tied for fourth worst place among all of the companies in the region. On a 1000 point scale, both companies received barely more than half the available points when ranked by customers. Interestingly, United Illuminating is doing a lot worse than it was in years past but Connecticut Light and Power actually received more points this year than last year despite the fact that it's ranked at the bottom of the list.

Six different factors were taken into consideration when it came to customer service satisfaction. Price was one major factor that definitely influenced people's dissatisfaction. Connecticut has the second-highest electricity rates in the nation (behind only Hawaii) and customers are none too happy about the issue. The other five criteria considered were power quality and reliability, billing and payment options, corporate citizenship, communication skills and general customer service.

This doesn't mean that everyone in the state of Connecticut has to be unhappy with their electricity service, however. Deregulation means that customers can choose to get their electricity from smaller independent providers. These low cost CT electric providers may have the ability and interest to provide both lower prices and higher-quality customer service.

Source: http://www.hartfordbusiness.com/news13986.html

Reducing your Texas Summer Electric Bill

Mon, 02 Aug 2010 10:39:33 -0500

Reducing your Texas Summer Electric Bill

Summer in Texas is hot. It is also humid in many parts of the state, which makes it feel as though it's even hotter than it actually is. In your attempts to cool off at home, you may find that your Texas electricity bills are sky high. How can you stay cool without paying a fortune on electricity bills?

The most important thing that you can do is to switch to a lower-cost energy provider. Texas has many different options for who supplies your energy. The most well known electricity supplies are not necessarily the ones that are the least expensive. For example, you may be familiar with companies like Oncor and AEP Texas because these are the default companies for many parts of Texas. By switching to lower cost providers that serve the same areas (such as Bounce Energy or Champion Energy Services) you can significantly reduce your TX electric bills without changing your home electricity use at all.

Of course, reducing your home energy use will help to save even more money on your Texas electricity bills. The first thing that you should do is to fiddle with your thermostat. The goal here is to find the warmest temperature setting that you can handle while still feeling comfortable in the home. Seventy-eight degrees is the recommended setting for Texans who want to be cool in their homes without running the AC all day and all night.

You can further reduce your need to operate your home's air conditioning unit by making use of fans around the home. Ceiling fans as well as portable fans are great tools for cooling off the Texas home. During much of the day, you probably aren't even in the majority of rooms in your house. Why are you paying money to cool them off? Instead, just use fans to keep cool in the rooms where you are spending the most time.

Speaking of rooms, the kitchen is an important room when it comes to summertime in Texas. The appliances throughout your kitchen generate heat. When you add cooking to the mix, the house can get really hot. During the summer in Texas, you should try to avoid cooking indoors. Texas BBQ is always popular so take advantage of the great opportunity to do some cooking outside during the summer. That way you don't heat up your home. Also, do your dishwashing during the cooler hours of the day.

Finally, take a close look at the lighting in your home. Texas gets a lot of natural light so you should take advantage of it in a way that keeps the house cool. You want to let in the light without letting in the heat. Two-way white drapes or clear reflective window film will allow you to use natural lighting without taking in heat from the sun. This prevents the need to use internal home lights, which heat up the house unnecessarily. In that Texas heat, you need to do every little thing you can to keep it cool!

How to Buy an Energy-Efficient Air Conditioner

Thu, 22 Jul 2010 11:51:27 -0500

How to Buy an Energy-Efficient Air Conditioner

If you want to save money on your energy bills then you need to reduce the amount of money that you spend on heating and cooling your home. During the hottest dog days of summer, it can seem impossible to stop paying to cool your home. However, a small investment now will save you money for many summers to come. The choice to invest in an energy-efficient air conditioner is one that will keep your home cool while reducing your electricity bills drastically. But how do you choose an energy-efficient air conditioner?

The first thing that you want to do when choosing your air conditioner, as you would for nearly any appliance for your home, is to narrow down your options to an Energy Star air conditioner. If your air conditioner doesn’t have an Energy Star rating then it’s not as energy-efficient as you want it to be. This is true whether you are getting an entire new central air conditioning system or just a little room air conditioner. Look for Energy Star.

The most important thing after the Energy Star label is the size of the air conditioner. You want to get one that is big enough to cool your space but not so big that it’s wasting energy. Energy Star has some great tips for choosing the right size room air conditioner. Notably, some rooms require stronger air conditioners than others. For example, the kitchen (which gets hot from cooking as well as from running appliances like the refrigerator) may need a stronger air conditioning unit than the bedroom, which is only used at night.

After choosing the right size of air conditioner, you can look at additional features. You want an air conditioner that has a built-in thermostat so it will automatically shut off when the room gets cool. You want an air conditioner than with multi-directional airflow that will circulate air throughout the entire room. You want an air conditioner that is easy to clean since a clean AC is going to operate most efficiently.

Once you’ve purchased your energy-efficient air conditioner, you still have a little bit more work to do. You want to maximize your savings by making sure that your home is well equipped to save energy. The most important thing is to prevent the cool air from leaking out and the hot air from leaking in by caulking up the windows and sealing up your ducts properly. Next you want to make smart choices about not using heat-generating appliances during the hottest part of the day or right near the air conditioner. Finally, use your energy-conserving habits to limit how often you run the AC and how cold you feel you must keep the house!

5 Biggest Ways to Reduce your Summer Electricity Bills

Wed, 14 Jul 2010 20:17:48 -0500

5 Biggest Ways to Reduce your Summer Electricity Bills

If you have already received your first electricity bill of the summer then you may be aching to know how to reduce energy use in the home. Those summer bills can be killer since everyone’s home and everyone’s hot! You don’t have to do ten million little things to save money on your energy bills, though. Just tackle the following five key issues and your summer utility bills will go down in no time.

1. Switch to a lower-cost electricity provider. With deregulation of the industry, consumers can now choose the electricity providers that they want to work with. In order to lure customers during the busy summer months, many companies are offering great low-cost deals if you switch providers now. You don’t have to change any habits around the house at all and you can still lower your utility bills just by shopping around for the lowest priced electricity in your area.

2. Develop good habits with your air conditioner. To reduce your energy bill a lot in the summer, you need to reduce what you spend on your air conditioner. The first thing will be to clean and update maintenance on the air conditioner so that it’s running at its peak performance level. The second thing is to make sure that the house isn’t letting in hot air by sealing up leaks and using drapes properly on your windows. And finally, you can limit use by setting your programmable thermostat to the warmest temperature you can tolerate this summer.

3. Paint your roof white. If you want to spend less on cooling off your home then it’s worth it to invest in a light-colored roof. The top choice is a highly reflective white roof. The surface temperature of such a roof can be as much as 80 degrees cooler than the surface temperature of a black roof. When the roof isn’t absorbing all of that heat, the sun isn’t heating up your home as much and you end up with a much cooler house and lower electricity bills.

4. Invest in great landscaping. If you want to reduce the amount of money that you spend on cooling your home then you can also use great landscaping to provide natural cooling properties for the home. Strategically placed shade trees are the top choice for affordably reinventing your landscape to allow you to turn off your home’s cooling system.

5. Get out of the house. The more time that you spend at home during the summer months the more it is going to cost you when the electricity bills come. First of all, when you’re home, you’re cooling off the place and as you get adjusted to the temperature throughout the day it may require more and more cool air to make you feel cool enough. Second, you’re using the lights, computers and appliances when you are home which drives energy bills up more. Get out and get active. Spend time in the pool. Find ways to cool off away from home. Let someone else pay to keep you cool!

Oncor's Smart Meters Not So Smart for Customers

Wed, 14 Jul 2010 20:09:14 -0500

Oncor’s Smart Meters Not So Smart for Customers

Imagine that your electricity company tells you that they are installing "smart readers" for your benefit. The purpose of the meters is to read your energy use and allow you to have more control over the amount of energy that you use. However, the meters fail to work properly and end up telling your electricity company that you use two or three times more energy than you really use. The result is that you receive a bill for over $1500 for one month’s worth of electricity. There is not much you can do other than pay it because the electricity company claims that the meters read your energy correctly.

This horrible scenario isn’t fiction. It is exactly what happened to customers of Oncor, the electricity distribution company in Texas. The company is dealing with a class action lawsuit related to the issue because customers could not believe that they were being charged such exorbitant bills for mistakes in the readings of the Smart Meters. In spite of these problems, smart meter rollouts continue. AEP Texas is about to launch their Smart Meters in Abilene.

So what are smart meters? These electricity meters are designed to read electricity usage with more detail than traditional meters. For example, they may read electricity use every hour, allowing electric companies to offer reduced rates during off-peak hours. Theoretically, this gives customers more control over their electricity bills, allowing them to take actions to control their electricity rates.

The class action lawsuit with Oncor (and another similar one in the state of California) suggests that these meters don’t necessarily work properly. In fact, individuals involved in the lawsuit have gone so far as to suggest that Oncor intentionally installed meters in low-income areas to take advantage of a population that isn’t likely to sue. Whether or not this is true is uncertain. Oncor denies the claims and says that their smart meters were not faulty but rather that the individuals in question increased their own energy use dramatically and were charged accordingly.

What is certain, however, is that these people are being charged a lot of money for electricity and something needs to be done about it. This may mean holding companies like Oncor accountable, it may mean switching to a low cost Texas electricity provider in the area, it may mean reducing personal energy use in the home or it may mean a combination of all of these things.

5 Biggest Ways to Reduce your Summer Electricity Bills

Tue, 13 Jul 2010 20:04:39 -0500

5 Biggest Ways to Reduce your Summer Electricity Bills

If you have already received your first electricity bill of the summer then you may be aching to know how to reduce energy use in the home. Those summer bills can be killer since everyones home and everyones hot! You dont have to do ten million little things to save money on your energy bills, though. Just tackle the following five key issues and your summer utility bills will go down in no time.

1. Switch to a lower-cost electricity provider. With deregulation of the industry, consumers can now choose the electricity providers that they want to work with. In order to lure customers during the busy summer months, many companies are offering great low-cost deals if you switch providers now. You dont have to change any habits around the house at all and you can still lower your utility bills just by shopping around for the lowest priced electricity in your area.
2. Develop good habits with your air conditioner. To reduce your electric bill in the summer, you need to reduce what you spend on your air conditioner. The first thing will be to clean and update maintenance on the air conditioner so that its running at its peak performance level. The second thing is to make sure that the house isnt letting in hot air by sealing up leaks and using drapes properly on your windows. And finally, you can limit use by setting your programmable thermostat to the warmest temperature you can tolerate this summer.
3. Paint your roof white. If you want to spend less on cooling off your home then its worth it to invest in a light-colored roof. The top choice is a highly reflective white roof. The surface temperature of such a roof can be as much as 80 degrees cooler than the surface temperature of a black roof. When the roof isnt absorbing all of that heat, the sun isnt heating up your home as much and you end up with a much cooler house and lower electricity bills.
4. Invest in great landscaping. If you want to reduce the amount of money that you spend on cooling your home then you can also use great landscaping to provide natural cooling properties for the home. Strategically placed shade trees are the top choice for affordably reinventing your landscape to allow you to turn off your homes cooling system.
5. Get out of the house. The more time that you spend at home during the summer months the more it is going to cost you when the electricity bills come. First of all, when youre home, youre cooling off the place and as you get adjusted to the temperature throughout the day it may require more and more cool air to make you feel cool enough. Second, youre using the lights, computers and appliances when you are home which drives energy bills up more. Get out and get active. Spend time in the pool. Find ways to cool off away from home. Let someone else pay to keep you cool!

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Failure to Switch Electricity Providers Costs PPL Customers

Wed, 07 Jul 2010 15:52:51 -0500

Failure to Switch Electricity Providers Costs PPL Customers

Electricity customers in Pennsylvania have a choice about who provides their electricity. Despite this, many people fail to evaluate their options, preferring to remain with the company that they already know: PPL. The result is that a lot of people in the state are paying far more for electricity than they need to.

For more than a decade, the people in Pennsylvania didn't have to worry about their electricity rates going up. A price cap on energy had kept electricity prices at the same rate that they were in 1996. That's changed, now, though. The cap has already come off for PPL customers and will be removed for Met-Ed customers at the end of this year.

Prices for PPL customers have already been raised by about 30%. In other words, if you're a PPL customer, you're paying 30% more than you were one year ago even though your energy use may not have changed at all. The situation has made a lot of people feel powerless because even those who cut down drastically on home energy use in anticipation of the rate hike are seeing higher bills than they had in the past.

PPL customers are not helpless, however. It is possible to choose from different electricity service providers to get your electricity. PPL customers can shop around to find the best price on energy for them and receive a lower PA electric bill. Just because PPL may be the default energy provider doesn't mean that they're the best option. In fact, PPL is currently seeking permission for an additional 5% rate increase, which means that electricity bills could climb even higher. This additional increase would raise the average Pennsylvania electric bill another $7+ dollars per month.

Smart customers have already switched to other electricity providers that can offer the lower rates. They realize that they can get the exact same service with no service interruption and yet pay significantly less money just by switching PA electric providers. About one third of PPL's customers have switched to another energy provider in 2010. However, that leaves two thirds of customers still paying hundreds of dollars per year more than they need to for electricity.

Source: http://dailyitem.com/0100_news/x336267110/PPL-seeks-5-distribution-rate-hike

NJ Increases Summer Rebates for Energy-Star Appliances

Tue, 06 Jul 2010 17:38:09 -0500

NJ Increases Summer Rebates for Energy-Star Appliances

When you save energy in your home, you lower your electric bills. When you save energy in your New Jersey home this summer using Energy Star appliances, you really save some money. That's because the Clean Energy Program in New Jersey recently announced that they will be offering new summer rebates to people who use Energy Star appliances in their homes. The funding for the rebates comes from The American Recovery and Reinvestment act which is federal stimulus funding that the state received.

If you're in need of any of the following appliances then you may want to get one before August 31^st so that you can get the rebate:

Central air conditioning. Lower your electricity bills immediately this summer with a more efficient central air conditioning system. Plus get a rebate for as much as $600!
Dishwasher. If you need to get a new dishwasher then it's definitely smart to get an Energy Star dishwasher. For the maximum rebate of $50, get a model that uses less than 5 gallons of water per cycle and less than 307 kWh per year. Rebates of $25 are available for slightly less energy-efficient models of Energy Star dishwashers.
Washing machine. Once again, getting the most energy-efficient model of an Energy Star washing machine will allow you to get a full rebate of $50. Less efficient models may still garner you a rebate of $35.
Dehumidifer. If you need to a dehumidifer for your home this summer then make sure you get one that's Energy Star rated so that you can get the $25 rebate that is being offered through the program.
Refrigerator. Your refrigerator is one of the biggest energy-drainers in your home. Save money on your electricity bills by getting a more energy-efficient fridge. You'll also get a good rebate, too. The most energy-efficient models give you $100 back and other models get you $75. Plus you can get another $50 for recycling your old refrigerator at no charge (including free pick-up).

Remember that the rebate isn't the only reason that getting a new Energy Star appliance makes sense. These appliances are designed to reduce energy in the home, which means that you will lower your NJ electricity bills.

Source: http://www.getsolar.com/blog/beat-the-heat-new-jersey-adds-more-energy-star-rebates-for-summer/8687/

If You're Using PSE&G Then You're Paying Too Much for Electricity

Tue, 29 Jun 2010 11:29:16 -0500

If You're Using PSE&G Then You're Paying Too Much for Electricity

New Jersey residents who are still using PSE&G as their electricity provider are likely paying more than they need to for their energy bills. This utility company recently had to refund money to a number of customers because it was found that they were overcharging people for electricity. In spite of this problem, they have received approval to actually raise their electricity rates. Living in an era of electricity deregulation means that you have the option of choosing an electricity company that can offer you a competitive price. That's definitely something to think about if you're currently still using PSE&G!

The Board of Public Utilities in New Jersey recently approved a rate increase for PSE&G. The total rate of the increase is over $70 million. This translates to approximately a $12 total increase in the average customer's annual NJ electric bill. Although this isn't a significantly large amount of money for individual families, it is important to note that the utility company is raising its rates during a time when competition in the industry should be leading to decreases instead of increases in charges. Deregulation of electricity means that there are multiple companies offering electricity. Consumers seeking to get the best prices should be deterred by a company that is raising its rates in the face of competition.

Moreover, the company's practices should make customers wary. The rate increase that was allowed is actually being limited because of another order by the Board of Public Utilities. The board found that the company has been overcharging its customers for a long time and must pay back the customers over the next two years. They owe over $120 million to customers who were overcharged. The immediate ramification of this is that the $12 annual bill increase will be offset by the refund and will actually only look like about $1 annual increase during the next two years. However, customers should consider the fact that this is due only to PSE&Gs previous practice of overcharging. What's going to happen when the two years is up and the new rate fully sets in?

Electricity customers in New Jersey have a choice when it comes to their service providers. Smart customers want to get high-quality service at a low cost. It's worth it to take the time to review the options. Although PSE&G may be the biggest utility company in the state, it's not the only option. You may find it's not even the best one for you.

Smart Appliances Respond to Utility Pricing Structures

Fri, 25 Jun 2010 13:24:18 -0500

Smart Appliances Respond to Utility Pricing Structures

Do you live in a place where your energy costs vary throughout the day based on your energy company's peak hours? This is increasingly common. It costs utility companies more to produce power during the busiest "peak use" hours of the day than during other times when fewer consumers are using electricity. Many utility companies pass that savings on to customers by offering lower rates to people who use their energy during the hours when it is costing the electricity company less.

The problem that a lot of people have encountered with this situation is that they don't really know how to take advantage of the lower cost. It just seems like a hassle to try to remember to turn the washing machine on during the time that you know is supposed to cost you the least. Frugal consumers do this. However, the average person might want things to be a little less complicated for them. Now, thanks to "smart appliances", things can be simpler.

Smart appliances are a line of new appliances produced by General Electric. These GE energy efficient appliances are designed to react to pricing signals from the utility company. They are set to work during the times when energy will be at the lowest price for you. For example, you refrigerator will wait until the cheapest possible time to use the excess energy needed to defrost. And your laundry and dishwasher can be filled but then set to not become active until the energy cost goes down later in the day. Even your microwave will be affected; a smart microwave powers down during the costliest energy-sucking times of the day.

In addition to being a great method of saving energy and money for consumers, "smart appliances" have benefits for the energy industry as a whole. As more consumers use them, the system will make it possible for utility companies to manage their energy demand much more effectively. This can prevent the need for building extra power plants and make the nation's energy system more efficient as a whole. Plugging into a smart grid like this is certainly a way of the future and it's increasingly looking like the smartest move to make today.

Source: http://www.marketwatch.com/story/smart-appliances-help-consumers-get-smart-about-energy-costs-2010-05-26?reflink=MW_news_stmp

Save Money By Turning Your Home Off During Summer Vacation

Thu, 17 Jun 2010 10:00:31 -0500

Save Money By Turning Your Home Off During Summer Vacation

Most of us are going to be taking a vacation this summer even if only for a few days. We’ll pack up our things (including the kids) and enjoy a nice getaway. Maybe we’ll go the frugal route and hit the campgrounds or perhaps we’ll indulge in a nice beach hotel break. Whatever the case, we’ll be leaving our homes empty. And if you’re smart, you’ll also make sure to turn your home off while you’re gone.

There are many different appliances that you can turn off and unplug in your home. Doing so saves energy and reduces the cost of your electric bills. Some of these are things that you should turn off every time that you aren’t using them (like lights) whereas others can be too much of a hassle to turn on and off every day (like the water heater). Both types of home appliances should be turned off and unplugged when you go away on vacation. Why pay to power a home when you aren’t even there?

The first thing that you want to do is to make sure that you turn off all of those items in the home that you always try to turn off when you leave the house for the day. The lights should be off and lamps should be unplugged. The same goes for computers and their related accessories like printers. And definitely remember to turn off the air conditioner while you’re gone.

In addition to these basic things, you’ll want to unplug some extra stuff when you’re going away for a few days or more. For example, you will want to shut the water heater off at the circuit breaker so that it doesn’t keep on heating up while you’re away. You’ll want to turn off the pump on your swimming pool. You’ll want to go around the house and unplug daily appliances such as microwaves, coffee pots and alarm clocks. Anything that’s plugged in is draining energy from your home so make sure all of those plugs are empty when you leave on vacation.

The final thing that you might want to look at is your refrigerator. If you’re going to be on vacation for several weeks then you should clean it out and shut it down completely. Otherwise you should empty it out and turn up the thermostat so it’s not draining as much energy while you’re away. These little things can help to save money at home, which gives you more to spend on your vacation!

Five Cool Ways to Reduce your AC Costs

Wed, 09 Jun 2010 20:39:53 -0500

Five Cool Ways to Reduce your AC Costs

With the nation's electric rates steadily on the rise, many homeowners are searching for ways to lower their summer AC bill. There are numerous ways to do this that don't include sweating it out in a hot apartment or home. Perhaps the #1 way to lower your home cooling bill is to switch to a low-cost electric supplier offering a more affordable electric rate.

But don't stop there, because you can save even more. Read below to learn more simple but effective ways to decrease your AC bill while remaining comfortable in your home.

Set an AC timer. Setting your AC to turn off during certain times of the day is one of the best ways to lower your air conditioning costs. If you have an AC window unit, you can purchase a plug-in timer from your local home improvement store. For central air conditioning, simply install a programmable thermostat with a timer. Once your AC timer is in place, simply set it to turn off when you leave for work in the morning (e.g. 8 a.m.) and to turn on about one hour before you typically return home from work (e.g. 4 p.m.).
Turn it off when you sleep. To lower your AC bill even more, set your AC timer to turn off one hour after your normal bedtime and one hour before you wake up in the morning. Or, better yet, completely turn off your AC at night and open your windows to let in the cool nighttime air or use fans to help lower your electric bill. Simply put: the less AC you use, the more money you'll save.
Block the Sun. Another way to lower your air conditioning costs is to block direct sunlight from entering your home. You can do this by pulling down your window's shades or closing your curtains or blinds. You can also install reflective window film or plant shade trees in your yard. The more direct sunlight you can block from hitting your roof or shining through your windows, the less you'll need your AC.
Seal drafty windows and doors. One common culprit of an expensive electric bill is unsealed, drafty windows and doors. On a hot summer day, place your hand along the cracks of one of your windows or doors. Do you feel warm air seeping in? If so, the cool air you're paying so much for is escaping through those cracks as warm air leaks in. You can seal any cracks and preserve your costly cool air with weather stripping and/or caulk.
Install a radiant barrier. In states with hot climates, a home's attic can reach temperatures in the 130's during the summertime. A great way to lower your AC bill, particularly for homeowners in sun-drenched states such as Florida, Arizona, or Texas, is to install a radiant barrier in your attic. A radiant barrier reflects over 95% of the sun's heat back into the atmosphere and allows your attic to "breathe." With a radiant barrier, your attic will be much cooler and safer for storage purposes or even as an extra living space. Plus, it will decrease your monthly AC bill by more than 10%!

Best Electric Supplier in Texas

Mon, 07 Jun 2010 14:28:27 -0500

Best Electric Supplier in Texas

If you're considering switching your electric service to a more affordable Texas electric supplier, you're not alone. Thousands of Texans have visited Lower Electric Bill Today to learn how fast and simple it is to permanently lower their electric bill. In just five minutes, you can transfer your electric service to a low-cost supplier such as Champion Energy Services and lower your electric bill by 20%!

If the ability to choose an electric supplier is somewhat foreign to you, let us explain. Due to electricity deregulation, Texans are no longer required to purchase electricity from their (often overpriced) local utility company. Instead, consumers may choose a different, more affordable Texas electric supplier to receive a lower electric rate and a less expensive utility bill. Who wouldn't want that?

Whether you live in El Paso, Amarillo, Ft. Worth, or Austin, switching to a low-cost electric supplier is fast, easy, and (best of all) free! Your local utility company will not charge a fee for transferring your service, and you have the right to cancel your new service at any time, penalty-free.

If you switch to a low-cost TX electric supplier, you'll continue to receive just one electric bill and use the same power lines and poles. If your power goes out, you'll call your local utility company just as you've always done. After switching your TX electric service, the only thing that will change is that you'll receive a lower electric rate and a cheaper electric bill.

If reducing your carbon footprint is important to you, you're in luck! Champion Energy Services cares about the environment, too. They offer a 100% green product to eco-friendly Texas homeowners and businesses. Now you can lower your electric bill and help the environment - at the same time!

If you're ready to reduce your electric bill, simply compare TX electric rates and switch to a better and more affordable Texas electric supplier today!

Best Electric Provider in Pennsylvania

Mon, 07 Jun 2010 14:10:06 -0500

Best Electric Provider in Pennsylvania

If you think along the same lines as most consumers, you want to pay less for electricity and permanently lower your electric bill. Perhaps you'd also like to receive a more flexible billing plan or have the option to use alternative (e.g. eco-friendly) sources of energy. At Lower Electric Bill Today, you can do all of that - and more! We take pride in helping consumers find the best PA electric provider. In just five minutes, you can lower your electric bill up to 20%!

Thanks to electricity deregulation, Pennsylvanians can now shop around for a low-cost electric supplier, just as they would for affordable car insurance. Electricity deregulation succeeded in increasing competition in the utility industry, which lowered electric rates across the state.

Rather than pay your local utility company's overpriced electric rates, we can help you switch to a certified Pennsylvania electric provider offering low-cost electricity, such as Verde Energy USA or Champion Energy Services.

Both Verde Energy USA and Champion Energy Services offer considerably lower electric rates than larger utility companies like PPL, and also offer "green energy" alternatives. Their electric rates are fixed for up to six months (and in some cases, up to one year), meaning that your new low electric rate will not increase soon after you switch service. What's more, if you are unsatisfied at any time, you may cancel with no penalty or fee.

Thousands of customers in all parts of Pennsylvania, including Philadelphia, Scranton, Williamsport, and Pittsburgh, choose a low-cost PA electric provider such as Verde Energy USA or Champion Energy Services. In doing so, they save hundreds of dollars a year on their electric bill. You can too!

Compare electric rates in PA and switch your electric service to a better and more affordable Pennsylvania electric provider today!

Best Electric Rates in Connecticut

Sat, 05 Jun 2010 19:31:34 -0500

Best Electric Rates in Connecticut

Finding the best electric rates in Connecticut is not always a simple task. Thanks to electricity deregulation, consumers now have more options than ever when it comes to electric providers and their rates. Luckily, Lower Electric Bill Today can help make your search for the best CT electric rates fast, simple, and hassle-free.

Electricity deregulation was successful in making the electric industry similar to most others (e.g. insurance, banking, etc.): it increased competition in the marketplace, which forced rates to decrease and become more affordable. And, most importantly, it gave consumers a choice regarding their electric provider. Now consumers can break free from their local utility company’s expensive rates and choose a Connecticut electric supplier offering a lower rate.

At Lower Electric Bill Today, you can search and compare electric rates and various plans, and then choose the one that’s right for you. All Connecticut electric suppliers we recommend have passed our strict regulations, including customer service ratings, financial stability, eco-friendly energy alternatives, and, of course, low-cost electric rates.

In our search to find the best electric rates in Connecticut, we came across two companies offering low rates, green energy options, and trustworthy customer service.Verde Energy USA and North American Power offer electric rates up to 25% less than other utility companies, including CL&P. In fact, switching from CL&P to a low-cost electric supplier would lower the average monthly Connecticut electric bill from $133.77 to just over $100. That’s a big savings!

To find and compare electric rates in Ct, visit us today! If you like what you see (and we know you will), you can transfer your electric service directly from our site in less than five minutes. In the amount of time it takes to brew a cup of coffee, you can permanently lower your electric bill and have more money to spend on fun activities with your family and friends!

10 Tips for Choosing a Texas Electricity Supplier

Thu, 03 Jun 2010 20:49:08 -0500

How to Choose a Texas Electricity Supplier

You now have the right to choose the company that is going to provide you with electricity in Texas. But how do you choose the right Texas electricity provider? Here are ten tips for making the right selection:

1. Review all of the options before you make a decision. You want to know what the different choices are in your area so that you can make an informed choice about your TX electricity supplier. Don’t just select the first provider that you come across.

2. Make a list of all of the things that you want in an electricity provider (low cost, green energy, etc.). Use this as a checklist when reviewing all of your options.

3. Confirm that the company you are interested in working with is a government-approved company. You can check state government pages online to confirm this.

4. Ask about the different types of services that are available from each company. As new companies emerge, options for services are expanding.

5. Compare TX electric rates - make sure that you understand what the price per kWh is going to be for your service. The lowest the price per kWh, the lower your electricity bill is going to be.

6. Ask if there is a current promotion going on. Make sure that you get the best deal possible by looking at both the long-term rate and the promotional rate that is offered.

7. Make sure to ask about the origin of the electricity. It is smart and responsible to work with a Texas energy supplier that uses renewable energy resources so find out if the ones you’re considering are on top of this trend.

8. Review the company’s history. Check online reviews and speak with any customers you know who have used the company before to get a sense of whether or not their customers like the work that they do.

9. Clarify the terms of your agreement. Make sure that you understand any costs of cancellation or any other fees or penalties that the company might have written into their agreement.

10. Let us help you out. We’ve already done a lot of the groundwork described here. We’ve thoroughly reviewed independent TX electricity companies and made it simple to compare them. Use our site to help you choose your provider.

What Is PowerToChoose And Why Choose Us

Tue, 01 Jun 2010 13:18:02 -0500

What Is PowerToChoose.org And Why Choose Us

If you head over to powertochoose.org, you will find yourself on an educational website. This website is the official website established by the Department of Public Utility Commission in Texas to educate consumers about their options when it comes to electricity. What you’ll discover at powertochoose.org is that they offer a lot of the same information and help that we can provide for you here.

Some of the things that powertochoose.org offers that we also provide for you here on this site include:

What electric competition is all about. Powertochoose.org provides some great information about what electricity is and where it comes from it Texas. Like us, this public website helps you to understand TX electricity deregulation and what it means for you.
Why to switch TX electricity providers. There are some solid reasons that you might want to switch electricity providers in Texas starting with the fact that doing so could save you a lot of money. The powertochoose.org website helps you to gain a more complete understanding of those reasons for making the switch.
Guide to choosing TX electricity suppliers. The website provides information about some of your options and how you might make the choice between them. Like we do here, they provide helpful questions that you might want to ask when making your decision (such as the specific kilowatt per hour rates for the service).
Comparison of your options. The website offers a tool that allows you to enter your zip code and then do a comparison of the different available options in your area. This is similar to the way that we provide an in-depth look at the differences between Texas electricity suppliers.

Why Work With Us?

If Powertochoose.org provides you with a lot of the same information that we can provide, why would you want to work with us instead of with them? Well, the answer is simple: we do a lot of the legwork for you. The powertochoose.org website is a terrific educational website that can provide great insight into how electricity deregulation helps you. However, we go one step further and really look at the best electricity suppliers for you. Plus we make it simple to go ahead and sign up with those providers in just a few minutes right from our website.

DIY Energy Saving Checklist

Sat, 22 May 2010 07:24:25 -0500

DIY Energy Saving Checklist

The number one energy saving tip is to have an energy audit done on your home from a licensed professional. However there are many DIY homeowners who would rather take matters into their own hands. Our Energy Saving Checklist gives you a great list of items you can start looking at to reduce your energy bills today!

Lighting

Change light bulbs to CLFs or LEDs

Use natural light during day to avoid turn lights on

Use certified energy saving lamps and other lighting fixtures

Install timers, sensors and/or dimmers on indoor and outdoor lights

Only turn on lights as needed and make sure to turn them off when leaving the room

Use one high-watt bulb compared to multiple low-watt bulbs

Ensure all recessed lighting is properly sealed

Windows and Doors

Caulk window and door frames inside and outside

Install storm or thermal windows

Close blinds and/or curtains to avoid temperature loss

Fix any broken or cracked windows or doors

Ensure all doors, sliders, storm doors and attic doors and/or stairs are sealed properly when closed

Refrigerators

Inspect both fridge and freezer doors for a tight seal so as not to lose cold air

Clean under and around refrigerator and refrigerator coils, dust build-up loses cooling efficiency

Make sure your refrigerator is not in direct sunlight or in an unheated space for best efficiency

Avoid having multiple refrigerators

Regularly defrost manual-defrost refrigerator units

Set temperature at a mid-level temperature, too cold or warm wastes your units efficiency

Try to take all items needed while cooking at once to avoid continuous openings of the door

Invest in an energy saving refrigerator

Washers

Only run a load when it is a full load

Wash in cold water whenever possible

Unplug or use circuit breaker to shut off power to washer when not in use

Inspect your washer and water pipes for leaks

If possible mover washer close to your water heater to help retain heated water in pipes

Always rinse in cold water, it has no effect on the cleaning of clothes

Adjust water levels on your washer if possible

Invest in an energy saving washer

Dryers

Inspect vent hoses for clogs and build-up of lint on a regular basis

Run multiple loads in a row to get best efficiency

Line dry clothes whenever possible

Unplug or use circuit breaker to shut of power to dryer when not in use

Clean lint trap before every load

Inspect vents on outside wall to ensure it is sealed properly

Don’t over dry your clothes

Invest in an energy saving dryer

Water Heaters

Insulate the outside of your water heater and the pipes leaving it

Turn temperature down on your water heater to 120 degrees

Use circuit breaker to shut off power to the water heater when hot water is not needed

Inspect your water heater for leaks

Keep water heater as close to kitchen as possible to retain heated water in pipes

Make sure you water heater is the proper size for your water needs

Drain your water heater 1 or 2 times a year to avoid mineral deposits and build-ups

Install water softener if you have hard water

Invest in an energy saving water heater

Consider investing in a natural gas water heater

Dishwashers

Avoid pre-rinsing when possible

Only run a load when it is a full load

Only use the dishwasher to wash dishes, then air dry or hand dry dishes

Inspect your dishwasher for leaks

Unplug or use circuit breaker to shut off power to dishwasher when not in use

Invest in an energy saving dishwasher

Maintain airs filters on your dishwashers if it has any

Run short wash cycles

Stoves/Ovens

When cooking in oven turn off the oven a little before food is done, the residual heat will finish your cooking

Use small cooking appliances when possible i.e. microwave, toaster oven, slow cooker, griddle

Avoid peeking in oven while in use

Ensure you oven door is sealed properly when closed

Use lids on pans whenever possible to retain heat

Check your ovens temperature for accuracy

Invest in an energy saving stove/oven

Consider investing in a natural gas store/oven

Heating/Cooling Units and Fireplaces

Ensure every part of the outside walls of your home are properly insulated including basements and attics

Regularly clean all vents and air filters

Close damper when fireplace in not in use

Inspect damper for air leaks

Avoid using heat and fireplace at the same time to prevent air loss thru damper

Use timers on your heating/cooling units, set if for less use while not home

Use only a fan instead of a/c if staying in one room

When cold, lower heat and dress warmer; when warm, lower a/c and dress cooler

Update ceilings to R-30

Have your units inspected to ensure all parts are working properly

Keep units out of direct sunlight

Use a unit appropriate for the size of space

Window a/c units should be sealed when installed and removed when season is over

Keep air vents clear to heat or cool your home

With you a/c turn off all appliances and electronics when possible to avoid excess heat in your home

Use a space heater to heat a single room instead of the entire furnace running

Invest in an energy saving furnace

Invest in energy saving units

Consider investing in a natural gas furnace

Outlets and Electronics

Install foam gaskets behind electrical outlets and switch plate covers

Unplug all unused products when not in use i.e. phone chargers, video games, microwaves, etc.

Use power strips to unplug multiple items at the same time more easily

Shut down and unplug computers when not in use

Sinks/Shower

Inspect faucets for leaks

Use faucet aerators to save water

Take shorter showers

Install a low-flow showerhead

Turn off water while brushing teeth

Use cold water with garbage disposals

Outdoors

Install solar panels

Run pool filters and/or heaters only when pool, hot tub or jacuzzi is in use

Clean and skim pool by hand instead of electronic devices

Outdoor landscaping should be localized to avoid excessive watering

LowerElectricBillToday.com is a resource for homeowners to help them lower their energy bills through energy saving tips and electricity deregulation.

PA Electricity Deregulation and How it Benefits You!

Mon, 17 May 2010 16:38:44 -0500

PA Electricity Deregulation and How it Benefits You!

Would you like to lower your monthly electric bill? It’s a silly question, really - of course you would! But how can you? Do customers really have a say in the matter?

Thanks to electricity deregulation, Pennsylvania residents and business-owners DO have a say in how much they’re willing to pay for electricity.

Electricity deregulation offers consumers a rare anomaly in the electric utility industry: choice. Just as you have the choice to shop around for the most affordable computer, or the cheapest insurance policy, Pennsylvania consumers can now compare independent PA electric suppliers and find the one offering the lowest electric rate.

The goals of electricity deregulation are to rid consumers of just one option regarding their electric supplier (i.e. your local utility company), increase competition in the marketplace, and reduce electric rates and lower your Pennsylvania electric bill.

Thus far, electricity deregulation has been a huge success. Pennsylvanians who switch their electric service from an overpriced utility company, such as PPL, to a low-cost PA electric supplier, such as Verde Energy USA or Champion Energy Services, save up to 20% per month on their electric bill. That adds up to an annual savings of hundreds of dollars for residents and potentially thousands for businesses!

Electricity deregulation saves consumers money and helps the economy because it introduces the need for independent electric suppliers. Transferring your electric service to a low-cost PA supplier takes just five minutes; after which, you can sit back and enjoy your permanently lower electric bill!

To learn more about electricity deregulation and how it benefits you, visit Lower Electric Bill Today!

Energy Efficient OLED Chandelier

Wed, 28 Apr 2010 16:03:42 -0500

Energy Efficient OLED Chandelier

Organic Light Emitting Diodes, better known as OLEDs, are a type of lighting now being explored in various industries. They are of great interest in terms of display lighting (such as your big screen TV or even your mobile phone.) However, some cutting-edge home designers are looking at ways to use these lights in actually lighting up your home. These are a more energy-efficient lighting option than traditional lights and could reduce the cost of home lighting. One designer, Ingo Maurer, recently debuted a new OLED light chandelier that is getting attention for both style and energy-efficiency.

Maurer’s chandelier, which he showed off at Milan Design Week, is a pendant lamp that consists of nine OLED panels linked together. The design of the lamp is intended to showcase the high-tech modern approach to lighting that OLED is really all about. Instead of hiding the OLED lights and their electric parts beneath decorative casing, the lights are exposed and shown off in all of their glory. This reduces waste in the design of the lights and lets people really see how OLED lights are supposed to work. Of course, they have been crafted in such a way as to still look aesthetically pleasing even though all of the inner workings are revealed for you to see.

The core benefit to using lighting like this is that it allows your home to become more energy-efficient. Lighting uses up a lot of energy in the home so finding ways to reduce light energy waste is a great way to reduce electricity costs. However, there are other benefits to OLED lights as well. For example, they are very lightweight, which makes it simple to use them throughout the house. Plus they are flexible which could lead to some interesting design options for these types of lights in the future.

One drawback of OLED lights to date is that they aren’t as bright as traditional lights are. However, proper design of these lights could counteract this problem. Either the lights could be combined in panels to create stunning chandeliers like Maurer’s or the lights could be used in lamps and areas where low lighting is sufficient in the home. Either way, the result is up-to-date lighting that’s kind on your energy bills.

Source: http://inhabitat.com/2010/04/16/ingo-maurer-unveils-double-c-future-oled-chandelier/

Intel Sensor May Reduce Electric Bill by 1/3

Mon, 26 Apr 2010 14:27:37 -0500

Intel Sensor May Reduce Electric Bill by 1/3

Intel is working on a new sensor that may have the ability to reduce household energy use by one third. The company is even making the bold claim that this technology alone could help to solve the problem of global warming. Whether or not that’s true, the technology is certainly interesting enough to warrant additional attention from household consumers.

The idea behind the new technology is fairly simple. You plug the sensor into an outlet in your home. It wirelessly connects to all of the different appliances and electrical devices that are located throughout the home. It then conveys information to you about the use of those products through your personal computer. By looking at the information, you can make necessary adjustments to reduce household energy waste and lower your energy bill.

For example, let’s say that you plug in your sensor and then you turn on your computer and it reveals the following information:

Your refrigerator is using more energy than an average refrigerator. You could use this information to make changes to the temperature, placement or nearby insulation of the refrigerator. This would reduce energy waste.
Fans, heaters or lights are being left on in rooms that are empty. As you look at the icon on your screen and realize how much energy this is wasting, you’ll be reminded to go shut those machines off.
The hot water heater is turning on when you do the laundry even though you’re washing clothes on cold. This allows you to look into the problems with either appliance and resolve them.

The sensor itself does not lower the amount of electricity that is used in the home. However, it provides you with the information that you need to easily see where you are wasting electricity so that you can make changes. Additionally, it may be possible to link the technology to information on your computer that would allow you to immediately receive tips for lowering energy waste based on the information gathered by the sensor. The sensor is a small device, about the size of a nightlight, which would require only one outlet for use.

Source: http://www.livescience.com/technology/intel-sensor-could-cut-electricity-bill-100417.html

What Texas Electricity Deregulation Means For You: Part 3

Mon, 19 Apr 2010 16:27:17 -0500

What Texas Electricity Deregulation Means For You: Part 3

This is part 3 in our 3-part series on electricity deregulation. In part 1 we looked at what Texas electricity deregulation is and what you need to understand about it as a consumer. In part 2 we provided you with some tips about how to really make the energy deregulation process work for you. Here in part 3 we want to dispel a few myths that people commonly believe in when it comes to electricity deregulation.

The first myth that we want to attack is the myth that electricity deregulation automatically means that you will have a lower electric bill. Yes, deregulation is great in large part because it lowers bills. However, this is not necessarily an automatic process. Electric companies are lowering their rates to compete against one another now. However, your rates may not change unless you opt to switch to the company offering the best rates. That's why you need to take things into your own hands and become proactive about shopping around for the best provider.

This brings us to a second common myth - the myth that finding the right provider is hard. It can seem tough at first since you've never done it before. However, it's just a matter of comparing the service and rates of each provider to see which one is best for you. And there is help out there. If you visit Lowerelectricbilltoday.com then you can get assistance in sorting through the many options that are available today in order to choose the best Texas electric provider for your needs.

This leads us into the third myth - that the lowest price is the best deal. This isn't necessarily true. Sometimes, you get what you pay for. That's why you want to consider customer service as well as price. Also, you want to look at long-term pricing instead of just introductory offer pricing. And finally, you want to review that the rate per kWh that you are charged is appropriate to the amount of electricity that you use. (A low rate for people who use 2000+ kWh per month isn't useful if you use less than that.)

Now we get to the most common myth of all - that changing electricity providers is a difficult process. Many people assume that this might involve a complicated physical change like switching your electricity lines. This isn't true at all. The infrastructure of your electricity isn't going to change at all. The electricity is going to come through the same lines as before with action necessary on your part. The only difference is that the company charging you will change. It's a simple process.

For more information on what Texas electricity deregulation means for you please read the other articles in this series.

What Texas Electricity Deregulation Means For You: Part 1

What Texas Electricity Deregulation Means For You: Part 2

Electricity deregulation is a win for consumers

Sat, 17 Apr 2010 15:06:19 -0500

Electric Deregulation can help you reduce your electric bill!

Until recently, consumers had just one choice regarding their electricity provider. You either purchased electricity from your local utility company, or you lived in the dark, so to speak. Times have changed, though, and in 15 states, consumers can now comparison shop for electricity just as they can shop around for the cheapest car insurance. This is how deregulation can help you reduce your electric bill.

More energy providers = More competition = More savings for you!

Current States we offer deregulated electric suppliers:
Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Texas

Have you ever examined your monthly electric bill? If you have, you’ve noticed that there are typically two charges: a supplier charge for the generation of electricity, and a delivery charge for the distribution of that electricity along power lines, poles, and towers. In the olden days, your local utility company acted as both the supplier and the deliverer of electricity.

If you live in a state that allows electricity deregulation, however, you can now choose the company that supplies the electricity that flows from power lines into your home.

Deregulation separates the energy supplier from the deliverer.

In the wake of electricity deregulation, local utility companies in the 15 participating states were made to sell their electrical generation plants. They kept their means of energy delivery (i.e. lines, poles, towers), but the business of supplying energy was opened to include independent energy providers, like us. With the electricity industry no longer a monopoly in towns and cities across the nation, homes and businesses began to see a drastic decrease in their electric bill. Now, consumers could choose from dozens of competitive energy providers offering lower rates than those of local utility companies.

More power for the consumer.

Government laws require local utility companies to work with consumers who opt for a different, more affordable energy supplier. For consumers, the transition is seamless. You’ll still use the utility company’s same system of power lines, but now you’ll be able to choose who you get your power from, and the price that you’re willing to pay for that power.

Two energy companies, one lower rate!

Though you’re now working with two companies - a supplier and a deliverer - you’ll still receive just one electric bill. The bill will continue to come from your local utility company, but now, it will reflect the lower electric rates of your new energy supplier. If you have a power outage or any other service-related issue, you’ll still contact your local utility company to correct the error. The only change that you, the customer, will see is a clear decrease in your monthly electric bill. It really is that simple.

You’re in the driver’s seat. Make today the last day that you overpay for electricity.

8 Ways to Lower Your Electric Bill by Using Less Electric

Sat, 17 Apr 2010 14:52:28 -0500

Reduce your electric bill and usage with these helpful tips!

Did you know that, each year, the average home releases double the amount of carbon dioxide as the average automobile? With all of the emissions standards placed on cars, you’d think that there would be just as many eco-friendly regulations placed on homes. Since there aren’t, it’s up to the homeowner to take matters into their own hands. Using less electricity can not only lower your electric bill, it will also reduce your carbon footprint and help the environment.

Here are eight simple ways to reduce electricity use in your home.

Inspect Your Equipment - Check your heating and air conditioning systems to ensure that they are operating at 100% efficiency. A leaking duct, for example, could decrease a unit’s effectiveness by as much as 25%. If you’re not too handy around the house, you can have a certified technician inspect the equipment for around $75.

Cleanliness is Virtue - Cleaning and/or replacing air filters is one of the easiest ways to maximize energy efficiency in your home. Filters, by design, remove dirt, dust, pollen, and bacteria from the air. Too much dirt in a filter will seriously block air flow, though, so it’s important to keep a clean filter in your central air or window/wall unit.

Only Use What You Need - If you’re at work for eight hours a day and no one is at home, do you really need to have your A/C running? No. You can program most thermostats to turn on or off on a timer. That way, it is cool when you leave for work, cool when you return home, and pretty darn cool when you save about $200 a year on your electric bill.

Use Energy Star - Energy Star products and appliances, including air conditioners, refrigerators, washing machines, and dishwashers, use 10-50% less energy and water than traditional home appliances. And what’s more, the government offers a generous tax credit for energy-efficient home additions or improvements. Using energy-efficient appliances can reduce your monthly electric bill up to 5%.

Bigger Isn’t Always Better - If you need a new wall or window air conditioning unit, don’t get the biggest, most powerful one on the block. Instead, use Energy Star guidelines to determine how powerful your unit should be, based on the room’s square footage. Units that are too powerful for a given room waste energy and often have difficulty reducing humidity.

Use CFL Light Bulbs - If you have yet to switch your incandescent light bulbs to compact fluorescent bulbs, this is a bandwagon you’ll want to jump on. CFLs use 75% less energy than regular bulbs, saving the average homeowner around $25 a year. Oh, and they also last ten times longer than regular bulbs. Small savings really do add up.

Seal Those Cracks - A properly insulated home can save you hundreds of dollars each year on your electric bill. After all, you don’t want the nice, cool (or cozy, warm) air that you’re paying for to simply leak out through cracks along window and door frames, do you? Insulation materials are even eligible for an energy-efficient government tax credit.

If You’re Not Using It, Unplug It - Though it may seem like a pain, unplugging unused appliances, chargers, or other equipment is a great way to reduce the amount of electricity you use in your home. The average household spends over $2,000 on energy bills every year, and 5-10% of that electricity is standby power for unused appliances attached to a power source. Save energy and money by unplugging unused appliances today.

Make sure to view all of our energy saving tips to make sure you are doing everything you can!

What Texas Electricity Deregulation Means For You: Part 2

Thu, 15 Apr 2010 10:30:15 -0500

What Texas Electricity Deregulation Means For You: Part 2

Texas electricity deregulation means that you can now choose your own electricity provider. This gives you the opportunity to select the best rates and service from among many competitive providers. Here are some tips that will make it a lot easier for you to understand how to take advantage of this powerful consumer opportunity to reduce your electric bill:

Take your time. Take a deep breath and get ready to take some time to do some smart comparison shopping. You don’t want to get lured in to choosing the first deal that sounds good. You want to really select the deal that is best for you.
Learn how to read an electricity facts label (EFL). This will tell you how much you pay for electricity when you use different amounts. For example, people living in small apartments may use 1000 KWh of electricity per month (or less). The rate for these folks can be different than the rate for a single family home that uses 2000+ KWh of electricity per month. You need to choose a company that offers a low rate in the spending area that suits your home.
Look for other charges. The usage charge is going to be the most important one. However, some companies offer a low rate for usage but then charge various fees that cause the total bill to go up. You don’t want to deal with that. Make sure that you ask about all fees, charges and taxes in advance of signing a contract with an electricity company.
Check into the company’s history. See if any complaints have been registered with the Better Business Bureau. Read some reviews online. Now that you have the right to choose an electricity provider, you want to choose one that has a good reputation.
Always look for a cancellation clause. Before signing up with an electricity company, make sure that there are no penalties involved for canceling your contract. You want the power to be able to switch to another provider down the line if a better deal comes up.
Visit us at Lowerelectricbilltoday.com. We will do the background research for you to assist you in finding the best Texas electricity providers. Then we can provide you with simple information that allows you to easily compare the deals that are offered from these top providers. The decision is still yours to make; we just make the decision-making process a whole lot simpler.

For more information on what Texas electricity deregulation means for you please read the other articles in this series.

What Texas Electricity Deregulation Means For You: Part 1

What Texas Electricity Deregulation Means For You: Part 3

Electricity Rates are on the Rise ... But Your Bill Doesn't Have to Go Up

Mon, 12 Apr 2010 20:27:22 -0500

Electricity Rates are on the Rise ... But Your Bill Doesn’t Have to Go Up

Electricity rates are on the rise all around the nation. The amount of money that you are going to be asked to pay per kWh of electricity used in the home is likely going to go up. However, this doesn’t mean that your own electricity bill needs to rise along with the rates. Smart use of energy-saving tips around the home can keep your electric bills low even though rates are rising.

There are several different reasons why electricity rates are on the rise. One big reason is because the government needs money to fund renewable energy resource programs. The Los Angeles area has recently seen a rate hike for precisely that reason. The government is pushing to reduce reliance on non-renewable resources. In order for that to happen, a push needs to be made to increase renewable resource energy in all areas. This costs money. Some of that money is coming from fees that are being tacked on to electricity bills.

Another reason that electricity rates are rising is because electric companies are feeling the economic crunch. Many people started to reduce their use of electricity in the home in order to save money during the recession. Electric companies have suffered as a result since this means that less money is coming to them. Unfortunately, many of their costs of maintaining electric lines are still the same as they were before. This has resulted in a need for money. They hope to offset their recession losses by increasing their rates.

This is why it’s so important to conserve energy in your home. By making sure to use electricity wisely, you can keep your own bills low even though the average cost of electricity in your area may be on the rise.

What Texas Electricity Deregulation Means For You: Part 1

Mon, 12 Apr 2010 16:04:51 -0500

What Texas Electricity Deregulation Means For You: Part 1

If you were paying attention to the news in Texas back in 2002 then you might have noticed an important piece of legislation that was passed. This legislation deregulated the retail electric industry throughout the state. If you haven’t taken the importance of this seriously then you might want to start. That’s because electricity deregulation can save you a lot of money on your energy bills if you know how to take advantage of it.

What deregulation means for you is very simple: you can now choose your own electricity provider. Prior to the passing of this legislation, there was a monopoly on the electric industry. You had to work with the single electric company that had the monopoly in your part of Texas. You had to pay whatever rates they said were the rates at that time. Otherwise, you weren’t going to have electricity. Deregulation means that you can choose from a number of different electricity providers that may each offer different rates.

What this means for you is that you can effectively reduce your electric bill by doing nothing other than signing up with a new electric provider. This may sound complicated at first since you aren’t used to dealing with your electric company this way. However, it’s a process that you are already familiar with. Think about your cell phone company, for example. You chose a cell phone company based on the phones, plans and service that they offered. If you don’t like them, you can cancel your contract and sign up with a new cell phone company. Now you can do the same type of thing with your electric company.

This gives you, as a consumer, a lot more power than you used to have. You can demand better service from your electric company. If they don’t provide that service, you can leave then and switch to a better provider. You can also demand better rates by choosing the electricity providers that offer the lowest rates and the best deals. Electric companies now have to compete with one another to gain your support.

Of course, you do still have to choose the right electric company. But don’t worry; we provide an easy way for you to do that. If you simply go to Lowerelectricbilltoday.com then we will do your research for you. We’ll let you know who the best Texas electric suppliers are and provide you with simple information to compare the best choices for yourself. This empowers you to make smart electric company decisions right away.

For more information on what Texas electricity deregulation means for you please read the other articles in this series.

What Texas Electricity Deregulation Means For You: Part 2

What Texas Electricity Deregulation Means For You: Part 3

Are You Paying More Than Average for Electricity

Wed, 07 Apr 2010 11:32:32 -0500

Are You Paying More Than Average for Electricity?

What do you pay for your electricity each month on average? Do you think that you use less electricity than your neighbors do or more? Do you think that the rates that you’re paying are about average for your region of the country? You might be surprised to learn what the average electricity bill is for people throughout the country.

Average Electricity Use in United States (2007)

The U.S. Energy Information Administration reported on the average energy use in the United States in 2007. At that time, the average residential monthly electricity use was 920 kWh and the average price per kwH paid was approximately 10.4 cents. This resulted in an average electricity bill of $95.66 per month.

Rates Have Risen Slightly

The same reporting body indicates that rates have risen slightly since the 2007 report. The average amount of money that Americans paid per kWh in December 2009 was 11.55 cents.

Prices Vary by Region and by State

The average price that people pay for electricity based on the per kWh price varies significantly from region to region. For example, the non-contiguous states (Alaska and Hawaii) pay an average of 21.34 cents per kWh. In contrast, the West North Central States (including Iowa, Nebraska and Minnesota among others) are paying only 9.07 cents per kWh. Within each region, the amount can vary from state to state. For example, Vermont and Connecticut are both in New England where the average rate is 17.5 cents per kWh but Vermont averages only 14.9 cents per kWh whereas Connecticut averages 20.36 cents per kWh.

Use Clearly Affects Average Bills

The price of electricity isn’t the only thing that affects the total cost of the bill, of course. It also depends on how much electricity you use. Places that are interested in conserving electricity tend to have lower electric bills even when they pay more per kWh than other places. For example, the states on the West coast (OR, WA and CA) pay slightly more than average at 12.37 cents per kWh but their total monthly bills are only around $83, which is considerably lower than average. This is because these areas have strong energy-saving efforts in place. Notably, Californians pay an average of more than 15 cents per kWh but still have a monthly bill averaging among the nation’s lowest at just $82. Saving energy definitely saves you money on your electric bill no matter where you live!

Opposition to Electricity Rates Going up in Ohio

Wed, 07 Apr 2010 11:18:06 -0500

Opposition to Electricity Rates Going up in Ohio

An electricity security plan was recently approved in Ohio but it faces opposition because of the fact that it is going to mean higher rates for consumers. The plan was agreed upon by the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio and FirstEnergy Corp. among other interested parties. The result of the plan is to allow FirstEnergy Corp. to adjust rates upwards from June 2011 through at least May 2014. FirstEnergy says that the rate hikes are necessary in order for the company to be capable of upgrading and maintaining its wires, transformers, substations and the other equipment it uses to supply energy to Ohio customers.

Distribution-rate increases would rise significantly in the area. This would occur over a period of time with four different relevant bidding sessions taking place over the next two years. Opponents of the plan point out that utilities in the area were given approval for a rate hike in 2009 and that this new plan is double the amount allowed by that rate hike. There are 2.1 million FirstEnergy customers in Ohio who would be affected by this rate increase.

Consumer advocates and environmental advocates both oppose this plan. Citizen Power, the Northeast Ohio Public Energy Council, the Ohio consumer's counsel and the Natural Resources Defense Council are among those who have voiced their opposition. The major reason that these people are opposed to plan is because they believe that consumers cannot afford increased payments at this time.

Ohio has been hit hard by the recession. Many people in the state are out of work. Things don't seem to be improving rapidly in this area. This makes it impossible for consumers to consider paying higher and higher electricity bills. The one recourse that these customers do have is to choose an alternative energy supplier. There are competitive suppliers in the area that could be used instead of FirstEnergy. People who choose to work with such competitive suppliers might be able to keep their electricity costs down while also sending a message that rate hikes aren't going to be accepted by consumers. And, of course, reducing energy use in the home will help to keep costs down as well.

Source: http://www.ohio.com/business/89094557.html

Using the PFT Air Infiltration Measurement Technique in a Home Energy Audit

Thu, 18 Mar 2010 11:29:01 -0500

Using the PFT Air Infiltration Measurement Technique in a Home Energy Audit

A home energy audit is designed to help you learn about the way that your home uses and loses energy. There are many different tests that can be done to assist you in obtaining this information. In fact, professional home energy auditors use up to ninety different tests to help you conserve energy in your home. However, there are only a few tests that are the ones that are most commonly used. The blower door test is one of the most popular tests. It’s a very valuable test that shows you where air leaks exist in your home. Unfortunately, it has its drawbacks so a professional home energy auditor will probably suggest that you also use the PFT Air Infiltration Measurement Technique as a supplement to the blower door test.

The blower door test is a terrific test. Alone, it can help you to save a lot of energy in your home by pointing out where the leaks are and where more insulation is needed in the home. Professional home energy auditors like Dr. Energy Saver rely on this test to assist their customers. However, there are limitations to this test. The blower door test only measures the leaks in the home at the time that the test is taken. Many things can affect the results of the test. The weather outside can have a big impact, for example. Changes in atmospheric pressure and wind velocity can affect the home differently. Likewise, changes in the activities occurring within the house can change the air infiltration results.

The solution to the limitations of the blower door test is to supplement the test with the PFT Air Infiltration Measurement Technique. This is a long-term test that is done over a period of time to help figure out how these different factors may affect energy use in the home. Your professional home energy auditor will install an emitter and a receiver in your home. These are each small devices that are approximately the size of a pencil. The emitter does what its name suggests; it emits a small amount of a harmless gas into the home. The receiver absorbs the gas to measure the tightness of the building, which helps determine its overall energy efficiency. It can also provide information about the pollutants in the home. By using this test to supplement the results of the blower door test, a home energy audit provides a comprehensive solution to home energy loss over time and can help save money on your electric bill.

For more information on home energy audits please read the other articles in this series.

Part One: Home Energy Audits Make Saving Energy Easy

Part Two: Using Thermography to Reduce Home Energy Waste

Part Three: Why Home Energy Auditors Use Blower Door Testing

Save Energy by Automating Your Home

Tue, 09 Mar 2010 13:09:10 -0600

Save Energy by Automating Your Home

Automating your home almost sounds like a thing of the future. To have a home that knows when to turn itself off and on, when to cool down and heat up ... it sounds wacky and off the wall. However, this isn’t something of the future. In many ways, it is possible to automate your home right now. Why would you bother? Because not only does this make living in your house more convenient but it also allows you to save a lot of energy around the home. This means that your electricity bills will go down and you’ll be doing your part to green the earth.

The most popular way for people to begin the process of home automation is to start with their lighting. Lighting has a big impact on your electricity bill every month. Maybe you leave lights on when you leave the house because you know it will be dark by the time you get home. Or maybe you keep your lights bright all of the time because you like a well-lit house during meals. By automating your house, you can have the bright lights that you want when you want them but reduce their waste by having them shut off or dim automatically when they are not in use. You can put lights on timers. Alternatively, you could install an occupancy sensor, which turns lights off in rooms where nobody is present.

Your lights aren’t the only things in the home that you can automate. Another big change that you can make is to automate your heating and cooling system. Of course, most people have their thermostat set to a certain temperature so that heating and cooling kick in only when the house reaches a certain degree. A better option could be to automate the system so that it doesn’t start working until shortly before the family comes home for the day. This way, your house isn’t heating and cooling all day long but it’s still on and comfy when you’re at home.

Yet another area of the house that you can automate is your home’s various appliances. You can set your washer and dryer and other appliances to operate only at certain times of the day. Even if you load the washer up in the morning, it won’t turn on until the time that you’ve set. This is particularly money-saving for people who live in areas where peak hours are charged at a different rate. You can set your appliances for use during the cheapest times.

Home automation sounds like something from the future. However, we do things related to it all of the time. Making a more conscious decision to automate your home is just going to help you do a better job of saving electricity now. And that is going to be good for the future!

Why Home Energy Auditors Use Blower Door Testing

Thu, 04 Mar 2010 14:15:56 -0600

Why Home Energy Auditors Use Blower Door Testing

If you have never heard of blower door testing then you obviously haven’t had a home energy audit done for your house. This basic test is one of the primary tools used by professional home energy auditors. This test is one of the most effective tests for determining where there are air leaks in your house. By finding the leaks and sealing them up, you can save a lot of wasted energy. This results in a greener house and a much lower electricity bill.

How does the blower door test work? It’s actually fairly simple. The professional home energy auditor will set up a blower door fan in your home. In most cases, the fan will be placed in the front doorway area. The purpose of the fan is to suck out all of the air from the inside of the house (a process more formally known as depressurizing the home). What does this do? Well, when you pull out all of the inside air, the outside air will rush into the house through any leaks that exist.

Once the blower door fan is running, the professional home energy auditor is going to go from room to room. What he’s doing is checking for these leaks. He’ll make a note of all of the areas where outside air is coming into the house. He’ll be able to analyze what needs to be done to seal up these leaks in the most efficient manner.

Although finding the leaks is obviously important, it’s actually not the most important thing that this test does for you. As professional home energy auditor Dr. Energy Saver points out, "a blower door test also allows your home’s air-leakage rate to be calculated". Your professional auditor is going to be able to do a simple calculation using the information from the blower door test to determine exactly how much damage your home is suffering from air leakage. This will give you a clear picture of how much energy is lost to these leaks.

The blower door test is just one of many tests that a professional home energy auditor is going to perform. However, it is one of the most crucial tests that will be done. Sealing up the leaks in the home is one of the biggest things that you can do to make sure that your home is the most energy-efficient home that it can be.

For more information on home energy audits please read the other articles in this series.

Part One: Home Energy Audits Make Saving Energy Easy

Part Two: Using Thermography to Reduce Home Energy Waste

Part Four: Using the PFT Air Infiltration Measurement Technique in a Home Energy Audit

Using Thermography to Reduce Home Energy Waste

Tue, 23 Feb 2010 12:08:17 -0600

Using Thermography to Reduce Home Energy Waste

One of the best ways to find out how your home is wasting energy is to get a professional home energy audit by a reputable company such as Dr. Energy Saver. One of the main tests that your auditors will use to gather this information is a thermography test. This test may also be called a thermographic inspection, an infrared scan or thermal scanning. Regardless of the name that it goes by, the purpose of this test is to use infrared lighting technology to measure the surface temperatures in your home. This is a great way for an auditor to accurately assess where in the home more insulation is needed in order to truly reduce energy waste.

There are two types of thermography scans. The more common scan is the interior scan where infrared lighting is used throughout the inside of your home to look for heat loss. It makes sense to check for this loss from the inside out because of the fact that the heat may be lost somewhere inside the walls and therefore not escaping into the outdoors but still not working efficiently in the home. However, certain home designs and weather conditions do make it possible that an exterior thermal scan is occasionally the better option. Your professional auditor should explain why he is doing an external scan if that’s what he chooses for your home.

If you have more than one thermal scan done in your lifetime then you may notice that different auditors use different scanning technology. That’s because there are a few different tools that work for this job. A point radiometer (or spot radiometer) measures temperature at a single point so the auditor will move around the house registering each point along the way. A thermal line scanner will scan the temperature of an area across a line as the tool pans the room. The most effective tool is the thermal imaging camera, which is the one that most auditors use to get a truly detailed picture of home heat loss.

Regardless of the type of camera used or whether it’s done from the inside or the outside, the process of the thermal scan is basically the same. Infrared photography (both still photography and video photography) is used to scan the entire house. The images will record temperature variations; there will be white images where it is hot and black images where it is cool. The information can then be analyzed to easily see where heat is building up in the home and where it is being lost. A scan of the roof can clearly tell you that heat is escaping at the top of your home, for example. You use this information to figure out where you need better home insulation. Installing this insulation in the right areas will prevent you from wasting energy and help save money on your energy bill.

For more information on home energy audits please read the other articles in this series.

Part One: Home Energy Audits Make Saving Energy Easy

Part Three: Why Home Energy Auditors Use Blower Door Testing

Part Four: Using the PFT Air Infiltration Measurement Technique in a Home Energy Audit

Home Energy Audits Make Saving Energy Easy

Mon, 15 Feb 2010 09:36:33 -0600

Home Energy Audits Make Saving Energy Easy

You know what you’re supposed to do to start saving energy in your home. You need to reduce your energy waste. This is done by taking steps like insulating your attic and sealing your windows to prevent energy from leaking out. However, it’s tough to know which steps are really going to be the most efficient ones for your home. How do you really know if you need more insulation or if it’s time to re-caulk your windows? One great way to make this whole process a lot easier on you is to get a home energy audit.

Home energy audits are inspections of your home that will tell you exactly how your house is losing energy, wasting energy and properly using energy. This isn’t something that is easy to figure out on your own. In fact, professional home audit companies like Dr. Energy Saver may do upwards of 90 tests in your home to figure out exactly how energy is being used. Figuring it out on your own might not be easy but letting someone else do the work is. Getting a home energy audit isn’t a difficult process and it results in giving you the best information about how to use your time and money to make your home as energy-efficient as possible.

What’s involved in getting a home energy audit? On your part, not a whole lot. You hire a professional to come do the audit of your home. You answer some questions about your house and habits. (For example, it’s helpful to know if someone works from home to determine if electricity is lost during the day.) And then you might walk through the inspection while it’s being done so that you get a better understanding of what it’s all about.

Although the inspection process is very easy for you, a good home energy audit will be very thorough and comprehensive. The auditor will do a number of different tests to see how energy is being used in the home. For example, they will use calibrated blower doors to determine how much energy leakage your home has. They will use infrared cameras in a process called thermography to detect missing insulation and areas where the outdoor air is coming into the house. They will do an HVAC inspection, a lighting check and an inspection of your insulation.

At the end of your home audit, you will have a report about how to improve the energy-efficiency of your home. There will be no more guesswork about where to start with making your home more efficient. It will all be clear.

For more information on home energy audits please read the other articles in this series.

Part Two: Using Thermography to Reduce Home Energy Waste

Part Three: Why Home Energy Auditors Use Blower Door Testing

Part Four: Using the PFT Air Infiltration Measurement Technique in a Home Energy Audit