Year in Review: 2013 Energy Efficiency Part 1

2013 was probably one of the most momentous years for energy efficiency but as the world still grips with the effects of the Great Recession, progress was a bit limited. The year 2013 did bring a new standard of energy efficiency for many Energy Star labeled products, check out the Most Efficient in 2013 to see if your appliance made the list!

This year will also mark the start of the age of natural gas and renewables. As the fast growing energy sources, both renewables and natural gas have experienced significant growth and success throughout 2013. Renewables have officially become competitive to conventional sources and natural gas has surpassed coal as the most widely used fuel.

2013 Stats

Weather

Weather-wise, this year we saw record high and record low temperatures hitting the US. Summer of 2013 was the 5th warmest summer on record. The warm temperatures have resulted in escalating utility bill costs and deadly storms approaching dense areas of the country. Of course we can’t control the weather to work in our energy efficient favor, but the changes in our energy consumptive behaviours have been accelerating. With temperatures peaking past 100 degrees Fahrenheit, air conditioners are no longer a luxury but a necessity to withstand the new summer. For the summer of 2013, there was a slight drop in utility costs compared to 2012. The cost was offset due to increases in electricity price.

Average U.S. residential summer 2013 electric bill expected to be lowest in four years. (Credit: EIA)

While the east coast of the United States broke record high temperatures this year, the Midwest and other areas have experienced frigid conditions. For the winter of 2013, it is expected that heating bills could increase almost 13%!

Weather Highlights (Credit: Accuweather)

Energy

Renewable energy sources have seen tremendous increases in 2013.

Additional Energy by Fuel Type in the U.S. (Credit: EIA)

In 2012, wind was credited as the fastest growing energy source of 2013 accounting for about 43% of all electric installations. The solar sector this year has seen its second largest increase in its history! All together, renewables and nuclear power had the fastest growth rate of 2013 at 2.5%. In the fossil fuel world, natural gas has seen impressive increases worldwide. In terms of total energy consumption, the US has seen decreases in total energy consumption since the start of the 2000s. Other types of fuels, like for transportation and heating, have not seen a significant increase and have hovered around 18-19 million barrels per day.

Stay tuned next week when we go over innovations in energy efficiency for 2013!

Have an Energy Efficient and Happy New Year from all of us at GreenOhm!

Top Energy-Efficient Gifts 2013

So you might be thinking about getting that new game system, laptop, or other fancy electronic. Adding new electronics to your home could also add costs to your utility bill. Here are a few cool, electronic gifts that have surpassed energy-efficiency benchmarks!

Game Consoles

The Xbox One and the PS4 might be some of the things on your holiday shopping list. Recently, the Natural Resource Defense Council reported that the projected video game consoles U.S energy consumption is about 10-11 billion kWh per year! This is about 4 large 500 MW power plants or as much as the total energy consumption of Houston.

In a head-to-head match, both devices use about three times more energy that their most recent model. A PS4 is more likely to use more energy to deliver better graphics than the Xbox One, but in sleep more, the PS4 wins. The Xbox One uses more energy in standby mode to respond to voice commands. In a year, the Xbox One will use more energy than the PS4. When you think about all the amazing things these electronics do, Netflix, Blu-Ray, YouTube, other awesome things in one place, they price may be worth it.

Tablets

Power a tablet at normal use, could cost you as little as $1.38 per year. The days of the bulky PC and the high-tech high energy bills, seem to be over. Compared to desktop PCs, tablets use 25 times less energy. While Apple was able to produce a tablet that only uses about 12 kWh per year, other tablets typically consume about 10-25 kWh per year.

Laptops

Like tablet PCs, laptops also use a fraction of the energy used desktop systems. Laptops use about 50-80% less energy than desktop computers. Many large desktop systems can typically used over 100 watts compared to the 15-25 watts or lower for laptops. Other environmental factors include the e-waste generated by large systems compared to the lower e-waste produced by mobile system.

TVs

If you’re over the age of 30, you probably witness more radical changes in TV throughout your lifetime. Since the 1980’s, from color TV‘s to LED screens, the TV revolution has changed our screens and our energy savings. Plasma screen T.V.’s use up the most energy at about $7 a month of typical energy usage. The most energy efficient televisions are LED sets, using as much as 10% of the total energy used by plasma sets. If you’re still using a CRT televisions, odds are you are spending a lot more to watch your favorite TV show than your neighbors with flat screens.

Get Ready… Electra is Coming!

‘Twas a few days before the holidays, and all through the house, a whistling cold draft forced everyone into hiding.

With freezing temperatures ruling over the Great Lake and Northeast states, home heating systems will be working overtime to keep your home from becoming an ice palace. The 5th winter storm, Electra, is about to pound the Midwest and Northeast with inches of snow; including a predicted 1.5-2 ft of snow heading towards the Lake Erie coast of New York. As temperatures dip and snow accumulates, you might be wondering how safe is your home from these frigid conditions?

Credits: Weather Channel

1. Cold Air

You see that crack in your wall? That unsealed space between your door and door frame? It’s common sense that all those openings will be amazing entrances for cold air. But why does cold air come into your home? Small physics lesson: Heat can flow. Consider this: if one object is next to a warmer object, heat will transfer to colder object until thermal equilibrium is reached. When thermal equilibrium is reach, heat will cease to move and will not change over time. Your house is one object and the cold outside is another object. If you’re trying to keep your house at a decent 65 degrees, but it’s -2 degrees outside, your heater will need to work harder to maintain that temperature during a faster heat loss rate. The best way to avoid this is to move to a climate that rarely changes and remains a comfortable temperature… but let’s be realistic. By retrofitting your home with insulation upgrades, weather stripping, or other envelope upgrades, you can decrease the rate of heat loss and save money in the long run. Also… you might not freeze?

2. Snow on the roof?

Not all roofs are created equal. In times of heavy snowfall, snow can accumulate on your roof. While most of the snow melts to the ground, there can be some parts of your roof that can instead collect ice and hold pools of water. Trapped water will find a path of least resistance and since the only escape is inside your house, be sure to expect a leaky roof. Blizzard conditions can cause harm to damage shingles and also add significant weight to your roof. In addition, an improperly insulated attic can cause problems to rain gutters. Heat escaping from your attic will melt the snow but also cause your rain gutters to build an ice dam. A buildup of ice in your rain gutters can put more weight on your gutters. To save on roofing issues, it’s best to keep on eye on any possible roof issues prior to heavy snow fall.

Errata: Winter IS here.

3. Windows and Doors

Heat can be lost in large volume through inefficient windows and doors. When shopping around for window upgrades look for the following key terms: U-Factor and Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC). A U-Factor determines the rate of non-solar heat flow by the unit. A lower U-Factor signifies a more efficient window. A solar heat gain coefficient refers to the amount of solar light gained by the window. A lower SHGC means signifies less solar heat penetration. In many cases, depending on our window orientation, solar heat from windows can benefit your home if your windows are facing south during the winter.  Lastly, the installation of storm windows and doors can keep you warm and save you money.

Tips for Easy Cold Weather Fixes

Weatherstripping

For doors and windows, weatherstripping is best to seal those cracks in movable areas of your home. This tip is also very effective because it’s both cheap and can be used during the summer too to keep the hot air out.

DOE: Weatherstripping

Caulking

This type of solution is best for stationary components of the home. Like weatherstripping, caulking is also an easy, cheap fix to your home winter problems. In addition, caulking can keep your home safe from outdoor elements and protect your walls and floor from water damage. Weatherstripping and caulking can save the average consumer about 20% on their energy bills.

Other

Other ideas include but are not limited to: sealing off unused rooms, buying thick curtains, allowing sunlight in, cooking and baking, upgrade duct and pipe insulation, get an electric blanket. Stranger ideas include: sitting on or staying near batteries that heat up while charging, Discovery Channel style, flannel bedding, buy fuzzy socks, or just bury yourself in a mountain of blankets as these never ending winter storms pummel us.

Got any tips on staying warm? Comment below!

Additional Tips 

Cheap Ways to Stay Warm

Top 10 Ways to Stay Warm this Winter

30 Foolproof Ways to Get Through This Winter