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!

Help, Help! I don’t know how to get a rebate!

Brrrrr! It’s a cold Friday here at GreenOhm… and most of the country. You might be thinking, “I should raise the temperature on my thermostat to avoid becoming a block of ice.” The problem is that this will not only make your home a lot more comfortable but could also lead to a higher utility bill. What’s the answer to this issue? A programmable thermostat. The EPA mentions that using a programmable thermostat could save you about $180 dollars per year. You might say to yourself, “This could be very expensive..” but never fear because rebates are here. There are multiple utilities that offer rebates, and some that offer free units for programmable thermostats. With a programmable thermostat, you could have different temperature settings that help you control your utility bills. Have a lower temperature setting for when no one is at home and a higher temp when you are at home! It’s much simpler than hiding under a mountain of blankets and less expensive than heating the water in the fish bowl! So how can you actually find a rebate for a programmable thermostat?

Don’t stress about it because GreenOhm has your back! Using our tools with Honeywell, we will explain how to find a rebate.

First we will ask you for your zip code. Based on this, our system will find utility companies that offer rebates for a programmable thermostat in your neck of the woods.

Select your natural gas or electricity provider. (Can’t find your provider? Comment below and we will investigate. Sometimes, certain utility providers do not offer incentives for programmable thermostats.)

Finally, if the way to claim your rebate is through this a mail-in application, a rebate PDF link will be present for you to download. Take special note of the cover page in the file as that has the detailed instructions (basically the nuts and bolts of how to claim your rebate) provided by GreenOhm. Why read all the small print and possibly forget something when our owl-eyed analysts can spot all those things for you!?!

In some cases, you might have to fill out an online application or call the utility provider to start the rebate process. Whatever the method, don’t stress about rebates, we have your back! Every possible detail, form, or certification you’ll need to receive your rebate is made easy with GreenOhm!

Welcome to the GreenOhm blog!

Have you ever wondered if a solar roof is worth it? What you should look for when buying an appliance? Or what and how this new appliance will save you money? Welcome to the GreenOhm blog! We help businesses connect their customers with local rebates on energy-saving products. That means consumers save twice: first on the sticker price, then on lower energy bills!

Things you will find on this blog:

• Appliance Topics
• Energy Tips
• New Ideas in Energy
• Ways to fulfill your passion to reduce your energy footprint

So whether you’re in this to save some cash or want to expand your knowledge of HVAC systems, renewable energy, or any other of the amazing topics in energy, follow our blog to energize and expand your energy knowledge!

GreenOhm is the leading SaaS and data provider of local rebates, incentives, on-going savings and lead generation to the retail, manufacturer, distributor and dealer channels for energy efficient products and measures, such as appliances, insulation, HVAC, doors, windows, low flow water products, building materials and alternative energy.