Need help conserving energy

[CLJohnson72]

I wonder if anyone could help me out here. I'm looking to reduce the amount of energy I consume. I could use a resource that provides tools to help identify and eliminate sources of wasted energy in the house. Ideally, this resource would tell me:
1. Where to look
2. How to determine if energy is wasted there
3. How to reduce or eliminate the waste

Eventually, I am looking to add a solar power system, but before doing all of that, I need to make sure I've eliminated (or reduced as much as possible) sources of waste, and updated my appliances and other energy utilizing apparatus (perhaps my lifestyle, even) so that I am as efficient as possible with my energy use.
Right now, I am using x amount of energy. With the right education and resources, I can determine that I really only need y amount of energy.

[dbermanmd]

Originally posted by CLJohnson72@Mar 6 2006, 03:26 PM
I wonder if anyone could help me out here. I'm looking to reduce the amount of energy I consume. I could use a resource that provides tools to help identify and eliminate sources of wasted energy in the house. Ideally, this resource would tell me:
1. Where to look
2. How to determine if energy is wasted there
3. How to reduce or eliminate the waste

Eventually, I am looking to add a solar power system, but before doing all of that, I need to make sure I've eliminated (or reduced as much as possible) sources of waste, and updated my appliances and other energy utilizing apparatus (perhaps my lifestyle, even) so that I am as efficient as possible with my energy use.
Right now, I am using x amount of energy. With the right education and resources, I can determine that I really only need y amount of energy.

[snapback]221244[/snapback]

Hope this is somewhat relevent. This winter we put in the house two "high tech" wood pellet burning stoves and have cut back our Con Ed (we live in Westchester County, NY) usage by 75-90% in terms of natural gas to heat the house. We put the computers on stand by at the end of each day, turn off the electric, and we bought a Prius... We are doing our best to become less dependent on fossil fuels - even though I do not consider myself a tree-hugger.

[lowspeed]

Give this a try:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00...4&link_code=as1

[skruse]

Originally posted by CLJohnson72@Mar 6 2006, 12:26 PM
I wonder if anyone could help me out here. I'm looking to reduce the amount of energy I consume. I could use a resource that provides tools to help identify and eliminate sources of wasted energy in the house. Ideally, this resource would tell me:
1. Where to look
2. How to determine if energy is wasted there
3. How to reduce or eliminate the waste

Eventually, I am looking to add a solar power system, but before doing all of that, I need to make sure I've eliminated (or reduced as much as possible) sources of waste, and updated my appliances and other energy utilizing apparatus (perhaps my lifestyle, even) so that I am as efficient as possible with my energy use.
Right now, I am using x amount of energy. With the right education and resources, I can determine that I really only need y amount of energy.

[snapback]221244[/snapback]

An excellent starting point is the Rocky Mountain Institute (www.rmi.org). Loaded with uncommon sense with the thrust that efficiency is more cost effective than the usual mind set of "go get more." First: do an energy analysis of your residence, including demand. Look over your utility records for the last 12 to 24 months. Compare energy used (in Joules or btus) compared to the climatic demand for energy (heating & cooling degree days) divided by square meters (or square feet) to arrive at energy use per square meter and an Energy Efficiency Index (EEI). Also follow-up with Jame Dulley (http://www.dulley.com/) for many details on conserving and more efficient use of energy.

[priusblue]

A great simple place to start is replacing your light bulbs with CFL's they're much more available and less expensive now, and work great. I even just found some dimmable candelabra style ones for our dining room chandelier. They cut our power bill by about $10/ month. Then sealing up your house and looking for the ghost load. That's the step I'm on now. See the Kill-A-Watt link above. I just ordered one of those. Hopefully it will help!

[skruse]

Another simple thing to start the energy conservation process rolling is: obtain switch - outlet plate gaskets from your local hardware store. You can make your own, but having premade is much easier.

It may take 1.5 hours to do the entire house. Upon completion you have plugged up the equivalent of a hole one square meter in the front door. How do you know the plate gaskets are working? Prior to installation wet the back of your hand. Hold your hand up against the plate - and feel cold air coming in. After installation, wet the back of your hand and hold it up to a plate. No air infiltration = less heat loss.

[tripp]

Originally posted by dbermanmd@Mar 6 2006, 02:37 PM
... even though I do not consider myself a tree-hugger.

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Perhaps that's the most important aspect of "this time" versus the late '70's. There's a confluence of issues that is pushing quite disparate groups in the same direction.

how easy is it to regulate the house temps w/the pellets? Our next house will probably have heating along those lines as well as solar PV/thermal. I'm interested in the pellets. Seems like a good use of waste products.

[Ray Moore]

How far are you willing to go with this? Is a remodel out of the question? How much energy do you use now? I don't mean dollars, but rather, Kwh, gallons or therms. What kind of home do you live in? What are your energy sources?

[Springtime]

Originally posted by CLJohnson72@Mar 6 2006, 04:26 PM
I wonder if anyone could help me out here. I'm looking to reduce the amount of energy I consume. I could use a resource that provides tools to help identify and eliminate sources of wasted energy in the house. Ideally, this resource would tell me:
1. Where to look
2. How to determine if energy is wasted there
3. How to reduce or eliminate the waste

Eventually, I am looking to add a solar power system, but before doing all of that, I need to make sure I've eliminated (or reduced as much as possible) sources of waste, and updated my appliances and other energy utilizing apparatus (perhaps my lifestyle, even) so that I am as efficient as possible with my energy use.
Right now, I am using x amount of energy. With the right education and resources, I can determine that I really only need y amount of energy.

[snapback]221244[/snapback]

A few years ago I took advantage of a free energy audit offered by my utility company. Someone came out to the house and tested for air leaks around the windows, doors and outside wall plugs, checked my various appliances etc. and sent me a report on what I could do, how much it would cost and the potential energy savings.

See if your local energy provider offers such a service.

In addition, if you have an older house, evaluate your water usage and if putting in new low flow toilets will save water and money.

Springtime

[Begreen]

Originally posted by CLJohnson72@Mar 6 2006, 01:26 PM
I wonder if anyone could help me out here. I'm looking to reduce the amount of energy I consume. I could use a resource that provides tools to help identify and eliminate sources of wasted energy in the house. Ideally, this resource would tell me:
1. Where to look
2. How to determine if energy is wasted there
3. How to reduce or eliminate the waste

Eventually, I am looking to add a solar power system, but before doing all of that, I need to make sure I've eliminated (or reduced as much as possible) sources of waste, and updated my appliances and other energy utilizing apparatus (perhaps my lifestyle, even) so that I am as efficient as possible with my energy use.
Right now, I am using x amount of energy. With the right education and resources, I can determine that I really only need y amount of energy.

[snapback]221244[/snapback]

Here is a good place to start. Download the software. You will need to do some measuring in order to input data specific to your residence, but you will get some meaningful information from this data + software.
http://www.energycodes.gov/rescheck/