Many homeowners are eager to reduce their energy consumption and save money on utility bills. Yet, as this article discusses, there are common misconceptions about energy efficiency - from myths about electronics to misunderstandings about insulation - that could lead to unintended consequences. (When you’re ready to update your home’s efficiency, Panasonic solar-plus-storage and indoor comfort solutions can help achieve your energy savings goals.)
Savvy homeowners are always looking for ways to lower their electricity bills — which, in turn, will help them save money and also help the environment in the process. However, some of these ways don’t actually work, and may end up costing you more money.
These are some of the misconceptions about saving energy in your home.
According to Dan Mock, vice president of operations at Mister Sparky, light bulbs do indeed cost more to purchase in-store than they used to. “Thanks to federal regulations, traditional, cheap, incandescent bulbs have all but disappeared from the market, replaced with options like compact fluorescent bulbs, LEDs and halogen bulbs that all have a higher price tag.” However, Mock says these modern bulb options use far less electricity and have longer life spans than incandescents, so you’ll actually save money in the long run.
Lighting makes up approximately 15% of electricity use in the average U.S. home, and switching to LEDs could save $225 in energy costs each year, according to Energy.gov.
While I prefer to wash dishes by hand, I don’t do it thinking that I’m saving money. I’m impatient, and usually, I only have one or two dishes, so it’s more convenient to wash them by hand (also, I actually like washing dishes). However, an ENERGY STAR certified dishwasher can save, on average, over 8,000 gallons of water each year – especially if you load it properly and skip pre-rinsing the dishes in the sink. And if you have an old dishwasher, consider this: an ENERGY STAR certified model uses 12% less energy and 30% less water than your outdated appliance.
If you have a newer home, you may think it doesn’t need to be weatherized. “Homeowners often overlook the importance of weatherization (upgrades that improve a home’s energy efficiency), especially if there are no signs of leakage,” says D.R. Richardson, co-founder at Elephant Energy. But regardless of your home’s age, he tells me that weatherization is crucial to minimizing leakage, so you can avoid the unnecessary expense of “heating the neighborhood,” which means your conditioned air is escaping your home through doors, windows, etc. “In fact, it's estimated that approximately 25% of heat loss in homes can be attributed to inefficient building infrastructure and leakages,” Richardson says.
Sometimes, you may get red flags, like the home is drafty, the temperatures are inconsistent in differing rooms, or your energy bills may be high. However, Richardson says it’s quite possible that you may not observe any problems. “Setting up an energy audit can help you identify issues with your heating, cooling, insulation, sealing, and more, and from there, you can determine which energy efficiency upgrades will have the greatest impact,” he says.
Attic insulation is indeed important during those cold winter months. However, Michael DiMartino, senior vice president of installations at Power Home Remodeling, tells me that it’s also important in the summer because your attic is primarily where your HVAC system is housed.
“Without insulation, all of the hot air that collects in your attic tends to escape through cracks that you didn’t realize existed, and as a result, your HVAC system has to work harder to keep temperatures stable throughout the rest of your house.” Adding insulation improves airflow, and he says it helps your HVAC system last longer, and prevents bigger issues – like mold and rotting wood – from developing.
“Most computers, televisions, and other modern electronic devices go into sleep or hibernation mode when they haven't been used for a period of time,” says Mock. But he explains that hibernating is not the same as fully powering down. When you leave a computer in sleep mode, Mock says that it still draws electricity – and electronics experience tiny but cumulative wear and tear. “Save electricity and prolong the life of your devices by shutting them off and unplugging them when you don't need to use them for several hours,” he advises.
Despite misconceptions, heat pumps do work in cold climates, according to Richardson. He admits they may not be sufficient for winter in the coldest geographies, but says heat pump technology has come a long way in the past decade, and there are models now guaranteed to operate down to -20 degrees F.
“We’ve installed hundreds of air source heat pumps in cold climates all over the Front Range in Colorado and Greater Boston, and heat pumps – and heat pump water heaters, for that matter – can take both the cold and the heat,” Richardson shares. And he says heat pumps have also been proven to be effective solutions in states like Alaska and Maine.
However, you’ll need to get a heat pump that’s designed for cold climates and sized appropriately. “If the system is too big for the home, that leads to extra cost upfront; if the system is too small, it might not be able to keep up on the coldest days,“ Richardson says.
Walking into your home and setting the HVAC to the coldest setting in the summer or the warmest setting in the winter won’t help the home reach the desired temperature any faster. “Your air conditioner cools at the same rate regardless of how hard it has to work to meet your thermostat setting,” Mock explains – and the same theory applies to heat. “So, if you turn the dial to its lowest setting, you won't cool off any faster, but you will waste electricity once the machine passes your desired temperature and keeps on trucking to cool the house even further,” he warns. Investing in a smart thermostat is one of the ways to lower cooling costs in the summer.
Heating your water accounts for 18% of your utility bill, and it’s the second-largest energy expense. On average, U.S. households use 25 gallons of hot water in just the clothes washer. However, most clothes can be laundered in cold water, which not only saves money, but also helps your clothes look newer for longer, since warm and hot water can increase shrinking and fading. There are also cold-water detergents that are specifically designed for either regular or high-efficiency (HE) washing machines.
For heavily soiled laundry, as well as towels and bedding, hot water may be better, but for everything else, consider cold water to save energy and money.
It’s true that solar panels produce the best results in climates with a lot of clear, sunny days, but Mock says homes in cloudy or rainy regions of the country can also benefit from them. “Fog and clouds block some of the sun's energy, but not all of it, so residents of famously weather-obscured cities like Seattle and San Francisco can still get good value by installing a solar array on their roofs.”
Also, you may be thinking that your home isn’t compatible with solar roofing panels. “For example, you may think your roof can’t withstand the installation of a solar panel system because of its age and condition,” DiMartino says. He admits that the roof needs to be in good condition, but says it doesn’t have to be brand new.
Even if you rent your home, you may be able to benefit from the use of solar energy. “Community solar allows renters and homeowners to simply subscribe to a local solar farm and receive discounts on their electricity bill,” says Bruce Stewert, CEO of Perch Energy. He says participation is free and helps you save between 5% to 20% a year. “This is an easy-to-take step that opens doors to savings for all, regardless of homeownership status.”
This article was written by Terri Williams from Forbes and was legally licensed through the DiveMarketplace by Industry Dive. Please direct all licensing questions to legal@industrydive.com.