Home energy usage chart

[SkywlkrSnd]

Here's a chart from the U.S. Department of Energy that does a great job illustrating how energy is used in the average American home.


http://www1.eere.energy.gov/consumer/tips/images/chart_energyuse.jpg

You can see that the engergy spent on the overall conditioning of your home (heating and air conditioning), can account for 45% of your total energy usage!

[simplicity]

Thanks for this chart which was very useful. Now to do something about sealing up the leaks by the windows!

[maxkone]

Thanks for this chart which was very useful. Now to do something about sealing up the leaks by the windows!
So true! It's amazing how much money escapes out of the windows or gaps around the doors. Saw an image somewhere on the internet (if I can find it again, I'll post it) that was a picture take with a thermal camera of the exterior of an average home in winter. It was scary! You could actually see exactly where all the hot air was escaping out of the house. Doors and windows were dreadful.

Replacing old single pane windows will new energy efficient double pane is obviously one choice...but it sounds really expensive. (I have no idea how much a window costs.) There's gotta be some cheaper ways to protect these key areas from losing all of a home's energy.

[Vital Life]

Thanks for the chart- I find it very interesting that Heating, Cooling, Hot Water, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration take up over 60% of the home energy use, yet have you heard of a single MAJOR breakthrough in the technology in any of these areas over the last 3 to 4 decades?

Sure we have more efficient furnaces, increased insulation in our refrigerators.... but I mean a real paradigm shift? If you look at the technological advancements in almost any other area, it begs the question "What happened to Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning?? Could it be that the Energy Moguls have smothered any new development, just as the Auto & Oil industries have kept fuel efficient engines under wraps.

I'm currently researching a ten yr. old technology that can both heat and cool, using 1/3 the energy. A trucking company is using a "boot sized" model in the cab of it's long haul trucks to keep the drivers warm (cool) while they sleep for 8 -10hrs- without having to idle their engines for that whole time- huge savings in Diesel, but also emissions and wear on the engine parts.

I have yet to see this unit in operation- but if it can heat / cool a truck- why not our homes, schools, offices, stores, warehouses, factories.......

From what I know it incorporates some of Nikola Tesla's ways of thinking about energy, electricity generation....

Will keep you posted.

[SkywlkrSnd]

Welcome to the forum, Vital Life!

I agree, something needs to happen in the HVAC industry. Subtle design modifications and constant improvement in efficiencies are great...but a "paradigm shift" is what we need. (And that's a perfect way to put it, BTW.)

Let us know what you find out with this new Tesla technology you're looking into. Sounds like it has potential.

[blueheather2]

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[D.Apara]

Can you clarify this?

Are you saying the 304 works with energy saving lightbulbs? it is dimmable
What about the 309 bulb holder and switch - could you not use the contact switch and just use another remote it is also dimmable though.

[maxkone]

Can you clarify this?

Are you saying the 304 works with energy saving lightbulbs? it is dimmable
What about the 309 bulb holder and switch - could you not use the contact switch and just use another remote it is also dimmable though.

Maybe I missed something...what "304" are you talking about?

[obtaigo09]

To cut your energy bill, you may also want to consider replacing that bulky computer monitor you have in the home office. A flat panel computer screen uses a third of the electricity of regular computer monitors. The difference is that same as if you leave a 50-watt bulb on all year.

And if youre thinking about replacing that big screen TV, think about investing in an LCD - it uses half the energy of a plasma TV.

[Mak_Embart]

Heres a forum for all things to do with home energy.

If you make your own electricity be it with solar or wind then share your views here or help suggest to others.

You may heat your water with Solar , again let us know, or you might just have a question about home energy.

ChrisB

[Savings Accounts]

Thank you so much for the post. It's really useful.

[dsds.wewe]

It doesn't affect the price, but can be an incentive for someone who is interested in energy efficiency as the bills over the long run will be less.

[SnellExperts]

We usually use fans until it gets unbearably hot out and for the winter we chop our own wood for heat. I like to think that we do what we can to help the environment!

[goGreenEnergy]

heating and cooling is by far the biggest contributor to your energy usage in the home. Better insulation and windows can help a lot, but the easiest and best thing you can do is just to tolerate a higher temperature in the summer and a lower one in the winter, try using a blanket.

[SnellExperts]

heating and cooling is by far the biggest contributor to your energy usage in the home. Better insulation and windows can help a lot, but the easiest and best thing you can do is just to tolerate a higher temperature in the summer and a lower one in the winter, try using a blanket.

Could not agree more. Well said!

[Roxana]

Remember, no matter what type of light you go with you need to analyze the situations you will be riding in and pick the correct one for it. There is no such thing as too bright! Of course with brightness comes a lower battery life so you need to find that perfect equilibrium in between bright and efficient and pick your tail light.

[SnellExperts]

Remember, no matter what type of light you go with you need to analyze the situations you will be riding in and pick the correct one for it. There is no such thing as too bright! Of course with brightness comes a lower battery life so you need to find that perfect equilibrium in between bright and efficient and pick your tail light.

wait what?