WHY REDUCE OUR ENERGY CONSUMPTION? Saving energy is good for your budget, good for the environment, and not as hard as it used to be. It is definitely worth the effort. Much of our monthly expenses are for energy, either directly or built into the price of things. The gasoline to get across town, the coal burned to light our homes, the diesel to transport our food, heating in winter and cooling in summer—all consume vast amounts of energy. We have so many good reasons to reduce our energy use, yet we still find it hard to make the effort.

DO SOMETHING NOW TO REDUCE YOUR ENERGY USE. The most important step in saving energy is to act! Act to reduce your energy use now. Do not wait for a perfect solution. Start saving energy with what you can do right away, and you will lower your utility bill and carbon footprint from the moment you act. If you find a better way to save more energy later, make that change then.

WHAT DO I DO FIRST? Figure out how you use energy. A professional energy audit is helpful and uncovers many enlightening details and opportunities. Start by doing your own rough analysis. Do your own energy analysis even if you plan to hire a professional later.

Start your analysis by gathering the last 12 months of electricity, natural gas and water bills. If you do not have a year’s record, use what you have. Actual copies of the bills are best, but the dollar amounts from your checkbook usually suffice. Also, many utilities actually print the previous 12 months consumption on each monthly bill.

Then, make a complete list of the things in your home that consume electricity or natural gas. Begin with the largest users (furnace, air conditioner, range, dryer, washer, water heater, refrigerator, etc.) and move down to the level of light fixtures—lamps, computers, even clocks. Group similar items together, such as “6 table lamps with 100W incandescent bulbs”. Make educated guesses. As you create a list of “Energy Suspects”, write down the rated consumptions (Watts, BTU or gallons) and the number of hours per week each device operates.

TURN IT OFF. Energy consumed but not used is energy wasted. Look at your list of energy-using devices for things you can turn off. Common examples are lights left on when no one is around or when daylight is adequate. Turning off lights when you leave a room has instant payback, but many of us have trouble converting “off” into a reliable habit. Technology can help. For example lights wired to motion detectors, timers or daylight sensors consistently increase hours of off time. Replace a wall switch with an “Occupancy Sensor” to detect when people are in the room. Another case of technology helping with “Off” is a programmable thermostat. Select a thermostat you can program and adjust easily. Most models work fine, but some have an instruction book larger than the thermostat itself.

DO MORE WITH LESS. Tackle energy waste by increasing efficiency, producing the same results with less energy. Invest in new lights and appliances that are more efficient. Refrigerators have become twice as efficient over the past 10 years, and water heaters have improved markedly as well. LED (light emitting diode) lighting has fully arrived for many applications, and operates at even lower power and much longer life than even CFL (compact fluorescent lamps), and without any mercury or other toxics. Many LED models are available with great light quality and very low heat production, and some are dimmable as well. Not every socket can be converted to LED lights, but some of the hardest incandescents to upgrade can now be handled by non-CFL products at very low power, such as chandeliers, candelabra, tracks, flood lights, porch fixtures, downlight cans and more. Some LED lights operate at one sixth the power of incandescents with the same brightness and dimmability, and with useful life out past 20 years.

Be aware of unintended consequences by considering the lifetime costs of your lighting choices. Lowest first cost products are often not the best solution. Low purchase price is why incandescent bulbs have persisted to this day. The annual cost of ownership for lights consists of the purchase price, the energy usage, and the replacement costs. A 75 watt incandescent bulb may cost $24.90 per year to operate, whereas a 20 watt CFL in the same application costs $7.41 per year, and a 12 watt LED costs $10.20 per year. Choosing between CFL and LED usually comes down to additional considerations such as light quality (color and flicker), dimmability, suitability , and recyclability.

Heavily promoted Compact Fluorescents save a lot of energy, but the focus on lowest price while ignoring the environmental and societal costs must stop. This does not mean “never use CFL lamps”, but rather, “use CFL lamps wisely.” CFL lamps contain mercury which must be handled very carefully while in use and especially at end-of-life. Do not dispose of CFL bulbs in the regular trash. It may be legal to do so but it is not wise. Make sure you educate others on correct disposal. Proper disposal of CFL bulbs requires sending them unbroken to a recycling facility that can safely handle the mercury.

Often CFL are given away free or priced at below cost as a promotion. This pricing model has removed all incentive for manufacturers to deliver high-quality CFL lamps or handle disposal. The usable life, light quality, and operating temperature of CFL bulbs have been worsening drastically in the opinion of many users. In the first nine months of 2007 over 100 Million CFLs were sold and given away by one US retailer alone with no disposal or recycling program in place in Ohio (nor most states) to handle CFL end of life. Even now, there is barely any capacity for proper recycling by consumers. I hope your spent CFLs are not headed to a landfill where the mercury may be released into the ground water.

Most products and services mentioned below are available at the Watt Works Store in Grandview and other places. Don Hall, an electrical engineer, has worked 28 years in energy conservation for buildings. Look for more articles from Don in upcoming issues of The Central Ohio Sierran.

Upcoming FREE Energy Savings Seminars at Watt Works, 1078 Goodale Blvd 614-458-1162. Bring questions and curiosity, all materials provided. See the latest energy-saving products ideas. Classes are appropriate for homeowners, businesses, architects, design professionals, students and anyone interested in alternative energy and or living more efficiently. RSVP appreciated. For announcements of future classes on various topics, .

One-hour classes on Fridays at 6 pm and repeated on Saturdays at noon.

Nov. 7 &8—"Solar Technology and Its Application Today" The issues, the costs and the tremendous benefits of solar energy in its many forms. Hands-on examples of several systems will be available to see up close.

Nov. 14 & 15—"Energy Analysis and How it Saves you Money" How to do your own home energy analysis and when to hire a pro. Learn what your utility bills are telling you. Discover effective ways to save energy and money in your home or business. Do-it-yourself forms will be provided.

Nov. 21 & 22*—"Geothermal Heat Pump Systems - How and Why" Geothermal heat pumps can cost one fourth as much to operate as a typical HV AC system! Explore how you can apply this efficient technology to your situation. *Sat. 11/22 will be at 10 am due to the OSU/Michigan game.