By Chris Balzar
Now that most of us are spending more time at home and using more energy, here are a few myths to help save energy. Let’s face it, saving energy has an important impact for all of us. Sometimes this advice can get confusing or contradicting and we decide to do nothing, so here are five popular energy saving myths.
Myth #1: Leaking tubs and faucets are not that big of a deal.
Surprising, one faucet leaking two drops of water per second will waste 200 gallons of water in a month. Two faucets will waste 400 gallons of water. Now what if the leak came from the hot water side? This puts a continual strain on your water heater and costs you money. In most cases a few cents washer will fix the problem. Tip: To check if your faucet leaks, put a dry cup under the faucet at night. Check the cup when you wake up; no water, no leak… This is also a great activity if you have children at home.
Myth #2: I leave my ceiling fans on because it keeps the room cool.
This is a common practice but don’t be fooled. Fans don’t cool the room, they only circulate air. We experience a cooling sensation from moisture evaporating from our skin. Leaving fans on when we are not in the room wastes energy and money.
Myth #3: Closing off the vents in rooms which are not in use, improves your HVAC system’s output and efficiency.
Your HVAC system is sized for your entire home or a zone within your house. Closing off vents in certain rooms could actually lower the system’s efficiency. Plus, with forced air systems, closing off vents could create a buildup of pressure in ducts which could cause cracks and gaps in ducts leaking conditioned air. Tip: Change your HVAC filter. Unchanged filters not only decrease air quality but put a strain on your system. It’s like trying to drink a milkshake with a tiny straw.
Myth #4: Setting the thermostat lower in the summer cools down a home faster and likewise in the winter.
HVAC systems are designed to operate at maximum power when they are first turned on. They won’t produce cooler air just because the setting is set extremely low or high. They will run longer wasting energy and money attempting to achieve arctic temperatures. The Department of Energy recommends setting your thermostat to 78° to stay comfortable and save energy. Adding a ceiling fan will make you feel a few degrees cooler so you can increase the thermostat setting by a few degrees.
Myth #5: Appliances like TV monitors when off and not charging don’t use energy. It is not necessary to unplug them.
Anything with a digital display, remote control or turns on instantly are constantly drawing energy. Charges for cell phones, cameras, tablets, are known as “energy vampires” for a reason. Even if they are not attached to their device they continue to draw power from the outlet. Pull the plug or flip the switch on your power strip and start saving energy.
Saving energy and becoming more efficient does not have to be difficult or costly. Anything we can do to save energy today has an impact on tomorrow.
Chris Balzer is Founder and President of Emerald Coast Energy Solutions which is a Smile Provider Company. We provide smiles to our customers after installing our high energy efficient products, increasing comfort and lowering energy bills. For more information on how to save this summer and become energy efficient, schedule an inspection by calling (850) 588-2870, visit www.trusteces.com or email wecare@trusteces.com and Beat the Heat.
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