This presentation was put together by the Metro Clean Energy Resource Team to help homeowners and renters learn about simple things they can do at home to save energy and save money! Learn a little, take action, then tell us your story at http://stories.mncerts.org
Citation preview
Save Energy AND Money!
Julia EaglesSpring 2010
Green Institute- Metro Clean Energy Resource Team
Green Institute- Metro Clean Energy Resource Team
www.CleanEnergyResourceTeams.org/Regions/Metro
Phillips Eco Enterprise Center, 2801 21st
Ave S
Presenter
Presentation Notes
Our office is at the Phillips Eco Enterprise Center, at Lake and Hiawatha. CERTs is a statewide program with a goal of connecting communities to resources to do energy projects. The Metro CERT staff are housed at the Green Institute, an environmental non-profit.
Phillips Eco-Enterprise CenterPhillips Eco-Enterprise Center
www.CleanEnergyResourceTeams.org/Regions/Metro
Presenter
Presentation Notes
One of the first Green Buildings in the state of MN. 2009 will be the tenth anniversary of the building. Agatha Vaaler from our staff recently completed a retrospective of the building that can be found on our website.
ReUse/DeconstructionReUse/Deconstruction
www.CleanEnergyResourceTeams.org/Regions/Metro
Presenter
Presentation Notes
Has anyone ever been to a ReUse center or used our deconstruction services? We prevent about 200 tons of materials from ending up in the landfills each year. We sell those materials at our non profit store- The ReUse Center.
Community Energy ProgramsCommunity Energy Programs
•
Neighborhood Energy Services-
St. Paul•
Energy Efficiency presentations-
Community Action, Phillips•
Lake Street small business energy challenge
•
ReUse
Center workshops
www.CleanEnergyResourceTeams.org/Regions/Metro
Presenter
Presentation Notes
We also run community energy programs: Neighborhood Energy Services in St. Paul, doing energy efficiency presentations with the Community Action agencies and in the Phillips community, supporting small businesses on Lake Street to conserve energy and offering workshops on energy and water conservation and green building through the ReUse Center.
Why save energy?Why save energy?
www.CleanEnergyResourceTeams.org/Regions/Metro
Presenter
Presentation Notes
Solicit ideas from the audience- why do we save energy?�For environmental and economic reasons. This slide demonstrates that as we lose heat through gaps and leaks around our doors and windows and under-insulated attics, walls and basements, we’re also losing money.
Where does our energy come from?
www.CleanEnergyResourceTeams.org/Regions/Metro
And what does it lead to?
Presenter
Presentation Notes
Often when I ask this question, people say “the outlet.” But where does that energy that we’re used to plugging into every day come from. In Minnesota about 24% comes from Nuclear generation, about 6% comes from renewable sources (wind, solar, etc.). But the majority, about 62%, is produced in coal-fired power plants and another 10% from petroleum or natural gas plants.
MN CO2 Emissions by Sector
www.CleanEnergyResourceTeams.org/Regions/Metro
Presenter
Presentation Notes
The fact is, and this chart demonstrates, that Minnesota residents are responsible for HALF – HALF – of the carbon dioxide emissions of our state. That’s how we heat our houses, how we run our appliances and how we get from point A to point B. This is a tremendous opportunity. This means that when we take action, when you put in a compact fluorescent or program a thermostat, we are making a real, measurable action that makes a difference in Minnesota.
How your home uses energyHow your home uses energy
www.CleanEnergyResourceTeams.org/Regions/Metro
Heating/AC – 55%
Lights, electronics– 20%
Appliances – 15%
Water Heating– 10%
Presenter
Presentation Notes
So, now we know that we as individuals can make a big difference for our state and our bank accounts when we look to energy efficiency and conservation. But, practically speaking, HOW can we as busy individuals and homeowners take advantage of these savings? I think it’s useful to take a look at this graphic, which was created by the Minnesota Department of Commerce’s Office of Energy Security. This breaks down the energy use in our homes to show us where the greatest savings are to be had. And, shock and awe, where are we using the most energy? Heat! And why? Because it’s cold in Minnesota! We will address ways to reduce energy in all of these areas tonight through no and low cost energy savings
HeatingHeating
www.CleanEnergyResourceTeams.org/Regions/Metro
Turn down your thermostat
1 degree and save 1% on your heating bill.
Weatherize your home to seal cracks and holes to reduce heat loss.
Presenter
Presentation Notes
Here are a few ways to address heating costs in your home: turning down your thermostat is the easiest way to reduce your heating bill. Also, sealing up your home with weatherstripping, window insulation kits and caulk will help to reduce heat loss.
Compact Fluorescent
Lightbulbs
(CFLs)Compact Fluorescent
Lightbulbs
(CFLs)
www.CleanEnergyResourceTeams.org/Regions/Metro
*Remember to recycle your CFLs
after they burn out.
Presenter
Presentation Notes
How many people have at least one CFL? Two, three, four, five? Putting CFL’s in your five most used lights can save a considerable amount of energy over the life of those bulbs! The first step that everyone will mention and that is debated the most is replacing all the lights you can with compact fluorescent light bulbs. Now, I talk about this a lot and this is the one action that people hear the most about, which means we also hear the most misinformation about these bulbs. Here are the basic facts – incandescent light bulbs, the old ones, waste over 90% of the energy that you are paying for as heat. They are incredibly inefficient technology that hasn’t changed significantly since it was invented, and compact fluorescents represent a giant step forward. They use a quarter of energy and they last seven to ten times longer. Replacing just five bulbs in your home can reduce your carbon footprint by 1%. Remember to replace bulbs in high-traffic areas first!
The Truth about CFLs
and MercuryThe Truth about CFLs
and Mercury
www.CleanEnergyResourceTeams.org/Regions/Metro
Presenter
Presentation Notes
I’m going to preface this conversation by saying that if compact fluorescents truly make you really, really uncomfortable because of the mercury issue, you don’t HAVE TO use them. I very much recommend it, but this is your home and your decisions. I just ask you to consider all of the facts, but there are lots of other things that you can do to reduce your energy use. But for all the talk about mercury in CFLs, they contain a very, very small amount – about 4 milligrams or less. That is one fifth the amount in a watch battery and X the amount contained in the old style mercury thermometers. There is an article circulating around the internet about a woman who broke a CFL in her home, called the wrong people and they told her that she had to call in the Hazmat team and it cost her $3,000. That is absolutely ridiculous, and there was no reason for it. And, in fact, you actually REDUCE the amount of mercury in the environment when you use compact fluorescent light bulbs. Bear with me.
Appliances
www.CleanEnergyResourceTeams.org/Regions/Metro
How many appliances do you have in your home?
Presenter
Presentation Notes
Appliances use 15% of the energy in our homes. Does anyone know which appliances uses the most energy? Refrigerator. Now think about your home, walk through each room in your head and count how many appliances and electronics you have plugged in. Consider all your kitchen appliances, your phones, televisions, entertainment and sound system, computers and various accessories. The average US household has 40 appliances and electronics plugged in at any one time. That’s a lot of energy load! Turning off and unplugging some of those items when not in use is a good first step to reducing your electricity use. Another is to always look for the Energy Star logo when purchasing appliances.
Phantom LoadPhantom Load
Phantom Load= Using power when your electronics are turned off
• Use power strips• Unplug items when not in use
www.CleanEnergyResourceTeams.org/Regions/Metro
Presenter
Presentation Notes
Has anyone heard of phantom load before? It’s the power that those appliances and electronics are drawing even when they’re turned off. Anything that is plugged in and has a light, clock or transformer has a phantom load. An easy way to cut that load is to unplug those items when they’re not in use, or to plug them in to power strips which you can switch off when you’re not using them.
This chart demonstrates the cost and kWh of phantom load for some common household appliances.
No CostNo Cost
CO2 Savings $ Savings
Turn off lights and unplug electronics 298 lbs $14
Turn down thermostat two degrees 596 lbs $53
Take five minute showers 261 lbs $24
Wash all clothes in cold water 930 lbs $86
Drive 10 fewer miles per week 458 lbs $87
www.CleanEnergyResourceTeams.org/Regions/Metro
Low CostLow Cost
$ Savings CO2 Savings
Low flow showerhead $35/yr 381 lbs
Faucet aerator $10/yr 202 lbs
Compact fluorescent light bulbs- 5 $20/yr 428 lbs
Window Insulation Kits $7/kit 196 lbs
Weather stripping $83/yr 413 lbs
www.CleanEnergyResourceTeams.org/Regions/Metro
ResourcesResources
Home Energy Squad:1-866-222-4595Home visit and installation of energy-saving materials: CFLs, programmable thermostat, weatherstripping, low-flow showerhead and faucet aerator, etc.
www.CleanEnergyResourceTeams.org/Regions/Metro
Presenter
Presentation Notes
Local resources. Utility sponsored program where they’ll install some of those low-cost items.
ResourcesResources
-Energy Assistance: 612-335-5837
-Appliance replacement: 612-767-1706
-Weatherization: 612-335-5911
www.CleanEnergyResourceTeams.org/Regions/Metro
Presenter
Presentation Notes
Community Action agencies, income-qualified programs. Offer energy assistance, energy efficient appliance replacements and weatherization, all free of charge for those who qualify.
Questions & DiscussionQuestions & Discussion
What actions are you already taking?What actions will you take based on what you just learned?
