News

Please refer to attached PDF below for more information.

Powersmart: The Power is in Your Hands (Size: 1.4 MB)

You need Adobe Acrobat Reader to open this file.

If your house has single-pane windows, consider replacing them. New double-pane windows with high-performance glass (e.g., low-e or spectrally selective) are available on the market. In the mountain areas of the state, select windows that are gas filled with low-emissivity (low-e) coatings on the glass to reduce heat loss. In the desert areas, select windows with spectrally selective coatings to reduce heat gain.

10 Energy-Saving Tips That Require An Investment

1. Seal heating and cooling ductwork. Duct leakage can be substantial--as much as 20% to 30%. Use water based mastic only.
2. Buy EPA Energy Star labeled energy-efficient equipment. When buying or replacing office equipment, compare energy requirements of various models.
3. Repaint building exterior with light colors. More sunlight will be reflected away from the building, thus lowering air-conditioning expenses. This is especially true for your roof.
4. Replace old appliances with more efficient models. Replacing an old dishwasher, refrigerator, washing machine, or furnace -- with a new, energy-efficient model can really save energy and money. Look for the Energy Star label.
5. Home Energy Audit. A home energy audit can identify ways to save up to hundreds of dollars a year on home heating and air conditioning.
6. Increase attic insulation to R-30. Insulation helps keep heat out in the summer and the cold out in the winter.
7. Insulate floors over unheated spaces to R-19. Insulation provides a thermal boundary, reducing energy use and increasing comfort.
8. Insulate and seal ducts in attics, crawl spaces, garages and other unheated areas.
9. Install Energy Star windows. These windows cost ~$0.50 /sq.ft. more than standard windows, save energy and increase comfort.
10. Install a solar water heater. A solar water heater can provide 50% to 80% of your hot water needs.

Resources:

- ENERGY STAR
- ENERGY STAR Recycle My Old Fridge Campaign
- EPA's GreenScapes

Indoor Lighting
Increasing your lighting efficiency is one of the fastest ways to decrease your energy bills. If you replace 25% of your lights in high-use areas with fluorescent, you can save about 50% of your lighting energy bill.

Fluorescent lamps are much more efficient than incandescent bulbs and last 6 to 10 times longer. Although fluorescent and compact fluorescent lamps are more expensive than incandescent bulbs, they pay for themselves by saving energy over their lifetime.

By incorporating these features into your home, you not only use less electricity, but also stay cooler in the summer because less heat is being generated by lights. 

Outdoor Lighting
Many homeowners use outdoor lighting for decorations and security. When shopping for outdoor lights, you will find a variety of products, from low-voltage pathway lighting to motion-detector floodlights. Some stores also carry lights powered by small photovoltaic (PV) modules that convert sunlight directly into electricity.

Compact Fluorescent Lighting (CFL) vs. Incandescent Lighting
Incandescent lamps are the most common lighting source in U.S., but they waste the most energy.Ninety percent of the energy consumed by incandescent lamps is given off as heat rather than visible light.Incandescents last for about 750 hours, CFLs 10,000 hours.Compact fluorescent light bulbs are the most efficient light bulbs available today.CFLs are about 75 percent cooler 

(source US Department of Energy)

10 Low-Cost Energy-Saving Tips
1. Install water flow restrictors and aerators in sink faucets. These measures can save you money by reducing water use (including hot water).
2. Replace air filters regularly. Replacing a dirty air filter can save money by reducing the amount of time your a/c or furnace stays on.
3. Seal exterior cracks and holes, and ensure tight-fitting windows. Small cracks or holes in the building exterior can really add up to substantial heating or cooling losses.
4. Shade sun-exposed windows and walls. Sunlight streaming through windows can substantially increase your air-conditioning costs. Use shading methods (like sun screens, awnings, and trees) wherever possible.
5. Replace your most frequently used incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescent lights (CFL). CFLs use only about a third as much electricity as standard light bulbs.
6. Replace outdoor lighting with a motion-detector equipped bulb or fixture. Outdoor lights that are left on all night add to your power bill.
7. Install a low-flow shower head. Low-flow shower heads will reduce the amount of hot water you use and the energy needed to heat it.
8. Perform low-cost fireplace modifications. Adding a flue-top damper or glass doors can save energy when the fireplace is not in use.
9. Install programmable thermo-stats. These devices will change the temperature setting when you are not home.
10. Install automatic room-lighting controls. Similar to programmable thermostats, these devices help optimize lighting use by automatically turning lights on or off, depending on occupancy or time of day.

Resources:

- ENERGY STAR
- ENERGY STAR Recycle My Old Fridge Campaign
- EPA's GreenScapes

Sealing your ducts to prevent leaks is even more important if the ducts are located in an unconditioned area such as an attic.If the supply ducts are leaking, heated or cooled air is forced out unsealed joints and lost. In addition, unconditioned air can also be drawn into return ducts through unsealed joints. In the summer, hot attic air can be drawn in, increasing the load on the air conditioner. In the winter, your furnace will have to work longer to keep your home comfortable. In both cases, your energy losses cost you money.

Unfortunately, many duct systems are poorly insulated or not insulated properly. Ducts that leak heated air into unheated spaces can add hundreds of dollars a year to your heating and cooling bills. Insulating ducts that are in unconditioned spaces is usually very cost effective. If you are buying a new duct system, consider one that comes with insulation already installed.

Although minor duct repairs are easy to accomplish, ducts in unconditioned spaces should be sealed and insulated by qualified professionals using the appropriate sealing and insulation materials.

10 Energy-Saving Tips That Require An Investment: 
1. Seal heating and cooling ductwork. Duct leakage can be substantial--as much as 20% to 30%. Use water based mastic only.
2. Buy EPA Energy Star labeled energy-efficient equipment. When buying or replacing office equipment, compare energy requirements of various models.
3. Repaint building exterior with light colors. More sunlight will be reflected away from the building, thus lowering air-conditioning expenses. This is especially true for your roof.
4. Replace old appliances with more efficient models. Replacing an old dishwasher, refrigerator, washing machine, or furnace -- with a new, energy-efficient model can really save energy and money. Look for the Energy Star label.
5. Home Energy Audit. A home energy audit can identify ways to save up to hundreds of dollars a year on home heating and air conditioning.
6. Increase attic insulation to R-30. Insulation helps keep heat out in the summer and the cold out in the winter.
7. Insulate floors over unheated spaces to R-19. Insulation provides a thermal boundary, reducing energy use and increasing comfort.
8. Insulate and seal ducts in attics, crawl spaces, garages and other unheated areas.
9. Install Energy Star windows. These windows cost ~$0.50 /sq.ft. more than standard windows, save energy and increase comfort
10. Install a solar water heater. A solar water heater can provide 50% to 80% of your hot water needs.

Resources:

- ENERGY STAR
- ENERGY STAR Recycle My Old Fridge Campaign
- EPA's GreenScapes
- SRP Duct Test and Repair Rebate Program

Steps: For a Windows® based PC:
1. Click on My Computer
2. Click on Control Panel
3. Click on Power Management
4. Set monitor turn-off time (15 minutes recommended). This will shut your monitor off after the set time, saving 75 watts of electricity. To reactivate the monitor, move your mouse or hit any key. Your monitor will power back on.
5. Set system standby time (30 minutes recommended). This will put the rest of your system on standby after the set time, saving approximately 80 watts. To reactivate the system, move your mouse or hit any key. Your system will power back on after 15 to 30 seconds. Check to ensure that your computer will not lose network connection in standby mode. If you are unsure, only set the monitor turn off time.

10 No Cost Energy-Saving Tips
1.Switch off dishwasher dry cycle.
2. Run dishwashers just before bedtime and unload the next day to help shave peak demand.
3. Do laundry later in the evening to help shave peak demand.
4. Use cold-water cycle for more clothes.
5. Clean air filter in the dryer after every load to improve air circulation or line-dry clothes in place of clothes.
6. Lower hot water temperature if you never experience hot water shortages.
7. Unplug infrequently used televisions and VCRs.
8. Shorten pumping cycle on pool and shift to off-peak time.
9. Close drapes or blinds in unoccupied rooms, keeping the heat in during winter and the hot sun out in summer.
10. Set your thermostat as low as is comfortable in the winter and as high as is comfortable in the summer.

You Should Know...
- General: By leaving the machine on around the clock, you run up your electric bill, more dust is drawn into the machine and you make your computer more vulnerable to power surges. An ENERGY STAR® label is not a guarantee that your machine is saving energy. Always make sure that the ENERGY STAR® features are enabled.
- Computers: A well-designed ENERGY STAR® labeled computer will not lose its network connection, which could lead to a loss of data, while in the low-power or sleep mode. Most computers manufactured today include the capability to sleep intelligently on a network. Effective July 1, 1999, ENERGY STAR® specifications require all computers with network capability to sleep on networks and to respond to computer requests to reactivate.
- Screen Savers: Despite common belief, a screen saver does not save energy. In fact, more often than not, a screen saver will not only draw power for the monitor but will also keep the computer from shutting down.
- Individually, the energy saved by using these settings may be small, but when you consider the number of computers that are now used at work and home, the total effect can be enormous.

Resources:

- ENERGY STAR
- ENERGY STAR Recycle My Old Fridge Campaign
- EPA's GreenScapes