Save Energy AND Money! Julia Eagles February 16, 2012 Macalester College Sustainability Office Student Renter Energy Efficiency Workshop
Workshop Schedule AGENDA: Welcome, Introductions Energy Conservation Presentation Choosing Rental Housing Be a Smart Renter Resources Questions & Discussion i www.greeninstitute.org
Eureka Recycling Metro Clean Energy Resource Team Helping Minnesota communities determine their energy future Our mission is to reduce waste today by using the best possible methods and demonstrate that wasting is preventable...not inevitable. http://www.cleanenergyresourceteams.org/
Community Energy Programs Clean Energy Resource Teams: Energy Efficiency presentations MN GreenStep Cities CERT-ified Campaigns Seed grants for community-scale clean energy projects Food Service energy programs Rental/multi-family energy efficiency programs
Why save energy?
Where does our energy come from? And what does it lead to?
Choosing Off-Campus Housing Some of the factors you consider when choosing housing
Renting and Energy Use We ask that you also consider some of these factors: Potential utility costs: electricity, natural gas, water, sewer, garbage, internet, cable Utilities: Included in rent or separate? Type of housing: House vs. apartment? Apartment location: Which floor, window direction, exposure? Equipment Age and Efficiency: Heating/cooling g systems, appliances, electronics Water fixtures: Low flow faucets, toilet(s), () or shower heads?
How to Read Your Utility Bill? There are different units of measurement for energy, depending on the form of energy o Electricity is measured in kilowatt hours (kwh) o A kilowatt is equal to 1,000 watt, kwh is 1,000 watt hours o Natural Gas, (used for heating, hot water, cooking, and sometimes clothes dryers) is measured in Therms o 1 therm = 29.3 kwh It s Reddy Kilowatt!
Online Bill Access
How your home uses energy: Heating/AC 55% Lights, electronics 20% Appliances 15% Water Heating 10%
Heating and Cooling Weatherize your home to seal cracks and holes to reduce heat loss. *Also, make sure your rental property has appropriate storm windows and doors.
Heating and Cooling If possible, avoid space heaters as they are very inefficient and become a fire hazard if something is placed on them Avoid using air conditioning when possible and dlook kfor Energy Star model dl
Programmable Thermostat Energy Star settings: Winter: Home- 70 Gone- 62 Summer: Home- 78 Gone- 85 Save 1% on your heating bill for every 1 degree you lower your thermostat for an 8-hour period in the winter.
Why You Shouldn t Open Windows in Winter The Stack Effect 1)Window is opened in an upper floor unit 2) Heat rushes out and draws warm air up from other units 3) Cold air is drawn from the outside to replace air
Compact Fluorescent Lightbulbs (CFLs) *Remember to recycle your CFLs after they burn out.
CFL Clean-up Open any nearby windows to disperse vapor Leave room for fifteen minutes Don t touch fragments with bare hands Don t use a vacuum or broom Use paper or cardboard to corral all pieces together Use a wet paper towel or duct tape to pick up fragments and place in a plastic bag Take it to Menards to recycle the fragments
The Truth about CFLs and Mercury
Appliances How many appliances do you have in your home?
Phantom Load Phantom Load= Using power when your electronics are turned off Use power strips Unplug items when not in use
Phantom Load Costs Item kwh Used (Annually) Cost ($ Annually) Plasma TV 1452 $159.76 Computer 311 $34.21 Game Console 234 $25.73 Laptop 145 $15.90 Laser Printer 113 $12.43 VCR 92 $10.12 DVD Player 79 $8.67 Microwave 35 $3.85 Cordless Phone 29 $3.18 LCD Monitor 23 $2.51 Radio 13 $1.44 Rechargeable Toothbrush Total 12 2538 $1.35 $279.15
No 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 Hang dry your clothes 1845 lbs $91
Low Cost CO2 Savings $ 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 Weather stripping $7/kit $83/yr
Resources MN Green Communities Healthy Homes Checklist: http://www.mngreencommunities.org/ MN Energy Challenge Actions for Renters: http://www.mnenergychallenge.org/actions/categories/renters.aspx HOME Line: http://www.homelinemn.org/ How to Be the Smartest Renter on Your Block Book UMN Tenant Resource Guide: http://www1.umn.edu/usls/pdfs/tenant_resource_guide.pdf State of MN- Landlords and Tenants Rights and Responsibilities: http://www.ag.state.mn.us/consumer/housing/lt/default.asp
Resources Neighborhood Energy Connection: http://thenec.org/ Check out all the NEC s programs and resources at their website! Home Energy Squad: http://homeenergysquad.net/ Sign up for a home visit it with the Home Energy Squad to install materials that could save up you an average of $192/year!
Questions & Discussion Questions for me? What are YOU doing to reduce energy use? What other environmental issues are you working on?
Contact Julia Eagles Metro CERT Organizer Eureka Recycling 612-455-9174 julia@cleanenergyresourceteams.org www.cleanenergyresourceteams.org/contact