SAVE energy SAVE money
The more extreme the outside temperatures, the more energy y ou need to keep your home comfortable. Energy efficiency is key to buying less energy and lowering your bill. In this guide, we have reviewed the biggest home energy users. We offer suggestions that, in combination with ENERGY STAR速 products, may help you save money!
OTHER APPLIANCES
COOKING
REFRIGERATION
LIGHTING
WATER HEATING
COOLING / HEATING
WHERE your
ENERGY goes
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air conditioning COST PER HOUR* FOR 13 SEER UNITS:
$0.58
$0.44
$0.34
$0.20
5 TONS
4 TONS
3 TONS
2 TONS
@ 6026 WATTS
@ 4600 WATTS
@ 3565 WATTS
@ 2070 WATTS
AIR CONDITIONING SAVINGS: (savings per ton)
IF YOU HAVE A: 9 SEER
NEW kWh NEW SEER SAVED SAVINGS 17 1403 $134.69 16 1305 $125.28 15 1193 $114.53
10 SEER
17 1105 $106.08 16 1007 $ 96.67 15 894 $ 85.82
12 SEER
17 16 15
657 559 447
$ 63.07 $ 53.66 $ 42.91
*Based on an average of 9.6¢ per kWh with fuel and regulatory adjustments included. ** Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio
Two of the biggest energy users in your home are the air conditioner and heater. During the summer and winter, they can be 58% of your monthly bill. Conserve energy and save money during periods of high energy demand. Visit cpsenergysavers.com/startsaving/rebates to choose an energy-saving program that’s right for you (see page 8 for details). Here are some additional tips to help you save money. •• Before each season, have your unit inspected by a licensed and bonded professional. •• Set your thermostat between 78° and 80°. Raise 2°-3° when not at home. •• If buying a new unit, we recommend a rating of 15 SEER** or higher. •• Check duct work in the attic for leaks and make repairs, if necessary. •• Use a fan to help you feel cooler. •• Check and, if necessary, replace your air filters every two weeks May through October. •• Avoid planting shrubs against condensing units. •• Install solar screens to limit sun and heat into your home. •• If replacing your roof, consider an ENERGY STAR® rated system. •• Avoid using stoves and dryers during the hottest time of the day. •• Plant evergreen trees on the north and west sides of your home to provide shade.
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Heating your home during the winter can account for 58% of your monthly utility bill. When heating your home, CPS Energy suggests the following tips for lowering your winter bills:
$2.81
(ELECTRIC HEAT PUMP)
CENTRAL FURNACE
Check ducts for air leaks.
(NATURAL GAS)
Open curtains and shades during the day to let in the sun’s natural warmth. Remove solar screens if you have them.
CENTRAL FURNACE
If available, reverse ceiling fans to low speed to help bring down warm air.
(ELECTRIC STRIP HEATING)
Replace your filters every month November thru April.
COST PER HOUR*:
CENTRAL FURNACE
Set your thermostat between 68° and 70°. Lower 3°-5° when not at home.
heating
$1.30 $1.02
29,290 100,000 10,702 WATTS BTUS WATTS *Based on an average of 9.6¢ per kWh with fuel and regulatory adjustments included. Natural gas based on $1.30 per ccf with adjustments included.
MYTH or FACT: My bill should not increase in the summer if I keep my AC at the same temperature.
Answer: MYTH FACT: When the temperature outdoors increases so that it’s 20 degrees or more above the setting of your thermostat, the AC will run constantly, significantly increasing your bill. So, if it’s 100 degrees outside and your thermostat is at 78, the AC will only cycle off for brief periods. 3
water heating
To prevent heat loss, insulate the first 12 inches of both the hot and cold water pipes extending from the top of the tank. Take shorter showers to minimize run time for reheating water.
GAS WATER HEATER
(2 ELEMENTS)
ELECTRIC WATER HEATER
COST PER HOUR*:
If your home has an electric water heater, you can expect 13% of your monthly bill to go toward heating water. Consider the following tips to conserve energy and save money.
$0.73
$0.58
7,600 WATTS
45,000 BTUs
Drain water heater according to the owner’s manual to prevent hard water deposits. Consider using timers to minimize run time when not in use. Maintain the hot water temperature at 120°. Wash full loads when using a dishwasher. Wash clothes in cold/medium temperatures rather than hot water and do full loads. Fix any leaking faucets.
*Based on an average of 9.6¢ per kWh with fuel and regulatory adjustments included. Natural gas based on $1.30 per ccf with adjustments included.
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If replacing water heater, consider one with an energy factor rating of .9 or greater.
Lighting makes up 10% of your energy bill. You can cut your lighting consumption by more than half by simply replacing incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) and light emitting diodes (LEDs). Here are more tips to help keep your bills manageable. Turn off lights in unoccupied rooms.
lighting When compared to traditional incandescent bulbs:
Open curtains and shades to maximize the use of natural light, if AC is not in use.
Energy saving incandescent bulbs have a 25% energy savings**
If using incandescent bulbs, use the lowest wattage whenever possible.
CFL bulbs have a 75% energy savings**
Keep incandescent lighting away from thermostats – the heat emitted from these bulbs can result in your AC running excessively.
LED bulbs have 80% energy savings**
LIGHTING SAVINGS: (cost per 1,000 hours)
IF YOU LOWER WATTAGE INCANDESCENT HAVE A: CFL LED
3 w 00 watts $28.80 1 w 50 watts $14.40 1 w 00 watts $9.60 75 watts $7.20 60 watts $5.76
$5.28 NA $3.65 NA $2.50 $2.11 $1.92 $1.63 $1.25 $0.86
*Based on an average of 9.6¢ per kWh with fuel and regulatory adjustments included. **Source: Department of Energy
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The refrigerator accounts for 7%, and cooking for 6% of your monthly bill. To help save energy and money, CPS Energy offers the following tips:
refrigeration
Set freezer temperature between 0º and 5º.
(FREEZER ON TOP OR BOTTOM)
REFRIGERATOR
(CHEST OR UPRIGHT)
REFRIGERATOR
COST PER HOUR*: SIDE-BY-SIDE REFRIGERATOR
Set refrigerator temperature between 37º and 40º.
$0.09
$0.07
$0.06
960 WATTS
780 WATTS
600 WATTS
Make sure the seal around the inside of the door is air tight. Test it by placing a dollar bill in door and closing it. If you can pull it out, the seal is loose. Replace worn or moldy seals. Keep refrigerator coils clean from lint and dust. Leave at least three inches of space between the back wall and the refrigerator for air circulation. Avoid leaving the refrigerator door open for prolonged periods of time or repeatedly opening and closing it.
cooking STOVE RADIANT
STOVE COIL ELEMENTS
OVEN
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Avoid placing primary or secondary refrigerator in the garage. It will use more energy to stay cold.
$1.09
$0.94
$0.39
11,400 WATTS
9,800 WATTS
4,100 WATTS
Avoid using oven and clothes dryer during the heat of the day.
*Based on an average of 9.6¢ per kWh with fuel and regulatory adjustments included.
Weatherizing your home will help reduce air infiltration. CPS Energy offers the following tips for areas of your home most likely to have air leaks. Here’s what you can do to reduce air infiltration into your home. Add weather stripping around the inside of the door jamb.
weatherizing
Install a door sweep to your doors to reduce air leaks from underneath.
Close the damper on your fireplace when not in use.
Use caulking to seal cracks around the outside of your window frames.
Maintain attic insulation at a minimum R-38 and wall insulation at R-13.
Install gaskets under the cover plates of light switches and electrical outlets on perimeter walls.
AVERAGE AIR LEAKAGE IN A HOME: 25% 20% 13% 13% 6% 6% 5% 4% 3% 2% 2% 1%
SOLEPLATE WALL OUTLETS EXTERIOR WINDOWS DUCT SYSTEM VENT-A-HOOD FIREPLACE RECESSED SPOT LIGHTS EXTERIOR DOORS DRYER VENT SLIDING GLASS DOOR OTHER BATH VENT
MYTH or FACT: Turning my AC completely off in the summer will lower my bill.
Answer: MYTH FACT: In the summer, it will take longer to cool a home if the AC is completely off. Raise the temperature instead. An even better solution is a home energy management system or programmable thermostat (pg. 9). 7
Casa Verde is CPS Energy’s residential weatherization assistance program that provides FREE weatherization measures to eligible customers to improve the energy efficiency of their homes.
CASA VERDE
Eligible homeowners or renters will receive an average of $5,000 in FREE home improvements. The program helps families save an average of $27
per month on energy bills. To qualify for the Casa Verde weatherization program, homes must be structurally sound and participants must meet the financial eligibility requirements outlined in the following chart:
FINANCIAL ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS* Household Size
Monthly Income
Annual Income
1
$1,945
$23,340
2
$2,622
$31,460
3
$3,298
$39,580
4
$3,975
$47,700
5
$4,652
$55,820
6
$5,328
$63,940
7
$6,005
$72,060
8
$6,682
$80,180
*As of Spring 2014, for those households with more than 8 members, add $8,120 per year ($677 per month) per additional member. Households receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and/or Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) are income eligible. Visit cpsenergysavers.com for up-to-date requirements. 8
At cpsenergysavers.com, you will find a variety of rebates to help make energy-saving improvements to your home. Our interactive house, energy calculators and efficiency tips will provide more ideas on how to save money.
CPS ENERGY REBATES
REBATE PROGRAMS: • Air Conditioner • Natural Gas Appliance and • Air Flow Performance Conversion • Attic Insulation (Contractor and DIY) • Refrigerator Recycling • Heat Pump • New Home Construction • Variable Speed Pool Pump Incentives
Conserve energy – and save money – during periods of high energy demand with CPS Energy programs. By lowering demand during peak times, we can make our grid cleaner, safer and more reliable for all customers. When you enroll in any one of these Demand Response programs and stay in that program through Sept. 30, you will be eligible to receive a $30 account credit. Find an energy-saving program that’s right for you at cpsenergysavers.com/ start-saving/programs.
DEMAND RESPONSE • Home Manager • Smart Thermostat • Cool Energy SmartAC Kit for window units • Friedrich Kühl AC window unit • Nest Learning Thermostat™
To schedule a presentation from CPS Energy at your next meeting, please visit cpsenergy.com and search: Speakers Team or call 210-227-TALK (8255).
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