Using Proven Energy Efficiency Technology to Reduce Energy ......•Determine how/what can be done...
Transcript of Using Proven Energy Efficiency Technology to Reduce Energy ......•Determine how/what can be done...
Using Proven Energy
Efficiency Technology to
Reduce Energy Consumption
(and energy costs) at Home
and at Work
John Emerick
Background:
• Job Title - Account Manager – Large Commercial and
Industrial Accounts for the past 15 years
• 25 year utility veteran
• Responsible for Potomac Edison’s Comfort Home
residential energy efficiency program for new homes in
Western Maryland during the early to mid 1990s.
• Presently working with Maryland C&I customers to
promote Potomac Edison’s Watt Watchers Energy
Efficiency Programs
What do we hope to accomplish here today?
•Determine how/what can be done to make a home or business
more energy efficient by developing an energy efficiency strategy
•Provide information on utility rebates, state, Federal, and local
grants, loans, tax credits, and rebates to assist in financial
payback for implementing energy efficiency measures today
•Where to look for information to support your plan
•Examples of available cost effective technology to save
energy/money and how they work
Note that today’s presentation does not promote wind,
solar, or other alternative sources as the first major step
toward energy efficiency for individual plans.
While inclusion of renewable/alternative energy use play
a role in any long term plan, it is not recommended as
the first course of action to reduce energy use, especially
for existing homes or buildings
Energy Conservation vs Energy Efficiency
Energy conservation
“being more careful in the way
we use energy and from being
wasted”.
Energy efficiency
“the ability to produce a desired
effect with a minimum of effort,
expense, or waste, or get more
performance and productivity with
less cost in dollars and energy
being expended”.
The shift from Energy Conservation to Energy
Efficiency includes using “Building Science” as
the means to reduce energy use and energy
costs in existing and new homes. This shift
ushered in a new era in energy conservation
that continues today.
Help comes from utility sponsored energy
efficiency programs to encourage the use of
“energy efficiency” measures to reduce energy
use for the ever growing demand on the world’s
finite carbon based energy sources.
Using available Federal, state, local,
and utility energy efficiency programs
reduces payback time for making
energy efficiency improvements.
The old adage
“ What’s in it for me?”
Comes into play - even for
energy efficiency.
Haven’t we become more energy efficient as a society with each new generation of appliances, automobiles, and manufacturing equipment?
The answer?
a. Yes
b. No
c. Both a. and b.
Typical strategies for each category:
Homes – air sealing/air leakage reduction,
increased insulation, use of highly efficient
appliances and HVAC, and lighting upgrades.
Businesses – lighting upgrades, controls for
lighting, and HVAC
Industry – lighting, process improvements,
recycling of industrial waste materials to provide
heat/steam, and more efficient electric motors.
How is planning similar, regardless
of whether this is a home, or
commercial or industrial setting?
Planning similarities for each category
• Each begins with a plan
• First step requires some form of energy audit
to begin the process
Utility Residential Energy Audits
Offered through Potomac Edison Home Performance Program
1. On line Energy Analyzer – no cost
2. Detailed walk through audit with recommendations – no
cost (normal cost $250-$300)
3. Comprehensive Audit - with small co-pay ($140) by the
customer (normal cost $500-$1000 w/o utility incentive)
What are reasons for people to conserve energy?
•Save Money on Utilities and Energy Costs – some measures can produce
multiple/cumulative savings in both energy and reduce other utility costs -
such as electric/water/sewer costs, electric/natural gas, and electric/fuel oil
•Climate Initiative
Reduce carbon footprint
Conservation of our Natural Resources
Assure clean environment for future generations
•Take advantage of financial Incentives
Rebates – from state & utilities programs
Tax Incentives – state, Federal and some counties
•Cost of doing nothing - most measures are performed only once and save
for as long as you have the appliance, or measure in place.
If you elect to make an effort to conserve - What percentage%
decrease in energy bills (electric) would you like to realize in
your home?
1. 10-15% decrease - replacement of older appliances w/energy star,
CFL retrofits, low flow shower heads, replace incandescent fixtures
with fluorescent.
2. 15-40% decrease - HVAC (heating & cooling) upgrades w/ no. 1
above
3. 15-50 % decrease - energy audit & implementation of 1 & 2 above,
plus improvement measures outlined in energy audit.
4. 10-50% decrease - alternative water heating methods
What else can you do to become better at conserving?Homes:
• Benchmark your home energy use - get printout of home electric use,
install home energy monitors.
• Online information/calculators – utilize websites information available -
utilities, State and Federal DOE sites
• Understand the units of energy measurement on your utility bill: Ex. 1000
watts=1 kilowatt (also, 1 kilowatt constant for 1 hour is 1 KHW =
$0.105/KHW) - Utility Billing periods are usually 30 days making energy use
easy to track
Business:
•Establish an energy efficiency team to study use at the business and
develop plans for energy reduction
•Hire an energy professional to perform a comprehensive facility audit
Lost energy (heat and cold) moves through moves through the walls, ceiling/roof, and
cracks of your home.
Main Areas of Heat Loss (by rated loss):
1. Infiltration (air leakage)
2. Ceilings
3. Walls
4. Floors and Below Grade Space
5. Windows, skylights, and doors
Note: these areas are not all the same in terms of their contribution to heat loss and generally follow
the order shown above.
And Most Important
Heat lost due to air infiltration/exfiltration can be 3 times the amount of heat that is lost
through walls and ceilings. As the wind speed outdoors increases, the amount of interior
heated air exiting the home increases exponentially.
The categories listed on the previous slide generally stack up this way in terms of
total % heat loss in a home:
Infiltration / Air Leakage: 35-50%
Windows and Doors: 18%-20%
Floors and Below Grade Space: 15%-18%
Walls: 12%-20%
Ceilings: 10-15%
Mitigation is required - reduce air leaks around plumbing vents, wall electrical
outlets and switches, recessed lights exposed to the attic, attic stairways
(including pull down attic stairways, vertical plumbing stacks open to the
basement, all allow heated air to be drawn from your home and escape out the
roof or other openings stealing your energy dollars.
Exterior thermovision audit
Low flow shower head – 1.5 gal/minute – cost approx.
$10 - $15 -- Payback period – 1- 4 weeks
Attic hatch cover. Normal cost $30-150 depending on
whether purchased as a unit, or constructed yourself
Energy Monitors – a low cost solution that monitors 1 outlet at a time. Cost less
than $30.
Whole House Monitoring - Cost under $300.
Whole house monitor – cost less than $100
Water heater replacement – up to 60% energy savings
Energy Savings CFLs
Residential Construction:
Make sure new construction and/or renovations are constructed to IEEC
2009 or Energy Star Homes standards.
You must Utilize:
•Energy Efficiency Experts – BPI certified auditors, retrofit contractors,
and/or Energy Star Builders
•RESNET raters for home, or larger construction projects or to make sure
the constructed concept meets your energy efficiency criteria
•Make sure every step of the construction process is inspected by BPI
certified auditors.
•Many jurisdictions have mandated the IEEC 2009 Building Code
Energy Efficiency Professional Organizations
Lessons Learned
•Energy efficiency/conservation is a personal commitment. It can be
undertaken with varying levels financial resources for both homes and
businesses.
•A “professional energy audit” is the best first step in making a major
commitment for homes and businesses.
•Audit results provide the basis to prioritize an efficiency strategy.
•The professional energy audit and adoption of a mitigation plan is
recognized by governmental agencies, Public Service Commissions, and
utilities, as the best first step in planning/executing a comprehensive
energy efficiency/conservation program.
•Energy efficiency rebates, grants, loans, etc. require inspections and
energy audits for participation
Questions or Comments about
anything presented here today?