EPA raises bar for Energy Star status

During the next two decades the Environmental Protection Agency estimates that this increase in energy efficiency for Energy Star-qualified homes will save homeowners more than $2 billion in utility bills, while eliminating more than 7 million metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions, according to an Energy Star news release.

Energy Star is a government-backed program helping businesses and individuals protect the environment through energy efficiency.

In 2004, Americans partnering with Energy Star saved enough energy to power 24 million homes and avoid greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to those from 20 million cars – all while saving $10 billion, according to www.energystar.gov.

To qualify under the revised Energy Star specifications, new homes must have higher levels of insulation inspected for proper installation; complete framing and air barrier assemblies that enable insulation to perform at its full rated value; windows that meet or exceed Energy Star requirements; high-efficiency and properly sized heating and cooling equipment appropriate to the climate; and more energy-efficient water heating, lighting and appliances.

The Energy Star label can be found on new homes, appliances, electronics, office equipment, lighting, heating and cooling systems, and buildings. Currently there are more than 2,500 home builders who have constructed more than 400,000 Energy Star qualified homes, including close to 10 percent of the new housing starts in 2004.

Efficiency and conservation

Energy Star also is urging homeowners to take action to improve efficiency.

“With cold weather around the corner and President Bush’s call to conserve, small actions – like changing a light bulb or weather-stripping the windows – can benefit our wallets and our nation’s energy resources,” said EPA Administrator Stephen L. Johnson in a separate news release. “By taking a few common-sense steps to conserve our home energy use, we can get the most out of our energy dollars and keep more money in our pockets.”

EPA also recommends insulating properly, powering down home electronics and looking for the Energy Star logo on new products.

The average American household spends $1,500 annually on energy bills – a number that may go up as much as 50 percent this year. Almost half of that energy goes to heating and cooling homes. Lighting and appliances represent about a quarter and home electronic products like computers, TVs and cell phone chargers take a significant and growing share.

Keep the weather out

One of the most cost-effective ways to reduce energy bills is to air-seal holes, cracks and openings in your home and then add insulation to stop the flow of heat through the walls and ceiling. Consider the following steps:

• Weather-strip and insulate your attic hatch or door to prevent warm air from escaping out the top of your house.

• Seal holes in the attic that lead down into the house, such as open wall tops and duct, plumbing or electrical runs.

• Weather-strip doors and windows that do not seal tightly. Use foam gaskets around electrical outlets (under the plates) to reduce drafts.

A home’s heating system works hard during the winter. When it is working at top performance, and heating ducts are delivering warm air effectively, the house will be more comfortable and utility bills will be cheaper.

Replace furnace air filters before the heating season begins, as a dirty filter reduces air flow which makes a heating system work harder to deliver air to the registers. Also, cover the filter slot with a piece of wide tape to keep air from getting in around filter edges without passing through the filter.

Set back the thermostat at bedtime or when the house will be empty. When used properly, an Energy Star qualified programmable thermostat with four-temperature and time settings can save $100 on annual energy costs.

Light bulbs

Lighting a home can represent 20 percent of home electricity bills, and it is one of the easiest places to start saving energy. If every household changed a light to an Energy Star one, it would save enough energy to light 7 million homes and reduce greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to that of 1 million cars.

Replace the five most frequently used lights, or the bulbs in them, with ones that have earned the Energy Star, and save more than $60 each year in energy costs.

Down time

Power down computers and electronics products when they are not in use. Computers and other electronics account for an increasing energy load in most homes and often use energy even when switched off.

Activate your computer’s power management features, so it powers down when sitting idle. Unplug battery chargers and power adapters when they finish charging or are not in use. Consider using a power strip that can be turned off.

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