Fresh AIRE

Fresh AIRE TIP: Ward Off the Energy Vampires

TVs, video & DVD players, cable boxes, phone chargers, laptops, cameras, handheld devices and other electronic equipment waste huge amounts of energy. When these devices are left plugged in or in standby mode they use about 40 percent of their full running power. To avoid excess drain, plug these energy “vampires” into a power strip and turn it off when not in use.  

♪♪ A Tisket, A Tasket, An Energy-Saving Gasket

When you’re at home and sitting by an exterior wall with an outlet, have you ever felt the wind blowing through from outside?  At recent events we’ve been giving away more than just CFLs (see blog below), we’ve also been giving away gasket covers for electrical outlets and have been surprised with how uncommon these devices actually are. 

Drafty electrical outlets found on the exterior walls inside of your home can be energy eaters, not to mention make your home less comfortable than you'd like.  The solution is easy, and cheap.  You can find gaskets at many retail locations including local hardware stores, Lowe’s or Home Depot.  These pre-cut pieces of foam cost about $0.10!

 

Just follow these steps and you’ll be on your way to a more efficient, less drafty home and all it will cost you is a few pennies from your pocket and seconds of your time.   

 

 

We recommend turning off the electricity at your fuse box before you begin.    

 

Simply unscrew the faceplate.

 

Push out the pre-cut areas for the plugs on the foam gasket.   

 

Place gasket over the outlet.

 

Place the plate cover back on.

 

Remember to place a cap on unused outlets to block even more air flow.

 

 

Have you used these in your home?  Will you?

Watts with the Spiral Light Bulbs?

Our AIRE booth has made its way around town lately, stopping off at all kinds of events and fairs.  Spring sure is busy, isn’t it?  Perhaps you’ve stopped by to learn about ways you can save energy at home?  Have you talked with us about our Community Energy Plan project or how county buildings are reducing energy use?

One conversation we seem to be having a lot of is about Compact Fluorescent Light bulbs (CFLs).  Probably because we’ve been giving them away for free at our booth!   Doing this though has seemed to open the door to a number of questions and concerns.  The good news is that the answers are not hard to find thanks to the ENERGY STAR website.  Below, we’ll try to address the most popular questions we’ve been asked.

 

Q.) I’ve been told I should buy a CFL each time I need to replace an old light bulb, right?

 

A.) We’re sure you have many lights in your home, so yes this makes the transition easiest on you and your wallet.  However, we suggest replacing your five most commonly used lights with CFLs so you can start saving bigger, sooner.  This savings would likely be about $65/year!  And, you can always put the old incandescent into the least used light fixtures in your home if you want to keep them until their end of life.

 

Q.) The CFLs are more expensive than the traditional light bulbs, why would I want to spend more money?

A.) Lighting represents about 20% of your home’s electricity bill.  CFLs generally cost between $2 and $15 but they save at least $30 over their life time.  That’s because they use about 75% less energy than a traditional light bulb.  Plus, they last a lot longer so you’re not out buying a new light bulb as often (they last 10 times as long).  For more specific savings and calculations check out ENERGY STAR's CFL Calculator.

Q.) The watts for CFLs are not your typical watts found on incandescent bulbs I’m familiar with buying.  How do I know what equivalent CFL to get?

 

A.) Use this simple chart to help with your conversion!

Incandescent Bulbs (watts)	Minimum Light Output (lumens)	Common ENERGY STAR Qualified Light Bulbs (watts)
40	450	9 to 13
60	800	13 to 15
75	1,100	18 to 25
100	1,600	23 to 30
150	2,600	30 to 52

 

Q.)  I tried a CFL but it was too yellow (or not yellow enough) and I really preferred the color light of my old incandescent bulbs.  What should I do?

 

A.) There is a number on the box that is measured in Kelvins (K).  This number reflects the temperature of the CFL which is equivalent to the light’s color.  The lower the number, the more yellow the light.  Visit: http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=cfls.pr_cfls_color

 

Q.) I have a 3-way lamp or a dimmer so I guess I can’t use a CFL?

 

A.) You absolutely can.  Just be sure to buy the special CFLs specifically for these kinds of fixtures.  You can buy CFLs for: ceiling mounted fixtures, ceiling fans, pendant fixtures, table and floor lamps, decorative and vanity fixtures, wall sconce fixtures, recessed can fixtures, outdoor flood lights, and outdoor enclosed fixtures. 

 

Q.) Do CFLs only come in a spiral shape?

 

A.) Actually, there are several different shapes nowadays. Check it out.

 

If you’ve tried a CFL in the past and didn’t like it, or if you’re planning on buying your first one, we strongly encourage you to review this ENERGY STAR page so you’re sure to get exactly what you need.  (Be sure to check out the interactive room in the top right corner to choose the best CFL for you).

 

We’re curious to know about your conversions.  Do you have any pictures of your CFL-lit rooms?  Why not share your story on our AIRE Facebook Page?

 

7-Eleven is Revvin' the Energy Savings

The folks at 7-Eleven convenience stores have taken a bold step forward in energy efficiency.  I recently noticed my local store, at S. Glebe Road and S. 2nd Street in Arlington, has retrofitted ALL exterior lighting with LEDs.   

This includes the canopy lighting over the gasoline pumps, the pole lighting around the property, and the exterior lighting around the building walls. 

Impressed, I contacted the Dallas HQ of the 7-Eleven corporation and learned that all 2,000 stores with gas stations nationwide are getting the LED makeover.   It is not clear when stores without gasoline sales will make the switch.  However, I'd noticed that all 7-11 stores have long had energy-efficient T-8 fluorescent lighting indoors, which already put them a cost-saving step ahead of many other retailers in Virginia.  This LED retrofit further cuts their operating costs. 

The County has been installing LED lighting for general illumination for about two years now, in interior and exterior applications, including dimmable LEDs in the Central Library auditorium, and exterior security and "wall-washing" lights at community centers, fire stations, and Trades Center buildings.  This long-lasting, low-wattage lighting is an important element to our own energy- and money-saving efficiency efforts, and we're pleased to see early adoption by 7-Eleven.