Summer 2005
Vol. 7, No. 3
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Summer 2005 |
WATTS UP? Check your
electric IQ!
We usually don’t think about electricity until the power goes off, or the
utility bill arrives. How much do you know about your electricity? Learn ways to
stay cool, stay safe and save energy with this Electric IQ Quiz.
TRUE OR FALSE:
Turning the thermostat lower will cool your home faster.
False. Don’t turn your thermostat down lower to cool faster—it won’t
work! Your air conditioner cools at the same rate regardless of the setting.
With central air conditioning, buy a programmable thermostat to save energy. It
automatically adjusts your home’s temperature at night, while you’re at work or
on vacation.
Computer screen savers save energy, and your computer will last longer if you
leave it on all day, instead of shutting it off when you’re not using it.
False and False. Screen savers do not save energy. To save energy,
turn the monitor off. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends you
turn the computer off, too, if you aren’t going to use it within a half hour.
The EPA claims the lifetime of the hard disk is limited by use, rather than
start-ups.
Power strip surge protection devices will protect electronic equipment from
lightning strikes.
False. Power strips, while effective at stopping most in-house spikes, can
be overwhelmed by lightning strikes that enter through the power line. For total
protection, have a licensed electrical contractor install a whole-house network
that begins outside at the meter. Power strips will
provide protection for the 80 percent of power surges caused by motor-driven
appliances like air conditioners, refrigerators or even laser printers.
It’s cheaper to leave fluorescent lights on when leaving a room than to turn
them back on when you return.
False. According to the EPA, turning the lights off for more than
five seconds will save more energy than leaving them on. Fluorescent replacement
bulbs for lamps and fixtures last 10 times longer than incandescent bulbs and
use up to 75 percent less electricity. Look for warm or daylight fluorescents
for the best color rendition.
Houses built between 1965 and 1973 have a greater risk of electrical fire.
True. Many houses built between 1965 and 1973 have aluminum wiring, which
the Consumer Product Safety Commission says is 55 times more likely to reach
“fire hazard conditions” than copper wire. Insulation on all house wires can
become frayed or broken, creating a fire hazard. If you have any doubts about
your wiring, have a qualified electrician do an inspection.
Installing motion detectors on outdoor lighting uses more energy.
False. Strategically placed outside your home, motion detectors turn
on outdoor floodlights only when a person walks near them. They will save
electricity and make your home safer and more secure, since thieves don’t like
being caught in the spotlight.
For every 10 percent you lower your water heater’s thermostat, you save up to
11 percent of
water-heating costs.
True. Try setting your thermostat to 120 degrees or on “low.” It will
save energy, increase the life of the water heater and help prevent accidental
burns. If leaving for a weekend or longer, turn electric water heaters off, or
turn gas water heaters to the “pilot” setting.
Closing shades and drapes helps keep your home cool in summer.
True. Closing drapes and shades during the daytime, especially on
southern windows, will help keep your home cool. Cover eastern windows in the
morning and western windows in the afternoon. Reference: Electrical Safety
Foundation International (ESFI), www.electrical-safety.org
For more ways to stay cool, stay safe and save energy, see the following
publications (available free on the Web or for a nominal fee from your local
extension office):
GH5983, Energy Management Checklist for the Home
muextension.missouri.edu/explore/hesguide/housing/gh5983.htm
GH5990, Conserve Energy in Your Apartment
muextension.missouri.edu/explore/hesguide/housing/gh5990.htm
G6910, Landscape Plantings for Energy Savings
muextension.missouri.edu/explore/agguides/hort/g06910.htm
GH4879, Energy Quiz for Home Appliances
muextension.missouri.edu/explore/hesguide/houseeq/gh4879.htm
Here's a fun and informative web site from the U.S. Department of Energy:
Tips on Saving Energy and Money at Home,
www.eere.energy.gov/consumerinfo/energy_savers
Rebecca Blocker, MS
Housing & Environmental Design Specialist
BlockerR@missouri.edu
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Editor: Roxanne T. Miller MillerRT@missouri.edu |
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