An Engineering Extension energy feature
An Engineering Extension energy feature
By Richard Hayter
If you are a renter, energy affects the cost of living in your apartment or house, whether you directly pay your utility bills or
if they are included in your rent.
You can save money (and natural resources) by practicing conservation. Even if utility costs are combined with your rent, you may be able to reduce rent increases by conserving energy.
Although the opportunities for improving structural components of your apartment may be limited, you can still reduce energy consumption without sacrificing comfort or adversely affecting your lifestyle.
In order to do this, you must be aware of where, why, and how energy is consumed.
If you are in the process of selecting an apartment, consider the area of exposure of outside walls, including the roof. Usually, the less area, the lower your utility costs.
Regardless of the area of exposure, there will be some heat gain or loss through the outside walls (and roof, if you are on a top floor).
Since you can't avoid some heat gain or loss, you should raise the thermostat set point in the summer and lower it in the winter. This saves on energy consumption because it reduces heat transfer through the exposed walls.
Lowering the thermostat setting one degree during the winter can save as much as three percent on your heating bill.
You also save from a temporary thermostat setback at night or during the day if the setback is for a minimum of six hours. You can save as much as eight percent if you set back your thermostat five degrees at night for eight hours, and you'll save 12 percent with a 10-degree setback. This even allows for the energy required to warm your walls, ceiling, floor and furnishings (from the nighttime setback temperature to the daytime setting).
You may find that you can set the thermostat back even further than would be comfortable for sleeping if you use an electric blanket. Cover the electric blanket with a light blanket or flannel sheet for more efficient warming.
You don't have to rely on direct heat sources alone to provide warmth -- your body is continuously producing heat. Even while standing relaxed, you are producing about the same heat as two 60-watt light bulbs. During winter, you can remain comfortable at lower than normal thermostat settings by wearing multiple layers of light, loose-fitting clothing.
When you reset your thermostat to daytime conditions, do not temporarily set it higher than the desired temperature in hopes of more rapid warming. Likewise, you may increase consumption if you regularly increase and decrease the setting on the thermostat during the day. The six-hour minimum is a good guideline.
Using fans during the summer will allow you to raise the thermostat setting and still remain comfortable. Portable or permanently mounted fans are equally beneficial.
Recent studies indicate that oscillating fans, which have an irregular velocity, may create a greater cooling sensation than do fans with a constant velocity.
If you are going to be away from your apartment or house for several days, lower the thermostat in winter and turn off the air conditioner in summer. Likewise, reduce the temperature on your tank type water heater if your apartment has its own.
The effectiveness of the heating and cooling distribution system -- whether forced air, hot water or steam -- can have a measurable effect on your utility costs. To ensure effectiveperformance, be sure that supply and return air grills are not obstructed. Change or clean filters regularly on your furnace and central or window air conditioner.
As you adopt energy-saving measures to save on heating and cooling costs, don't waste energy on unused rooms.
Partially close the valves or dampers which control the supply of hot water, steam or air to rooms that you are not occupying, and fully open those that supply the rooms most used. Don't allow rooms to fall below 55 degrees. At temperatures below this, plumbing in outside walls may freeze.
Apartment dwellers can also benefit from solar heating in winter. Open drapes when sunlight can shine directly into the room and close them at night to insulate the windows.
At night, closed drapes provide a warmer surface than an exposed window. This improves thermal comfort by reducing heat lost from the body by radiation.
Heating and cooling may account for the greatest share of a utility bill, but lighting certainly affects your consumption of electricity. Measures which homeowners take to save on lighting costs apply to renters as well.
There is some validity to the concept that you can extend the life of a fluorescent lamp by leaving it on rather than turning it off for short intervals. However, lights are often left on longer than intended. For a net cost savings, it is best to turn off lights, both fluorescent and incandescent, whenever you are not using them.
You can also reduce the energy required for lighting by purchasing bulbs and tubes that are energy efficient. The greater the lumens of light produced per watt of energy consumed, the higher the efficiency. When purchasing incandescent bulbs, note the lumens per watt printed on the container.
Typically, a higher wattage incandescent bulb is more efficient than one of a lower wattage. For example, one 100-watt bulb gives approximately the same light as two 60-watt bulbs, yet consumes 17 percent less energy. A "long life" bulb is usually not as efficient as a standard bulb.
Fluorescent bulbs are more efficient than incandescents. Fluorescent replacements are available for some incandescent bulb applications. Although you pay some premium for the substitute fluorescent lamp, costs over the life of thefluorescent are lower.
You should regularly clean the globes and reflectors on lighting fixtures to maintain efficient light distribution.
The cost of heating water constitutes a significant portion of a renter's energy bill.
Again, you can save energy by setting back the temperature of your water heater when you are away from your apartment for an extended period. You can save even more if you permanently set back the thermostat. This will reduce heat loss through the walls of the storage tank. The water heater is often located in a basement away from the apartment, so heat lost through the tank walls does not benefit the apartment.
There is no need to set your water heater higher than 140 degrees; an even lower temperature may satisfy household needs. You may have to use more warm water at lower temperatures to achieve the desired water temperature, but you will still see a net savings.
In addition to heating and cooling, lighting, and water heating, energy consumed by appliances also adds to your energy bill. The following tips should help you save on your appliances' energy consumption.
You can also save energy when preparing food.
Just because you do not own your home or apartment does not mean you have no control over your cost of living. Following the above tips will at least help you manage one living expense -- energy bills.