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?