Energy Audits
Think you may be using too much electricity? Are you concerned that your home has hidden energy drains costing you more than you need to spend for electricity?
Call our energy advisor, David Martin, for more information on conducting an energy audit in your home. During the audit, you may find sources of significant energy loss that are easily corrected and can result in substantial savings in your electric bill. One of the first things recommended is to keep track of your daily kilo-watt usage. Print out our chart and get a head start on your energy audit. You can also try our On-Line Energy Audit Tool. Learn how to perform your own energy audit.
Reach David by email or phone (229) 468-7415, ext. 240.
The following article appeared in our newsletter recently about energy audits.
This is a common statement heard everyday at Irwin EMC, and all other utilities around the nation. It is not a bad question to ask because it makes you think of what your neighbors are doing versus what you are doing.
When comparing house to house, you should take into consideration that one house may be better insulated in the walls and attic than another. One household may use a timer for their water heater and one household may not. Some households set their water heater at a recommended 120 degrees while another sets theirs at 140 degrees. Some homes have digital thermostats in their homes that can regulate when the heat or air comes on as well as gradually adjusting the thermostat automatically. It is estimated that for every degree you lower the thermostat's set temperature in the winter, you could save about three percent of you energy cost over a 24- hour period.
Some households use ceiling fans in the winter to move the warmer air down. They accomplish this by using the reverse direction switch on ceiling fans then in the summer they reset the switch to circulate the cool air from the floor. Some households have more efficient furnaces or heat pumps. Heat pumps require less energy to run than standard strip heating that is found in most mobile homes and older houses. One house may have ductwork from their central unit that is leaky while the other house may have tightly sealed ductwork. This is one of the greatest losses of energy in most homes.
Does one home have a tightly sealed home that is caulked properly around windows, doors, and all exit holes such as wiring and plumbing? According to energy expert Doug Rye, if one added all the cracks and holes in a typical home due to improper caulking and sealing, it would be the equivalent of a door standing wide open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Homes are like people. Each has its own personality and flaws. Each home has different occupants with different ways of how they use energy. One household may take short showers; the other takes a hot bath. One home may use the stove more often than the other. One home may even use a microwave versus a stove. The list could go on and on since no two families live alike. Recently, one of our consumers made some of these changes to their home and reduced their usage by almost 30 percent!
If you would like some tips on energy conservation, please give us a call and ask us to send you energy conservation information. Even your neighbor might give you some pointers, too! Please look at our Home Energy Solutions program for additional ideas
