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Pike Trails Ranches Improvement Association, PTRIA
PO Box 45, Guffey, CO 80820
Bringing the news of Pike Trails to the land
owners, locally, state, and nation wide
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Pike Trails Energy (and Money) Savings Tips
Did you know you can save some big bucks by implementing some or all of the suggestions shown below. Consider the following topics:
Compact Fluorescent Light bulbs
Improve the Energy Efficiency of Your Home
Energy Star Appliance Rating
If you are happy with what it cost you to heat your house this past winter, then the following probably won't be of interest to you.
Compact Fluorescent Light bulbs
Manufacturers of compact fluorescent Light bulbs (CFLs) have improved the phosphors that emit the colors we are used to seeing with incandescent light bulbs. Today, it is hard to tell the difference in the light given off by either of these bulbs. Also, electronic ballasts have replaced the original magnetic ballasts that caused CFLs to hum or flicker.
In December, 2007, Congress passed an energy bill that included a new lighting standard. By 2012, manufacturers selling 100 watt bulbs must make them 39% more efficient than today's 100 watt incandescent bulbs. Similar requirements will apply to 75 watt bulbs in 2013 and to 60 watt and 40 watt bulbs in 2014. CFLs already meet these requirements.
If you have a 100 watt incandescent on for an average of five hours per day, it will consume 182.5 kilowatt-hours (KW-hr) of energy in one year. In January, 2008, IREA was charging 9.94 ¢ per KW-hr. At this rate, it cost $18.14 to have that 100 watt bulb on the the stated period. To obtain the same amount of light from a CFL, you would need to use a bulb of about 25 watts in size. It would require about 45.625 KW-hr of energy at a cost of $4.54 for the one year period. Although the CFLs cost significantly more than incandescent bulbs, they not only save you a noticeable amount of money in monthly costs, they also last about 10 times as long. An interesting and very easy to use U.S. Department of Energy, Energy Star Life Cycle Cost Estimator for CFLs can be found by clicking here.
Using the above stated IREA cost of 9.94 ¢ per KW-hr, an 8000 hour life for a 25 watt CFL costing $3.50, a 750 hour life for a 100 watt incandescent light bulb costing $0.50, and the five hour per day usage figure results in a $64 life cycle savings over the CFL life. What's your excuse for not changing to CFLs now or as your incandescent bulbs burn out?
Concerning the proper way to dispose of a broken CFL, Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance states, "If your bulb breaks, your greatest risk actually is being cut by broken glass. Handle it sensibly and be certain to sweep up all the glass fragments (don’t vacuum, because that can disperse particles). Place the broken pieces in a plastic bag and wipe the area with a damp paper towel to pick up any stray shards of glass or powder."
Click here for another U.S. Department of Energy web site for more information on CFLs.
Improve the Energy Efficiency of Your Home
Here are two sources of information on how to improve the energy efficiency of your home.
The California Energy Commission Consumer Energy Center web site has some excellent suggestions as to how to tighten your home. The outline for this set of energy savings pages is:
Start with an Energy Audit
Caulking
Ducts & Vents
Insulation
Weather stripping
Windows & Doors
Click here for the Iowa Energy Policy Council (1.15 MB PDF file) Energy Fact sheet - Home Energy Checklist. If you are happy with what it cost you to heat your house this past winter, then you don't need to take the time to look at this Fact sheet. But if you want to save some energy costs, the Fact sheet is an excellent place to start.
Energy Star Appliance Rating
When it comes time to replace your appliances, consider buying one with an Energy Star rating. The Energy Star web site, states "Did you know that the average home spends about $1,900 on energy costs every year? Change to appliances that have earned the ENERGY STAR, and you can save $80 a year in energy costs, while saving the environment." Appliances qualified to become Energy Star rated are clothes washers, dehumidifiers, dishwashers, refrigerators, freezers, room air conditioners, and room air cleaners.
Where did the photos on this site come from? Most of the animal photos are from a government public domain photo web site. The rest have been taken by Diane and Bernie Mann, Craig Miller, Frank Hole, Seth Stahlman and Jon Klima.