THE MEASURE OF ENERGY

The watt is a measure of electrical energy; the kilowatt-hour (kwh) is the consumption of 1,000 watts sustained over a 1-hour period. Thus, a single 100watt light bulb burned for 10 hours will use 1 kwh of electricity.

Off-Peak Rates

There are several hundred electric companies in the United States, each with its own set of rates and charges. Most customers will pay a general rate per kilowatt-hour while customers with electric heat, electric water heaters, or all-electric homes (i.e., people who buy large quantities of electricity) often pay a somewhat lower rate. You should check your electric bill or call your electric company to determine what rate you pay. Make sure that you are paying the lowest rate allowable based on the amount of electricity you use.

Hot Water

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, a typical home uses 450 gallons of hot water per week. A conventional 52-gallon electric water heater requires 6,350 kwh per year to provide this much water at a temperature of 140 F. About 80 percent of these kilowatt-hours are used to heat the water directly; the remaining 20 percent are used to make up for standby losses (i.e.) heat lost from the water in the tank to the surrounding environment). At 9c per kwh, a typical family would spend $48 per month for hot water.

Basic Conservation Measures

If you carry out a once-only, low cost conservation program on your existing electric hot water system, you can save from 40 to 50 percent of your current expenditure for hot water. Here's how:

Step 1: Reduce the Temperature Setting

Step 2: Insulate Your Hot Water Tank

Step 3: Use Flow Restrictors

Step 4: Put a Timer or Manual Switch on Your Water Heater

Step 5: Insulate Your Pipes

Step 6: Fix Leaky Faucets

Step 7: Use Less Hot Water

Lighting

A typical American family consumes 1200 kwh or $108 worth of electricity each year to provide interior lighting. Because lights are widely dispersed and because bulbs vary in wattage, type, purpose, and life expectancy, reducing electrical use for lights seems a difficult task. Don't be misled, however. It is, in fact, relatively easy to reduce energy use for lighting, and a 40 percent savings can be made with minimal effort on your part. Understanding a few basic facts about lighting is an important first step to cost reduction.

Basic Conservation Measures

Step 1: Use Daylight Whenever Possible

Step 2: Turn Off the Lights

Step 3: Install Light Dimmers

Step 4: Match Bulbs to Use

Step 5: Substitute More Efficient Light Bulbs

Step 6: Clean Light Fixtures and Dust the Bulbs