Energy Efficiency vs Energy Savings
Energy Efficiency Doesn't Mean Energy Savings.
The term "energy efficiency" is used millions of times a day. We've become accustomed to reading about it in global-warming reports in our newspapers, magazines, and on the Internet, and hearing about it on our televisions, radio, and streaming newscasts. The trouble is, no one ever tells us what it means. Sure, we have a general idea. We're all supposed to be it. Energy Star appliance labels tell us whether the refrigerator purchase we're considering will be it. Using compact fluorescent or LED bulbs will result in it. Installing a programmable thermostat promises it, too. But what exactly is it? Understanding what it means will take us a lot farther down the road to making the best energy efficiency decisions than just being energy-efficient lemmings.
Using less energy, or energy conservation is the key to saving energy. Through energy conservation measures in your home you directly impact your utility. Heating your home costs less when you keep the thermostat much further down than normal. Using solar power during the winter to assist in providing heat is also a means of energy conservation. None of these things deal with energy efficiency.
We all know what it means to be efficient in our work---we get the most done in the time allotted through good planning. But what, exactly, is efficiency when it comes to a furnace---as well as a light bulb, refrigerator, and water heater? Anything powered by electricity, natural gas, or coal---all fossil fuels---loses heat when used, doing the job it was designed to do. The less heat that escapes during its operating time with the same amount of power, the more efficient an appliance or piece of equipment is. It takes fuel to create that wasted heat, so higher efficiency means using less energy to bring about the same result with less energy waste.
The simplest way to demonstrate the concept is to turn on a 100-watt incandescent light bulb and sit very close to it in a warm room. Much of the energy needed to power the light is escaping as unusable heat. You know that by the discomfort you feel and the beads of sweat forming on your upper lip. But you've got the illumination you need to read, right? So you live with it.
Improvements in the way energy is put to work to operate something----for example, to power up a light bulb, heat water for showers and dishwashing, and refrigerate food----have resulted in improved energy efficiency ratings for increasing numbers of products in the marketplace, including furnaces, water heaters, refrigerators and freezers, air conditioners, stoves and swimming pool heaters.
Efficient appliances and equipment usually cost more initially, but the payback period is relatively short when calculating the immediate savings on our electric and gas bills. It's difficult to lose money on energy-efficient purchases regarding appliances. They use energy more efficiently than their older counterparts on average. Which you can find in our article Go Green: Stores to Shop to Find Energy Star Appliances. The Department of Energy has gone to great lengths with efficiency measures to allow people to shop for more energy-efficient appliances to conserve on their utility bills.
Difficult, but not impossible. Let's say you decide to replace all the incandescent bulbs inside and outside your home with compact fluorescents or LEDs, so you can sit back and watch the savings roll in (without sweat forming on your lip). Except for one thing: There are no savings if you put the updated bulbs in spaces where you seldom use the lamp or light bulbs. You won't save because the costs to use the basement storage room lamp or the overhead garage lamp (the light on the garage door opener is most often sufficient for your trips in and out) were next-to-nothing before you switched. You will lose money because energy-saving lightbulbs cost more to purchase than incandescents. So when you hear, "Replace all your bulbs with compact fluorescents or LED's," change the "all" to "your most frequently used."
Another example: You purchase a new, highly efficient side-by-side refrigerator-freezer to replace your 15-year-old model. Oh, the energy you'll save from your fancy appliance in your home! Unless, of course, you put the old one to use in the basement or garage, so the beer and pop are always cold. You definitely will not come out ahead on your energy bills. (But at least you'll be able to cry in a chilled beer.) We understand that it is difficult going without a redundant or extra refrigerator in the home, but the amount of energy saved by removing it can be great. Some energy providers even offer rebates on your utility bill to turn in your old refrigerators for pick-up.
Or you replace your old air conditioner systems gravity furnace with a new high-efficiency furnace. You feel pretty smug, don't you, knowing you're sticking it to the gas company? In fact, you turn up the thermostat a few degrees because you have a new, more efficient furnace. Just be sure to close the door behind you when you go outside to watch your anticipated savings go out your flue. All of that gas consumption you reduced is gone because you're using more by heating the household even more. Remember that if you add a family room or enclose a porch, the furnace will need to run more to keep the additional space heated. The added energy consumption will, of course, be reflected on your energy bill.
The upshot? Calculating your energy savings and your energy consumption impact on your environment is more complicated than a + b=c. Before you call the gas and electric company to complain that your bill should be lower because of the energy efficiency steps you've taken, make sure you've completed your own thorough investigation into the mysterious disappearance of the money you were supposed to save. Just because you bought something new to save energy, doesn't mean that you'll be using less energy if you're not smart about it.
Not sure what to do? Let Sustainable InteriYours help you in your journey to less energy use with our Online Energy Audit. On average, we've shown our customers over $1300 of savings annually within their homes. With a few minutes of your time, answering our short survey can help you reduce the cost of your energy bills. Sometimes it costs a great amount every year to condition the air in your home. We can help reduce energy use in your homes.
