greenHILLhome: Hazy, Hot, and Time to be Efficient

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Summer heat waves bring all sorts of creative solutions for staying cool.  We are fortunate on the Hill to have some public pools to enjoy, but as many of us know our energy bills and water use often increase dramatically in the summer.  Of course, energy rates go up in the summer (thank you, Pepco) especially during peak usage times.  We can all conserve on energy and water this summer while remaining cool and comfortable but simply shifting some of our normal habits.

Air conditioners represent the biggest single electrical load in a residence in the summer months, and possibly year-round depending on the type of heat you have.  If you have central air conditioning, make sure to replace the filter based on the manufacturer’s  recommendations.  Window units have removable filters that should be cleaned frequently during periods of high use.  Also, consider setting the temperature higher by a couple degrees.  A temperature of 78 F is the high end of the human “comfort zone,” but it also reduces the amount of energy being used to try and cool a space, which on extremely hot days may not be possible.  A mechanical engineer I once worked with told me the best air conditioners can only bring the temperature down about 20 degrees from the outside air temperature.  So on our 100-degree days, your A/C may have a tough time pushing the temperature below 80.

Keeping the cool air inside is also important.  Making sure your windows and doors are properly sealed benefits you both in summer and winter.  A tube of sealant (caulk) and a roll of weather-stripping are pretty inexpensive, but they can help keep you from losing your cool air to the outdoors, savings you energy costs.

Appliances and electronics generate heat when in use, so try to limit usage during the hottest times of day.  This is especially true for dishwashers, washing machines, and dryers.  The heat generated by the machines reenters the space and thwarts your air conditioner’s attempt to cool your house.  If your appliances have timers, set them to run in the middle of the night when energy rates are lower and there is less heat being generated by your housemates and the sun.  Your computer is also a heat culprit–turn it off or set it to “hibernate” when not in use, especially overnight.  If you have a desktop unit and you don’t like turning off the entire computer, at least turn off the monitor.  Turning off just the monitor for 8 hours a day can save you up to $40 a year on your energy bill, not to mention the energy savings for cooling.

DC hasn’t been hit with water restrictions yet, but with the recent lack of rainfall and pipes bursting all around us from the heat (or construction), we should be conscious of water usage.  No one likes to look at a brown lawn, but grass is fairly resilient.  If you must water your lawn, do so early morning and after sun down.  The water you spray from your hose won’t evaporate quite as fast.  A layer of mulch on planting beds helps the earth retain moisture as well.

Indoor water use is harder to conserve without changing out plumbing fixtures or sacrificing cleanliness.  For a simpler fix, install an aerator on your faucets.  They are inexpensive and usually do not change the pressure of the water you feel coming out of the tap.  If you’ve got an older toilet in the house, consider reducing the amount of water used per flush by placing a 20-ounce water bottle full of water in the tank to displace some of the refill.  Make sure to test the toilet with the bottle in place before any real tests of the system are performed, but this alone will save you 20 ounces of water per flush.

For more tips and energy efficient strategies, log on to Pepco’s conservation tip page or the EPA’s water conservation website.