Polish Health Clinic Becomes Energy Efficient

A health clinic in Poland enacts energy efficiency measures.

What Can Renters and Homeowners Do to be More Energy Efficient?

A senior consultant, Kendra Tupper, with the Rocky Mountain Institute conducted an online chat at Greenopolis.org today. When asked about energy efficiency, Tupper, an expert on the subject, listed simple things both renters and homeowners can do. Here are Tupper’s recommendations:

For renters

1. Tenant Fit Out: When you are first fitting out a space, the renter or tenant can choose materials and finishes which are environmentally friendly and have low embodied energy.
2. Lighting: One of the biggest electricity consumers in office spaces is lighting - this is something the tenants can often retrofit themselves. Look for third generation T8, efficient electronic ballasts, and occupancy sensors and daylight controls (where applicable).
3. Submetering: Request that your space be submetered (this is most successful if negotiated during the fit out). Even if the tenant has to pay for this, you can often recoup the cost if your able to negotiate utlity billing based on submetering, rather than building wide metering. With this scenario, you realize the cost paybacks of your retrofits.
4. Cooperate with landlord: Offer to share the up front cost (and utility savings) with your landlord. Lease renogiations are a good time to address collaborative projects, and you can structure the lease to align incentives to make efficiency upgrades.

For homeowners

1. Programmable thermostats
2. Energy efficient window shades - thermal or insulated window coverings can add up to R6 to your windows
3. Seal ductwork with mastic tape to prevent leakage
4. Weatherstripping, window caulking, and foam barriers behind electric outlet plates to prevent infiltration
5. Clean refrigerator coils - these should be cleaned twice a year as dust build up prevents the condenser from operating
6. Shade the condensing unit of your AC unit - this maintains a low temp for the condensing unit and it will run more efficiently
7. Insulate hot water tank and pipes
8. Lower the temperature on your DHW tank to reduce heat loss - it shouldn't be set higher than 110F
9. Plant deciduous trees on the west and south side of the house to block solar heat gain
10. Turn off power strips when plug loads are not being used

The Most Effective Way to Reduce Emissions

The recently released report, Consensus Recommendations for Future Federal Climate Legislation in 2009 published by various environmental and business organizations, states that energy efficiency is the must effective way to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Energy efficiency improvements, as experience in many states indicates, cost an average three center per lifetime kilowatt-hour saved compared to seven to thirteen cents per kilowatt-hour for conventional energy.

The power sector generates the largest amount of GHG emissions in the U.S., 37 percent. Carbon emissions from the power sector are greater than GHG emissions of all other countries but China. A report titled Carbon Caps and Efficiency Resources by Richard Cowart calls energy efficiency the "low-cost equivalent of a carbon scrubber for the electric power sector" and the key resource to create a "low-carbon power sector."

Polices are needed to "realize the full potential of energy efficiency" according to a report, A Call for Action by the U.S. Climate Action Partner. The report recommends climate legislation to create federal and state policies that "align financial and regulatory incentives with utilities' business interests."  The report also recommends that stronger energy efficiency codes and standards, plus incentives and tax reform measures by enacted. 

The Stimulus Package and the Environment

President Barack Obama and the House are working out an $825 billion economic stimulus package. The good news for environmentalists is that renewable energy, energy efficiency, and electricity transmission are included. During his first weekly address, Obama said the stimulus will do more than just "boost employment...It's one that will invest in our most important priorities -- like energy and education and...a new infrastructure -- that are necessary to keep us strong and competitive in the 21st century."

Break-down of spending on the environment

• $50 billion for renewable energy projects
• $37.4 billion to Energy Department, most must be spent in 100 days (mostly R&D)
• $32 billion for a new smart electrical grid (digital) which would reduce waste
• $20 billion in tax cuts for renewable energy projects
• $16 billion for repairing and retrofitting public houses in order to make them more energy efficient
• $10 billion public transportation…but $32 billion for building new roads
• $6 billion for weatherizing modest income houses
• $2 billion in loan guarantees for makers of advanced vehicle batteries and battery systems

Gina-Marie Cheeseman
Freelance writer, journalist, editor

For further reading:

Investing in Our Future: Support for a Clean Energy Economy