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Saving Home Energy

Easy Ways to Help YourselfPart 1

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Direct Energy Use- Household

How We Use Energy in Our Homes in the Northeast

Heating accounts for the biggest chunk of a typical utility bill.

Source: Building Energy Data Book, Table 2.3.10: 2001 Energy End-Use for an Average Household by region

Water Heating

13%

Refrigerator8% Space

Cooling6%

Space Heating

40%

Other Appliances & lighting

33%

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How America Stays WarmHousehold Heating

SystemsAlthough several different types of fuels are available to heat our homes, more than half of Americans use natural gas.

http://www1.eere.energy.gov/consumer/tips/heating_cooling.html

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How the Rest of the Country Stays Warm

How Maine Stays Warm

Source: Historical Census of Housing – House Heating Fuel – 2000: www.census.gov/hhes/www/housing/census/historic/fuels.html accessed 8/20/08

Fuel Oil9%

Other8%

Electrical29%

No Heat1%

Natural Gas53%

Utility gas4%

Fuel oil, kerosene,

etc.80%

Wood6%

LP Gas5%

Electricity4%

Other Fuel1%

A recent Maine Lung Association survey indicated the 48% or Maine households intend to use wood stoves or pellet stoves as the main source or supplemental source of heat this winter.

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Home Heat Loss Averages

• Infiltration/Air Leakage: 35% • Windows and Doors: 18%-20% • Floors and Below Grade Space: 15%-18% • Walls: 12%-14% • Ceilings: 10%

Heat loss from a house

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Do You Need a Certified Audit?• Certified auditor list

http://www.mainehousing.org/ ENERGYAuditServices.aspx

• Online self audit

http://hes.lbl.gov/

• Home Energy Evaluation check list http://

www.extension.umaine.edu/energy/checklist.htm

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EVALUATION CHECKLIST FOR HOME ENERGY USE

Name:_________________ Housing: House_____ Apartment_____ Condo______ Mobile home______ Approximate square feet ________ Energy Source:

Energy usage: units used per year Energy cost per unit

JOINTS AND PENETRATIONS Yes No Comments

With draft detector (incense stick, feather, tissue taped to stick) check for drafts at outside openings, cracks and air leaks between house and foundation and in cellar or crawl space. Drafts observed?

Cracks in walls and foundations sealed and holes plugged in? Broken windows, rotted boards, and window sashes fixed and in good repair?

Insulated curtains or sealable window shutters or shades in use?

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window air leakage and caulking video

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InsulationR-value:thermal resistance which

indicates the resistance to heat flow. The higher the R-value, the greater the insulating effectiveness. The R-value depends on the type of material, its thickness, and its density.

U-value or coefficient of heat transmission:

Measurement of ability to pass heat through materials or combination of materials

U = 1/R R = 1/U

R-value and U-value are inverse of each other

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R-Values

• Measure the insulation in the attic

• To check walls:– Turn off power to an

outlet– Remove cover– Pull out small amount

of insulation– Check several outlets

• Ceilings & Attics: R-38 to R-49

• Walls: R-13 to R-21• Floor over unheated

crawl space: R-25 to R-30

• Crawl space wall: R-19• Slab edge: R-8• Basement Wall: R-10 to

R-11

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R-Values

• Measure the insulation in the attic

• To check walls:– Turn off power to an

outlet– Remove cover– Pull out small amount

of insulation– Check several outlets

• Ceilings & Attics: R-49 to R-60

• Walls: R-13 to R-21• Floor over unheated

crawl space: R-25 to R-30

• Crawl space wall: R-25• Slab edge: R-12• Basement Wall: R-11 to

R-15

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Building Material R-value Comparison

(see handout)Material: R-Value

/inchSoftwoods 1.25

Wood Siding 0.79

Concrete Blocks

0.58

Gypsum Board (1/2”)

0.45

Brick 0.20

Concrete 0.08

Wood Paneling

0.31

Material: R-Value/inch

Foams (rigid boards)

3.6 - 7.5

Blankets / Batts

3 - 4

Loose Fill 2 - 4

Sprayed Foam in place

4 - 8

Plywood 1.25

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Building Material R-Value Comparison

5.5

1.25

1.25

0.79

0.58

0.45

0.31

0.2

0.08

0 1 2 3 4 5 6

Foams (rigid boards)

Plywood

Softwood

Wood Siding

Concrete Blocks

Gypsum Board (1/2")

Wood Paneling

Brick

Concrete

Mat

eria

l

R-value per inch

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R- Value of a Wall Section

0.2 12.0 0.6 0.4

13.2

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DIY Evaluation Things to check:

1. Joints and Penetrations – caulk

2. Insulation – enough?3. Ventilation – to let

excess moisture out4. Ductwork – wrap

pipes with insulation5. Doors and Windows

– seal, pull curtains, indoor shutters

6. Heating & Cooling Systems – clean upgrade?

7. Appliances – upgrade 8. Water Heating –

insulate tank9. Lighting – fluorescent

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Step Two

• Calculate the heating costsBtu per Standard Heating Unit

• Use the mBtu to calculate savings

• mBtu = million Btu = 1,000,000 Btu

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Definition: BTU

A British Thermal Unit (BTU) is the amount of heat energy needed to raise the temperature of one pound of water by one degree F. This is the standard measurement used to state the amount of energy that a fuel has as well as the amount of output of any heat generating device.

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Heat content of fuel

Fuel Heat Content (BTUs)

Per Unit

Oil #2 138,500 gallon

Electricity 3,413 Kwh

Propane (LP gas) 92,500 gallon

Hardwood (dry) 24,000,000 Cord

Softwood (dry) 15,000,000 Cord

Wood Pellets 16,000,000 Ton

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Efficiency of Fuel Burning Systems

Fuel System Annual Fuel Utilization

Efficiency (AFUE)

Burner Fuel (#2) 65% to 90%

Electricity 100%

Propane (bottled gas) 95%

Wood 50% to 70%

Wood Pellets 80%

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Heat Cost Comparisons

Formula for cost per million BTU(Cost per unit of fuel ($) x 1,000,000) divided by (Energy content per

unit of fuel (BTU) and the product of this divided by the Annual Fuel Utilization

Efficiency of your heating appliance

Fuel Cost per unit

Cost per million BTUs

Electricity $0.16/KWH $47

Oil #2 (65% AFUE)

$3.50/gallon$2.34/gallon

$39$26

Hardwood (dry) $285/cord$190/cord

$24$10

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Calculating How Many MBtu

Used in a Year Example #2 Oil:

(# gallons oil X 138,500 Btu/gal) /1,000,000= # MBtu /Y

(500 gal X 138,500 MBtu/gal)/1,000,000= 69 MBtu/Y

Cost of oil $2.34 / gallon = $1,170 / Y

Furnace efficiency of 65% = 45 MBtu / Y

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Should I Use Hardwood? .

Example:

MBtu * 1,000,000 used for heat divided by # BTU/cord divided by the efficiency of the stove= equivalent cords needed to provide heat

80% efficient furnace: 45 MBtu * (1,000,000/24,000,000)/.8 = 2.3 cords

Cost of firewood @ $190/cord = $437/Y

Compared to oil at $1,170/Y

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Example Calculations

• Fuel Oil today = $2.34/gallon• 2.34 x 1,000,000 = 2,340,000• Fuel Oil has 138,500 BTUs/Gallon• 2,340,000 / 138,500 =16.90• 16.90/.65% efficiency = 25.99/mBtu

Formula for cost per million BTU(Cost per unit of fuel ($) x 1,000,000) divided by (Energy content per

unit of fuel (BTU) and the product of this divided by the Annual Fuel Utilization

Efficiency of your heating appliance

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Example Calculations

• Frank’s Firewood = $190/cord• 190 x 1,000,000 = 190,000,000• Hardwood has 24,000,000 BTUs/cord• 190,000,000/24,000,000 = 7.92• 7.92/.80% efficiency = $9.89 mBTU

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Example: Annual Energy CostsIncrease Attic Insulation

Cost R-27 Cost R-47

Fuel Costs (15% estimate savings)

$2,408 $2,268

Insulation (40 packs of loose fill cellulose @ $8.88)

$355

Savings estimate $140per year

Time to pay back insulation costs

2.5 years

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Financial Incentives

• Home Energy Loan Program (HELP) – Low income home owners– Improve efficiencies &/or

replacements – 3.95% loan up to $30,000– www.mainehousing.org

• Compact Fluorescent Bulbs– Instant rebate at store $2

to $12– www.efficiencymaine.com

• Residential Energy Efficiency Tax Credit – Improve efficiencies

and/or replacements including stoves that use biomass.

– Amount of credit is 30% of cost for all technologies placed in service in 2009 and 2010 combined up to $1,500

– www.irs.gov

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Energy Resources

• http://www.extension.umaine.edu/energy/default.htm

• http://www1.eere.energy.gov/consumer/tips/