PowerHouse News - August 2009
WPL edition
Weatherizing 101:
Seal air leaks to save energy and money
Most people think of weatherizing their homes in the fall before cold winter hits. The truth is that making your home more airtight can save you money on your energy bills all year long.
Weatherizing means sealing up your home to keep conditioned air inside and unconditioned air outside. When you weatherize, you save energy and money, because you’re not paying to heat and cool the outdoors.
Older homes tend to have more air leaks. However, even in newer homes, you might be surprised to learn just how much money is seeping out through hard-to-see cracks, holes and crevices.
A little air leakage here and there may not seem like a big deal. But consider this: a crack that’s just 1/16 of an inch wide around a window is just like leaving that same window open three inches all year long (source: U.S. Department of Energy). When you think about the little places where leakage can occur, the energy (and money) loss can really add up.
The good news is weatherizing your home is economical, easy and quick. The checklist below will get you started. You can find all the materials at your local hardware or home improvement store.
When caulking is suggested, use latex or acrylic caulk inside – it’s easy to clean up and more forgiving for beginners. Silicone caulk is great for outside use because it lasts longer and seals virtually every type of surface. If you choose expandable spray foam, practice application first on a piece of cardboard to get a feel for it. A little goes a long way.
Weatherizing checklist
First and foremost …
To learn more, ask about the Home Performance with ENERGY STAR® evaluation by calling Focus on Energy at 1-800-762-7077 or visiting focusonenergy.com.
Windows
Doors
Other openings, holes and cracks
Go paperless:
enroll in Your e-Bill
The FREE electronic way to receive and pay your utility bill online
Alliant Energy’s Your e-Bill payment option is a great example of how our individual decisions work together to create an impressive impact.
When you enroll in Your e-Bill, you opt not to receive a paper bill in the mail each month. Instead, you receive a convenient e-mail reminder when your bill is ready to be viewed and paid online. You save postage, save time, and save resources!
According to the Pay It Green Alliance calculator, the simple act of receiving and paying your monthly utility bill via Your e-Bill would:
If just HALF of Alliant Energy’s customers enrolled in Your e-Bill, each year we could:
You can enroll in Your e-Bill today through the Your Account Web site. You will need your Alliant Energy account number, and your bank account information in order to enroll.
Ask the expert -
Jeff Hicken, Manager – Gas Trading and Dispatch
How is natural gas pricing determined?
As anyone who heats their home with natural gas knows, there can be a lot of volatility in the price of natural gas. Prices for natural gas used by Alliant Energy customers consist of three main costs, explains Jeff Hicken, Manager-Gas Trading and Dispatch for Alliant Energy.
The cost of natural gas has become the largest portion of what customers pay for natural gas service. Alliant Energy does not profit from higher natural gas prices. It is a cost that is directly passed through to customers. When natural gas prices are high, so are the costs paid by the customer and the utility. Along the same lines, when natural gas prices decrease, so does the cost to the customer and the utility.
Weather is often the biggest factor in how much residential customers pay for natural gas during the winter heating season. About 20 percent of the country’s natural gas production comes from the Gulf of Mexico, so hurricanes can affect the production of natural gas, which in turn affects prices.
If Mother Nature delivers a particularly cold winter, chances are people will use more natural gas to stay warm. On the same note, a mild winter most likely means furnaces aren’t running as much and bills will be lower.
What’s on the Web?
Scoop up savings with cash rewards AND tax credits
Energy-efficient home improvements yield many rewards: savings on your energy bills, Cash-Back Rewards from Focus on Energy, and don’t forget increased federal income tax credits.
From now until December 31, 2010, you can earn a tax credit equal to 30 percent of the cost of qualifying equipment or projects. You can claim up to $1500 on all of the energy-efficient improvements you make at home (called a whole house credit).
While a number of improvements that qualify for Focus on Energy Cash-Back Rewards also qualify for a tax credit, some do not. In addition, there are some improvements, like energy-efficient roofing material, that qualify for the tax credit, but not a Cash-Back Reward.
Learn more about Cash-Back Rewards at focusonenergy.com.
So how do you keep it all straight? We’ve designed a handy reference chart for you at alliantenergy.com/taxcredits. It shows the tax credits available for residential, commercial, and agriculture customers, including renewable energy projects like solar water heaters, small wind turbines, and geothermal systems.
We’ve also included a list of links to other helpful energy-efficiency Web sites like ENERGY STAR® and the Dept. of Energy.
The information presented at alliantenergy.com/taxcredits is a summary of the energy efficiency building provisions set forth in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 and the 2008 extension of the Energy Policy Act of 2005. Details can and may change at any point, per governmental prerogative. We encourage you to speak with your tax advisor regarding these tax credits and any related qualifications and/or requirements. Equipment must meet certain energy-efficiency criteria to qualify for the credit. Receipts showing proof of purchase and a copy of the manufacturer’s certification will be required when filing your tax return. For additional information on tax credits, refer to energytaxincentives.org.
Energize your Wallet
Lighten up your electric bill with CFLs
One of the easiest, most affordable ways to cut your electric bill is by switching to compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs).
If you replace the bulbs in your five most-used light fixtures with CFLs, you can save more than $65 each year in electricity costs. That’s right – $65. In addition, you’ll spend less time and money replacing bulbs since CFLs last up to 10 times longer than traditional bulbs.
CFLs come in just about every shape and size imaginable. The most recognizable model is the curly-cue, but other designs are available for chandeliers, floodlights and more. Some CFLs even work with dimmer switches. If you are concerned about the harsh light given off by the first generation CFLs of years past, the soft, natural light of today’s CFLs may surprise you. Look for the words “soft white” on bulb packaging.
To reward you for purchasing CFLs, Alliant Energy offers cash rewards on qualifying CFL purchases.
CFL Cash-Back Rewards
$2 per bulb
focusonenergy.com
1-800-762-7077
CFLs produce more light and use less electricity than traditional incandescent light bulbs. As a result, you’ll want to purchase a CFL with a lower wattage to get the same amount of light. For example, when replacing a 60-watt incandescent bulb, choose a 15-watt CFL.
Proper disposal of CFLs
CFLs are safe to use. Though they contain trace amounts of mercury, no mercury is released when the bulbs are on and the bulbs pose no danger when used properly.
However, you can’t just throw them in your garbage can when they burn out. The bulb may break and release mercury into the environment. To find a bulb recycler in your area, check online at:
Even though it takes a little more effort to dispose of them properly, CFLs are still a smart and safe energy saver.
Shut down video consoles to win energy savings
Video gamers: there’s a simple way to save on your utility bill. When your game console is not in use, just turn it off! Consoles consume nearly as much power when left in idle mode as when actively playing. You could save up to $145 a year with this one easy action.
The Natural Resource Defense Council (NRDC) estimates that more than 40 percent of all homes in the United States contain at least one video game console. According to the NRDC study:
The popularity of video games continues to rise; approximately 17.5 million video game consoles were purchased in the United States in 2007.
The NRDC is encouraging video game console manufacturers to design game systems with a “sleep mode” like your computer monitor. So after three or more hours of inactivity the system goes into an idle mode, saving energy and costing you less each month.
Saving energy and saving money really can be as simple as hitting the off switch on your video game console. For more information on the NRDC’s study of video game consoles go to http://www.nrdc.org/energy/consoles/contents.asp.
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