"Stupid" Energy Saving Tips

[semipro]

I came across this today and found it interesting. Thought I'd share. I definitely don't agree with No. 8. No. 2 was mentioned here lately. No. 7 has been seen floating around Hearth for a while as I recall.

From: (broken link removed to http://www.greenbuildingadvisor.com/blogs/dept/musings/stupid-energy-saving-tips?utm_source=email&utm_medium=eletter&utm_content=gba_eletter&utm_campaign=green-building-advisor-eletter)

The Top Ten List of stupid energy tips
Here’s my top ten list — common tips that show up repeatedly.

1. Fill your half-empty refrigerator or freezer with plastic bottles filled with water. This stupid tip will never save you enough energy to show up on your electric bill. Nevertheless, the advice is provided by (broken link removed to http://www.consumerenergycenter.org/tips/summer.html), an electric utility called NV Energy, Avista Utilities, (broken link removed to http://www.wisconsinpublicservice.com/home/holidaytips.aspx), Georgia Natural Gas, (broken link removed), (broken link removed), (broken link removed to http://www.energyright.com/residential/energy_saving_tips.html), and many others.

2. Clean the dust off your refrigerator’s heat-exchange coils. As I’ve noted before, researchers haven’t been able to measure any energy savings resulting from this measure. But a lack of data hasn’t stopped the following sources from advising homeowners to get out the vacuum cleaner: NV Energy, (broken link removed), and (broken link removed to http://www.energyright.com/residential/energy_saving_tips.html).

3. Schedule an annual furnace tune-up. As Michael Blasnik has shown, there is no evidence to support the idea that the cost of an annual furnace tune-up can ever be recouped by energy savings. This tip (often referred to as the “make-work-for-HVAC-techs” tip) is trumpeted by an electric utility called WE Energies, Wisconsin Public Service, (broken link removed), (broken link removed to http://www.energyright.com/residential/energy_saving_tips.html), and (broken link removed to http://www.powerhousetv.com/Energy-EfficientLiving/Energy-savingsTips/027471).

4. Change your furnace filters monthly. Monthly? Really? Yes — according to (broken link removed to http://www.wisconsinpublicservice.com/home/holidaytips.aspx) and (broken link removed to http://www.energyright.com/residential/energy_saving_tips.html).

5. To reduce the rate of air leakage in your home, start by caulking around windows. Actually, the big leaks are in your attic and basement, not around your windows. That doesn’t stop many sources from offering the “caulk your windows” advice. Among the guilty are (broken link removed to http://www.consumerenergycenter.org/tips/summer.html), NV Energy, WE Energies, (broken link removed to http://resources.ca.gov/tips.html), Virginia Energy Sense, and (broken link removed). (The tip from NSTAR even includes a definition of the word “weatherize.” The site advises, “Weatherize your home by caulking and weather-stripping all doors and windows.”)

6. Install foam gaskets under your electrical outlet covers. There are only two problems with the advice: electrical outlets aren’t a major air leakage point, and gaskets don’t stop air leaks at this location. These two small problems don’t prevent the following sources from providing the tip: (broken link removed to http://www.consumerenergycenter.org/tips/summer.html), a gas utility called PSNC Energy, (broken link removed to http://www.powerhousetv.com/Energy-EfficientLiving/Energy-savingsTips/027471), and (broken link removed to http://www.cnn.com/2009/TECH/10/20/rs.energy.savings/index.html?iref=mpstoryview).

7. Run your ceiling fans backwards during the winter. No researcher has ever been able to show that this practice saves energy. This tip may even make you uncomfortable enough to turn up the thermostat, raising your energy bills. But the advice is provided by (broken link removed to https://www.progress-energy.com/carolinas/home/save-energy-money/energy-saving-tips-calculators/100-tips.page), (broken link removed to http://www.alabamapower.com/residential/save-money-energy/tips.asp), (broken link removed to https://www.xcelenergy.com/staticfiles/xe/Marketing/Files/UsingNaturalGasatHome.pdf), and (broken link removed to http://blog.sustainability.uic.edu/2013/11/normal-0-false-false-false-en-us-ja-x.html).

8. Run your air conditioner and ceiling fans simultaneously. According to a 1996 paper (“Are Energy Savings Due to Ceiling Fans Just Hot Air?”) by P. James, Jeffrey Sonne, R. Vieira, Danny Parker, and M. Anello, “Data from 386 surveyed Central Florida households suggests that although fans are used an average of 13.4 hours per day, no statistically valid difference can be observed in thermostat settings between households using fans and those without them.” In other words, homeowners who run their ceiling fans and air conditioners simultaneously would be better off if they turned off their ceiling fans. This bad advice is provided by WE Energies and a utility called PSE&G.

9. Locate your air conditioner condenser in the shade to keep it cool. This myth was debunked many years ago by researchers at the Florida Solar Energy Center. Yet it still keeps cropping up, most recently in advice provided by PSNC Energy.

10. During the winter, close your curtains at night to save energy. When this advice is repeated, the authors usually fail to mention that you need a way to stop air from flowing between the curtain and the window — or else (broken link removed to http://umaine.edu/publications/7214e/) This incomplete tip is provided by many sources, including (broken link removed) and the website of the National Association of Certified Home Inspectors.

 

[Highbeam]

I would like to add my pet peave. The supposed vampire loads of wall warts are often touted as the evil energy hogs of a house. They're not.

 

[bmblank]

But come on, those Wall warts are drawing milliamps per day!

 

[Slow1]

I would like to add my pet peave. The supposed vampire loads of wall warts are often touted as the evil energy hogs of a house. They're not.

I can't agree more. When I was on my extensive "kill-a-watt" kick I found that these loads (even with the older non-switching power supplies) make such a small percentage of the power used that they effectively don't matter.

However - exception to this is (as mentioned in another thread) TV and cable boxes that are actually running when folks think they are turned off - these really draw power. I don't have a TiVo type device here but I imagine keeping one running 24/7 is bound to become significant. So, the actual wall warts don't draw a whole lot, but some things plugged into them do even when not in use (poor designs in my opinion).

 

[WarmBluthner]

When I draw the curtains the temperature in
my room rises significantly.

 

[bmblank]

Curtains definitely work... As long as you have decent curtains and there isn't a convection current constantly rotating cool air around.

 

[woodgeek]

A lot of what people sense with curtains is lower radiant cooling making them warmer.

 

[fossil]

Some of the things on that list make sense to me, some don't. In any case, whenever I see any sort of list by someone calling everyone else "stupid", I tend to pretty much ignore the arrogant bastard.

 

[woodgeek]

I'd recommend reading the full article and skimming the comments. The author has a lot of cred in the building science community.

 

[fossil]

I don't imagine the guy is "stupid". But why does he have to call a whole bunch of other people and organizations "stupid"? It's his attitude I have a problem with, not whatever it is he knows.

 

[semipro]

Above at least he calls the tips "stupid" not the ones that share them. (I didn't go back an review the article)
I have to admit I've provided some stupid advice here on occasion but I'm hoping that doesn't make me stupid.

 

[woodgeek]

I think the author, self-described 'Energy Nerd' Martin Holladay, is honestly trying to educate folks with a free blog, and is a little fed up that a lot of other sources, mostly utility companies, are putting out a continuous noise of 'stupid' suggestions that don't work, wasting honest folks' time, energy and money.

He's written different versions of this post every year around this time, and he gets a little outspoken in the post (typical for a long-form blog) and maintains a civil comment thread.

His bio is former hippie in the energy eff and related business since the 70s, with a significant multi-author web presence widely considered the go-to source for best practice info.

Reminds me of Craig.

 

[Circus]

These idea's aren't that bad, I've seen much stupider. "Solar air collectors for inside your window" go's beyond stupid, it's a ripoff.

When I draw the curtains the temperature in my room rises significantly.

Naughty, naughty

Run your ceiling fans backwards during the winter. No researcher has ever been able to show that this practice saves energy

Depends on ceiling height. A high ceiling is warmer than the floor. People live near floors.

the big leaks are in your attic and basement, not around your windows.

Ten minutes and $.50 of clear chalk between the moulding and an uneven wall lowers infiltration. Worth doing.

fill refrigerator with water bottles

fewer start cycles equals longer life.

 

[maple1]

I wouldn't have thought No.9 was stupid.

 

[starfoxACEFOX]

No. 2 wouldn't apply to newer refrigerator, ones with smaller condenser and uses fans. Would have to be clean, I have 4 husky and I get a lot of fur. I went without cleaning mine for 3 years one day I got error message saying refrigerator was overheating. It was because condenser was full of doggie fur. Because of that like any refrigerant base system, less heat moved longer it going to run.

 

[Bret Chase]

These idea's aren't that bad, I've seen much stupider. "Solar air collectors for inside your window" go's beyond stupid, it's a ripoff.
Ten minutes and $.50 of clear chalk between the moulding and an uneven wall lowers infiltration. Worth doing.
.

If you have wood windows... caulking around them is just about the most efficient way to rot out the sill, particularly in older houses. if you've got plastic or aluminum (They suck) windows.... knock yourself out....

 

[DawsonBuck18]

I live in Georgia. It may be 24 degrees right now but it gets very hot here in he summer. I have seven ceiling fans. Personally, I can tolerate the thermostat set to 78 in August when the fans are all running, otherwise I would have to set the thermostat to 74. It equates to significant savings in my all electric house.

Running the monster 72 inch ceiling fan located in my living room just in front of my stove insert this winter is moving heat up the stair case to my second floor somehow. I can verify this with my Kintrex infrared thermometer and I can see the cob webs on the stair case wall flap in the warm breeze when the ceiling fan is doing its thing. I'm a believer in celing fans

 

[Circus]

Circus said: ↑ These idea's aren't that bad, I've seen much stupider. "Solar air collectors for inside your window" go's beyond stupid, it's a ripoff. Ten minutes and $.50 of clear chalk between the moulding and an uneven wall lowers infiltration. Worth doing. .

Bret Chase, Click to expand...If you have wood windows... caulking around them is just about the most efficient way to rot out the sill, particularly in older houses. if you've got plastic or aluminum (They suck) windows.... knock yourself out....

Caulk go's on the inside moulding/wall

 

[peakbagger]

I must admit I run my ceiling fan backwards in my office on occasion in winter. I have tray type ceiling that is about 10 feet high at the top of tray. Heat tends to collect in this space even on cold days. If I run the fan forwards, I get draft from the fan which cools me down due to increase in convective heat loss on my upper body. By running the fan backwards, the draft is far less noticable as the air hits the ceiling and spreads out horizontally across the tray picking up heated ari and reducings its velocity until it drops down the tray into the main room at a far lower velocity.

 

[semipro]

Caulk go's on the inside moulding/wall

Sealing on the inside is effective only if the inside wall is constructed as a true air barrier (e.g. airtight drywall).
This is uncommon in the U.S.
http://www.finehomebuilding.com/how-to/departments/energy-smart-details/airtight-drywall.aspx

Edit: this applies to no. 6 above also. Putting the foam gaskets on does no good because the boxes and outlets are leaky unless you go with airtight models (very uncommon).

 

[semipro]

I wouldn't have thought No.9 was stupid.

Same here.
Maybe its because condensers are convective devices and the radiation from the sun in insignificant comparatively. You could say the air is cooler in the shade but if the condenser fan is operating as it should the cooler shaded air would be quickly mixed with that from sunlit areas negating any benefit.

 

[woodgeek]

Same here.
Maybe its because condensers are convective devices and the radiation from the sun in insignificant comparatively. You could say the air is cooler in the shade but if the condenser fan is operating as it should the cooler shaded air would be quickly mixed with that from sunlit areas negating any benefit.

If you read down the comments, that's exactly right. If you had a fan blowing a gale right in your face, could you feel the difference whether the sun was shining on it or not?

 

[flyingcow]

I would like to add my pet peave. The supposed vampire loads of wall warts are often touted as the evil energy hogs of a house. They're not.

I wish someone could convince my wife of that. Maddening sometimes....cell phone charger. And puts it away, the nerve, cleaning up after me.

 

[Bret Chase]

Caulk go's on the inside moulding/wall

caulking is used, at least in my area, on the inside, for entirely different purpose. Caulks like Alex-Plus or S-W 950A are used to fill the gap between finish and the wall to provide a nice paint finish. There is NO consideration given to air sealing in this application. In my experience, the building envelope is closed from the outside, particularly in LEEDS certified structures. Also, in my experience, caulking around wood windows, on the outside, in a 20+ year old structure will do nothing more than make them rot.

 

[begreen]

I find the attitude of the writer somewhat condescending. At times the author appears to be grasping to make a point. Several of tips are partially stated or partial truths. For example, true that some insulated curtain installations are less effective than they could be. But, insulated curtains can work and the fact that you need to be aware of cold air spill doesn't negate their effectiveness. Running a ceiling fan backward can be very effective at breaking up heat stratification in high and cathedral ceilings in a draft free fashion. It doesn't make one uncomfortable unless the fan is maybe at high speed. And just because this person hasn't found research on the topic, that doesn't mean it doesn't exist. Overall this fellow lost me after the first 5 refutes due to his arrogance and nit picking to make a point.