Are vampires sucking your electricity?
Standby or vampire power as it is most commonly referred to, wastes $10 Billion of Electricity Annually in the United States alone. The average US household has about 40 electronic devices that constantly draw small amounts of power.
Top 10 Energy Vampires in Your home
- Laptop computer chargers
- answering and machines
- Computer printer
- TVs and cable boxes,
- VCRs, DVD players, DVD recorders, digital video recorders,
- phone and iPod chargers
- hubs and routers,
- video camera battery charger
- plugged-in electric toys
- night lights
Check out the Vampire Power Sucks website for tip on how to reduce vampire power.
Edit: January 2013 this website is no longer available. If you would like to learn more about Vampire Energy check out the Energy Star site:
Energy Star, Standby Power and Energy Vampires
Homes with Natural Gas appliances save approximatly $518 annually
According to The American Gas Association households that have natural gas appliances, such as cooking ranges, clothes driers and heaters save about $518 compared to homes that use electric appliances.
Benefits of using natural gas for key appliances includes:
Lower energy bills
Decrease in greenhouse emissions and pollutants (up to 37% less emissions compared to electric appliances)
Safety and Reliability
“The direct use of natural gas provides three times more useful energy to consumers than electricity,” said Dave McCurdy, president and CEO of AGA.
To read more about the benefits and savings of natural gas visit the American Gas Association website
New Energy Efficiency Standards for Residential Clothes Washers and Dishwashers
The Department of Energy announced yesterday the most recent in a series of common-sense efficiency standards made by the Obama Administration. The newest efficiency standard focuses on residential clothes washers and dishwashers and will save consumers $20 billion in energy and water costs.
These new standards add to previous energy efficiency requirements and will go into effect in 2015 for clothes washers and 2013 for dishwashers.
Approximately 3% of residential energy use and more than 20% of indoor water use can be attributed to clothes washers and dishwashers.
The new standards will reduce the energy consumption for front-loading clothes washers by 15% and will cut water consumption by 35%.Top loading clothes washers will save 33% on energy and 19% on water use.Residential dishwashers will use about 15% less energy and more than 20% less water, directly providing consumers with savings on monthly bills.
Learn more about the energy and cost-saving standards adopted under the Obama Administration on the Department of Energy website
Researchers are generating power using viruses
This might sound weird but researchers at Berkeley Lab have developed a method to generate power using a virus.
The harmless M13 bacteriophage virus converts mechanical energy into electricity, and is the first generator to produce electricity by harnessing the piezoelectric properties of a biological material.
Testing the generator produced enough current to run a small liquid-crystal display. Image courtesy of Berkley Lab
This new technology will one day make it possible to charge your smartphone as you walk, thanks to a paper-thin generator on the sole of your shoe. Can you imagine all the other great uses for this type of generator.
Learn more about this amazing technology and even watch a video on how it works at the Berkeley Labs website
Why some organizations might be slow to invest in energy efficiency
Energy costs in a typical office building make up about 1/5 of all operating costs, but organizations are slow to invest in energy efficiency.
Check out this great article How energy efficiency investments can enhance a business’s bottom line by reducing operating costs on Smart Business to learn why these organizations might be dragging their feet when it comes to energy-efficient upgrades.
The Easiest Way To Save Money On Your Energy Bills
Great post by Energy Saving Tips The Easiest Way To Save Money On Your Energy Bills.
So what is the easiest way to save money on your energy bills, switch to a supplier like Realgy Energy Services.
Check out Realgy Energy Services electric rates
ComEd Outage Alert Map and Mobile App
ComEd has announced two new ways it is utilizing technology to improve communication with their customers. The first is an interactive online outage map and the second is a mobile application for smartphones.
“These new features are just two of many improvements ComEd has made in recent months as part of our focus on delivering greater value to our customers through enhanced customer service,” said Terence R. Donnelly, executive vice president and chief operations officer of ComEd.
ComEd’s interactive outage map allows customers to report and view current outages. The color-coded triangle icons illustrate how many customers are affected by each incident, as well as pinpointing the outage location.
Zooming in on a specific area gives more details such as Customers Affected, Estimated Restoration and Crew Status. The map is updated every half hour, and a mobile version is in the works as well.
When you zoom in on the ComEd Outage map more details are shown
The interactive outage map can be found on the ComEd website www.comed.com under the Customer Service tab, along with other useful outage information or by clicking here www.comed.com/map.
The new ComEd Mobile App like the outage map will allow customers to report power outages and check restoration status. ComEd residential customers will also be able to use the app to view account information such as:
- Account balance
- Account history
- Manage payments, including budget billing, automatic and one-time payments
- Report meter readings
The ComEd mobile app is free and available for download on iPhone and Android devices on the ComEd website www.comed.com/app or by searching for “COMED” in the application store on your smartphone.
Have you tried the ComEd Outage Map or Mobile App let us know what you think?
Outdoor Electrical Safety
Did you know that May is National Electrical Safety month? To celebrate Realgy Energy Services has compiled a list of the top 10 tips to keep you safe while outdoors.
Electricity can be very dangerous if not used correctly, but sound safety practices can help minimize electrical hazards and cut down the risk of accidents.The more you know about electricity, the safer you will be both at work and home.
10 outdoor electrical safety tips
1. Never use electrical equipment or tools near pools or other wet areas, such as wet grass. Always use extension cords rated for outdoor use.
2. Be aware of and stay at least 10 feet from overhead power lines when carrying and setting up ladders or when using long-handled tools.
3. Call before digging. Call 811 to locate any underground power lines before digging. For more information check out the call 811 website
4. Get help installing antennas if needed. Remember to keep yourself, tools, materials or equipment at least 10 feet away from any overhead power lines.
5. Fly kites and model airplanes in open areas well away from trees and power lines.
6. Inspect all outdoor power tools and electric lawn mowers for frayed power cords, broken plugs and cracked or broken housings. If the cord is damaged, stop using it.
7. Never climb or play in trees that are near or touching power lines.
8. Do not play on or with utility poles, this includes throwing objects, such as sneakers, at or onto electric power lines.
9. Use caution when trimming trees. Before attempting any tree pruning, look for overhead power lines that may be near and/or hidden by the tree foliage. If in doubt hire a professional qualified contractor.
10. Always assume electric lines are live and treat them with caution and respect. Even low-voltage electric lines and cords can be hazardous if damaged or improperly handled.
If you are ever unsure about the safety of electrical wires or another form of electricity either at home or at work contact your local utility. You can find an emergency hotline on most utility invoices if there is not emergency number call the customer service number.
Sources:
Love to know Safety, Electrical Safety Tips for children
ComEd, Be aware of the power lines where you live and work
National Safety Council, Practice Safety around Electricity
In Response to “IBM’s Battery 500 Project”
Written by Michael Vrtis President of Realgy Energy Services in response to “IBM’s Battery 500 project”
The known amount of natural gas in the US has increased over the last 5 years to the point that it now represents over 20% of all the US’s energy reserves (remember some call the US the Saudi Arabia of coal). The natural gas recoverable by the use of hydraulic fracturing (fracking) is a game changer for the US.
Map of Shale Gas in the US courtesy of US EIA (July 2011)
There is discussion among business leaders (not politicians) that the conversion to natural gas vehicles and investment in natural gas distribution could reduce oil imports over 60% within 5 years! This is not a political aspiration it’s business.
How has the electric energy industry responded?
Well electricity and natural gas have always been competitors through technology. Natural gas heating applications have been constantly targeted by electric heating. Electric motors have been challenged by natural gas driven engines. Large electric driven air conditioning systems have competed with natural gas driven absorption technology.
So given that natural gas resources (from fracking) has allowed natural gas to truly challenge gasoline as a transportation fuel I am not surprised that an electric option will not be far behind!
Let’s keep competing.
Huffington Post, Tech “EV’s Holy Grail: 500 Miles on a Single Charge”
2012 Energy Star Tax Credits
For the year 2012, the Federal Government is offering a tax credit for the purchase of geothermal heat pumps, small residential wind turbines, and solar energy systems including solar water heaters.
This tax credit will expire on December 31, 2016, and will cover thirty percent of the cost with no limit. The only restriction is that the products purchased must be for an existing or new construction home that is a main residence or second home, and unfortunately rental properties do not count.
Although Energy Star qualified products may cost more initially than a standard model in the long run they will result in lower energy bills. The savings from these energy-efficient products can add up to thousands of dollars over the life of the unit.
Check out the Energy Star website www.energystar.gov to learn more about the Energy Star tax credits for 2012