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Energy Saving Questions
The following are some of the most frequently asked
questions the team members at Shenandoah Valley Electric
Cooperative receive from the member/owners or the general
public relating to energy efficiency. If the answer to
your question is not listed, please contact us and we will
be happy to assist you.
Are thermostat timers a good thing to have?
Is it OK to adjust my thermostat every day?
Is there an advantage to shutting off
rooms in the house that are not being used?
If you replace your heat pump for energy
efficiency, but increase the tonnage of the heat pump, will
your usage decrease?
Are the new space heaters as efficient as advertised if
used as the main source of heat?
Should you use your oven as your heat
source?
How often should filters be replaced
on a heating system?
Are ceiling fans more efficient than
air conditioning?
How often should heat pumps be
serviced?
Do replacement windows, doors or heat
pumps, along with additional insulation offer a return or
savings on a monthly utility bill?
Does weather stripping, caulking or
foam help prevent air infiltration and save energy
consumption?
Does setting the thermostat higher
in winter and lower in summer cause more energy
consumption?
Does lowering your water heater's
thermostat help conserve energy?
Does insulation on water lines
help reduce energy usage?
Do old appliances use more energy
than new appliances?
Should we use energy efficiency
settings on appliances?
Should we replace incandescent bulbs
with CFL or fluorescent?
Should we turn monitors and
computers off when not in use?
Should we wash full loads or smaller
loads in the dishwasher and the washing machine?
Should leaking faucets or toilets
be repaired?
Should I unplug toasters, lamps, coffee
makers, radios, etc. to save energy?
Are thermostat timers a good thing to have?
If you have a mechanical thermostat it would be beneficial
to install a programmable thermostat and then you can
program it to come on.
Is it okay to adjust your thermostat up or down at
night or during the day when you're not at home, and put
it back to a normal setting when you are? If so, what's
the maximum amount you should fluctuate the temperature in
your house?
Normally with a heat pump, it is recommended to leave it on
a desired setting, but if you want to move it, do so in
one degree increments.
Is there an advantage to shutting off rooms in the
house that are not being used?
If you are using a heat pump as your source of heat, no.
Heat pumps are designed to operate more efficiently with an
open house effect because of the balancing and cold air
returns of the system.
If you replace your heat pump for energy efficiency, but
increase the tonnage of the heat pump, will your usage
decrease?
Usually the usage will increase because the unit you install
may need more electricity to operate because of the
compressor size.
Are the new space heaters as efficient as advertised if
used as the main source of heat?
No, if used as a main source of heat, a 1500 watt heater
uses 1.5 kW per hour of operation.
Should you use your oven as your heat source?
No.
How often should filters be replaced on a heating
system?
At least two times a year, but you should check them
monthly and replace more often if needed.
Are ceiling fans more efficient than air conditioning?
Yes, because they do not have compressors and do not use
the same energy levels as an air conditioner.
How often should heat pumps be serviced?
You should check the information provided by the manufacturer
or installer, however, as a rule it is recommended that
you should have heat pumps serviced before the heating
season and before the cooling season.
Do replacement windows, doors or heat pumps, along
with additional insulation offer a return or savings on
a monthly utility bill?
While these steps do create savings on your energy usage,
the cost for updating with energy efficient heat pumps and
appliances may lead to a greater savings over a longer
period of time.
Does weather stripping, caulking or foam help prevent
air infiltration and save energy consumption?
Yes, plus there is a low cost for material and a quicker
return on the investment.
Does setting the thermostat higher in winter and lower
in summer cause more energy consumption?
Yes. The recommended temperature settings are 68 degrees
in winter and 78 degrees in summer.
Does lowering your water heater's thermostat help
conserve energy?
Yes, the recommended temperature range is 120 to 125
degrees.
Does insulation on water lines help reduce energy
usage?
Yes, if you insulate the first six feet of the hot
water line.
Do old appliances use more energy than new appliances?
Yes, the technology used today makes energy efficient
appliances a fairly long term return on your investment.
Should we use energy efficiency settings on appliances?
Yes.
Should we replace incandescent bulbs with CFL or
fluorescent?
Yes, it is recommended to use CFL, fluorescent, or the new
LED lighting in areas that are used most frequently in
your home.
Should we turn monitors and computers off when not
in use?
Yes.
Should we wash full loads or smaller loads in the
dishwasher and the washing machine?
You should do full loads to get the most from the
electricity used for the cycle, regardless of the size.
You should also try to run these appliances during off-peak
hours.
Should leaking faucets or toilets be repaired?
Yes, the leaking faucets or toilets cause consumption by
the water heater and the well pump.
Should I unplug toasters, lamps, coffee makers, radios,
etc. to save energy?
No, there's not enough load in these appliances and
devices to carry (phantom load).
Does a water heater insulation blanket help conserve
energy?
Yes. If you are interested in receiving a free water heat
insulation blanket, contact SVEC about joining our
Load Management program.
Other FAQs
If you would like to request a copy of our
"Stretching Your Appliance Dollar" brochure
please e-mail us and include your name and mailing address.
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