Conceptualizing energy efficiency can be difficult. There is not a representative device such as a wind turbine or solar panel. Rather, it is a collection of policies, strategies, and technologies involving businesses, homes, transportation, and behavior that enhance the way people live. For measurement and verification, 8 energy efficiency myths are debunked below.
1. It takes less energy to leave the lights on all day than it does to turn the lights on and off several times a day.
Given today’s lighting technology, this myth is completely false. For many years, commercial buildings used florescent bulbs for lighting. Such bulbs took a very long time to turn on. In fact, some took several minutes, which is why most people preferred to leave them on. Not only was is frustrating and impractical to wait for five minutes before starting a meeting or presentation, it also took a lot of energy to fire up the bulbs. Modern bulbs light up in less than a second; therefore, if one does not need lighting, it is better to switch off.
2. To keep a room cool, leave the ceiling fan on.
The aim of a ceiling fan is to cool people, not the room. Fans recirculate air and create a slight breeze that cools down people in the room. Unlike AC units, fans do not actually alter the air temperature. Therefore, people can save energy by turning off their air conditioners and turning on their ceiling fans only when they are in the room. When out, they should keep both the AC and fan off.
• Adjusting the thermostat settings downwards or upwards several degrees will cool or heat a room faster. A thermostat is a simple temperature regulator. It simply tells the HVAC system to turn on or off once the temperature in a room reaches a certain level. Changing the settings does not make a thermostat work harder. Rather, it only makes the heating and cooling system work longer.
• Turning a computer on and off wastes energy. Like the light bulbs in myth number one, older computers tended to wear out faster from being constantly turned on and off. Modern PCs are not as finicky. People should, therefore, turn off their computers when not in use.
• Electric space heaters save money. This is only true when one is doing it right. Most buildings in the U.S. use natural gas for heating. However, homeowners should find out whether the cost of gas in their area is actually cheaper than the cost of electricity. For some, the cost of electricity may be ten times more expensive, which means that their space heaters would cost them significantly more to run.
• If air is leaking from a building, the windows and doors are to blame. While doors and windows play a big role, the most extreme air leakage comes from holes in the attic and ceiling and air duct leaks.
• Cooling a building when the air conditioner has been off all weekend is more expensive than keeping it running at a higher temperature. This myth does not hold any water. It is always cheaper to shut down the AC unit completely. Keeping it running over the weekend or all night wastes unnecessary energy.
• It is impossible to decrease the energy bill without buying new and expensive equipment. The truth is that the cost of energy is one of the most controllable costs in a home or business. People can work with what they have by changing their behaviors. Simple things like shutting down computers, turning off the lights, and closing the shades can go a long way in controlling energy costs.
Energy savings from efficiency can save homes and businesses a lot of money. Improvements in energy efficiency have reduced the country’s energy costs by billions of dollars. The money saved can be reinvested to create more jobs and support businesses. Follow our blog for more great HVAC Information.