Helping Clients Improve the Energy Consumption of Their Home

As a coach or consultant who works with people in areas such as holistic nutrition, holistic health, stress management, green living, lifestyle enhancement, and similar will want to consider the detailed information in this article. Improving a client’s home environment is an important aspect of optimizing health and happiness. 

Why Your Energy Use Counts 

Much of the Green Movement has been focused on reducing our energy consumption. Why? The average American consumes six times more energy than the world average. The average U.S. family spends about $1800 per year on their utility bills. That’s about $150 per month (and much higher as of 2022). Unfortunately, a lot of that energy is simply wasted. Here’s why wasted energy and leaving the lights on in the house and electronics on 24/7 matters. America depends on fossil fuels for about 85% of our energy supply. 40 Carbon dioxide pollution or C02 output results with this fossil fuel combustion. High amounts of CO2 leads to greenhouse gases which are thought to lead to global climate change. 

If you think the only way to save on energy consumption is by installing an expensive set of solar panels on your house is the solution, read on. Making small fundamental shifts around your house can make a big difference. And remember we are about making small steps that when done consistently over time, add up to big change. Remembering to turn off the light and unplug your charger when not in use, adds up to dollars saved and less CO2 output. 

Initially, I was resistant to the whole saving energy in my home thing, because I really didn’t understand the connection between my home and CO2 output and wasted energy. But once I started adding up my wasted energy consumption in my home, I got inspired to start making some changes. I saw that I could start saving over $200 a year on my bills! That’s motivating. 

Home Heating and Cooling Systems 

Much has been discussed in the media about creating and building energy-efficient homes by keeping the cool air in and the hot air out or vice versa. What many have forgotten in this conversation is indoor air quality. Remember, we spend 90% of our time indoors. While creating an energy-efficient home that doesn’t let a breath of fresh outdoor air in may sound good to energy conservationists, you might be creating a worse air pollution problem in your home or office than the outdoor air, even in a big city. Remember all of the off-gassings that goes on from carpeting, furniture, walls, and more we discussed earlier? However, you can reach a balance, you just need to be conscious of what’s going on in your house. 

Heating and cooling systems use the most amount of energy in a home. 40 EnvironmentAmerica.org, New Energy Future Reports 

About 44% of an energy bill goes to keeping the temperature within a home comfortable. If your systems are needlessly working overtime, you’re wasting your own dollars and polluting the environment with C02. You can request from your utility company a simple energy audit, which will help you identify where your home or office is wasting energy. Also, get a basic tune-up for your HVAC unit while you’re at it. This will ensure that your unit is running at tip-top shape, checking everything from the refrigerant charge to the condenser coils, and furnace boiler. 

Doors and Windows 

About one-third of an average home’s heat loss occurs through windows and doors. Reducing air leakage puts dollars back into your pocket and reduces C02 air pollution. If you can see daylight around a door or window frame, then the door or window leaks. Sealing up small cracks can save you 10% or more on your energy bills. But remember it’s important to open the windows every so often to let the fresh air in. 

Some simple and easy do-it-yourself solutions include closing cracks to the outside by using:

• Weatherstripping
• Rope caulking
• Sealing foam 
• Draft snake, used underneath a door where big gaps can hide
• Add storm windows or sheets of clear plastic to the outside to create an additional barrier
• On sunny, summer days close the drapes to keep out the heat
• On sunny, winter days, open the drapes to let in the heat 

Other more expensive solutions include replacing old windows with new energy-efficient windows. You can now find windows, doors, and skylights that are backed by the government’s Energy Star program. 

Other top tips for energy reduction: 

• Set your AC to 78 degrees in the summer when you are home, and 85 degrees when you are out 
• In the winter, set your heater to 68 degrees when you are home, and 55 degrees when you are out and or asleep 
• If don’t already have one, get a programmable thermostat certified by Energy Star and automate the above settings (then you don’t have to think about it) 
• On mild sunny days, use a fan instead of central AC 
• In the cool winter, put on an extra sweater instead of turning up the heat 

Appliance Know How 

Appliances make up about 20% of your utility bill. At the top of the list are your refrigerator (and any extra refrigerators or freezers you may have in the garage), and a washer and dryer.

Here are some simple tips for reducing your appliance energy usage. 

When it comes to the washing machine, wash as much as you can in cold water (use cold water detergents). Over 90% of the energy used in a washing machine is used to heat the water. Even if you simply switch your water temperature to warm, you cut your energy use by half. Reduce the water amount if you are washing small loads. 

A great tip for extending the life of your clothes (and happens to be a great eco tip) is to air dry or line dry your dark-colored and delicate clothes. This also prevents fading and saves you money on your electricity bill. If you can’t do this in your backyard or porch, get a simple folding clothes rack from a place like Target (which is what I use). When you do use the dryer remember to clean the lint filter after every use. This will help keep the air circulation moving and reduce the amount of energy required to run the machine. 

When you can, shop for new appliances, and look for Energy Star rated appliances. The Energy Star label means they have been rated by the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Energy as the most energy-efficient appliances in their class. You could save as much as 30% on your electricity bill and C02 pollution with Energy Star appliances. 

Lighting 

One-quarter of our electricity bill goes toward keeping the lights on. And only 10% of the energy used by traditional incandescent light bulbs goes toward producing light. The rest is given off by heat. So much of the energy used by incandescent bulbs is wasted. 

You can reduce your lighting bill by 50% simply by swapping out 25% of your light bulbs for compact fluorescents. 

Energy Saving Benefits of CFLs 

Compact Fluorescent light bulbs use significantly less energy than incandescents, like 75 percent less energy, and produce 70% less heat. What this means is that they require less wattage to produce the same amount of light as an incandescent. For example, you could switch out a 75-watt incandescent and replace it with a 20-watt CFL and get the same amount of light. If every home in America switched out one light bulb, we could save enough energy in one year to light more than 3 million homes.

At first glance, CFLs may look more expensive. You might pay $3-4 for a CFL vs. $.30-40 for a typical incandescent. But the benefits add up. CFLs when used properly (speaking from experience, improper use can reduce and limit their life, see below for tips), will outlast an incandescent by up to 9,000 hours. In tests, incandescents burned anywhere from 800-1500 hours and CFLs burned up to 10,000 hours. One bulb can save you up to $30 on energy bills over the life of the bulb.43 

How To Get the Most From Your CFLs 

• Screw in your CFL by holding the ballast (the white plastic part) NOT the glass tubing 
• Maximize the life of your CFL by keeping them on for 15 minutes or more at a time. Short on and off bursts can shorten the life of the bulb 
• Use CFLs in open fixtures indoors. Placing them in canned lighting can shorten their life because they are sensitive to extreme temperatures 
• Use only dimmable bulbs on dimmer switches 
• Only use bulbs labeled for 3-way sockets in 3-way sockets
• If using CFLs outside, protect them from the elements by placing them in enclosed fixtures outdoors. If you live in a cold climate refer to the packaging for the best working temperatures 

I always recommend keeping a few incandescents around if you run into problems with your CFLs or you don’t have the right fit for one of your fixtures or sockets. 

Properly Disposing of CFLs 

Because CFLs contain mercury it is important to properly dispose of your CFLs. Recycling them will prevent the release of mercury into the environment. If they are thrown away in the trash, garbage workers can be exposed to high amounts of mercury. And if CFLs are smashed into a landfill, the mercury can leak into the ground and environment. 

So here are your options for recycling CFLs. Many cities have household hazardous waste facilities that take toxic substances like CFLs, household cleaners, pesticides, and more. Contact your local household hazardous waste to see if they’ll take your CFLs. Recycle-A-Bulb.com is a cool online service that will help you find the closest CFL recycling center to you in or near your city. Home Depot and IKEA have their own CFL recycling programs and will recycle your old CFLs. 

CFL Cleanup 

When a CFL bulb breaks you want to prevent inhaling any of the mercury vapor. You want to clean it up quickly and thoroughly. Although I haven’t seen anyone recommend this and it is NOT required, if you have a mask and gloves, put them on before your start the cleanup (better to be safe than sorry right?). Turn off any air conditioning or ventilation that may stir up the air. Use a broom and dustpan and gently scoop up the bulb fragments and powder into a plastic bag. If you can’t get all fragments and powder with the broom use tape or a damp cloth to gently wipe up any remaining dust. Don’t use a vacuum because it can expel the powder into the air. Seal the plastic bag and take it to your local hazardous household waste facility. 

LED Light bulbs 

If you are concerned about the mercury in CFL light bulbs, LED (light emitting diodes) light bulbs are another option. Studies are showing that LED lights are just as efficient, if not more than CFLs. The downside of LEDs, they carry a heavier upfront price tag. Depending on your budget and your needs this might be an option for you. Some people are sensitive to the light quality and vibration of CFLs and cannot tolerate them on a daily basis. If this is you, I would recommend looking into LEDs. 

LEDs overall are better light bulbs than CFLs. They last longer, up to 60,000 hours vs. the CFL’s 10,000 hours and the incandescent’s 1,500 hours, and offer a better quality of light. Because LEDs use the lowest amount of energy, the price of a LED light bulb over 60,000 hours is significantly less than the other two light bulbs. If you live in an area with high energy costs, like $.33 vs the standard $.10, your savings using LED light bulbs will dramatically exceed the CFL. If you live in an area with standard rates, the savings will not be as dramatic. So depending on your budget, the price of your energy costs, and your sensitivity to different types of light, this will determine which bulb is right for you. 

Stop Energy Vampires 

You may be wondering what an energy vampire is. I know I did when I first heard the term. Power Vampires are electrical devices that are plugged into walls that continuously suck electricity even when they’re in the off position. Examples include computers, printers, coffeemakers, video recorders, televisions, stereos, and more. Electronics that have AC adaptors (wall cubes) are known as wall warts and are the biggest suckers of all because they consume standby power. 

The Christchurch Press, a daily newspaper in New Zealand, published an article, entitled “Energy Savers the Real Stars.” In it, they state the consumption from these hidden phantom loads in the United States is said to equal the electricity use of Greece, Peru, and Vietnam combined. Now that is a lot of wasted energy. 

Here are some simple tips to stop the energy vampires: 

• Unplug wall warts when you are not using them 
• Grab some smart strips. These things are so cool! They are great for computers and printers because they have a little brain. It monitors power consumption and knows when you’ve turned an appliance off. When it senses this, it turns off the power. Smart strip claims it will pay for itself in as little as six weeks. 
• Use switched outlets. Plug your smart strip or power strip into a wall outlet that is controlled by a light switch. Run your extension cord connected to the power strip behind your furniture and plug all of your appliances into it. When you are not in the room, you can simply turn everything off with a flip of the switch.

Do-It-Yourself Home Energy Audit 

If you are super ambitious about your energy conservation, conduct your own home energy audit. Do a walk-through, of your house with pen and paper in hand. Make a list of obvious air leaks and drafts in and around your home in addition to the windows and doors we’ve already discussed. Here is a simple checklist: 

• Electrical outlets
• Switch plates
• Window frames
• Baseboards 
• Weather stripping around doors
• Fireplace dampers
• Attic hatches
• Wall- or window-mounted air conditioners
• Foundation seals 
• Mail slots
• Gaps along the baseboard or edge of the flooring
• Junctures of the walls and ceiling

If you’re having trouble finding leaks do this simple test. It will increase air penetration through leaks and cracks, making them easier to discover. If you have incense sticks pull them out, if you don’t, don’t worry, you can use a wet hand. Close all doors, windows, and fireplace flues. Turn off the water heater and furnace or any other combustion appliances. Turn on any exhaust fans in the house, like in the bathroom and kitchen, to suck the air out of the rooms and house. Light the incense sticks, moving air will cause the incense smoke to waiver. If you are using a damp hand, any air movement will feel cool on your hand. 

On the outside of your house, inspect all areas where two different building materials meet, including: 

• All exterior corners 
• Where siding and chimneys meet 
• Areas where the foundation and the bottom of exterior brick or siding meet. 

Check your insulation: A lot of heat is lost through the ceiling and walls; therefore it is a good idea to check your insulation. Depending on when your house was built, your attic insulation may not meet current standards or recommendations. If you live in a newer house this is probably not an issue. 

When checking the attic, make sure the insulation covers holes in ductwork, pipes, and chimneys. Look for a vapor barrier underneath the attic insulation. This might be Kraft paper, tar paper, or a plastic sheet. A vapor barrier is important because it reduces the amount of moisture that can pass through the ceiling. Moisture can promote structural damage and reduce the effectiveness of your insulation. If you don’t have a vapor barrier, you can investigate vapor barrier paint. 

Next, check your basement. Heated basements should have insulation in the foundation walls, around the hot water pipes, furnace ducts, and around the water heater. Unheated basements should have insulation under the floor of the living area. 

Check ceilings, crawl spaces, and outside walls to make sure they are insulated. To check for insulation, drill a hole into the back of a closet. Or turn off all of your circuit breakers, remove the cover plate from an outlet, and push a long thin wooden stick into the wall. If you meet resistance in both cases, there’s some insulation.45 

As mentioned earlier have your heating and cooling system inspected by a professional. If your system is older than 15 years, you may want to consider updating it. 

Where Can I Learn More?

If this topic interests you, you will also want to consider professional training, certification, and career opportunities as a Certified Holistic Nutrition Coach, Certified Holistic Life Coach,  Certified Master Health and Wellness Coach or Stress Management Coach.

You can also check out these other blogs posts:

• What is Green Living?
• Can a Green Living Lifestyle Help Prevent Disease?
• Reasons That Going Green and Sustainable Living Makes Sense

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That’s it for now.

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