Sustainable Ewing Green Team

When not in use appliances can still use energy.  The US Department of Energy (USDOE) estimates about 5% of your household electric bill is spent on vampire loads that go to keep your electronics and other appliances ready to be used at a moment’s notice.  That is about 425 kWh/year or $70/year or 225 pounds of CO2/year for the average household.

Want to find the vampires lurking in your home? Try a “Kill-A-Watt” meter that allows you to monitor a the energy a device is using even when turned off or shutdown. Learn more at: http://www.p3international.com/products/energy-savers.html or check with the Hopewell Township Branch of the Mercer County Library to see if you can borrow one.

One way to manage vampire loads is to use advanced power strips (APS). The USDOE estimates that a homeowner could save $200 per years using APS.  Visit  https://www.energy.gov/energysaver/articles/choose-right-advanced-power-strip-you for help in choosing the right APS.

Energy conservation is any behavior that results in the use of less energy.

Energy efficiency is replacing inefficient equipment or appliances with a similar device that uses less energy to perform the same function or task with the same degree of performance or service.

For example: turning a light off is energy conservation while replacing a CFL bulb with a more efficient LED is an energy efficiency measure.

Energy tip: The least expensive energy and the most environmental benefit is the energy not used.  When something is not in use turn it off. Start hitting that off switch today!

In New Jersey the largest energy use, costs and impacts are in the transportation sector.  We consume 4.8 billion gallons of motor fuel at a cost of $12 billion emitting 40 million metric tons of carbon dioxide every year. Let’s fix that.  Visit the US Department of Energy website at https://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/drive.shtml for tips on lowering your personal fuel use.