It is useful to be able to analyze your home's energy consumption so that you can focus your improvement efforts on the most cost-effective energy saving measures. The best way to start is to use the last 12 months of your energy (utility) bills. You should look at both electric and gas (or oil).
Your energy bills include two types of usage — base-load consumption and seasonal consumption. Base-load consumption consists of year-round energy usage, such as lighting, water heating and household appliances. These uses don't change much from month to month. Seasonal consumption, on the other hand, consists of heating in the winter and cooling in the summer. This will vary depending on the weather, your home's thermal envelope and other factors, such as your heating system's efficiency.
To get a general idea of your monthly base-load consumption, look at your energy bill for one month in which you're neither heating nor cooling your home, usually in the spring or early fall. You can multiply that month's utility bill for your total yearly base-load consumption. If you want to see a reduction in your base-load consumption, you can start by 1) replacing incandescent lights with CFLs (compact florescent lights) or the even "greener" LED (light-emitting diode) bulbs or the soon-to-be-available ESL (electron stimulated luminescence) bulbs; 2) adding a water heater blanket around your hot water storage tank; or 3) replacing that old refrigerator, dishwasher, washing machine or dryer with one that is Energy Star rated.
If you subtract the total base-load consumption as described above from the total of the last 12 months of energy (utility) bills, you will have determined your seasonal consumption — the amount you spend on heating and cooling. Armed with this information, you can better evaluate investing in improving your home's thermal performance (through air sealing and insulating) to conserve energy, improve your home's energy consumption, and cut down on heating and cooling costs.
¢¢¢
Tim Gould is director of Energy Egghead, an Amesbury-based company that can be found at www.energyegghead.com, and provides professional energy audit and conservation services.
Denver's Largest-Ever Drug Bust Nets Dozens
Marines: No Punishment for Nazi-like Flag
Vets Look to Translate Military Skills Into Jobs
Expert: Removing LA School's Staff 'Appropriate'
Raw Video: School Bus Burst Into Flames
LA School Reopens Amid Sex Abuse Scandal
$25B Settlement Reached Over Foreclosure Abuses
Pentagon: Allow Women Closer to Front Lines
Obama Gives Education Waivers to 10 States
Giffords Aide to Run for Her Seat
LA School in Sex Abuse Scandal Reopens
Winter Slamming North Asia, Parts of Europe
Syrian Forces Renew Bombardment of Homs
States, Banks Reach Foreclosure-abuse Settlement
Raw Video: Italy's Mount Etna Bursts Into Life
Greeks March; Angry Despite Debt Deal
Raw Video: U.S. Pullout Celebration
Raw Video: Annual Empire State Building Run-Up
Man Killed in Courthouse Shootout
Air Force Airlines: Leaders Get Polished Service
