Georgia Magazine - June 2012 - (Page 15)

Georgia’s energy outlook BY ALAN SHEDD, DIRECTOR OF RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL ENERGY PROGRAMS, TOUCHSTONE ENERGY Second in a series Committing to an energy-efﬁcient home L ast month, this series introduced readers to renewable-energy sources available in Georgia. Before you decide if installing renewable energy-generating sources in your home is right for you, though, do some homework: Make sure your home is energy efﬁcient. Why is an energy-efﬁcient home a prerequisite to adding residential renewable energy? Solar energy is free, but the equipment you’ll need to harness that energy and use it to power your home is expensive. Be smart about making that investment by reducing your home’s energy requirements. Start small. Visit your local electric cooperative’s website, or Together WeSave.com, key in your ZIP code and take a virtual tour of a typical home to ﬁnd out how simple changes such as unplugging appliances, turning off lights and adjusting your thermostat by just a few degrees can reduce your monthly electric bill and start you on the path to a more energy-efﬁcient home. The money-saving calculations you’ll encounter at TogetherWeSave. com adjust according to the ZIP code, so the dollar amounts you’re seeing accurately reﬂect your co-op’s current rate and typical climate. Once you’ve checked some simple tasks off your list, the next step is tightening up your home’s envelope by addressing issues such as: • Air sealing—Reducing air leaks by sealing holes and gaps in your home provides a big return. Your coop may be able to help by conducting a blower-door test to pinpoint air leaks. • Leaky ducts—Most heating and air-conditioning ducts are not airtight. Many homes lose 15 percent Check your heating and air. to 25 percent of the air that should be ﬂowing through them to leaks, making your air conditioner work harder and creating air-quality issues. • Insulation—Are your ﬂoors and attic properly insulated? GREG BROOKS Seal air leaks. Other elements in your home have a maChange lightbulbs. jor impact on its en- Add attic insulation. ergy use: • Heating, ventilating and airBy taking these steps to improve conditioning (HVAC) system—Have the efﬁciency of your home, you’ll a NATE (North American Technician save energy and money and have Excellence)-certiﬁed HVAC contrac- a more efﬁcient, comfortable home. tor inspect and tune up your system. Home energy-efficiency improve• If you are planning to replace ments are the least expensive way any major appliances, do it with an to decrease your costs and help our ENERGY STAR appliance. Today’s environment. These improvements ENERGY STAR refrigerators use half can also help reduce the size and as much energy as models from the cost of home-grown, renewable-en1990s. However, even the most ener- ergy sources that you may consider in gy-efﬁcient appliances can cost a lot the future. to operate when they’re left on all the Your local electric cooperative time. Read the instructions on the en- has a staff of energy experts ready ergy-saving features, and turn off the and willing to assist and advise you appliances when they’re not needed. in making your home more energy • Water heating uses a lot of ener- efﬁcient and readying it to take adgy. To save energy, reduce your water vantage of renewable energy. heater’s temperature, install low-ﬂow A Georgia Tech graduate, Alan ﬁxtures, showerheads and aera- Shedd is the director of residential tors, and use cold water for washing and commercial energy programs clothes. for Touchstone Energy, based in Ar• Lighting your home with CFLs lington, Va. He works with coopera(compact ﬂuorescent lamps) and tives, energy managers and industry LEDs (light-emitting diodes) is less experts to develop resources and soexpensive, more efﬁcient and lasts lutions in areas of energy efﬁciency longer. and renewables. More online at www.georgiamagazine.org 15 June 2012 http://www.TogetherWeSave.com http://www.TogetherWeSave.com http://www.georgiamagazine.org

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Georgia Magazine - June 2012

Georgia Magazine - June 2012
Table of Contents
Viewpoint
Mailbox
Liberty Notes
Picture This?
Georgia News
Calendar of Events
Currents
Georgia’s Energy Outlook
Wholesome Fun and Shaping Winners
Where to Stay and Eat When Visiting the Rock Ranch in the Rock, and Winshape Retreat in Rome
Take to the Road
Travel Guide
My Georgia
Georgia Gardens
Georgia Cooks
Second Helping: Fish
Snapshot
Bonus Snapshot Submissions
Plant of the Month; Liberty Notes
Energy-efficiency Tips
June’s Online Trivia Contest

Georgia Magazine - June 2012