Home Energy Savings: Myths And Facts
Mistaken ideas that will cost you money

As the cost of fuel rises some old myths about energy become increasingly expensive. Some of these have simply become obsolete with advances in technology. While others are misinterpretations of old practices that have passed into homweowner foklore. Here we set the record straight on these old myths.

• The home will warm-up quicker by kicking the thermostat all the way up
• Running the AC fan run all the time will cool the house
• Furnace filters only need chanmging once a season
• Masonry (brick or stone) houses are more energy efficient
• If some insulation is good then more is better
• You will save 30% on your heating bill if you replace your windows
• Energy efficient appliances aren't worth the extra cost to purchase
• Adding extra insulation on the water-heater saves energy
• Mom says you need to use hot water to kill germs when doing laundry

Myth: Turning the temperature setting on the thermostat all the way up or down will heat (or cool) the home faster.

Fact: I remember my Mother having me turn the thermostat all the way up because she wanted to warm up faster. The truth is that basic physics and your heating (cooling) equipment are the determining factor for how fast the temperature will change in your house. Pushing the thermostat to the "MAX" only means that if you forget to turn it back, you will waste energy and money. If you are using a manual thermostat then only move the setting to the temperature you want. Ay least then it will stop when it gets there.

Money Saver: A superior solution is to install a programmable thermostat. Let the "program" adjust your temperature so you stay comfortable when you need and don't waste money when you're not home. All in tune with your schedule. A programmable thermostat will literally "pay for itself" in the first year.

Myth: Running the air conditioner fan continuously will keep the house cooler.

Fact: If the AC fan continuously keeps the moisture removed by the cooling unit from being discharged. This moisture is likely to be re-circulated through the house. This is one cause of a cold, clammy-feeling house in in the cooling season.

Money Saver: To circulate air the best, most economical choice is a ceiling fan. On most ceiling fans there is a summer/winter switch that changes the direction of the fan. You want the air to be pulled upward in summer(cooling) and downward in winter (heating). Install ceiling fans in the rooms you use the most. And remember to turn the fans off when you leave the room to save electricity!

Myth: Furnace filters are good for the season so only change them once in the winter (heating) and once in the summer (cooling) seasons.

Fact: If a filter is restricting the flow of air it is ready to be changed. How often depends on various factors such as how lonbg the system runs, thye quality of the filter and the home's location. Generally speaking the cheaper, fiberglas mesh filters clog faster then the more expensive pleated filters.

Money Saver: Investing in a removable electrostatic is likely to be the least costly option over a relatively short time. When you need a clean filter just take it out, clean it off per the manufacturer's instruction and reinstall. No disposable filters to buy and throw away. Many digital and programmable thermostats are also smart enough to remind you when the filter needs changing.

Myth: Brick (or stone) houses are more energy efficient then typical frame houses.

Fact: The vast majority of masonry (Brick or stone) homes are actually a veneer over a wood frame. While more durable then other forms of exterior cladding they offer no efficiency advantage in terms of the homes energy use. For practical purposes the walls of a modern house clad in masonry have to be insulated the same as a frame building sided with wood or vinyl.

Myth: More insulation is always a good idea.

Fact: There is an optimal amount of insulation for any given situation. Factors to consider include the space available. To much insulation, especially packed into to small of a space can waste of money and not improve the energy performance of the home.

Money Saver: Don't guess. Get the right insulation levels of your location and situation. The US Department of Energy (US DOE) offers this super resource. Good for existing homes as well as new construction. Visit the DOE Zip Code Insulation Calculator at www.ornl.gov/~roofs/zip/ziphome.html.

Myth: Replacement windows will cut your heating bill by 30% and are always a good idea.

Fact: The window salesmen hate this but the fact is that new windows are usually not economically justifiable. Unless the windows being replaced are in really bad condition from an energy perspective the amount saved will not pay for the investment in new windows for years. Properly installed, new windows will make for a more comfortable home.

Money Saver: Most old window do not need to be replaced. What they do need is maintenance and the addition of a good quality storm window. The end result of restoration will be a comfortable home with energy efficient. At a fraction of new windows. For more information about the wisdom and cost effectiveness of restoring your old windows visit WindowRepair.com .

Myth: Modern, energy saving appliances are not worth buying and won't save money in operation.

Fact: When buying an appliance, remember that it has two price tags: what you pay to take it home and what you pay for the energy and water it uses. ENERGY STAR qualified appliances incorporate advanced technologies that use 10–50% less energy and water than standard models. The money you save on your utility bills can more than make up for the cost of a more expensive but more efficient ENERGY STAR model.

Money Saver: Vermont has various rebate programs to encourage the purchase of Energy Star appliances. All subject to available funds but you should check them out at Efficiency Vermont at http://www.efficiencyvermont.com/pages/Residential/RebateCenter/.

Myth: Installing an extra insulation blanket on the water heater will save energy.

Fact: Maybe but you have to check first. The idea of adding extra insulation to the water heater tank come out of responses to the energy crisis in the 70's. Then, water heaters were not much more then steel tanks with little insulation. So adding insulation made sense on units of that era. But modern units (last 15 years or so) have been built with optimal insulation levels for the most part. So the potential savings are much less (if not gone completely). Fact is you may void the warranty. So check the manufacturer's specifications and directions first.

Money Saver: A better way to save money, if you are using an electric water heater, is to install and use a timer to control the water heater. By scheduling the heating when it is needed and turning it off when it's not needed you can cut down on standby loses.

Myth: You should wash clothes in hot water to kill germs

With the typical home water temperature (120° or less) washing in hot water is like putting germs in the hot tub. Modern laundry detergents are formulated to do their best work in cold water. Since heating water is a major energy user it makes sense to use cold water and save money