Deep Reductions in
Energy Use:
Some Suggestions
A. Tamasin Sterner
Pure Energy
Lancaster, PA
www.PureEnergyAudits.com
Tonight We Will…
►Hear about some energy-related
challenges we face globally and locally
►Ponder what we can do locally and in our
own homes to work with these challenges
Problems for the US
►Gas and oil on the way out, and may be
effectively gone by 2030
►The climate is changing
►The economy is struggling
►Energy costs are rising
 Locally, PPL likely to raise costs 40% in 2010
Problems for the US
►Efficiency gains are netting zero
conservation results due to population
growth, increased size of houses and
connected loads.
►Electric intensity per capita has more than
tripled in the US since 1960, and cutting
greenhouse gas emissions requires using
less electricity if earth is to remain a good
place to live.
Reduced Energy Use
is the key
►Even if the only problem we face is
increased energy costs, many people will
be in trouble, especially the most
vulnerable population
A Natural Experiment: Cuba
►Let’s look at what happened in Cuba when
the Soviet Union fell, the US embargo was
tightened, and people were forced to
adapt to very little available energy
►Watch video, 10 minutes
GapMinder Website
►It took a several years for Cuba to get
back on it’s feet economically
►Show website
www.gapminder.org
So what can you do?
Reduce Use Now!
►Most everyone lives somewhere… start
with your house.
►Black Balloons video
Source: Mark Fortney, PHRC
What does my bill pay for?
Source: Mark Fortney, PHRC
“Family Controls”
Behavior Change
The best investment by far!
►Learn as much as you can about how you
use energy
►Think before you use energy
 How does this affect me?
Everyone else?
►Tell the truth – stay conscious
►Take authentic action
Average Share of Resident ial Plug Load
Energy Use by Product Cat egory
IT and Entertainment are Important to Address
Informat ion
t echnology
31%
Ot her
9%
Ent ert ainment
60%
Small
appliances
5%
Telephony
2%
Lighting
1%
Power
1%
Personal
hygiene
0.4%
Source: Ecos Consulting, “Final Field Research Report”, 2007
Newer, Larger Televisions Use Even
More Energy than older CRTs
500
Active
450
Low Power
400
Standby
Energy (kWh)
350
300
250
200
150
100
50
0
N=78 of 78
N=4 of 4
N=2 of 2
N=11 of 11
CRT
LCD
Plasma
Rear Projection
TELEVISION
Source: Ecos Consulting, “Final Field Research Report”, 2007
N=1 of 1
N=4 of 4
N=7 of 7
TELEVISION / DVD TELEVISION / DVD / TELEVISION / VCR
VCR
300
Desktop Computers use more
energy than today’s CRT TVs
Active
250
Low Power
Standby
Energy (kWh)
200
150
100
50
0
N=39 of 43
N=7 of 7
N=17 of 17
N=20 of 21
Desktop
Laptop
CRT
LCD
COMPUTER
Source: Ecos Consulting, “Final Field Research Report”, 2007
COMPUTER DISPLAY
My Big Gulp:
Home Entertainment Center
Energy Star 37” LCD TV

1W Stdby, 149 W On
VCR/DVD

7 W Stdby, 17W On
Cable Box, HDTV DVR

25 W Stdby, 35 W On
Power
strip
Saves 0.5
kWh/day
Stereo/Home Theater

2 W Stdby, 65 W On
CD Player

2 W Stdby, 10 W On
Sub-woofer

7 W Stdby, 15 W On
Danny Parker, FSEC, 2006
Computer Use
► Monitor accounts for about ½ the use
► 17” color monitor uses about 35% more energy than a 14”
color monitor
► Laser printers draw about 1/3 of print power when on
standby– 100W or so
► Screen savers don’t save energy
► Laptops use a small fraction of the energy that desktops use
Activate the Power Management Functions
Turn off monitor if not using > 20 min. and both
CPU and monitor if not using for > 1 hour
Check DOE & www.energystar.gov for great stuff on this.
Smart-Strip
http://www.smarthomeusa.com/Shop/Smart-Energy/Smart-Strip/
Kill A Watt EZ (kWh) Meter
Displays:
Volts
Amps
VA
Hertz
Power Factor
kWh
Cost
Elapsed Time
www.p3international.com
Take Steps
►If you can’t get to zero energy quickly…
►Phase in your plan
►Case Study
Our House, Phase 1, 1998
►High efficiency boiler
►Energy Star appliances
►White roof
►Super insulation
Our House, Phase 2
►Total lighting change-out
►Ducted dehumidifier
►High efficiency heat pump
Our House, Phase 3
►Closed cell foam basement insulation
►Home offices updated
Our House, Final Phase
►Emergency Preparation
Suggested Goal
To be energy independent as a family and
community. WHY?
►To protect our family and our community
►Maintain, even improve our quality of life
►Reduce climate change
►Use our current energy resources to move
toward better energy production
How Do We Prepare?
►Build on community needs, wants, values
►Create broad alliances
►Develop community specific strategies
and solutions
►Mobilize climate champions
►Make success visible – share results
WEAVE Resources
►Resource list available as a download at
www.PureEnergyAudits.com
Where are We Headed?
►Watch The Shift video
Blue Moon Enterprise
slides
►Get a grip on how much electricity you
use!
►How much do we really pay for electricity?
Energy Cost & Value
Fuel
Source
Crude Oil
Unit
Btu/
Unit
Unit/
Mbtu
Cost/
Unit
Cost/
Mbtu
Barrel
6,300,000
0.16
$95.00
$15.20
Gallon
140,000
7.14
$3.05
$21.78
Propane
Gallon
92,000
10.87
$3.00
$32.61
Natural Gas
Therm
100,000
10
$1.25
$12.50
Gasoline
Gallon
125,000
8
$3.00
$24.00
Mixed Wood
Cord
20,000,000
0.05
$295.00
$14.75
Electricity
kWh
3,412
293
$0.10
$29.30
Heating Oil
Cost/Unit x Unit/MBtu = Cost/Mbtu