You may have noticed there is a lot of advice on the internet about saving energy and money. While tips and advice are helpful, it’s especially useful to have energy-efficiency tools or software that can help you calculate exactly how much energy you use or how much can be saved with certain measures.
Here are common energy-related questions you may have, along with trusted energy-efficiency calculation tools that you can try on your own to learn more about energy usage and possible savings for your household.
Which Household Appliances Cost the Most to Run?
Ever wonder which of your household appliances uses the most energy in your home? The calculation tool below can help you understand how much energy each of your devices or home electronics uses and how much that energy costs in your area. By understanding if or which of your appliances/electronics use a lot of energy, you can decide if investing in more efficient models would be better.
Check out the Estimating Appliance and Home Electronic Energy Usage Calculation Tool to learn more!
How Energy Efficient is My Home Compared to Similar Ones?
There are many other families of the same size that live in very similar homes in your area. So how does yours compare when it comes to energy consumption? The ENERGY STAR Home Energy Yardstick helps you find out. First, you will need some basic information about your home to use the tool, so be sure you have the following:
- Your ZIP code
- Your home’s total square footage
- Number of full-time occupants in your home
- A list of all of the different fuels used in your home (such as oil, electricity, or natural gas)
Using The ENERGY STAR Home Energy Yardstick will help you understand the following helpful information:
- Your Home Energy Yardstick score (on a scale of 0-10)
- The amount of energy used in your home related to everyday aspects such as lighting, appliances, and hot water versus heating and cooling systems
- Suggestions from ENERGY STAR on how to improve comfort, increase your home’s score, and lower your energy bills
- A rough estimate of your home’s annual carbon emissions
Am I Eligible for Energy-Related Tax Credits & Rebates?
You may have heard that getting a tax credit or rebate for investing in certain energy-saving technologies in your home is possible. Since these rebates and tax credits can vary by state, it may be confusing to calculate your energy efficiency, so there is a great online tool to help! When you visit DSIRE’s Database of State Incentives for Renewable Energy, you can select your state and see which programs exist for different types of renewable energy (such as geothermal, solar, wind, and more).
Is There a Cheaper, More Efficient Vehicle that Would Be Right for Me?
When you consider a new car, there are so many makes and models available that it can be overwhelming to sort through which vehicle is truly the best option for you. The U.S. Department of Energy has developed the Vehicle Cost Calculator, which uses and analyzes details about your driving habits to come up with the total cost of ownership and emissions for most types of vehicles. To use the tool, you can simply add the vehicles you wish to compare and your typical driving habits. The calculator will consider several factors to give you an idea of which vehicle would be the more efficient and cost-effective model for you.
Where Can I Find Alternative Fuel for my “Green” Vehicle?
If you have an alternative fuel vehicle that relies on a charging station instead of a gas station for fuel, it’s a good idea to know where the next convenient charging station is. The U.S. Department of Energy has a great online tool to help you find charging stations on your next road trip or in your hometown. Check out the Alternative Fuels Data Center next time you need to refuel your “green” vehicle to find a charging station that’s convenient for you!
While there are many different ways to improve energy efficiency or utilize renewable energy more often, it can be confusing or challenging to find the right tools or resources to help. If you’ve decided that going green is right for you, try one of these energy efficiency calculation tools to sort out the facts and learn about your options!
Questions about renewable energy and switching providers? Contact Indra Energy today!
