Cooperative Living September 2014 - 12

CURRENTS by Dan Nichols, Contributing Writer
A Laundry Room Energy Hog Gets a Makeover
Heat pump dryers recycle wasted heat to save energy and money
esidential clothes dryers have never
been known for their efficiency. In fact, if
you were to head down to your local
Home Depot or Lowe's in search of a new
one sporting an ENERGY STAR®
R
certification,
well, you'd be plum out of luck. In fact, dryers
have never been a part of the federal government's
ENERGY STAR program. Why? Because
as the folks at ENERGY STAR explain,
most models use similar amounts of energy, so
any comparisons would be meaningless.
That is all about to change. The energyguzzling
clothes dryer (they consume approximately
5 percent of household electricity and,
by some accounts, are the second most energy-intensive
appliance behind the fridge) is
about to join its laundry room workmate, the
washing machine, on the energy-efficient appliance
list as ENERGY STAR pushes for
greater dryer efficiency. To that end, the
ENERGY STAR program named Advanced
Clothes Dryers - heat pump dryers - the recipient
of its 2012 Emerging Technology
Award, which recognizes products that have
the potential to significantly reduce greenhouse
gas emissions. In the case of heat pump dryers,
energy savings as high as 60 percent go
hand in hand with reduced carbon dioxide.
Heat pump dryers already command significant
market share in parts of Europe and
have been made available here since early
last year. When compared to conventional
dryers, they may cost more upfront and require
longer drying times, but they offer savings
in the ballpark of $30 to $40 a year or
$700 over the lifetime of the machine. The
EPA estimates that an ENERGY STAR-rated
heat pump dryer could save enough energy
in a year to run an ENERGY STAR-certified
clothes washer for 11 months while reducing
greenhouse gas emissions by more than
6,000 pounds.
Heat pump clothes dryers extract heat
from air inside the house and release it at a
higher temperature inside the dryer. Most dryers
generate heat using electricity or gas, and
then vent that hot air out that curly vent-pipe
thing on the side of your house, wasting a lot
of energy. In contrast, a heat pump dryer
draws in air only once and continues to use it
to dry the clothes fully.
So, if you've had it with your old energyhogging
dryer but you're not quite ready to
get grandma's clothes pins out of storage, a
new heat pump dryer may be worth considering.
And with more major manufacturers producing
them, more consumers in the U.S. will
be seeing superior quality, energy-efficient
dryers when they head to their local appliance
store. 
Sources: consumerreports.org, energystar.gov/
2013-emerging-technology-award-advancedclothes-dryers
ENERGY
BANG FOR YOUR BUCK by Dan Nichols, Contributing Writer
Fall To-Do List for a Warm and Cozy Home This Winter
W
ith autumn come colorful foliage,
shorter days and refreshingly cool
temps. But, autumn's arrival also
means that the not-so-refreshingly cold
temps of winter aren't far behind.
So, before you pull the sweaters out of
mothballs you might want to consider
preparing your house for the cooler months
ahead. After all, the time to prevent heat
loss and huge energy bills is now, before
the cold weather hits. Here are a few tips
that will leave your home feeling warmer
without turning up the heat. Plus, you'll
save both energy and money:
GIVE YOUR FURNACE A TUNE-UP
It's a good idea to have furnaces
cleaned and tuned annually. For about
$80 to $100, a professional technician
can make sure your furnace and/or heat
pump are in good repair and that all systems
are " go. " If your furnace has seen better
days, consider replacing it with a new
high-efficiency model. After the initial investment,
you'll likely spend less to heat
your home over time.
10
ELIMINATE DRAFTY WINDOWS AND
DOORS
In houses, there's lots of potential for
cold air to come in and warm air to leak
out. Until those leaks are plugged, insulation
won't perform properly and energy
costs will be unnecessarily high. According
to the U.S. Department of Energy, drafts
can waste 5 percent to 30 percent of your
energy use. Try installing foam or rubber
weatherstripping on the sides and bottom
door sweeps of exterior doors to help prevent
drafts. For a simple DIY approach,
place a rolled bath towel at the base of a
drafty door. For your windows, try a window
insulation kit. When properly installed,
it's essentially invisible. And for just a few
dollars it provides an added buffer against
drafts.
REVERSE THOSE CEILING FANS
If your ceiling fan has a reverse switch,
use it to run the fan's blades in a clockwise
direction after you turn on your heater. This
will push warmer air down from the ceiling
(remember, hot air rises).
CHANGE YOUR AIR FILTER
We know it's easy to forget, but it's important
to check, clean or replace furnace filters every
month during the heating season. Dirty filters
restrict airflow and increase energy demand.
GIVE YOUR INSULATION A BOOST
Much of the heat loss from your home happens
in the attic, and insulation is one of the
best ways to save energy and money at home.
It can make a big difference to add more insulation
between walls and make sure your attic
floor and basement ceiling are well covered. If
you think you might need more insulation, call a
professional to help with installation.
These aren't big projects like adding attic
insulation or replacing all your windows, but
small things like insulating electrical outlets on
exterior-facing walls with foam gaskets can
make a big difference when it comes to reducing
your home heating costs this winter.
For more ideas on how to manage your
home's temperature and be energy-efficient
visit: energizeefficiently.coop/heating-cooling. 
Source: energy.gov/eere/better-buildings-neighborhoodprogram/why-energy-efficiency-upgrades
Cooperative
Living/September 2014
INARIK/ISTOCK/THINKSTOCK

http://www.consumerreports.org http://www.energystar.gov/ http://www.energizeefficiently.coop/heating-cooling http://www.energy.gov/eere/better-buildings-neighborhood

Cooperative Living September 2014

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Cooperative Living September 2014