With energy prices rising steadily across the nation, it’s no surprise Americans are searching for ways to cut waste and improve efficiency. To help, we’ve created an energy efficiency quiz ‒ a list of tips and misconceptions to test your knowledge about gas and electricity use. Just answer true or false to find out whether your energy knowledge is up-to-date. Perhaps you’ll even discover a few ways to boost savings even further!
Turning Off Electronics Stops Energy Use
FALSE. Just because an electronic device has powered down doesn’t mean it’s no longer consuming electricity. Instead of shutting off, some modern electronics like smartphones, tablets, and televisions enter standby mode when deactivated. This allows them to boot up quickly and continue receiving updates, but also prevents them from shutting down entirely.
While smart devices don’t consume much electricity in standby mode, their costs add up over time ‒ especially if you own more than one. According to some estimates, the power drained by computer, entertainment, and office equipment accounts for as much as 5-10 percent of your electricity costs!
To minimize energy loss, unplug your devices when you’re not using them. Smart strips and smart plugs are another solution. They automatically cut power to devices after you’ve deactivated them or let you create an energy schedule, to avoid wasting energy when you’re asleep or at work.
Ceiling Fans Are Only Useful in Summer
FALSE. In summer, ceiling fans rotate counterclockwise, pushing air down in order to create a cool, refreshing breeze. Changing their rotation during winter pulls air up instead, forcing warm air near the ceiling down towards the floor to ensure the room is evenly heated. By redistributing warm air, ceiling fans make it possible to lower the settings on your thermostat without sacrificing comfort, thereby decreasing the cost of warming your home or workspace.
The fan’s rotation is controlled by a toggle switch on its housing, so changing it takes only a second. Running your fan on low speed circulates the air without creating a chilling breeze, making it the most effective way to augment your heating system during the colder months of the year.
Small Leaks Sabotage Efficiency
TRUE. Drafts are more than a nuisance. They’re a crack in your building’s envelope, the protective shell that separates it from the outside. But while no one enjoys drafty spaces, few realize how costly they can be. Because air naturally flows from high-pressure areas into low-pressure ones, drafts constantly pull treated air out of your building, forcing your HVAC system to cycle more often in order to maintain a stable indoor temperature.
Most leaks are so small they’re barely noticeable, but they can have serious effects. In a large building, air leaks can increase heating and cooling costs by as much as 25-40 percent! Drafts can occur anywhere, but are most common around windows, doors, baseboards, and attic access points. In most cases, applying a thin layer of caulk over the cracked area is enough to solve the problem. For large drafts, use spray foam. If air is leaking in under the door, install weatherstripping.
Cold Water Saves Money on Laundry
TRUE. Around 90 percent of the energy consumed by your washing machine goes into heating water. While most homeowners know hot water isn’t free, they believe warm water is the only way to remove stains ‒ a common misconception. Modern detergents break down oil, dirt, and protein equally well in cold washes.
Cold water is even gentler on some fabrics, reducing fading and shrinkage. Drying your clothes in the sun reduces costs even further, though depending on your location and the time of year, it may not be a practical option.
Larger HVAC Systems are More Efficient
FALSE. Installing a bigger climate system doesn’t always lead to better outcomes. Because they heat and cool too fast, systems too big for the space cycle on and off frequently, which consumes more energy than steady operation. Short cooling intervals don’t provide enough time for air conditioners to dehumidify the air, while short heating intervals means furnaces only release short bursts of heat ‒ leading to hot and cold spots throughout the building. Frequent stoppages also prevent your system from filtering dust and allergens, leading to lower air quality.
If you’re worried your system may be oversized, ask an HVAC professional to perform a manual J load calculation ‒ a standard test to determine the precise heating and cooling capacity required to maintain comfort in a specific building. Besides examining the size of your home or business, the contractor will also consider:
- Your Insulation Levels
- Number of Windows, As Well as Their Type, Size, and Orientation
- Number of Occupants and Appliances
- The Local Climate
A good rule of thumb is one ton of cooling for every 600–1,000 square feet of living space. Estimating your required heating capacity is a little more complicated. Warmer climates generally need 30-35 BTUS per square foot, while homes in cooler regions may need as much as 60. Consult an HVAC professional to learn more about heating requirements in your area.
Energy Efficient Appliances are Overrated
FALSE. While not every device marketed as “energy efficient” is capable of delivering significant savings, ENERGY STAR devices certainly are. These systems have been extensively tested by the Department of Energy in order to prove they perform significantly above their standard industry benchmarks. Consumers often avoid these appliances due to their high upfront costs. However, the savings they provide more than makes up for it. By some estimates, switching to ENERGY STAR devices can lower your energy costs by up to $450 per year!
Raising Fridge and Freezer Settings Saves Money
TRUE. Most homeowners set the temperature in their freezers and refrigerators lower than they need to. Business owners often do the same thing in their office kitchens as well. The ideal setting for a refrigerator is 37-40°F, while most freezers function best at 0–5°F. Lowering the temperature any further raises energy costs 5-10 percent per degree.
Small Actions Make a Difference
TRUE. Turning off the lights when you leave the room, only running the dishwasher when it’s full, replacing incandescent bulbs with LEDs (Light Emitting Diodes) ‒ all these personal choices might not seem like they make a difference, but they have a huge effect in the long run. Small actions scale up, creating a culture of efficiency that reduces demand on the energy grid, conserves natural resources, and makes communities more resilient in the face of rising energy prices.
Saving on Energy Related Repairs with Agway®
Hopefully, our energy efficiency quiz gave you some ideas about optimizing energy use. But while good energy habits help manage your energy budget day-to-day, they don’t protect you from wear and tear ‒ an ongoing concern that can lead to costly and unexpected breakdowns. Insurance policies don’t cover this type of damage, but we do. Agway EnergyGuard® helps offset the costs of restoring your heating, cooling, and electrical systems after they malfunction due to problems stemming from daily use.*
When the need for repair occurs, our customers don’t have to waste time searching for a qualified technician. They contact us instead. We maintain a network of certified electricians and HVAC contractors and as soon as we receive your call, our service team sends the first available one straight to your door. There are no service fees or deductibles either. We pay for the visit and all covered parts. Don’t let a malfunction derail your finances. Sign up and start enjoying the benefits of EnergyGuard today!
*Systems covered depend on commodity purchased
