Refers to the portion of your energy bill minus the heating and cooling. Your Baseload is comprised of large and small appliances, lighting, and electronics. Your Baseload can account for 45 to 50% of your energy use. You can determine your Baseload by finding the month with your lowest electric bill. This is usually a month with no or very little heating or cooling. This reflects the minimum energy requirement to operate your home.
Terms
Refers to the portion of your energy bill related to heating and cooling only. It makes up 50 to 55% of your annual use.
Stands for Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio. SEER measures air conditioning and heat pump efficiency. A SEER rating is a maximum efficiency rating, similar to the miles per gallon for your car. Trading in a gas guzzler for a more efficient car reduces your annual gasoline cost. The same is true when replacing your HVAC system.
When upgrading your air conditioner or heat pump system, look for a higher SEER rating which means greater energy efficiency. The minimum standard SEER is 13 for air conditioners. Most modern air conditioners have a SEER that ranges from 13 to 21. It’s important to remember the efficiency of your system can also depend on the size of your home, your current ductwork, and other variables.
Energy Star is a voluntary program launched by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and now managed by the EPA and U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) that helps businesses and individuals save money and protect the environment through superior energy efficiency. Look for appliances with the Energy Star sticker for efficiency and environmental friendliness.
R-Value is the rating system used to grade insulation products or a material’s insulating properties. The “R” stands for “resistance” and refers to the resistance a material has to heat flow, or temperature conduction. When a product or home has a high R-Value, this means it is well insulated
A heat pump is a mechanical-compression cycle refrigeration system that can be reversed to either heat or cool a controlled space. Installation for this type of system typically consists of 2 parts: an indoor unit called an air handler and an outdoor unit similar to a central air conditioner, but referred to as a heat pump. A compressor circulates refrigerant that absorbs and releases heat as it travels between the indoor and outdoor units. Heat Pumps are 200 to 300% more efficient than Electric Resistance Heating units.
Electric Heaters are a resistance heating device. It produces heat by passing an electric current through a material that preferably has high resistance. As the current passes through the material, ohmic losses (I2R losses) occur. These losses cause the conversion of electrical energy into heat.
While new electric heaters are more efficient than ever, they are still the most expensive solution for heating a home.
When you’re shopping for a new appliance, look for the EnergyGuide label (the yellow tag you find attached to most appliances). It tells how much energy an appliance uses and makes it easier to compare the energy use of similar models. Remember to consider the long-term operational costs that will add up over the 10 to 20 year lifespan of the appliance. That is more important than a cheaper, upfront cost.
A measure of electrical energy equivalent to a power consumption of 1,000 watts for 1 hour. Energy bills are calculated by kilowatts. The average energy use in the U.S. is about 900 kWh per month.