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Summer is the peak season for California's power grid, a time when air conditioners push up the energy demand — and cost — on the system and its users.
The so-called Smart Grid, the proposed digital technology system that would allow consumers to better manage their electricity, may eventually relieve pressure on the grid and reduce electricity costs. But even while awaiting its arrival, consumers can find lots of ways to reduce energy consumption, said Stephanie McCorkle, communications director for the California Independent System Operator, the nonprofit manager of the statewide energy grid.
"Asking people to use fans instead of air conditioners, to set their pool pumps to run during off-peak hours, to do their laundry after dinner — all those tips are still very valuable,'' McCorkle said. "It can reduce the strain on the grid and also reduce their bills.''
Energy experts say you can lower your costs and reduce greenhouse-gas emissions by cutting back on everything from hot water to lighting and appliances. And don't forget so-called "vampire'' or "phantom'' loads — the standby electrical power that televisions, microwaves, computers and other appliances draw while plugged in unless fully switched off.
According to the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, the typical American home has 40 products constantly drawing power, and those products — when not in use — represent 10 percent of residential
"We're the fast-food generation. We want everything now," said Tom Reddoch, executive director of energy utilization for the Electric Power Research Institute, a nonprofit funded by the electric utility industry that conducts research on key issues facing the power industry. "Any gadget you can turn on that goes into full-power mode immediately takes idling energy to initiate, and you'll pay the price. It guarantees you'll have a vampire presence."
One way many people can reduce their energy consumption is to buy new appliances. In most cases, they're vastly more efficient than older models. But be sure to purchase energy-efficient Energy Star-labeled models.
Here are some other tips:
Air conditioners
Set your thermostat at 78 to 80 degrees, and turn the system off when you're gone for more than four hours during the day. Consider installing a programmable thermostat that offers pre-programmed settings.
If buying a new air conditioner, look for a residential ductless heat pump system, which offers improved comfort, less noise, and energy savings of 10 to 30 percent.
Refrigerators
Don't keep your refrigerator or freezer too cold. Recommended temperatures are 37 to 40 degrees Fahrenheit for the fresh food compartment and 5 degrees Fahrenheit for the freezer section. A full refrigerator retains cold better than an empty one. If the refrigerator is nearly empty, store water-filled containers inside. The cold items will enable the refrigerator to recover more quickly after the door has been opened.
If buying a new refrigerator, look for one that's inverter-compressor powered. Unlike conventional compressor-powered units, the inverter compressor helps the refrigerator's system reach its ideal temperature quicker by running at a higher RPM for a shorter length of time.
Lighting
Install compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs), which use at least 66 percent less energy and last 10 times longer than incandescent light bulbs. They're most efficient when operated for two or more hours at a time — turning them on and off frequently can reduce their lifetime by 50 to 75 percent. Also consider installing motion detectors, timers or dimmer switches. Turn off lights when not needed.
Home electronics, including televisions, computers, DVD players and cell phone battery chargers
Flat-screen liquid crystal display (LCD) and plasma television sets are more efficient than the older, backlit cathode ray tube (CRT) sets they are replacing. But because these TV sets often are so large — as wide as 40, 60 and even 80 inches — they negate any efficiency gain. To reduce energy consumption, turn down the LCD's backlight.
For computers, set your machine's power management to turn off your monitor after 10 minutes when not in use and your hard disks after 20 minutes. Turn off your screen savers, which waste power by keeping your computer active. Laptop computers typically use less energy than desktop computers.
To avoid wasted standby power in your devices, consider a "smart" power strip, which automatically turns off power to devices when it senses they aren't in use. Remote-control power strips allow you to control any socket with the touch of a button.
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