Be the STAR of Holiday Gift Giving

Your Dear Santa letter probably doesn’t have a line item for high energy bills—nobody’s does. This is why it’s important to remember the ENERGY STAR^® label when you’re shopping for consumer electronic gifts, or wishing for them, this holiday season.

Consumer electronics are responsible for approximately 15 percent of household electricity use—enough to make a real impact on your energy bill. So if you don’t want to be the bearer of added energy costs, Focus on Energy recommends looking for the ENERGY STAR when purchasing electronics. This way you can be sure you’re getting the most efficient models on the market.

Why look for the ENERGY STAR? Earning the ENERGY STAR means a product meets strict energy efficiency guidelines set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy. The ENERGY STAR helps consumers identify products that operate on a fraction of the energy required by their standard-model counterparts and results in lower utility bills...

Maximizing Your Heating System, While Minimizing Energy Bills

You’ve probably had your furnace on for a while now, and more than likely your latest utility bills have been higher than usual. This is no surprise as your home’s heating system is among the largest energy users. Thankfully, with some simple tips your furnace can keep you warm without burning a hole through your wallet.

The Importance of Maintenance
How you operate your heating system will influence how much energy you use. Focus on Energy recommends the following tips to help you lower your heating bills and ensure that your furnace functions safely and efficiently.

• Turn down the thermostat when you are away or sleeping. Regularly setting your thermostat to a lower temperature, by 5 degrees for eight hours every day, will save about 5 percent on your heating bill. Use a programmable thermostat to adjust the temperature automatically, depending on the time of the day and the day of the week...

Brewery Taps into Solar Hot Water

You may think an ice cold beer and hot water don’t mix, but hot water is a crucial ingredient in beer’s brewing process. In fact, Central Waters Brewing Company of Amherst, Wis., uses about 1,500 gallons of water heated to 165 degrees Fahrenheit in their brewing process—every day. That’s a lot of hot water, so it’s no surprise the company looked to Focus on Energy to install a solar hot-water system to help save on water heating costs. Besides technical assistance, Central Waters received a $25,000 financial incentive from Focus on Energy for the installation of the system.

Before the solar hot-water system, the brewery’s water was heated entirely by natural gas. Now, the water is pre-heated by the sun to a temperature of 130 degrees to 140 degrees. A natural-gas boiler heats the water the rest of the way, dramatically reducing the amount of natural gas the brewery consumes. Central Waters also uses the preheated water to clean tanks and kegs—an energy-intensive job that requires a water temperature of 180 degrees...

Brrr!!! Help Put a Freeze on Your Business’ Rising Costs This Winter With Some Simple Fixes to Save Energy

Winter’s coming and you know what that means—higher heating and energy costs for your business. But take heart, while the weather outside may get below zero, we have some tips to help save your business energy and money. Follow these best practices for some low-cost and no-cost ways to help get ahead this season.

1. Install (and use!) a programmable thermostat. Businesses could save up to 3 percent on heating costs for each degree they lower the thermostat. Instead of adjusting the thermostat manually, make sure you install a system that will automatically manage your building’s temperature. Already have a system in place? Program it to achieve maximum savings, and don’t forget to adjust it with the shift from Daylight Saving Time if necessary...