How much do you really save? Quantify certain upgrades.
June 1, Austin became the first Texas city to mandate energy audits before most properties are listed, and disclosure of the results, to prospective buyers. TEXAS ASSOCIATION of REALTORS had an interesting article in a recent newsletter. I will pass it along to you. Not all upgrades have the same benefit in savings of money and/or energy. Check out this quiz.
1. Assuming a 10-year-old, two-story, 2,000 square-foot, single-family house, how much could a homewoner realize in annual energy savings by upgrading his original air conditioning system?
a. $1,000
b. $ 500
c. $250
d. $50
2. How much less would a homeowner's annual water bill be if he chose to replace his top-loading washing machine with an energy-efficient front-loading model?
a. $50
b. $100
c. $250
3. How much less evergy do compact flluorescent light bulbs use than incandescent light bulbs?
a. $25%
b. 50%
c. 75%
4. True or False? Frequently turning on and off a compact fluroescent light bulb can shorten its life.
5. About how much per bulb in energy savings will you see over the lifetime of a compact fluorescent light bulb versus an incandescent bulb?
a. $1
b. $30
c. $95
5. Which of the following types of refrigerators is usually most energy efficient?
a. Top-mount freezer
b. Side-mount freezer
c. Bottom-mount freezer
7. True or False? It takes less energy to maintain a constant temperature in your home than to let it heat up while your're at work and cool down when you return at night.
8. True or false? A single-family household using a four-setting programmable thermostat instead of menually adjusting the temperature can save about $180 every year in energy costs.
9. What percentage of cooled or heated air is lost through duct leaks in a typical home?
a. 20%
b. 10%
c. 1%
Sign onto my web site at http://www.realestate-seligman.com to find the answers. I will post answers on the Energy & Conservation tab. While you are there, read about other ways to save money and energy. Every little bit counts. Better in your pocket, don't you think?