5. Summer Sea Ice In the Arctic Summer Sea Ice in the Arctic 2007
6. Major floods are up on every continent Major floods per decade, 1950-2000
7. If 385 PPM is dangerous then we must reduce CO 2 levels 260 280 300 320 340 360 380 400 1500 1600 1700 1800 1900 2000 2100 Year Atmospheric CO 2 (ppm) danger increases with time spent above 350 ppm ? 350 ppm
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12. Total U.S. Energy Use From U.S. Government Databases, cited in Environment: Science and Policy for Sustainable Development (Sept/Oct 2008)
13. What can residents do? Increasing efficiency is better than cutting back! Environment: Science and Policy for Sustainable Development (Sept/Oct 2008 issue) “The Short List: The Most Effective Actions U.S. Households Can Take to Curb Climate Change” By Gerald T. Gardner and Paul C. Stern
26. Up to 3.2 Alter driving (avoid sudden acceleration and stops, stop idling) 4 3.9 Get frequent tune-ups, including air filter changes 3 Up to 4.2 Carpool to work with one other person 2 13.5 Buy a more fuel-efficient automobile (30.7 vs. 20 mpg EPA average adjusted composite) 1 Energy Saved (Percent) Action TRANSPORTATION Vehicles account for 28% of Naperville's GHG Emissions MOST EFFECTIVE ENERGY SAVING ACTIONS
27. 1.2 Maintain correct tire pressure Use nitrogen 8 1.5 Buy low-rolling resistance tires 7 Up to 2.4 Cut highway speed from 70 to 60 mpg 6 Up to 2.7 Combine errand trips to one-half current mileage 5 Energy Saved (Percent) Action TRANSPORTATION Vehicles account for 28% of Naperville's GHG Emissions MOST EFFECTIVE ENERGY SAVING ACTIONS
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Editor's Notes
Welcome. Thanks for being here for this talk. I’m Stephanie Hastings, the President from NCEC which stands for Naperville for Clean Energy and Conservation. I’m a Naperville mom who through self-study has become quite knowledgeable about residential energy. There is a lot of information out there right now about how to “GO GREEN.” Its overwhelming. I’m here to help prioritize all the information about what everyone is telling us we “SHOULD” be doing in order to help you save time and money. You might be surprised to find out: it IS easy to be green!
Okay, here’s a pop quiz. Don’t worry you won’t be graded. I want you to think about your own personal consumption of energy in your daily life for a minute. What comes to mind? For me, the alarm goes off, I check the time on my digital clock, I hit snooze, I take a hot shower, I use an electric hair dryer, put on freshly laundered clothes, have some hot coffee, have some cereal with cold milk, check the time on one of 3 digital clocks visible in the kitchen, I notice I’m a few minutes late, so I floor it a few times as I drive my kids to school to make up those few minutes, and the day goes on and on like this for most of us. So granted our life-style here in Naperville is based on energy consumption. I’m not here to judge or criticize that. But based on all the energy we do use throughout the day, how do you think we make the most greenhouse gas emissions? You may be interested in cutting back your energy consumption, but where should you start? Its overwhelming to think about all the ways in which we use energy. Right?
NCEC started out as a small group of citizens concerned about global warming and climate change. The other founder, Sarah Ralph and I are both professionals and moms living in Ashbury. NCEC is now a not-for-profit focusing on community education in Naperville. Everyone thinks global warming is something that is happening somewhere else, like the arctic, but as we’ll see, Naperville’s residents contribute quite a bit to greenhouse gases. Our personal pollution causes a lot of health problems including asthma, right here in Naperville. We’ve recently been encouraging schools to introduce anti-idling signage and awareness campaigns. You may already have noticed in your own neighborhood, that lots of cars idle while waiting for kids to get out of school. NCEC also has a committee that recently joined the Chamber of Commerce and wants to work with businesses to find ways to reduce energy consumption which saves them money! We also promote the investment in renewable energy. You can check out our web site at www.ncec.us
So what’s the deal right now with global warming and climate change? The latest I’ve heard is scientists have determined our current level of atmospheric carbon is 385 parts per million. Scientists also recommend a healthy level of carbon is 350 parts per million or less. So where did the excess carbon come from? Well, mostly it comes from all the carbon that has been in stored in the ground over millions of years. It has been stored as coal and oil and also as natural gas. Our society has been mining these fossil fuels and burning them to create energy. This changes the carbon from a solid to a gas and as a result, there is a higher concentration of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases in our atmosphere than we as humans have EVER experienced. Our oceans and our forests cannot re-absorb the carbon as fast as we are pumping it out. This dramatic change has not only been tied to increases in global temperatures and climate change, but it also has been tied to changes in the acidity levels of aquatic ecosystems. I hate to admit it, but I’m not that concerned about the polar bears because they are at the top of the food chain. What personally scares me the most is the disruption noticed of microscopic organisms at the bottom of the food chain or our ecosystem. Disruption at this level will set off a chain reaction, which will inevitably affect humans.
So here is one example of physical evidence of the effects of having too much carbon in our atmosphere. The summer sea ice levels in the arctic are diminishing. This graph contains data ranging from 1978 to 2007.
Here is another example of what happens when there is too much carbon in our atmosphere. Major floods are up on every continent based on data ranging back to 1950. The changes in our climate that are predicted, are basically that the dry areas in the world are going to get drier and the wet areas are going to get wetter. There are already food shortages around the world. As climates shift or become more severe, what will that do to our agricultural industry? Crops need water, but not too much water. Livestock needs drinking water. Our modern society is based on land ownership. Farmers and ranchers cant exactly move their fields to the north or south in order to adjust for these changes in soil quality and moisture levels. So what can be done?
If we are currently at a dangerous level, then we must reduce our level. The solution will have to be multi-facetted. We will need to be involved in the solution. And we can be. We, right here in Naperville, can be a part of the solution. So what is going on in Naperville? What has been done so far?
There have been great strides made over the last couple of years right here in Naperville. The City of Naperville has taken some steps to help residents be a part of the solution. First of all the City added the words “Environmental Stewardship” to its “Values” statement. Also, the City will create for the first time a “Plan for Environmental Sustainability” this year. Naperville has become an Energy Star Partner. This partnership gives residents easy access to information about energy start appliances and tax rebates as managed by a partnership between the EPA and the DOE. The city has also been awarded a couple grants from the DOE. One was specifically for increasing energy efficiency within Naperville. The other was for Naperville, as our electric utility, to upgrade our infrastructure to include smart meters and a smart grid to help increase efficiencies in the delivery of our power and help residents on the consumption side. And you probably are already aware that Naperville offers a renewable energy option on our utility bills so we can choose clean wind energy generated right here in Illinois to help offset the many issues associated with fossil fuels. Naperville has been Nationally recognized for this program, and we as Naperville residents should feel very proud of its popularity and lucky its available to us.
It was recently announced the city now offers an online home energy calculator. This online system allows you to input your homes energy use and other information about your home and it will make recommendations for you on how to save money. Also, have you seen the mayor around town lately? His city provided vehicle is now a hybrid, and the city incorporated four others into their fleet during 2009. Something to look forward to over the next year include a new wind turbine and solar panels at the Fort Hill electrical substation, which is anticipated to provide enough power for at least the substation itself. In addition, the City of Naperville Electrical Utility buys power together with other municipalities in a group called the Illinois Municipal Electric Association or IMEA. Beginning June 1 st of 2011, Naperville will begin receiving 70 megawatts of wind energy from a wind farm in DeKalb County. This investment will provide around 9% of the IMEA’s total electricity. Wow, so it all sounds great doesn’t it? It is great. However, even with all of these things our city leaders are doing to help residents and businesses save money, it still won’t mean much unless more residents start helping out too. Presently, less than 2 percent of electricity in our grid region comes from renewable sources such as wind and solar. Remember our pop quiz at the beginning of this presentation? Now we will start looking at some data to help us prioritize.
Read slide
The city of Naperville invested in a Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory in 2008. This study essentially follows a protocol and measures how much we are putting into the atmosphere and from which sources. An engineering firm was hired and examined energy records of the municipality, households, and industry. This pie chart represents GHG emissions from residential, commercial and industrial sources. The city of Naperville (which is not represented on this pie chart) contributes only 1.4% of the total - there is only so much the city can do to reduce energy consumption. The study also told us we each emit 15.9 tons of CO2 emissions per year. Cities have lower per person CO2 emissions. Ex. New York City has 7.1 tons per person. London emitted 6.18 tons per capita in 2004. So here is the answer to the pop quiz. Electricity accounts for the most GHG emissions. The next highest is due to vehicles and then natural gas. So generally speaking, 68 to 72% of our community emissions are coming from the energy we use inside our buildings. You may be thinking, “Its probably all being used by INDUSTRY,” right? Lets take a closer look on the next slide.
How much do households contribute to energy use in the U.S.? 38% which is more than industry. And if you consider Naperville, we have very little industry here. Households are an important part of the equation, and there will not be a cap and trade system for households. So, lets take a closer look at how we use energy in our homes.
I have good news for you. We found an excellent study that lists actions by their effectiveness. Efficiency improving actions save more money and reduce GHGs more than reducing the use of inefficient equipment. Thinking “efficiency” may be a lot easier for people than making lifestyle changes. Some people are resistant to change, but most are just creatures of habit. So the good news is, you may not need to make any changes to your normal daily routine. Like I said earlier, I am not here to criticize or judge you. I don’t even expect you to change that much. But you will initially need to take a step back and invest a little time and a little bit of money in order to prevent any disruptions to your routine.
As a disclaimer, I have to tell you all homes are different and use energy in different ways. Our top recommendations are based on generalizations made about the “average” home and how the “average” person uses energy at home. So, in order to get the best information about energy use within your unique home, the best thing to do is to hire a professional and have a home energy audit done. These run on average $300 in our area for diagnostic testing. If you are over 55 and have a home built before 1980, you can get one for free from the city. During a home energy audit, the rater will inspect your home’s insulation, and will look for and isolate air leaks and drafts and will review your major appliances. Even though they are available it is my experience the on line audit recommendations don't effectively address the home envelope issues. www.energystar.gov, click on Energy Star Home Energy Yardstick.
The main way in which we use energy at home is to heat or cool the air inside our home. How effectively our homes do this is dependent on two things: the way our home is constructed, or our home’s “envelope” and the efficiency levels of our major appliances.
The most effective approach in making your home more energy efficient and to reduce your personal energy consumption, is to focus on the following, IN THIS ORDER. First of all we need to think about how our home wastes energy. Our home wastes energy passively by having air leaks or drafts and by having poor insulation issues. Then we need to think about how our home, not necessarily how the people in the home, but how our home’s major appliances and lighting systems use energy.
Air infiltration can account for 30% or more of a home’s heating and cooling costs and contribute to problems with moisture, noise, dust, and the entry of pollutants, insects, and rodents. Show weather stripping and caulk. I did it myself last year. Guys, do not use brown caulk on white windows - it looks bad! Caulking and weather stripping can save up to 2.5% of energy costs. Talk about air leaks around can lights. Show the foam outlet inserts. Some homes were not built well - you can feel the drafts. Another basic way to identify air infiltration would take 2 people. Turn on all of your home’s exhaust fans, close all your doors and windows to artificially create a negative pressure and walk around the outside of the house, especially around doors & windows and at the foundation with a stick of inscense. The smoke will be ‘sucked’ into the house at air infiltration points.
Take a look at these images. The dark areas indicate colder air, and the lighter areas indicate warmer air. These images were captured during a door blower test and the cooler outside air is being sucked into the home via these air infiltration points. Most homes discover (during a home energy audit/ door blower test) the cumulative air infiltration (by adding up all the little cracks) equates to a standard sized window being open year-round. So how do we fix the windows? First it is important to understand the air is not coming from the window. Its coming from a gap that is commonly found in between the window frame and the drywall. This gap is hiding under the wood trim that decoratively surrounds the windows on the inside of the house. The next slide will explain in detail how to get to the gap and fill it in. But first, you should know that the local hardware store carries a product called an attic tent. It is installed in the attic where the access door is. I recently had an insulation company install one in my house because there is only so much I’m willing to do on my own. Now, when I pull down my spring-loaded access door and fold out the ladder, I just have climb up and unzip this tent which forms a seal and barrier to heat loss. Its pretty cool. Okay, back to how to seal the windows for good.
Pull the trim off slowly. Gradually pull it away from the wall using a wide based lever such as a putty knife. If you go to quickly or try to use a screwdriver, you may end up cracking/breaking the trim. This image shows a window with the trim removed. This homeowner found many gaps and unusual holes in the drywall hiding under the trim surrounding the windows. For example, this is the sort of envelope issue which you will not learn about during an online home energy review. You can use caulk or Spray Foam around the window frame and where it has been “roughed-in” the drywall. If there is no noticeable gap, or a minimal gap then caulk will do the trick to seal the window. If there is a larger area, such as this “finger-hole” it may be better to use a spray foam. Be sure to buy spray foam which is specifically designed for use around windows. If you don’t use the right type you risk your window frames or window panes cracking during warm temperature changes. Replace the trim with similar trim nails. You will need to “set” the nails with a setter, which essentially gets the head of the nail deeper than the wood’s surface. Buy wood putty (the same color as your trim) to fill in your nail holes. Now the draft is gone and you will start saving money on your bills.
According to the Department of Energy, over 60% of U.S. homes are under insulated or not insulated at all. If your home is as little as 10 years old, like mine, you will will fall into this category. Many homes in our are are 20 years old or more. Insulation can sag behind walls. Insulation, like all building materials is measured in R values. So next time you have a few minutes you should check your attic insulation. The Department of Energy recommends for our climate zone to have at between R38 and R60.
The recommendation from the DOE jumps to R-60 at the Wisconsin state line so R-38 may be too little for Naperville considering we are located in the northern part of our climate zone. Code is R38 for new construction in Naperville. Homes built as little as 10 years ago won’t meet this code so chances are you need to add insulation. But don’t worry, you can recover 30% of the materials cost through tax incentives offered by the State of Illinois if you increase your insulation level to R-49 in our area and compared to ‘typical’ home improvements in Naperville, adding a little more insulation in your attic will not cost that much. Show insulation “ruler” with R values.
After you have sealed up your home and made sure it is properly insulated and you still want to do more, you should think about your major appliances. Regular maintenance on these appliances helps them run most efficiently. Something as simple as changing your furnace filter regularly can make a big difference on how often it needs to kick on. If the filter needs to be changed, the furnace needs to work harder to push air through it. If you think it may be time to replace your furnace, install one with at least 92% efficiency. And yes, there are tax credits for investing in energy efficient appliances. The tax credits come off the bottom line – it is not a deduction. If you are willing to endure a little higher upfront cost, tankless water heaters are the most fuel efficient.
So finally, we come to lighting. Did you know that Tesla criticized direct current and the incandescent bulb which was embraced by GE and featured at the Chicago World Fair in the late 1800s? He criticized the bulb because of all the energy wasted through heat-loss AND the short lifespan of the bulb. So, it took the world 100 years to finally wise up and agree with Tesla! He not only invented alternating current, but also designed the florescent bulb at the same time Edison designed the incandescent bulb. You can save energy by switching your light bulbs. I admit, the energy efficient light bulbs are not perfect yet. CLFs contain mercury and even though the levels are safe enough for landfill, it is still a concern. Also, lights I use every day in my kitchen are on a dimmer switch and CFLs and LEDs are potentially dangerous if used on a dimmer switch. But they are starting to come in all shapes, sized and colors to replace the incandescent bulbs. Either way, CLF bulbs and LED bulbs are going to save you a lot of money in the long run. And again, if you change the bulb, you won’t have to be a warden at the light switch. You don’t have to change your day to day routine in order to be energy efficient!
Naperville every year gets money from the US Dept of housing and urban development. Click on the weatherization assistance program on naperville.il.us. It is in the city’s best interest to have homes that are safe and energy efficient.
How much money is available? The assistance program will grant up to $5,000 per household and is based on number of people in a household and household income. The income limit is up to $79,600 for a household of 8 people or more. The average Naperville family income is more than that, but if you are unemployed this year, you might qualify.
What about cars? Vehicles account for 28% of Naperville’s GHG emissions. That’s just for cars owned by people who live here. Up to 3 times that number of cars drive through Naperville every day, from one end to the other. Read list. You can see that once again, buying a more fuel-efficient car when your old car has had a good life, is more effective than changing your day to day routine by carpooling or driving the speed limit. Those of you who hate carpooling with your boss or annoying co-worker don’t have to do it! There are great garages in Naperville that specialize in car maintenance. Avoid driving like a maniac. It’s safer for everyone, and saves up to 3.2% of energy.
Most moms do number five, especially if they have to bring the kids. Six is easier to do on long trips. Our Honda minivan gets 30mpg on the highway. Guys should be responsible for 7 and 8 (my personal opinion). Tires use less energy to travel - have a low rolling resistance coefficient. Most car manufacturers factory install them to meet CAFÉ restrictions.
If you take away anything from the talk today, I hope you will remember these top four actions that can have the most impact. Thanks
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