The Basement

Water Heater | Clothes Washer | Clothes Dryer | Air Conditioner
Heating System | Dehumidifier

Energy Usage Chart

Water Heater

A standard 2500-watt hot water heater costs between $18 and $31 a month to operate.

Energy Saving Tips:
If the hot water thermostat is set at 140°F, turning it down to 130°F will save $2 to $3 per month.

Operating Expense:
A standard 2500-watt water heater uses between $18 and $31 worth of energy per month. The age of the unit, the number of adults, and how frequently you use a dishwasher and/or clothes washer significantly affects the amount of hot water you use and, therefore, the monthly operating cost.

Buying Tips:
Your water heater is the second largest energy user in your home. Storage water heaters, the most common type found in residential homes, can operate on electricity, propane, or natural gas.

Gas Water Heaters
Gas water heaters are usually more expensive to purchase and install; however, they only cost about one-third as much to operate as heaters that use electricity. In addition to higher overall efficiency and lower operating costs, a natural gas water heater has a faster recovery rate than an electric water heater. Compared to electric water heaters, gas water heaters will pay for themselves in just a few years.

Today’s more efficient gas water heaters have three important energy-saving features:

• Improved Insulation

• Improved flue baffle

• Smaller burners

Sizing & Efficiency:

Sizing – To determine what size unit you need, determine what time of day you use the most hot water, then add the number of gallons of hot water needed for each activity taking place during that time (see list below). This information will help you choose the correct size water heater that your family needs.

The activities which utilize the most hot water in a home are:

Efficiency – Most major appliances, including hot water heaters, are sold with Energy Guide labels. These labels indicate the average annual energy cost for the unit and the first-hour rating of the water heater. When shopping for the most efficient unit, compare Energy Guide labels and reference consumer buying guides, such as "Consumer’s Guide to Home Energy Savings," "Consumer Reports," etc.

Clothes Washer

Energy Saving Tips:
Using cold water rather than hot water when washing will save approximately 47 cents per load, or about $50 per year. Washing one full load uses less energy than washing two half loads.

Operating Expense:
Each load of clothes you wash in hot water costs about 50 cents.

Buying Tips:
Top-loading and front-loading washers are equal in their ability to clean clothes. However, front-loading washers are more efficient, use less water per load and are better with unbalanced loads. Top-loading washers are easier to load and unload and can accommodate larger loads, plus, they are easier to service.

Sizing & Efficiency:

Sizing – The size of your washer should be suitable for your family size and the space available in your house. If space is limited, you may want to consider portable or stackable units.

Efficiency – Compare the Energy Guides for various models. However, consider your washing habits; for example, a compact model may have a lower energy cost, but if you have to wash more loads because of its small capacity, it may actually cost more to operate in the long run than a full-size model. Also reference consumer buying guides, such as "Consumer’s Guide to Home Energy Savings," "Consumer Reports," etc.

Clothes Dryer

Put a dry towel in with each load of clothes to be dried. The towel will absorb the dampness and reduce drying time.

Operating Expense:
It costs about 49 cents to dry a load of clothes.

Energy Saving Tips:
Put a dry towel in with each load of clothes to be dried; the towel will absorb the dampness and reduce drying time. Avoid lint buildup by removing and cleaning the lint filter after every load. Drying several loads of laundry in succession will take advantage of the heat in the drum and save energy. Dry full loads, but avoid over-filling. If your washer and dryer are a matched pair, a full washer load will also be the right size for the dryer.

Buying Tips:
Depending on the size of your family, a clothes dryer can be a significant energy user. You can make sure you’re using energy wisely by carefully sizing and selecting an efficient model.

Gas Dryers
Gas and electric dryers are essentially the same, except for the device they use to heat the air. Gas dryers cost slightly more to purchase, but they cost much less to operate (electric dryers cost approximately 2.5 to 3 times more to operate). The burner on a gas dryer will light automatically from one of two ignition systems: standing gas pilot or automatic pilotless ignition. Natural gas is the most efficient energy source - gas will dry 3.2 loads of clothes with the same primary energy as it takes to dry one load in an electric dryer.

Sizing & Efficiency:

Sizing: The load capacity of your washer and dryer should be the same. If space is limited, consider portable or stackable units.

Efficiency: Compare the Energy Guides for various models, but keep your washing and drying habits in mind. Like washers, a compact dryer may have a lower energy cost, but if you have to dry more loads because of its small capacity, you may end up spending more money in the long run. Also reference consumer buying guides, such as "Consumer’s Guide to Home Energy Savings," "Consumer Reports," etc.

Air Conditioners and Heat Pumps

A central air conditioner can account for about 30% of your total energy bill. The actual operating expense depends on the size and efficiency rating of the unit.

Operating Expense:
During hot weather a central air conditioner can account for approximately 30% of your total energy bill. Actual operating expense depends on the size and efficiency rating of the unit.

Types of Air Conditioners:
There are three common types of air conditioners, any of which may be effective for you, depending on your home’s construction.

Room Air Conditioners can be mounted in windows or directly into walls. They’re sized to cool just one room, so a number of them may be required to keep an entire home comfortable.

Central Air Conditioners are designed to cool the entire house. A large compressor unit is located outside the house, and the inside coils cool air that is distributed through the house via ducts. The same ducts are often used for warm air heating systems and central air conditioners.

Heat Pumps are like central air conditioners, except that the cycle can be reversed and used for heating during the winter months.

Proper Selection:
Two important criteria should be considered when buying a new air conditioner:

Sizing – Having the right size system for your home is extremely important, no matter what type of system you choose. Most room air conditioners are rated by BTU/hour. Central air conditioners and heat pumps may also list cooling capacity by the ton. (A "ton" of air conditioning capacity refers to the amount of heat needed to melt a ton of ice in a 24-hour period – about 12,000 BTUs/hour.)

Costs are very closely correlated to size, which is another reason to be sure the unit is sized properly. An oversized unit will actually cost more to buy and operate than a smaller, properly sized unit.

Efficiency – Central air conditioners and heat pumps are rated based on their Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER). Simply stated, this ratio is calculated by dividing the seasonal cooling output by the seasonal energy input. High-efficiency units (13 SEER and above) generally cost more; however, they can pay for themselves over the years through reduced energy bills.

Room air conditioners are rated on an Energy Efficiency Ratio (EER). Like the SEER rating, the EER rating is based on cooling output divided by energy output. The higher the EER, the more efficient the unit.

Also reference consumer buying guides, such as "Consumer’s Guide to Home Energy Savings," "Consumer Reports," etc.

Heating System

Heating is the largest energy expense in most homes, accounting for up to two-thirds of annual energy bills in some parts of the country. Increasing the efficiency of your heater can result in substantial energy savings.

Energy Saving Tips:
A combination of conservation efforts and new high-efficiency heating systems can often cut fuel bills in half. Upgrading your furnace or boiler from 56% efficiency to 95% efficiency will result in a substantial annual savings.

Control your thermostat – recommended winter setting is between 68°F and 70°F. Every degree you lower your thermostat can save up to 3% on your heating bill. If you have a forced air system, be sure to change the filter frequently. A clogged filter can use up to 5% more energy.

Operating Expense:
Heating is the largest energy expense in most homes, accounting for up to two-thirds of annual energy bills in some parts of the country. Increasing the efficiency of your heater can result in a substantial energy saving.

Types of Heating Systems:
Proper sizing and efficiency of your residential heating system are extremely important, regardless of the energy source used. There are three types of heaters:

Warm Air Systems blow air through ducts to the rooms, where it is directed through register or vents. Furnaces are available that warm air through a variety of energy sources: natural gas, propane, electric and oil.

Water Boilers heat water in a boiler that is circulated through pipes to baseboards, radiators or under floors. Water boilers may operate on natural gas, propane or oil.

Electric Resistance Heat is the result of converting electricity directly into heat. This is typically the most expensive form of heat.

Benefits of Gas Heaters
The gas furnace has a well-deserved reputation for trouble-free operation. Gas heat provides the following advantages:

• Greater comfort – delivering warm air at around 130°F.

• Longer equipment life – 17 to 20 years, with many manufacturers offering a 20-year warranty on the heat exchanger , which is the heart of a gas furnace

• Lower maintenance costs

Sizing & Efficiency:
NEVER base the size of your new heating system on your old unit. Properly sizing the new system is very important for both efficiency and cost. To determine the appropriate size unit for your home, you should ask your contractor to calculate a heat loss analysis and to share the results with you. If a contractor refuses to do this calculation, you should hire a different contractor.

Efficiency ratings for heat pumps are rated based on their seasonal energy efficiency ratio (SEER). Simply stated, this ratio is calculated by dividing the seasonal cooling output by the seasonal energy input. High-efficiency units (13 SEER and above) generally cost more; however, they can pay for themselves over the years through reduced energy bills.

Efficiency ratings for gas and oils heaters are rated on an Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency (AFUE) measurement. If you know the efficiency of your present system and the system you are planning to buy, you can determine the projected saving of replacing your system with a more efficient system by using the table below.

Dehumidifier

Operating Expense:
Dehumidifiers cost about $29 per month to operate.

Energy Saving Tips:
To operate efficiently, a dehumidifier should be positioned at least 6 inches away from the nearest wall. Dust or vacuum the coils at least once a year. Clean the catch pan using a sponge and a general purpose cleaner. If the unit has a filter, clean it monthly.

Buying Tips:
Dehumidifiers differ in the amount of moisture they can remove from the air.

Types:
Dehumidifiers all work pretty much the same way. Their major differences are in their special features, such as:

• An automatic switch that shuts the unit off when the water container is filled

• A signal light indicating the container is full

• An automatic humidistat that maintains the desired humidity level

• A drain hose fitting to let water run continuously to a drain

Selection:
To determine the appropriate size dehumidifier for your basement, calculate the square footage using the guidelines and chart below.

Description Guide:
Determine which term best describes the condition of your basement (without a dehumidifier) during warm outdoor conditions.

• Moderately damp – feels damp and smells musty on humid days

• Very damp – always damp and musty; walls and floors show damp spots

• Wet – feels and smells wet; walls and floors wet; seepage occurs

• Extremely wet – floor is wet; laundry won’t dry

Sizing a Home Dehumidifier:
The chart below shows dehumidifier capacity needed for various conditions. Capacity is measured in pints of moisture removed per 24 hours.