Common Energy Saving Misconceptions
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Common Energy Conservation Myths:
take the Home Energy Audit
#1 A common misconception associated with thermostats is that a furnace works harder than normal to warm the space back to a comfortable temperature after the thermostat has been set back, resulting in little or no savings. This misconception has been dispelled by years of research and numerous studies. The fuel required to reheat a home to a comfortable temperature is roughly equal to the fuel saved as the building drops to the lower temperature. You save fuel between the time that the temperature stabilizes at the lower level and the next time heat is needed. So, the longer your house remains at the lower temperature, the more energy you save. (for central air conditioners too)
#2 Another misconception is that the higher you raise a thermostat, the more heat the furnace will put out, or that the house will warm up faster if the thermostat is raised higher. Furnaces put out the same amount of heat no matter how high the thermostat is set—
#3 Compact fluorescent lights are those glaring, humming, flickering tubes seen in some offices.
There's a whole new generation of compact fluorescent light bulbs that are suited for home use. They screw into the same light bulb socket and produce the same quality of light as an incandescent bulb. A CFL uses 70 percent less electricity and lasts up to 10 times longer than an incandescent light bulb.
#4 Electric heating is more efficient than fuel-based heating. It's true that all, or almost all, of the electricity that goes into an electric heater is transformed to useful heat in your home. However, making electricity is an inefficient process, with as much as two-thirds of the input energy (coal, natural gas, and so on) being lost in the process. This is why electricity is typically so much more expensive for the consumer than direct fuels
#5 (even stumped us) Myth: Cold water from the tap will freeze into ice cubes faster than hot water. Truth: Actually, hot water freezes faster than cold water because it evaporates, leaving 25 percent less water to freeze.
#6 Insulating the ceiling will just cause more heat to leak out of the windows. Adding insulation to one part of a home won't increase the "pressure" on heat losses through other parts. However, it is certainly true that poorly insulated areas will be the major loser of heat and they often merit attention before improving already well-insulated parts of the home.
Source: Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory