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Energy efficiency means you get more work for the same amount of energy. Conservation is not deprivation: one
can achieve the same quality of life, in a more efficient manner. For instance, one gallon of gasoline can take you thirty miles in one car, while another, less efficient car, will take
you only half as far. Energy efficiency saves consumers money, reduces air pollution and, contributes to economic growth. The American Council for An Energy Sufficient Economy projects
that from established efficiency standards now in place, total electricity savings will reach 341 billion kilowatt housr/year or 7.8 percent of total projected U.S. energy consumption in
2020. U.S. households will see a savings $1,750. per household by that time.*
Studies have shown that no new electric generating plants would be needed over the next fifteen years if Texas
embraced conservation and a comprehensive set of energy efficiency technologies.* Texas' 1999 Electric Restructuring bill directed Texas utilities to develop energy efficiency programs to offset 10 percent or more of a utilities annual growth in energy demand to all customer groups.*
Cooling units offer the greatest potential gains in efficiency. One-third of all the electricity used by Texas
residential customers is used for air conditioning. That is almost three times the national average.* A study by the University of Texas Center for Energy Studies found that replacing old refrigerators with high-efficiency models offers the greatest single savings in electrical consumption.* The reason is simple: refrigerators run 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
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FYI
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In Texas, 12 million BTUs of electricity are consumed per household for air
conditioning. Ninety percent of homes in Texas have air conditioners.
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Minimum standards of energy efficiency for major appliances were established by
the U.S. Congress in the National Appliance Conservation Act of 1987 and and amendments to the National Appliance Energy Conservation of 1988. Minimum
standards for energy efficiency cover many household or workplace appliances, such as clothes washers, dishwashers, refrigerators, freezers, air conditioners, water
heaters, television sets. Some states have developed state efficiency standards for various technologies, but Texas has not.
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FYI
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In 1992 the average 20-cubic-foot Whirlpool refrigerator used $72 worth of
electricity per year. One year later, as a result of added efficiency features, the same model used $51 worth of power.
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One new mode of conservation is known as time-of-use pricing. Most customers
tend to use a large amount of electricity between 2:00 and 8:00 P.M. As people return from work, air conditioners, televisions, and dishwashers are turned on.
Power companies must have electricity available for these peak demands, which means that during the other parts of the day they have excess capacity. The City of
Austin Electric Utility and 300 residential customers are participating in a pilot program that discourages peak electricity demand through variable pricing.* During nonpeak hours, customers' electricity is nearly half the normal price, while during
peak hours, it is double the normal rate. Customers are encouraged to use very little electricity for six hours a day and are rewarded with much lower prices. Electrical
generators can more easily meet customer demand without building new power plants, and the environment is protected from air pollution because fewer power plants are needed to meet level
energy demands. Some consumer groups oppose peak electricity pricing because there are people who cannot shift their daily patterns of use.
Residential and commercial buildings that utilize energy-efficient building materials and features reduce energy use, cut
utility costs, and benefit the environment. Energy-efficient features include weather stripping doors, windows, and other
openings; installing low-flush toilets, ceiling fans, programmable thermostats, and roof-radiant barriers; and the planting of low-water-use turf grass and plants.*
Saving water also saves electricity. Water utilities spend millions of dollars per year on electricity that is used to treat
and deliver water. A study by Southern California Edison found that fully 10 percent of the electricity it generates is
used to treat, heat, and pump water to homes and businesses. Utility officials in Austin estimate that two percent of the
electricity generated by the city is used solely for pumping and treating water.
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FYI
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Fluorescent lamps give off four times as much light per watt as do incandescent
bulbs. Fluorescent lamps also operate cooler than incandescents.
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Source: Central Power and Light, How to Control Your Electric Bill,
July 1991.
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Utilities around the country have found that when customers save water, it reduces
the amount of water a utility must pump, which in turn saves electricity. To maximize these savings, many utilities are distributing faucet aerators, efficient showerheads,
low-flow toilets, and other water-saving devices to customers at no charge.
Some cities pay residents to replace old fixtures. San Antonio, Austin, and El Paso
offer rebates to residential customers who install low-flow toilets. Efficient irrigation systems also offer substantial savings. Many Texas cities are promoting
drought-tolerant, low-water-use residential and commercial landscaping to help conserve water. Use of this landscaping technique will help conserve electricity as well.
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