Duct Tape – Myth: Duct tape is good for sealing heating ducts. Actually sealing the ducts with caulking or metal tape is the answer because the heat from the ducts dries out the duct tape and it eventually stops adhering to the ducts.
Lights, Computers, Appliances – Myth: Leave them on and you’ll use less energy than repeatedly turning them on and off. The small power surge created by turning on lights, computers, and appliances consumes less power than turning on the device when not needed. Of course, use the power management software for your computer and turn off the lights when you leave the room.
Fluorescent Lights – Myth: Fluorescent lighting is unhealthy – Claims that fluorescent lights “drain people’s energy” have no merit. Today’s lights have improved color quality and have eliminated flickering and buzzing.
Refrigerator Coils – Myth: Cleaning refrigerator coils saves energy; in most cases, this has no measurable effect on energy conservation.
Appliances – Myth: Appliances that are “off” are really “off.” There are a number of devices that sometimes consume as much power “off” as when they are “on”. Products such as computers, VCRs, phone chargers, etc. they cannot be turned off completely unless they are unplugged. These products use “standby” power 24 hours a day.
Windows and Doors – Myth: Installing new windows will dramatically reduce your energy costs. Windows and doors are less of an air leak problem than most people realize. Most existing homes have hidden air leaks in floor, ceiling, and wall cavities that far dwarf leaks around windows and doors. The exceptions to this generalization are old windows or doors that are falling apart from neglect or are poorly installed. Compare this to sealing the supply and return registers of a hot air heating system or insulating the walls with dense cellulose which often reduces air leaks by 15-30%.
Boilers and Furnaces – Myth: When replacing old units, install a device that has more capacity to save energy and get faster results. The newer Energy Star devices are much more efficient. Many times new units are oversized for the application. So when you buy an Energy Star device, consider buying a smaller one.
Air Conditioners – Myth: Buying a larger room air conditioning unit will make you feel more comfortable. A room air conditioner that is too large for the area it is supposed to cool will run less efficiently and less effectively than a properly sized unit. This is because room units work better if they run for relatively long periods of time than if they are turned on and off continuously. Longer run times allow air conditioners to maintain a more consistent room temperature. Air conditioners that carry the Energy Star label can be twice as efficient as some existing systems.
R-Value – Myth: All insulation materials of the same R-value have the same performance. While equal R-value insulations perform the same under controlled laboratory conditions, not all maintain the same R-value on the walls and ceilings of a home. Some “exhaust” over time, so they decrease in thickness and efficiency. If there are air gaps between the insulation and other building materials, the effective R-Value of the insulation can be reduced by up to 50% of the maximum R-Value rated on a product.
Halogen lighting – Myth: Halogen lighting is super efficient. While halogen lights use slightly less energy than standard incandescent bulbs, many halogens require transformers that can use additional power, even when the light is off. They also tend to generate a lot of heat, which can increase the home’s cooling load during hot weather. Halogens can also pose a serious fire hazard. By comparison, compact fluorescent lights are almost 3 times more efficient.
Electrical Efficiency – Myth: Energy efficiency and energy conservation are the same thing. Energy efficiency means doing the same job using less energy. On the other hand, conserving energy means reducing the level of services, such as reducing lighting, lowering the temperature of the water heater setting, etc.
Electric Heat – Myth: Electric heat is more efficient than fuel-fired heat. Although almost the majority of the electricity that enters an electric heater is transformed into useful heat, the production of electricity is an inefficient process. As much as two-thirds of the input energy to generate electricity is lost in the process. This is the reason why electricity is usually much more expensive for the consumer than direct fuels.
Peter Ottowitz, Certified Master Inspector, New World Home Inspections and Energy Audits