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Every product that uses electricity has two costs: the one on the price tag and the one on the utility bill. For some energy-wasting products, the cost to run the product may be many times greater than the cost to purchase it. Although some energy-efficient products may have a higher price tag, they often pay for themselves in energy savings.

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Together we can make a difference!

The National Academies Press has available What You Need to Know about Energy available to download at no cost to you.

What You Need to Know about Energy presents an accurate picture of America’s current and projected energy needs. The book also describes options that are likely to play a significant role in our energy future.

Click on the image below to obtain your free copy of What You Need to Know about Energy.

What You Need to Know About Energy …
Read this FREE online! Full Book | Podcast

Here are three great Web sites for you to use. The first clip is about compact fluorescent lightbulbs (CFLs.) Celebrities share their reasons for changing from incandescent bulbs to CFLs. This is very cool!

This Bulb Web site

This site is a National Geographic website that gives additional information about alternative energy resources. These should be of interest to all students.

Alternative Energy Web Site

 Channel 10 has put together a 30 minute news segment on energy efficiency  and sustainability issues that are related to San Diego. Local weatherman and environmentalist, Loren Nancarrow, is the host. Use the first 5 minutes as an engage activity for your students!

Loren Nancarrow: Sustain San Diego

If EVERY SDG&E customer did all these things:

• Replaced 1 incandescent light bulb with a compact fluorescent light bulb (CFL), we’d save 2 millions pounds of CO2 per day

• Reduced their driving by 1 mile every day, we’d save 4.8 millions pounds of CO2 per day

• Washed their clothes in cold water, we’d save 2.4 billion pounds of CO2 per year

• Line-dried 1 load of laundry once a week, we’d save 836 million pounds of CO2 per year

• Turned down the thermostat 2° (to 68°) in winter and up 2° (to 78°) in summer, we’d save 26 million pounds of CO2 per day

• Unplugged their electronics when not in use, we’d save at least 13 million pounds of CO2 per day

We’d say 20 billion pounds of CO2 per year, the equivalent of 2 million fewer cars on the road for 1 year!

These are some pretty good tips.

Indoor Lighting Tips

• Look for the ENERGY STAR label when purchasing these products.
• Turn off the lights in any room you’re not using, or consider installing timers, photo cells, or occupancy sensors to reduce the amount of time your lights are on.
• Use task lighting; instead of brightly lighting an entire room, focus the light where you need it. For example, use fluorescent under-cabinet lighting for kitchen sinks and countertops under cabinets.
• Consider three-way lamps; they make it easier to keep lighting levels low when brighter light is not necessary.
• Use 4-foot fluorescent fixtures with reflective backing and electronic ballasts for your workroom, garage, and laundry areas.
• Consider using 4-watt minifluorescent or electro-luminescent night lights. Both lights are much more efficient than their incandescent counterparts. The luminescent lights are cool to the touch.
• Use CFLs in all the portable table and floor lamps in your home. Consider carefully the size and fit of these systems when you select them. Some home fixtures may not accommodate some of the larger CFLs.
• Recessed downlights (also called recessed cans) are now available that are rated for contact with insulation (IC rated), are designed specifically for pin-based CFLs, and can be used in retrofits or new construction.
• Take advantage of daylight by using light-colored, loose-weave curtains on your windows to allow daylight to penetrate the room while preserving privacy. Also, decorate with lighter colors that reflect daylight.
• If you have torchiere fixtures with halogen lamps, consider replacing them with compact fluorescent torchieres. Compact fluorescent torchieres use 60% to 80% less energy, can produce more light (lumens), and do not get as hot as the halogen torchieres. Halogen torchieres are a fire risk because of the high temperature of the halogen bulb.