Your Energy Saving Kit Energy Saving Items with Easy-to-Follow Instructions
Your Energy Saving Kit is being provided to you free of charge on behalf of BC First Nations Energy Council, BC Hydro and the B.C. Ministry of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources ("the Parties"). These items are intended for use only as directed. Improper installation or use may result in injury or damage. The Parties assume no liability whatsoever, expressed or implied, for any direct, indirect, special or consequential damages arising from the use or installation of these products, whether in accordance with the manufacturer s instructions or otherwise.
Introduction On behalf of BC First Nations Energy Council, BC Hydro and the B.C. Ministry of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources, we are pleased to provide you with an Energy Saving Kit. By installing the items in this kit, you can make your home more comfortable, reduce your energy demand, and may even lower your energy bills. This manual will show you how to install and use: Power Saving Items Compact fluorescent lightbulbs (CFLs) Efficient night light Power bar with timer Fridge/freezer thermometer Heat Saving Items Hot water gauge Foam pipe wrap Outlet and switch sealer Weather-stripping Window insulator film Water Saving Items Water-flow measuring bag Low-flow showerhead Tap aerators (kitchen and bathroom) Safety First Proper installation of the items in this kit is very important, both for safety and for maximum energy savings. Most of the items are very simple to install. If you re uncertain about the installation procedures, or if you suspect that the fittings in your home might not be standard, please consult an electrician or other trade professional before proceeding. For your safety, make sure you unplug or turn off the electricity when working with electrical products. You can turn off the electricity to a room or your entire home from your circuit breaker panel.? Questions about the installation or use of any of the products in this kit? Call our energy partners at Annron Services at 1 877 ECO FITT energy saving kit 1
Power Saving Items Compact Fluorescent Lightbulb (CFL) CFLs use up to 75 per cent less energy than regular (incandescent) lightbulbs and can last up to 10 years. Start by replacing bulbs that you use most often (e.g. kitchen, bathroom). Your kit includes: five 13 watt CFLs, equivalent to 60 watt regular bulbs one 20 watt CFL, equivalent to a 75 watt regular bulb and can be used as an outdoor light. For light fixtures that are on a dimmer switch, you will need to use a CFL labelled specifically for that use. What should I do if a CFL breaks? CFLs contain a very small amount of mercury. If a bulb breaks, your greatest risk is getting cut from pieces of glass. You can minimize any risks by following these proper cleanup and disposal guidelines: Don t vacuum! Sweep up all of the glass fragments and fine particles. Place broken pieces in a sealed plastic bag and wipe the area with a damp paper towel to pick up any pieces of glass or fine particles. Put the used towel in the plastic bag. Open windows to allow the room to ventilate. Efficient Night Light This low wattage night light uses 23 times less energy than a regular night light and will last up to 100,000 hours. Simply plug it into any electrical outlet. 2 energy saving kit
Power Saving Items Power Bar with Timer Many items in your house still use power even when they are turned off. Examples include TV s, DVD players, cellphone chargers, computers, printers and cable TV converters. As long as these things are plugged into the wall, they will continue to use power because they go into standby mode. By plugging them into a power bar with a power switch, you can easily save up to 100 kwh per year just by flicking the switch when they are not in use! Step 1. Simply plug into any electrical outlet. Step 2. Use your power bar to plug in things that are typically used at the same time. E.xample: TV, DVD player, stereo, lamp etc. Make sure you do not plug in your clocks! Step 3. When you are not using these items, switch the power bar to off or set the timer to automatically turn off at planned times (e.g. at night). Fridge / Freezer Thermometer Refrigerators and freezers are two of the largest energy users in your home. The thermometer itself does not save energy; but it will tell you whether your fridge/ freezer temperature is set too high or too low. If the temperature is too low - your fridge or freezer is set too cold. You can save energy by setting your fridge between 1 to 4 C and your freezer between -15 to -18 C. Step 1. Place or attach the card inside of the fridge/freezer in a place where you can read it. Step 2. Allow 15 minutes for the thermometer to measure the temperature. Step 3. Check the reading. Adjust fridge/freezer levels so that temperatures fall within the ideal temperature range. Recheck the following day. energy saving kit 3
Heat Saving Items Hot Water Temperature Gauge Tap water that is too hot means that your water heater is wasting energy. The thermometer shows a temperature range for setting your water heater to run energy-efficient. Step 1. Turn on the hot water tap and let in run for several minutes. If you have just used a lot of hot water, then wait an hour before testing. Step 2. Fill a cup with hot water from the tap and insert the card in the water. Step 3. Check to see if a number appears within the black strip at the bottom of the card. If no number appears, then your water temperature is less than 50 C. If a reading of 50-55 C appears, then your water temperature is hot enough for most uses. For readings above 55 C, consider lowering the water temperature to save energy. Step 4. Setting the temperature on your water heater to 54 C is best! Foam Pipe Wrap 4 energy saving kit The foam pipe wrap fits around the pipes connected to your water heater to reduce heat loss as hot water travels from the water heater to the sink or shower. When heat loss through the pipes is reduced, less energy is required to provide you with the hot water you need. Tools: Utility knife and duct tape Step 1. Open the pipe wrap at the pre-cut seam and place over the hot water pipes. If you are not sure which pipe is for hot water, run some hot water from the nearest tap and then simply touch the two pipes to determine which pipe is which one of the pipes will be hot. For Steps 2 and 3, please proceed to page 5.
Heat Saving Items Step 2. Over straight pipe runs, fit the insulation tube over the pipe. Hand squeeze the pipe insulation to close the seam. Step 3. For bends in the pipe, cut the pipe wrap on a diagonal and refit the angled corners together at the bend. Secure the corner with duct tape. Note: If you have a gas water heater, start the pipe wrap 15 cm (6 inches) away from the exhaust hood, for safety reasons. Outlet and Switch Sealers These foam sealers fit behind the cover plates of electrical outlets and switches to help stop cold air from entering your home. When the cold air coming into your house is reduced, less energy is needed to keep your house warm. Start with outlets and switches on outside walls, rather than walls between rooms, as these will give you the biggest energy savings. Switch Sealer Note: For your safety, make sure electricity is turned off at the circuit breaker before you start. Tools required: Screwdriver Step 1. Remove the outlet/switch cover plate with a screw driver. Step 2. Choose a foam pad with pre-cut holes that match the plate. Remove the extra material from the holes, then place the pad over the outlet or switch. Step 3. Put the cover plate over the foam pad and re-attach it to the wall with your screwdriver. Step 4. Insert a safety cap wherever there are unused outlets. Outlet Sealer energy saving kit 5
Heat Saving Items Rope Caulking Foam Stripping Weather-stripping There are three different types of weather-stripping in this kit: rope caulking, foam stripping, and v-seal stripping. Each of these can be used to create an air seal around doors and windows. Weather-stripping helps keep the warm air inside and the cool air outside. The fewer drafts your home has, the more comfortable you will be. Rope caulking is best for sealing cracks or gaps around the non-moving parts of door frames or windows. You can also use it on windows that you never open during the winter, removing it in the spring for use again next year. Foam stripping is best for creating a barrier against drafts around doors and openable windows. Be sure to remove any old weatherstripping first. V-seal stripping is best for stopping drafts and rain from sneaking in around doors and openable windows. It s flexible and compressible so it won t get in the way. V-Seal Stripping 6 energy saving kit Tools: Scissors Step 1. Apply selected weather-stripping to clean, dry surfaces at temperatures above -7 C. Step 2. Measure the area to be weather-stripped and cut the material to the desired length. Step 3. For V-seal weather-stripping: Start by folding the strip in a line down the middle to create a V, with the adhesive on outer side of the V shape. Next, peel off backing as you apply weather-stripping where the window meets the window-frame (or door meets door frame) and press into place. The fold in the V-shape should point inside your house, while the two tips should point to the outside. Step 4. For rope caulking or foam weather-stripping: simply press into place with your finger tips. Step 5. Check that weather-stripping fits snugly against both surfaces. The material should compress when the window or door is shut.
Heat Saving Items Window Insulator Film Up to one third of the heat from your home can escape through windows. The plastic sheeting acts like a second pane of glass to help prevent heat loss through the window. This makes it easier to keep your home heated to a comfortable temperature during the winter and saves energy. Tools required: Scissors and hair dryer Step 1. Pick windows in your house that let in cold air in the winter. Generally, north-facing, single pane or sliderstyle windows lose the most heat. If you have several to choose from, pick windows in rooms that are used the most. Step 2. Clean the surface of your window and frame. Step 3. Apply the double-face tape around outer edge of window frame. Step 4. Measure your window. Cut the plastic sheet so it will extend beyond the tape about 3 cm (1 inch) on all sides. Step 5. Remove the protective paper from the top strip of the tape which should already be attached to the window frame. Step 6. Pull the sheet tight across the top, just enough to straighten, not stretch, it. Then press it onto the tape. Repeat this step for the bottom and then the sides. Step 7. Use a hair dryer to shrink the sheet starting from the top. Move the dryer back and forth, working your way across and down the window until all the wrinkles disappear. Do not touch the plastic film with the hot dryer. Step 8. Carefully trim the extra film around the edges. energy saving kit 7
Water Saving Items 8 energy saving kit Water Flow Measuring Bag The water flow measuring bag itself will not save energy, however, it will help you determine whether your taps and showerheads are water efficient or need to be changed. How to use it? Step 1. Hold the flow measuring bag directly under the tap and turn the water on to full flow for exactly five seconds. Step 2. Read the water level on the bag. This will show you the flow rate. Step 3. Repeat the test for other taps and showerheads in your home. Step 4. If your tap or showerhead is more than 1.5 gpm then you should install the low flow showerhead or faucet aerator provided in this kit. Low Flow Showerhead This low-flow showerhead uses up to 50 per cent less water without reducing effectiveness of your shower. It also offers two spray settings fine spray or massage spray. Tools (optional): Wrench, vise grips and cloth Step 1. Make sure shower taps are turned off. Step 2. Remove the old showerhead from the shower arm by turning it counter-clockwise. If you need a wrench to remove it, place a cloth on the pipe and use vise grips to hold the shower arm while you loosen the old showerhead with the wrench. Step 3. Briefly turn on and off the water to rinse out the pipe. Clean the threads on the outside of the pipe. Step 4. Wrap the thread seal tape 3-4 times around the threads (grooves on pipe) to prevent leaking. Step 5. Screw in the new showerhead and tighten by hand.
Water Saving Items Tap Aerators (kitchen and bathroom) These tap aerators use up to 50 per cent less water than standard aerators. By adding air to the flow of water from your tap, the aerator reduces the amount of water you use without reducing effectiveness. You can save water while doing the dishes or brushing your teeth. Tools (optional): Pliers and cloth Note: The larger tap aerator is designed for the kitchen and has an adjustable spray setting. Pull down on the sleeve for a spray pattern or push up for a splash-free stream. Step 1. Unscrew and remove the old tap aerator and washers by hand in a counter-clockwise direction. Step 2. Check the tap to see if the threads (grooves on the pipe) are inside or outside. The aerators in this kit will work with both inside and outside threads, but you must use the correct number of washers for it to fit properly. Step 3. For an inside-threaded faucet, place two rubber washers in the top of the aerator. For an outside threaded faucet, place only one. Step 4. Screw the new aerator into the threads of the faucet and tighten by hand. Bathroom Tap Aerator Kitchen Tap Aerator energy saving kit 9
Simple tips to help you save energy at home: Hot Water Take short showers rather than baths. A five-minute shower uses about half as much water as a bath. Run your washing machine with full loads and cold water whenever possible. Make sure taps are turned off completely and repair leaky faucets. Heating Lower the thermostat to 15 C at night or when nobody is at home. Insulate your house. Close curtains at night to reduce heat loss. Open curtains in the day to allow the sunshine in. Use area rugs on cold floors if your feet are cold, your body will feel cold. Wrapping your electric water heater with an insulating blanket can reduce its electricity use. Appliances For heating small meals, use a microwave or toaster oven instead of a full-size oven. Avoid using the microwave to defrost food. Instead, leave the food in the fridge to defrost overnight. Turn your water heater off when you're away from your home for more than a few days. Hot Water 30% How We Use Energy in Our Homes Heating 46% Appliances incl. stand-by power 17% Lighting 6% Cooling 1% 10 energy saving kit
Simple tips to help you save energy at home: Look for the ENERGY STAR symbol when choosing electronic appliances. Hang your laundry to dry instead of using the clothes dryer. Put lids on pots when using the stove. This will keep the heat in the pot and allow you to cook things more quickly and at lower heat settings. Check the seal around your fridge and freezer doors to ensure a tight fit. Lighting Use task lighting, rather than lighting the entire room. Turn off the lights when you leave the room. Keep light fixtures clean a cleaner bulb is a brighter bulb. Office Equipment Turn equipment off when it is not in use. Enable ENERGY STAR power settings on your computer. Look in the Windows control panel under display settings for this feature. If your computer must be left on when you are not using it, turn off the monitor. Screen savers do not save energy. Unplug chargers for laptops and cell phones when they are not charging. For more energy saving ideas and information, visit: LiveSmart BC: www.livesmartbc.ca
Remote Community Energy Saving Kits provided by: BC First Nations Energy Council Tel: 604 926 9903 Toll Free: 866 990 9939 www.fns.bc.ca BC Hydro 604 453 6400 (Lower Mainland) 1 866 453 6400 elsewhere in B.C. www.bchydro.com/powersmart Ministry of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources 1 877 387 7681 www.gov.bc.ca/empr
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Introduction 16 energy saving kit