During extreme cold, switching to ‘emergency’ heat reduces energy savings but may increase your comfort

When temperatures drop below freezing, the number one question we hear from heat-pump owners is whether to switch to resistance heat. Most HVAC contractors recommend turning  thermostats to “emergency” or “auxiliary” heat – essentially switching off heat pumps and turning on the furnace – during a cold spell. 

Since that practice costs energy rather than saves it, we called Rod Van Hoven, longtime HVAC contractor and partner at Central Washington Heating of Wenatchee, to find out why. 

“From a strict energy-savings standpoint, run it all the time,” Van Hoven said about heat pumps. But most of his customers are inquiring about how to increase their comfort, he said, which sometimes conflicts with energy efficiency.

“When you have 120-degree air (the temperature of air heated by electric coils in a furnace) and you put your hand over the register, the air feels warm. But air off a heat pump at 80 to 90 degrees feels cold. So if you’re sitting by the register or in your house taking a shower, it’s a comfort issue. This is where we start differentiating between a comfort standpoint and an energy standpoint.” 

Van Hoven said recommendations differ between contractors, but “if people ask me at what temperature they should turn it off, my answer is that if it’s going to be cold for a long period of time, maybe a week, where the high is about 15 degrees, I’d be inclined to turn mine to resistance heat.” 

Van Hoven said he also wants to avoid wear and tear on the machines. “When your heat pump is running at 0 degrees, it’s running a lot. You’re putting hours on that piece of equipment but not getting a whole lot of gain out of it.” 

He said the best advice is to make your house as energy efficient as possible with vinyl-framed double-pane windows and good insulation, and sealed against air leaks. “That’s what will make your house more comfortable at these temperatures. It’s comfort and efficiency together.”

If a TV is on your Christmas wish list, consider selecting one of the new super energy-efficient models. The Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance (NEEA) has worked with major retailers to stock shelves with super-efficient televisions at reasonable cost. The super energy-efficient models are 30 percent more energy efficient than the lowest-rated Energy Star models.

An average plasma TV uses 338 watts. An average LCD uses 176 watts. Depending on how much you watch TV, a new set can add significantly to your power bill. Power consumption is affected by type of TV (plasma or LCD), size of the screen, picture settings, and whether your set has power-saving features. A comprehensive guide to TV power consumption is available here.

In a news release, NEEA spokeswoman Stephanie Fleming said 70 percent of all televisions are sold during the fourth quarter of the year. NEEA expects at least 1 average megawatt in fourth-quarter energy savings through the project – enough energy to supply about 500 Northwest homes.

Related articles
Super energy-efficient TVs available this holiday season (Oregon Statesman Journal)
Television buying guide (CNET)
California approves new energy efficient TV regulations (California Energy Commission)

Power use
Average plasma: 338 watts
Average LCD: 176 watts
PlayStation 3: 197 watts
PlayStation 3 Slim: 96 watts
Xbox 360 Elite (2007): 185 watts
Nintendo Wii: 19 watts
Xbox 360: 187 watts
Average PC: 118 watts
DirecTV HR20 DVR: 33 watts
Slingbox: 9 watts
Wireless router: 7 watts
Source: CNET.com

A steady stream of seemingly endless hot water is one goal of tankless water heaters, but the PUD does not recommend electric tankless heaters.

Since about 20 percent of a home’s energy costs are the result of heating hot water, many customers contact Chelan PUD about alternatives to the standard water tank. One popular option considered by these consumers is the on-demand water heater, also known as “tankless” or “instantaneous.” 

Traditional storage water heaters keep water hot at all times, even when it’s not being used, which produces standby energy losses. In other words, you’re spending money to keep water hot even when you don’t need it. On-demand water heaters provide hot water only as it is needed. 

Sounds like a good idea, but the PUD does not recommend electric on-demand water heaters. “The reason for this is the high electric demand these units require,” said Mark Wiser, residential program manager. “An electric on-demand water heater large enough for a family of four will require approximately 20 kilowatts (20,000 watts) of power to operate. This compares to 4 kilowatts for an electric water heater with a storage tank or 13 to 16 kilowatts for an electric furnace or air-source heat pump.” 

Customers might need to upgrade their service panel to handle the extra load. Plus the units themselves are expensive, Wiser said, costing two to three times more than a storage tank water heater. 

On the other hand, Wiser noted, gas and propane on-demand water heaters work very well, don’t have a big electrical demand, and are eligible for a federal tax credit.

Related article
Demand water heaters (Department of Energy Web site)

LED holiday lights are energy misers, using 90 percent less electricity than traditional lighting.

Want to be a Scrooge when it comes to using energy this Christmas? One way to save is through energy-efficient LED holiday lighting. You pay a few more shillings up front, but the savings add up fast enough to please any counting-house curmudgeon.

LEDs can save 90 percent or more energy when compared to incandescent lights. They’re made in the same shapes and varieties as standard lights but last longer – roughly 20,000 hours.

The federal Department of Energy estimates that if every household switched to LED holiday lights, the country would save approximately $410 million in electricity costs. If both residential households and the commercial sector switched to LED holiday lights today, the savings would be equivalent to the output of almost one large (1,000 MW) electric power plant or the annual electricity consumption of almost 500,000 households.

LED holiday lights no longer are a specialty item; they’re available at most major retail stores. Calvin Wheeler, manager of The Home Depot in Wenatchee, said LED lights were the first off the shelves this holiday season. The Home Depot ran a promotion in November where customers received a discount on new LED lights if they brought in their old strings of incandescents. “We just about ran out of LEDs then, and sent a lot of traded traditional lights to our recycler,” Wheeler said in an e-mail. “It was great.”

Don’t be a servant to Christmases Past: Move to LEDs and light up the holidays. Download a flier or read more on the PUD Web site here. 

Related article:
LED holiday lights sparkle as energy savers (Columbia, Ohio Dispatch)

In this season of giving, Chelan County PUD offers two ways for customers to share a little warmth with others. Warm the home as well as the heart by giving family or friends a PUD gift certificate for a payment on their utility bill.  Stop by the Wenatchee, Chelan or Leavenworth PUD office to pay and pick up a certificate. Or call ahead and we’ll have it ready to pick up with your payment: (509) 661-8002. You can also order a certificate by phone, pay by credit card, and we’ll mail it to you. 

A second option is the Helping Hand program. Helping Hand helps low-income families pay their electric bills. You can make a Helping Hand donation now or every time you pay your bill. Click here to enroll in Helping Hand’s monthly payment program. Helping Hand funds are managed by the Chelan-Douglas Community Action Council.