Energy Facts

Did you know ..

•  Worldwide, biomass is the fourth largest energy resource after coal, oil, and natural gas?

•  If your fireplace damper is open, and there's no fire, it's like keeping a 48" window wide open during the winter; it allows the heat to go right up the chimney.

•  If you have a torchiere halogen lamp, consider replacing it with a compact fluorescent torchiere which will use 60-80% less energy and can provide more light (lumens) than the halogen.

•  The two most common biofuels are ethanol and biodiesel?

•  Biomass energy supplies almost 30 times as much energy in the United States than solar and wind power combined?

•  With an incandescent light bulb, only 10% of the electricity used is turned into light. The other 90% is wasted as heat?

•  A heavy coat of dust on a light bulb can block up to half its light output?

•  If a faucet leaks enough water to fill a soda bottle every 30 minutes, it will waste 2,192 gallons a year?

• A bolt of lightning contains enough energy to toast 160,000 pieces of bread?

•  That a PC Monitor left on overnight wastes enough energy to laser print 800 sheets of paper?

• For every minute that a refrigerator door is open, it will take 3 minutes for it to regain its temperature?

• The US population grew by 26 percent between 1980 and 2001. Yet electrical generation increased 62 percent between the same period?

• A tuned engine can improve gas mileage by about 4 percent, and replacing a faulty oxygen sensor can improve gas mileage by up to 40 percent?

• It takes 440 Btu's to heat up one gallon of water? Low flow shower heads in the dorms use 2.5 gallons per minute. So a 10 minute shower uses 11,000 Btu's.

• It takes about 40 gallons of water to do a load of laundry? Since it takes 440 Btu's to heat a gallon of water, washing with hot water will use 17,600 Btu's; a warm water cycle will use 8,800 Btu's.

• You can save 3 to 5 percent of heating costs for each degree you lower the temperature setting on your thermostat?

• You can increase your clothes dryer's efficiency if you dry two or more loads in a row to take advantage of the heat generated by the first load? Don't add wet clothes to a load already in progress and be sure to clean the lint filter after each load.

• The recommended temperature for a refrigerator is 37°F to 40°F and that keeping it colder wastes energy ?