Filed Under: Environmental Issues | Westchester | Energy

Green building

 ‘Green Building’ is often used as a catchphrase for a wide range of environmentally-friendly building processes—from using geothermal heat pumps to draw heating or cooling from below the earth’s surface to procuring building materials from the local area to creating low impact developments that reduce storm water runoff and find beneficial uses for rainwater. Specifically, Green buildings are designed to reduce environmental and health impacts by using energy more efficiently, incorporating non-toxic or least-toxic materials and providing brighter interiors. Some of the common features of these buildings are energy efficient windows, passive solar heating, green roofs, non-toxic paints and sustainably-harvested wood. New York State endorsed the concept of Green Building in May 2001 by providing a Green Building tax credit for owners and tenants of buildings that meet specified criteria for energy, indoor air quality, materials, water conservation, appliance use and size.

What you can do:

Here are some energy-saving tips:

In the summer:

• Central air conditioning units are graded using SEER and window units by EER. The higher the ratio or rating the more efficient the unit. Look for an 11.0 or higher ratio or rating.
   

• Make sure your window air conditioner is sized properly. Window air conditioners are designed to cool one room only. An oversized unit will not dehumidify the room properly and will use more energy than necessary. When figuring the size you need, a rule of thumb is about 20 BTU per square foot of room.
   

• Shade the outdoor air conditioning unit if possible. A unit in the sun will use up to 5 percent more energy than one in the shade.
   

• In homes with central air conditioning, don't block air registers with furniture or drapes.
   

• Keep heat-producing appliances such as lamps and televisions away from the thermostat.
   

• Clean or replace the central air-conditioning filter monthly. Clean the filter in the window units as well. It’s behind the front panel.

Lighting

• Turn off lights when you leave a room or when they are not needed. Much of the energy used is given off as heat.
   

• Install energy-efficient compact fluorescent bulbs. They give off less heat and use as much as 75 percent less energy than regular bulbs.
   

• Compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) are available in a variety of creative shapes, color temperatures and brightnesses. Some are dimmable and can respond to motion sensors. A typical CFL outlasts 8 equivalent incandescent bulbs.
   

• Keep bulbs and lighting fixtures clean for maximum lighting.
   

• Pull the plug on instant-on appliances (such as televisions) when you don't plan to use them for a few days or more. They draw current even when switched off.
   

• Use task lighting directed at a specific area instead of overhead or general lighting.

Refrigerators and freezers

• Refrigerators and freezers operate most efficiently when full but not overcrowded.
   

• Arrange contents in a way that allows air to circulate.
   

• Make sure refrigerator and freezer doors fit tightly. If they don't, adjust or replace gaskets.
   

• If you're going away, remove perishable food from the refrigerator and turn the thermostat up a few degrees.
   

• Don't put uncovered liquids in the refrigerator. They force the unit to work harder to remove the moisture.
   

• Cool cooked food to room temperature before putting it in the refrigerator.
   

• Don't put foil on refrigerator shelves. It blocks cold airflow and makes the unit work harder to cool.
   

• Don't locate the refrigerator or freezer near the stove, dishwasher or other heat-producing appliances.
   

• Don't locate refrigerator in direct sunlight.
   

• Set your refrigerator thermostat at 40 degrees and your freezer at 0 degrees.
   

• If your refrigerator has an "efficiency" setting, make sure it is on. This will reduce the number of hours the unit needs to run.
   

• Defrost frozen foods in the refrigerator.
   

• Clean dust from refrigerator coils.
   

• Don't store paper bags or anything else behind the refrigerator. They can cut airflow, making the refrigerator work harder.

Laundry

• Do laundry either early in the morning or at night. Try to avoid washing and drying clothes between 2:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m.
   

• Most of the energy in a washing machine is used to heat the water. Use warm or cold water when possible, and always rinse with cold water.
   

• Set the washing machine water level for the size of the load. If the machine doesn't have variable levels, wait until you have a full load.
   

• Use the soak cycle. It can save energy and money.
   

• Put full loads in the dryer, but don't overload. Overloading makes the machine less efficient and more costly to operate.
   

• Use warm or cold settings to dry, especially for permanent press clothes.
   

• Always keep the lint filter clean.
   

• Don't over-dry clothes.
   

• The dryer will run most efficiently when drying clothes of the same thickness.
   

• When possible, use an outdoor clothes line rather than a dryer.

Water Use

• Use low-flow showerheads and faucet control devices.
   

• Insulate older water heater units, and set the temperature at 120 degrees.
   

• Once or twice a year, drain a bucket of water from the water heater to remove sediment that can reduce the efficiency of the unit.
   

• Fix all water leaks and dripping faucets.
   

• When shaving or washing, fill the sink halfway instead of running the water.