 | | Calculate the annual cost of your TVs
Information at enerstar.gov states that there are about 275 million TVs currently in use in the U.S., consuming over 50 billion KWh of energy each year -- or 4 percent of all households' electricity use. That's enough electricity to power all the homes in the state of New York for an entire year.
How much energy do your TVs use and what is that costing you a year? How much could you save if you turned off the TV when it wasn't being watched?
Estimate the annual costs of your TVs
After entering the number of TVs you have and how many hours a day those Tvs are on, the calculator will tell you the total kWh used annually and what it costs to power your TVs on an annual basis. Be sure to enter Westar's cost per kWh of .07 cents.
Energy Star-qualified TVs are available in most electronics and home stores. Televisions that meet the new Energy Star specification will be up to 30 percent more energy efficient than conventional models.
The new specification requires energy efficiency when televisions are on, as well as off or in "standby" mode. It also requires the use of external power supplies that have earned the Energy Star label where applicable. This new specification is important since televisions being sold now are larger, in use more hours a day, and offer more vibrant pictures, which can impact the amount of electricity they use. In fact, some of the largest high resolution televisions can use as much as 500 kWh per year.
*Energy Star is a joint program of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy that helps consumers save money and protect the environment through energy efficient products and practices. By choosing Energy Star products, consumers are helping prevent global warming and promoting cleaner air without sacrificing the product quality and performance they expect.
EfficiencyWorks at a home show near you
Westar's Energy Efficiency staff will be at area home shows beginning in February. Stop and visit us at one of these shows in your neighborhood. We'll have information about compact fluorescent lights, head pumps and other energy efficiency tips. .
| Date (2009) | Event | Location |
| Jan. 31 | Regional Energy Conference | Wichita |
| Feb. 6-8 | Lawrence HBA Home Show | Lawrence |
| Feb. 7-8 | Hutchinson HBA Home Show | Hutchinson |
| Feb. 12-15 | Wichita HBA Home Show | Wichita |
| Feb. 20-22 | Salina Home & Garden Show | Salina |
| Feb. 27-Mar. 1 | Topeka HBA Home Show | Topeka |
| Mar. 4-8 | Wichita Garden Show | Wichita |
| Mar. 6-8 | Flint Hills BA Home Show | Manhattan |
Cold weather energy efficiency tips
In addition to keeping your thermostat at the lowest comfortable temperature, keeping the fireplace damper closed tightly when not in use, and caulking and weather stripping cracks around windows and doors, there are some small things you can do to keep your home energy efficient during the winter.
Minimize the number of times you come in and out of the house using your overhead garage door. Opening that big, heavy door uses electricity and then allows the cold air to infiltrate the garage and find its way into your house.
Take advantage of the sun in the winter by opening blinds and drapes on the south and west sides of your house. You'll feel the solar heat gain through the windows as the sun helps warm those rooms for free! Be sure to close the curtains at night.
You may not think about using a ceiling fan in the winter, but if you run it in reverse you can push the warm air down from the ceiling to help warm the room. The blades should run clockwise for this purpose; most fans have a small switch just above the blades.
Be aware of the humidity in your home. Because water is such a good conductor of heat, humid air feels warmer. By keeping the air at a comfortable humidity level, you can keep the thermostat turned down low and still feel comfortably warm. But how to know if the air in your house is too dry? Take a glass and three ice cubes into a bedroom or living room - any room but the kitchen or bath. Wait three minutes. If water beads up on the outside of the glass, the humidity level is fine. If not, the air is too dry.
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