Special situations in .NET

Paint Denso QR Bar Code in .NET Special situations

If you re running a business in your home, your lighting, heating, and cooling costs will be higher Your power bill may also be higher if you re running heavy equipment

Many people who want to become more energy efficient do it for two reasons: to save money and to save the planet If you re one of the many people interested in polluting less, add the following to your list of possible areas for improvement: What kind of garbage service do you have Are there alternatives Does your trash collection agency offer recycling, for example, and if so, what kind of recycling You can call the customer-service number for answers Do you have sewer service, or are you using a septic tank If you re using a septic tank, how old is it and how long has it been since it was serviced If you don t stay on top of your septic system, you may incur extra costs when problems arise How much carbon and other pollutions are you producing in the process of consuming energy in your home If you have a cheap wood stove, your cost may be very low (if you cut your own wood), but your carbon footprint astronomical Is this important to you (See the section Calculating Your Own Carbon Footprint, later in this chapter, for details on how to measure your footprint) Do you have equipment that you know is going to need replacement Are you paying a lot of repair bills for a particular piece of equipment Would you like to invest in improvement Check to see whether government agencies in your area are offering subsidies for certain types of equipment Your utility may offer subsidies, too See 4 of Book VII for more details

Do you have a really high bill One that sticks out like a sore thumb Here are the most likely reasons: The addition of occupants in your home The addition of appliances, like a freezer in the garage Faulty appliances High rates of outdoor air infiltration into your home You may have a faulty weather seal on a door that needs fixing, or you may have a bad attic trap door The use of too much electrical resistance heating Hot water leaks Use of appliances with large motors (pumps, compressors, air conditioners) Seasonal appliances electric blankets, a dehumidifier, lots of shop lighting, power tools An estimated bill or one that reflects a higher time period A wedding or a big party Uncle Bill s motor home parked in the driveway

The best way to figure out what you spend and where you potentially can cut back is to dissect your utility bills By doing this calculation, you get good data on specifically where to look for the most rewarding investments in efficiency Figuring out what you spend is basically a three-step process: 1 Gather all your data 2 Plot it month by month 3 Analyze your results The following sections give you the details

The first thing you need to do is collect a stack of utility bills If you don t already have them, call your utility companies (customer-service numbers are always listed on the bills) and have them send you copies of your bills for the past few years Most utilities don t charge for this service, and some even

do data analysis for you: They graph the data, which is much nicer than a load of raw numbers; ask when you call They may even offer other services, such as a free home energy audit In addition to your utility bills (water, electric, gas, trash, and sewer), you need to compile a list of all the expenses associated with the resources you use Here s a sampling of what you need, but you may have other items not on this list: Trash runs to the dump: If you take trash to the dump yourself, estimate the cost by including everything: gasoline for your truck, other transport expenses, costs at the landfill, and so on Manufactured logs: If you use manufactured logs, you don t need to come up with receipts; just estimate how many you use and how much they cost Transport and storage may also be significant Power generator: If you bought one, how much did it cost If you rent one, include the rental cost Also include the cost of the gasoline you use to run it Firewood: If you use firewood, include costs for the chainsaw, saw blades, transportation for firewood, and rental (or purchase price) of a wood splitter Wood pellets and bio-energy products of any kind: Include all costs associated with these resources Propane or natural gas: If you use either energy source, include not only the cost of the product, but also rental agreements, maintenance, and so on A lot of people pay a yearly rental for their propane tank Barbecue grill: Calculate how much you spend for charcoal, the propane, and the tanks How much did the grill itself cost Lawn tools: Include any gasoline you buy for them, as well as the gas canister if you bought one If you buy gas (and/or a gas canister) for a generator, include those costs, too Kerosene: If you use kerosene for lanterns, cooking, or heating, include those costs Space heaters, portable air conditioners, dehumidifiers, swamp coolers, and so on: If you bought any of this equipment, include how much it cost and estimate how much it costs to run Check labels for power consumption and then estimate how much time the equipment is on and when Candles and light bulbs: Add them to your list if you use them Batteries and chargers: In some homes, batteries are very expensive, and most people don t consider them a part of their power consumption, but they definitely are