::: Wednesday, March 05, 2008 :::MGM
Transformer has a longstanding tradition of
environmental conservation. Our commitment to the
environment is apparent in our daily activities as we
pursue continued improvement in both our design and
production processes. We aim to exceed the highest
environmental standards in our products.
As a company that deals primarily with the conversion of
voltage and power, MGM has come to learn many things
power related. Transformer designs that result in
environmentally friendly products are just one of them.
We can, however, continue raising the bar and produce
even more efficient products. The upfront cost may be a
little more, but the long-term cost to the consumer and
the environment will certainly be lower.
Please ask one of our qualified sales engineers about
our TP-1 product and how they can reduce energy losses
and greenhouse gases, as well as save you money in the
long run.
Below, you will find insightful and easy-to-follow
guidelines on how you can save power, reduce greenhouse
gases and, in turn, make the environment more
eco-friendly for future generations. Please take the
time to read these very simple steps on how you can make
a difference.
Many published articles on reducing greenhouse gases
give advice that is simply too difficult to adhere to
without severely impeding one’s lifestyle. This article,
however, aims to give consumers tips that are easy to
apply in their everyday lives.
Common Misperception:
Many people incorrectly assume that their cars are the
main contributors of greenhouses gases. While cars do
emit harmful gases, the main culprit, however, in this
epidemic is our nation’s building. In fact, 48% of this
country’s energy consumption and carbon dioxide
emissions come from our buildings. We may not all be
able to own a Prius right now, but we can all certainly
incorporate these simple habits at home.
Some Facts:
An average 2000 square foot home uses approximately
19,000kwh of electricity per year. In order to produce
that amount of electricity, a power plant has to spew
28,500 pounds of carbon dioxide. That’s enough carbon
dioxide to fill a 30,000-square-foot home from floor to
ceiling, wall to wall!
Although some of that energy is necessary, most of it is
“wasted” energy resulting from inefficient products
and/or inefficient use.
Below are some tips on how we can reduce some of that
waste.
Lighten Up Your Waste
Change your light bulbs. Like most homes, yours probably
uses incandescent bulbs. Replace these inefficient bulbs
with CFL’s (compact fluorescent lights). They come in
all shapes and sizes to fit track lighting, floodlights
and even halogens. Though they may cost more up front,
they last almost ten times longer than their
incandescent counterparts and will likely save you
hundreds of dollars on your yearly utility bills. In
areas where you need warm light, simply ask for CFL’s
marked 2,700 or 3,000 Kelvin.
Are You Hot And Cold?
Heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems
account for almost 50% of home energy usage. Any
reduction in use will surely help. Try to turn off the
heater or AC when you’re not home. For warmth, open
curtains to allow the sun’s rays to help (free lighting
too!) Investing in a programmable thermostat that
automatically adjusts temperatures when you’re away will
reduce your bills by almost 15%. Also, replace your
HVAC’s filters. You’ll breathe in less dust and pollen,
as well as save money. And, don’t forget to shut off the
vents in the rooms you’re not using.
Don’t Forget Your Protection
Weather-stripping your exterior doors and caulking your
windows is a must in order to keep the outside air out.
This will also help reduce the work required by your
heater or air-conditioner. If you have an attic, it’s
important to insulate it to R38 or R49 standards. R
measures the resistance to the passage of heat or cold.
The colder the area you live in, the higher the R value
should be.
Chill Out
If you don’t have an energy-efficient fridge, it would
be wise to invest in one. Non-energy-efficient
refrigerators eat up about 15% of your home’s energy.
Also try to do away with your second fridge in the
garage.
Cleaning the fridge’s coils will also help tremendously.
Another way to reduce the energy required by a large
fridge is to make sure the seals on the door are
air-tight. Try sticking a piece of paper in the door and
closing it. If it slides down, it means it’s leaking out
cold air and working harder to stay cold.
Cool Off
A half-empty dishwasher takes just as much energy to run
as a full one, so run your dishwasher only when it’s
full. Always select the “air dry” option (also called
the “no heat” option.) This reduces energy usage by 35%.
Keep It Clean
It’s no secret that washers/dryers use up a lot of
energy. But, did you know that washing your clothes in
cold water can reduce energy usage by 50%? It will also
help your clothes last longer. As for the dryer, clean
the lint trap and try to dry like-thickness clothes or
towel together. Better yet, use a clothes line if you
can.
It’s never too early to start, so don’t wait until it’s
too late. If you have any additional ideas or feedback
on these tips for the home, please email us at
cleanpower@mgmtransformer.com
What About Water?
I know, I know; you’re wondering why an electrical
company is talking about water. Well, the answer is
simple: water is a limited resource whose conservation
is desperately needed. And, since we’re on a roll with
our energy tips, why not squeeze in a couple of helpful
habits so we can save water too.
An average household uses 107,000 gallons of water per
year. About 15% of that water is never even needed (does
running the sink while brushing your teeth sound
familiar?)
Getting Hot?
Some homes take a while for the hot water to get going.
If yours is one of them, look into getting your pipes
insulated with insulated tubes (about a buck and a half
per tube). Insulated pipes lose less heat between uses,
which means you’ll get your hot water faster and waste
less water.
Are You Leaking?
Many homes have slight leaks whether it’s in the
showers, toilets or sinks. A good idea is to check your
water meter over a couple of hours when you know nothing
has been in use. If it’s moved, you know you’ve got a
leak. You’ll then need to do some detective work to
figure out which sink, shower or toilet is the culprit.
Shower Heads and Sinks
Let’s face it; we all want a powerful showerhead. The
good news is that you don’t have to skimp on a powerful
shower in order to save energy. A variety of new
showerheads on the market use an aeration method that
actually uses less water while still providing a
powerful water stream. I was skeptical too, but after I
installed one, I was pleasantly surprised at how well it
worked. The same technology is available for sinks. Look
for models that aerate your water.
Go Ahead and Flush
Most toilets made before 1994 used seven gallons of
water per flush. Post 1994, however, they only use 3.5
gallons. That’s a lot of saved water! But if you don’t
want to buy a new toilet, here’s a trick: Put a bag of
sand or a bottle of water in your toilet tank. It’ll
fool the tank into filling with less water, thereby
reducing the gallons per flush.
Respectfully,
Patrick Gogerchin
President
MGM Transformer
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