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Cypress family upgrades energy efficiency in home with contest winnings
  
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By VAL CLIFTON
While many Texans sat around whining about escalating electricity rates, one Cypress family decided to take measures to cut theirs in half.
They entered the TXU Energy Power Saver Challenge, made a compelling argument for to be contenders in the contest and won $5,000 toward energy improvements as one of three finalists in a statewide competition that garnered 1,500 entries.
To keep track of their usage, a power monitor in the kitchen — where much of the heat in the house originates — tells them exactly how much energy the family’s using and projects the cost of their next electric bill.
The Feld’s electricity bill went from $360 to $140 as a result of the improvements and behavioral changes they made.
“We are educated by the power monitor,” Leslie Feld said. “You know exactly why the bill is what it is because of it.”
When the Felds leave the house, they turn off all lights and fans and are more careful about how they use the can lights in her kitchen, only turning them on when company comes over or during parties.
“Our can lights run at about 180 degrees, which is like having your oven on all day long,” Feld said.
TXU spokesperson Sophia Stoller said the open kitchen concept in the Feld house meant that the oven had the potential to heat up the home. She recommended cooking outside when possible and running the dishwasher at night to keep the house cool, and the air conditioning from switching on.
The Felds added a radiant barrier, which repels about 97 percent of the sun’s heat and keeps the attic cooler. To the windows, tinting and solar screens were put in place to keep radiant heat from the sun from coming through the windows.
They also installed a small solar panel and outside lighting completely offline using LED lights.
Feld said her home is more comfortable because of the changes they’ve made.
“We’ve learned how big of a difference we can make with such small changes,” Feld said.
TXU offered the family a few kid-friendly energy saving tips as well, including teaching kids to turn off the light when they leave the room, and not leaving the fridge or front doors open too long.
Jerold Davis, Managing Director for TexEnergy Solutions was present at the Feld house when they received their energy audit.
“Almost all of the contestants added insulation but all three of them did different things depending on what their home needed,” Davis said. “They all took different approaches.”
Davis said the amount of work needed to make a house energy efficient depends on condition of the dwelling the homeowner is working with.
“All of these accounts already had a pretty tight house,” Davis said. “The worse shape the house is in, the easier it is to make improvements.”
Contestants in the TXU Energy Power Saver Challenge were judged by an energy expert panel which will evaluate each contestant’s Home Energy Rating System and judge improvements, ingenuity and energy-saving behavior.
TXU will announce the winners of the contest winners Nov. 17.
Be efficient
Visit www.TXU.com/waystosave for a free personalized energy audit online.
They entered the TXU Energy Power Saver Challenge, made a compelling argument for to be contenders in the contest and won $5,000 toward energy improvements as one of three finalists in a statewide competition that garnered 1,500 entries.
To keep track of their usage, a power monitor in the kitchen — where much of the heat in the house originates — tells them exactly how much energy the family’s using and projects the cost of their next electric bill.
The Feld’s electricity bill went from $360 to $140 as a result of the improvements and behavioral changes they made.
“We are educated by the power monitor,” Leslie Feld said. “You know exactly why the bill is what it is because of it.”
When the Felds leave the house, they turn off all lights and fans and are more careful about how they use the can lights in her kitchen, only turning them on when company comes over or during parties.
“Our can lights run at about 180 degrees, which is like having your oven on all day long,” Feld said.
TXU spokesperson Sophia Stoller said the open kitchen concept in the Feld house meant that the oven had the potential to heat up the home. She recommended cooking outside when possible and running the dishwasher at night to keep the house cool, and the air conditioning from switching on.
The Felds added a radiant barrier, which repels about 97 percent of the sun’s heat and keeps the attic cooler. To the windows, tinting and solar screens were put in place to keep radiant heat from the sun from coming through the windows.
They also installed a small solar panel and outside lighting completely offline using LED lights.
Feld said her home is more comfortable because of the changes they’ve made.
“We’ve learned how big of a difference we can make with such small changes,” Feld said.
TXU offered the family a few kid-friendly energy saving tips as well, including teaching kids to turn off the light when they leave the room, and not leaving the fridge or front doors open too long.
Jerold Davis, Managing Director for TexEnergy Solutions was present at the Feld house when they received their energy audit.
“Almost all of the contestants added insulation but all three of them did different things depending on what their home needed,” Davis said. “They all took different approaches.”
Davis said the amount of work needed to make a house energy efficient depends on condition of the dwelling the homeowner is working with.
“All of these accounts already had a pretty tight house,” Davis said. “The worse shape the house is in, the easier it is to make improvements.”
Contestants in the TXU Energy Power Saver Challenge were judged by an energy expert panel which will evaluate each contestant’s Home Energy Rating System and judge improvements, ingenuity and energy-saving behavior.
TXU will announce the winners of the contest winners Nov. 17.
Be efficient
Visit www.TXU.com/waystosave for a free personalized energy audit online.
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