There are several ways that utilities can work with residential, commercial and industrial customers to reduce energy demand for both electricity and space heating purposes and to achieve Delaware’s proposed Energy Efficiency Resource Standards (EERS). To achieve the targets, utilities can invest directly in demand response programs, improve customer conservation through aggressive information campaigns, or provide direct weatherization and energy efficiency services, in collaboration with the Sustainable Energy Utility (SEU), taking advantage of techniques that have proved successful in reducing consumption for decades.

Delaware’s proposed EERS is unique in that it couples efficiency reduction targets with substantial resources to achieve the targets through resources from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and programs administered through the Sustainable Energy Utility.

There are four principal means of reducing energy consumption:

•  Improving the building envelop through “weatherization”
• Simply conserving, by using less
• Making buildings more efficient, and
•  Managing your consumption through load management options.

Weatherization

·         Reduce leaks from electrical outlets, switch plates, window frames, baseboards, doors, fireplaces, attics, wall- or window-mounted air conditioners, improper or insufficient insulation, and sealing duct work.

·         For example, the potential energy savings from reducing drafts in a home may range from 5 to 30 percent per year.* 

Conservation

·         Turn off/unplug lights and appliances when not in use

·         Adjust thermostats (For each degree the thermostat is lowered for a 24 hour period you can save as much as 3 percent of your total energy usage during that 24 hours*)

·         Put computers in sleep mode when not in use  

Efficiency Investments

·         Replace incandescent light bulbs with CFLs or LEDs (Artificial lighting consumes almost 15 percent of a household's electricity use. Use of new lighting technologies can reduce lighting energy use in homes by 50 - 75 percent.*)

·         Use Energy Star appliances (Appliances and home electronics are responsible for about 20 percent of the average homeowners’ energy bill. Replacing old appliances with new Energy Star appliances can save 20 percent or more in operating expenses.

·         Replace inefficient HVAC equipment (Replacing an older inefficient unit with a new high efficiency furnace or air conditioner can save between 10 and 30 percent in energy costs) 

Load Management/Demand-Side Management

·         During periods of peak demand, the utility, with the use of new smart meters and real time data, can automatically signal your water heater or central air conditioning/heat pump cooling unit to reduce consumption, thereby reducing load during peak demand periods and saving ratepayers money on relatively higher priced electricity. 

 *Source: www.energysavers.gov