Energy Efficient Highlands Ranch Home & Auto
On a personal note, here’s what we have done to reduce our overall dependence on foreign oil and 3rd party energy sources at our home:
1. Purchased a 2008 Ford Escape Hybrid. Forecasting a 60% reduction in annual gasoline consumption. Annual forecasted fuel savings based upon 15,000 miles a year, mainly city driving @ $3.20 per gal
Formerly-owned SUV - 12mpg - consumes 1,154 gallons of gasoline and costs $3,693 a year
2008 Ford Escape Hybrid - 32mpg - consumes 469 gallons of gasoline and costs $1,501 a year.
Annualized Gas Savings: $2,192 Factor in the $2,000 AWD federal tax credit, the hybrid will pay for itself in 2 years or less.
2. Replaced builder-quality furnace with a TRANE XV90 that is rated with up to 93%+ AFUE and is ENERGY STAR® rated. After one year of operation, reduced natural gas consumption by 18% (even though the 2006-07 winter was a bit colder than the previous winter.)
3. Replaced builder-quality 10 SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio) a/c unit with a TRANE XL19i and has a SEER rating of up to 19.50. The XL19i has two compressors: one for milder weather and a second larger compressor for those extremely hot days. This unit is also ENERGY STAR® rated. After one year of operation, reduced electrical consumption by 45%
Next To Do’s:
4. Toto Ultramax toilets that will reduce the tank fill up from 3.5 gallons to 1.6 gallons (and get as low as 0.9 gallons per flush) and minimize/eliminate multiple flushings that the typical builder-grade toilets experience. Forecasted annual water savings to be a reduction of 15,725 gallons of water per year and a reduction in waste water treatment. If 1,000 Highlands Ranch homes switched to a Toto toilet, annual water consumption savings is over 15, 725,000 gallons of water (based on a family size of five.)
5. Replace indoor standard lights with fluorescent bulbs. Outdoor front porch already is fluorescent.
