5 energy-saving myths (and what to do instead)

Peer pressure is one way to get America greener, at least according to research reported in The Wall Street Journal (expect more hotel placards urging you to do like other guests and reuse your towels). But simply reducing the added bite of upcoming heating bills may be the best enticement. This morning's TODAY show segment on "12 Steps to Save Hundreds on your Energy Bill" is one of many examples you'll see as winter approaches.

You're also likely to see some urban legends about energy saving as the heating season starts. A classic combination of misinformation and misnomer involves duct tape, which is actually a poor choice for sealing ducts (use fiberglass mesh and mastic instead). Here are five more energy-saving myths that have been debunked by the U.S. Department of Energy's Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and the experts at Consumer Reports:

Myth #1. Switching to electric room heaters will reduce your energy bill.

Reality: A room heater might save you money if you have central electric heat and you turn down the heat in other rooms. But with central gas heating, which costs far less than electric heat, you can easily pay more by using space heaters. Even oil heat is relatively cheap compared with electricity. Again, you'll have to turn heat down in the rest of the house to see any savings with a space heater. Better bet: Turn down your thermostat; lowering it even 1° F reduces heating costs by about 3 percent.

Myth #2. Installing foam gaskets in electrical outlets will significantly reduce air leakage.

Reality: Though this is often cited as a quick fix in many media reports, measurements have shown that less than one percent of a home's air leakage is due to outlets. While sealing outlets may save energy in a home with lots of them, bigger fixes include insulating attic floors and doors as well as basement ceilings to keep warm air in and cold air out.

Myth #3. Dimming my incandescent lights by 50 percent will cut my lighting bill in half.

Reality: The relationship between dimming and energy use isn't linear, and savings will be less than expected. As the voltage drops, the filament cools, the wavelength spectrum of the light shifts further into infrared, and efficiency suffers. Want real savings? Consider the CFL or LED lightbulbs Consumer Reports tested instead.

Myth #4. Buying an efficient air conditioner or furnace will automatically reduce my energy bill.

Reality: While you can save, those savings are hardly automatic. You'll need to be sure it's sized and installed properly. Indeed, improperly installed systems can waste one-third or more of the energy used by the air conditioner.

Myth #5. Insulating the ceiling will just cause more heat to leak out the window.

Reality: Adding insulation to one part of a home won't increase the "pressure" on heat losses through other parts. But any poorly insulated areas will leak heat and are a good place to start before improving areas that are already well-insulated. The TODAY show also echoed Consumer Reports' advice to use an incense stick to find air leaks around doors and windows, then seal them with caulking or expandable foam. Other easy fixes included using power meters to find and defang energy-wasting "vampire" appliances, changing a refrigerator door gasket, tuning up your heating system, and fixing leaky ductwork. With mastic sealant, not duct tape, of course ...

—Gian Trotta

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