|
Frequently Asked Questions
Why Efficiency Maine was created?
The Commission created Efficiency Maine to fulfill the Energy Conservation Act, which directs the Commission to develop and, to the extent of available funds, implement energy conservation programs.
We have an air cooled ice machine which we purchased new when we opened four years ago, a Manitowoc that is supposed to produce 530 lb of ice each day. We outgrew it last year and for cash flow sake purchased a used water cooled machine which probably produces 250 per day. This combination worked until this July when the weather got that much hotter and we got that much busier. Last year we spent about 2000 on ice over the summer months. I am wondering about recommendations. Considering both seasonality, (is it better to have another machine that we can shut off or a giant one?) Water vs Air-cooled? (considering that we pay for water as we are on city water) and overall energy efficiency.
Your choices for energy efficient models depend on whether the machine is self-contained (storage bin is integral to what you buy) or just the “head” (fits onto existing storage bin). Is the unit outdoors? If not, do you want the heat that is produced to be exhausted outdoors? If you are concerned about this generated heat, use a “remote condenser” or water-cooled. Water cooled are generally a little more efficient than air-cooled. The average annual energy use of a 500 lb./day air-cooled ice-maker is perhaps 15,000 kWh. In Maine, rates are at about $0.145 per kWh, which adds up to $2175 per year. The high efficiency units can save about 15% of that, or $326 per year. The high efficiency unit may be comparable to or a few hundred dollars more than the standard efficiency unit. Use the Efficiency Maine rebate of $100 to help buy the high efficiency unit. (http://www.efficiencymaine.com/business/applications.html) go to the “Quick and easy Appliance Application”. Some interesting information is here: http://www.cee1.org/com/com-ref/ice-faq.php3 and here http://www.cee1.org/com/com-ref/femp-rep.pdf. Ask your supplier to sell you one of the machines listed here: http://www.cee1.org/com/com-ref/ice-prod.php3 , click on “qualifying products”.
Do I need to present a coupon in order to get a one dollar rebate when buying a CFL? If so, how do I get coupons.
Now a question about CFLs. It is my understanding that fluorescent lights should not be turned on and off frequently because this habit is hard on the ballasts and will shorten lives. I also heard that ballasts use a lot of energy when they start. Is this true? If so, is the same true for CFLs?
Our $1.00 instant rebate coupon is available at over 300 participating stores in Maine. Here is our web site and the list of participating stores: http://www.efficiencymaine.com/residential_programs_esrl_rl.htm.
Just pick your county and click on it.
The question of shutting any fluorescent light on and off has been around since they were first invented. Up until electronic ballasts came on into the marketplace, on and off switching of ballasts and lamps had a greater potential of shorting the life of both than now. With the new electronic ballasts, which controls the starting process better, there is less stress placed on the components and does not harm them as much. I used the words “as much” because the starting and stopping of any light source, including incandescent, less then the recommended manufactures rated start time will reduce the life of all components by some fraction. As a quick review of the numbers it might be something like this. A CFL’s final price in Maine with coupon ranges from $.50 to $6.95 so let’s use $3.50 for this exercise. A CFL lasts anywhere from 6,000 to 8,000 hours so we will use 7,000 of life and replacing a 60-watt incandescent with a 15 watt CFL. If you ran the lamp as tested with 3-hour starts you would save 315 kWh. With an electrical rate of $.15, you would save $47.25. Now assume by switching the lamp we have a 20% reduction in operating life (the most I have ever heard of is 4 to 7 % in old ballasts) you would still save $37.8 and an additional $3.15 for having the CFL off for 1,400 hours. To me the loss of $7.00 and in reality a lot less than that, making switching a much better option.
The inrush of current to the ballast is so brief that it does not register on the meter. It should be of no consequence in residential lighting systems.
Do you offer any rebates/incentives for consumers who purchase Energy Star products as New Hampshire is currently doing for certain appliances?
Yes, Efficiency Maine is now offering rebates for selected ENERGY STAR appliances as of 10/1/2009. Household items like refrigerators, freezers, air conditioners, dehumidifiers and clothes washers are all subject to these incentive rebates. Nearly all of Maine’s appliance retailers are participating in the program, consumers should look for in-store displays promoting the program. Mail in rebates on qualified ENERGY STAR appliances can be found in participating stores. Consumers must follow the customer redemption information on the back of the coupon to receive their rebate. This rebate program will last as long as funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act are available. For more information on Efficiency Maine’s Appliance Rebate Program please call 866-ES-MAINE or click here for more details
Is there a less expensive time to run a dishwasher? Your spinning wheel gives a tip to have the dishwasher full before running it but is silent on whether it is better to run it after a certain time (like 9:00 pm).
Unless your are on a Time of Use (TOU) rate at your utility when you use power from a meter / cost perspective does not matter. Most utilities have a TOU rate and they are different prices for different times of the day and weeks. If you are able to do certain things on "off peak' time you can save money because of a lower rate, but you also must avoid the "on peak' times because the rate is higher than the standard rate you are on. Here is our rate page for all utilities: http://www.maine.gov/mpuc/industries/electricity/standard_offer/standard_offer_rates.html.
At the bottom is a list of Utilities, select your and click on it. find where it says residential rates and click on that. This should place you on a rate page. Look for something that says Time of Use or TOU for residential and click on that. What you are looking at is the rules of a TOU rate and it should show you the time and rate charged for that time period. If you think you can work within those hours I would suggest you call your local utility and discuss the issues of changing rates. The only warning I can offer about TOU rates is if you can live around the times you can save money, but if you use too much on peak time you will be paying more than you do now.
I have a few questions about the Solar Rebate Program.
There is a Solar Rebate Program FAQ: http://efficiencymaine.com/PDF/FrequentlyAskedQuestions.pdf. If that does not address your questions about the program, please call Richard Fortier at 207-287-3319 or e-mail him at richard.fortier@maine.gov.
Do you have any state rebates for geothermal?
There are none at the present time.
What kind of federal tax incentives are out there?
The Tax Incentives Assistance Program is designed to give consumers and businesses information they need to make use of the federal income tax incentives for energy efficient products and technologies passed by Congress as part of the Energy Policy Act of 2005: http://www.energytaxincentives.org.
I would like my business to have a free energy audit. What do I have to do?
Here is some more information about the Small Business Energy Audit Program: http://www.efficiencymaine.com/business_programs_sbeap.htm. You may contact AJ Ballard at 1-866-ES-MAINE .
Do you give provide free energy audits to homeowners?
Efficiency Maine does not, however, we have the Weatherization Program that links Maine homeowners with qualified building contractors who provide one-stop-shop access to a whole-house approach for energy efficient retrofit actions and low-interest loans. The program is administered by Efficiency Maine, a program of the Maine Public Utilities Commission. For more information, click here.
How do I dispose of a burnt out compact fluorescent lamp (CFL)?
Efficiency Maine has a Compact Fluorescent Lamp (CFL) Recycling Program. The decal at left will be displayed at participating retail stores across the State of Maine. The used, unbroken CFLs will be collected and recycled, with as many of the CFL components as possible recovered for reuse.
What do I do if I break a CFL?
Maine’s Department of Environmental Protection has recently conducted a study to provide guidance on how to clean up a broken CFL. For information on the study and what to do if you break a bulb please go to this web site: http://www.maine.gov/dep/rwm/homeowner/fluorescent.htm.
|
Public
Utilities Commission