Shock Value: Electricity Costs, Hazards, and Savings

SHOCK VALUE Learn about costs for electrical projects, ways to save money on bills, and how to avoid hazards in your home or small business. DID YOU KNOW? 46% of tragic deaths caused by electricity happen at home. Damaged plugs, loose wiring connections, and problems with electrical components account for 66% of wiring-related fires. Taking shortcuts with electrical work can be expensive and dangerous for you, your family, and your business. SHOCKING FACT #) More than 30,000 non-fatal shock accidents occur each year in the U.S. WHEN IT'S TIME TO CALL AN ELECTRICIAN Frequently tripped breakers • Blown fuses • Frayed wires or a break in wiring • Bad plugs • Malfunctioning breaker box • Overloading your limited number of sockets • Flickering lights DON'T DO THIS Plug too many cords into an outlet Use damaged or electrical-taped cords Run over electrical cord while mowing the lawn CHOOSING THE RIGHT ONE $330 Average project cost for an electrician = $330 Average hourly rate for an electrician = Anywhere from $45 to $100 an hour depending on your location WHEN HIRING A LICENSED PROFESSIONAL... SHOCKING FACT #2 Ask to see their liability insurance Homes and businesses | require more wiring than ever before: Employment | of electricians is projected | to grow 23% up to the year 2020, faster than the I average for all occupations. Seek more than one bid for a project to find a fair price Make a written agreement about the price and scope of work to be done Make sure they have a permit in order to guarantee the work will be inspected 7 WAYS TO ZAP ELECTRICAL COSTS INSPECT YOUR HVAC UNPLUG YOUR GADGETS REPLACE OLD APPLIANCES Half of your home's electricity goes towards heating and cooling Standby power for unplugged electronics accounts for 5-10% of home energy use An energy-efficient clothes dryer can save you as much as $130 per year Spend $50-$100 to make sure your home's heating, air-conditioning and ventilation system is running efficiently A new refrigerator can save you $65 per year GO GREEN BEAT THE HEAT SAVE AT WORK The average homeowner saves over $1,000 in electricity costs/year by installing solar panels on their roof Save money by turning down your water heater to 120 degrees F Use fans to reduce AC usage. Moving air can drop temperatures by 3-5 degrees, saving 3% on annual cooling costs Insulate your water-heater tank and pipes Geothermal Heat Pumps use 25%-50% less electricity than conventional heating or cooling systems Block sunlight during the summer months and let it in during the winter Low-flow faucets and shower heads can save 25-60% on your energy bill Install switch-plate occupancy sensors to turn lights off when no one is in the room Opt for laptops rather than desktops, which use more energy SHOCKING FACT #3 Alternating Current (AC) and Direct Current (DC) electrical supplies can cause a range of injuries, including: - ELECTRIC SHOCK - - ELECTRICAL BURNS - - LOSS OF MUSCLE CONTROL - - THERMAL BURNS - CHOOSE LED OR CFL OVER INCANDESCENT LED CFL INCANDESCENT Lighting accounts for 14% of America's electricity Light bulb projected lifespan 50,000 10.000 1,200 HOURS HOURS HOURS Compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLS) use up to 75% less energy than incandescent bulbs and last about 10 times longer Watts per bulb (equiv. 60 watts) 10 14 60 Average cost per bulb $23.80 $3.95 $1.00 Light-emitting diodes (LEDS) use up to 80% less energy than incandescent light bulbs and can last more than 42 times longer Bulbs needed for 42 50k hours of use Equivalent 50k hours bulb expense $23.80 $19.75 $42.00 LEDS and CFLS come in a range of shapes, sizes, color temperatures, and brightness levels, making it simple to replace most incandescent bulbs with an energy- Cost to operate per year (2 hours/day usage) $1.00 $1.20 $4.80 efficient alternative COMMON ELECTRICAL PROJECTS U.S. AVERAGE COST: $264 INSTALL AN OUTLET $285 INSTALL A CEILING FAN based upon assumption that a pre-existing fixture was in place, so no need for a new circuit or additional wiring $396 INSTALL A BATH FAN INSTALL ELECTRICAL WIRING OR PANEL $1,419 includes price of fixture, which can cost more than the work to install INSTALL A LIGHTNG FIXTURE $1,516 $4,054 INSTALL A GENERATOR SOMETHING TO CONSIDER Installing electrical wiring and panels is dangerous and should be handled by a licensed professional. There are many factors involved when determining the price of a reasonable estimate for electrical installation prices or electrical wiring costs. Factor these in when considering estimate prices. 3 RED TAPE MATERIALS CLEANUP 4 Local codes and There are lower- laws require a permit or inspection before you begin your project priced options and more expen- sive options, as well as delivery and storage costs to consider Upon completion, site cleanup and debris removal are common for most PREP WORK COLLATERAL projects DAMAGE Preparing the site for work is a time cost. Protecting existing finishes, materials, and components will save you in the long run Certain cases require cutting into surfaces in order to get to the wires and areas needed. Restoring finishes and damaged areas is expected. REBATES AND TAX CREDITS States offer a variety of rebates and tax credits for making energy-efficient improvements so be sure to check your state government for specific savings. FEDERAL ENERGY EFFICIENCY COMMERCIAL BUILDINGS TAX CREDIT %24 Tax credit $.30-$1.80 per square foot (depending on amount of energy reduction) Includes water heaters, lighting/controls/sensors, furnaces, boilers, heat pumps, AC, weather stripping, duct sealing, insulation, windows, siding, and roofs FEDERAL RESIDENTIAL ENERGY APPROVED EFFICIENCY TAX CREDIT Personal, one-time tax credit up to $500 Includes water heaters, furnaces, boilers, heat pumps, air conditioners, insulation, windows, roofs, and circulating fans For more information, visit lineshapespace.com SOURCES http://energy.gov/science-innovation/energy-efficiency | http://www.homeadvisor.com/cost/electrical/install-electrical-wiring-or-panel/#closing-article http://www.sba.gov/content/tips-energy-efficiency | http://www.mass.gov/ocabr/government/oca-agencies/dpl-Ip/consumer-fact-sheets/electricians-consumer-fact-sheet.html http://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes472111.htm | http://www.homeadvisor.com/cost/electrical/hire-an-electrician/ http://www.statisticbrain.com/what-consumers-spend-each-month/ | http://www.serve.gov/toolkits/audit-home/index.asp http://www.homeadvisor.com/cost/electrical/ | http:/lenergy gov/savings/residential-energy-efficiency-tax-credit http://www.esfi.org/index.cfm/page/lnjury-and-Fatality-Statistics/pid/12015 | http://www.hse.gov.uk/electricity/injuries.htm http://www.terraclimegeo.com/faqs-92.html | http://www.solarenergy.net/Articles/solar-energy-savings.aspx http://eartheasy.com/live_led_bulbs.comparison.html | http://earth911.com/news/2013/02/12/cfl-led-choose-light-bulb-options/3 http://www.networx.com/article/top-causes-of-electrical-accidents | http://yearbook.enerdata.net/#electricity-domestic-consumption-data-by-region.html http://www.ledinside.com/node/17712 | http://www.forbes.com/sites/christopherhelman/2013/05/22/how-cree-perfected-the-20-year-lightbulb/ LINE/SHAPE/SPACE A AUTODESK.