
Articles can also be found in your City Side newsletter, inserted into your utility bill each month.
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Prime Time Power Call your Energy Services Coordinator, Steve Wilson, at 239-5177 for an application, or for more information about Prime Time Power. A Prime Time Power application is also available at the Utility Customer Service office at 515 Clark Ave., and on-line.
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| Self Audit Packet Check your home for energy efficiency. Call 239-5177 for a free self-audit packet. Use our online packet to assist you with your audit.
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Ask Steve, the Energy GuyQ: What
are Degree Days and how are they used? Example: The high temperature for a particular day was 30°F and the low temperature was 6°F. The temperature mean for that day was: (30°F + 6°F) / 2 = 18°F Because the result is below 65°F: 65 - 18 = 47 Heating Degree Days If the temperature mean is above 65°F, we subtract 65 from the mean and the result is called Cooling Degree Days because we would have to cool the resulting temperature to get back to 65°F. If the temperature mean is below 65°F, we subtract the mean from 65 and the result is called Heating Degree Days because we would have to heat the resulting temperature to get back to 65°F. If you want to know if the
attic insulation you added over the summer is saving energy, you could use
your energy bills to determine how many units of heating energy (gas therms,
gallons of propane, or electric kWh’s) were used before and after the
retrofit. Divide the energy units by the Degree Days. If all other things
are equal, the impact of the insulation should cause the "after
units" per Degree Day to be lower. · Before Units from your bill: January 2002 = 300 therms · After Units from your bill: January 2003 = 375 therms · January 2002 Heating Degree Days = 1030 · January 2003 Heating Degree
Days = 1342 Before: 300/1030 = .29 After: 375/1342 = .28 In this example, even though January 2003 was colder (more Heating Degree Days), the units per Degree Day went down meaning the insulation is doing its job. You can find Degree Days for Ames and more information at www.cityofames.org/ElectricWeb. |