Did you make the grade? (Answers)

The Office of the Ohio Consumers’ Counsel (OCC) supports energy efficiency as a method to reduce energy usage and your monthly utility bills. This is the answer sheet to the pop quiz, Energy Efficiency Questions - Do You Make the Grade? See how many you got right and if you made the grade.

1. Which uses less energy…

A. An OLED television?
B. An LED-LCD television?

Answer: B

Both OLED and LED-LCD televisions consume less power than their plasma and CRT predecessors, but the LED-LCD is generally more efficient. However, much depends on screen brightness, its features, set size and how much it is used.

2. Which uses less energy...

A. A gaming PC?
B. A game console?

Answer: B

A gaming PC uses approximately 1,400 kWh per year on average. That is 10 times the power consumed by 10 gaming consoles. Learn tips to reduce power consumption for gaming at www.energystar.gov.

3. Which uses less energy...

A. An electric hot water heater?
B. A natural gas hot water heater?

Answer: B

It usually costs more to heat the same amount of water with electricity than it does with natural gas.

4. Which uses less energy...

A. A refrigerator with a top freezer?
B. A side-by-side refrigerator?

Answer: A

Top freezer models use 10 to 25 percent less energy than side-by-side models.

5. Which uses less energy...

A. A refrigerator with the freezer on the bottom?
B. A refrigerator with the freezer on the top?

Answer: B

In general, refrigerators with top-mounted freezers use less energy than refrigerators with either side-mounted or bottom-mounted freezers.

6. Which uses less energy...

A. A front-loading washer?
B. A top-loading washer?

Answer: A

Most front-loading washers require less water, hold larger loads, and save energy in reduced water heating. Consider ENERGY STAR rating when purchasing new appliances.

7. Which uses less energy...

A. A halogen incandescent bulb?
B. A light-emitting diode (LED) bulb?
C. A compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulb?

Answer: B

Although each are more efficient than the traditional incandescent bulb, it is hard to beat the LED lightbulb. Well-designed LED light bulbs are more efficient, durable, versatile, and last longer.

8. Which uses less energy...

A. A chest freezer?
B. An upright freezer?

Answer: A

Chest freezers are usually more efficient than upright freezers. Chest freezers are better insulated, and cold air does not spill out as easily when the door is opened.

9. To save energy you should...

A. Turn your computer completely off?
B. Put it into sleep mode?

Answer: A

Today’s computers use minimal power in sleep mode; laptops use 1-2 watts and desktops use up to 5 watts. However, turning your computer and monitor completely off is the best way to save energy. Turn the monitor off when away for 20 minutes or more. Turn off the CPU and monitor if they will not be used for more than 2 hours. For additional energy savings plug monitors, printers and other accessories into a power strip/surge protector and turn it off when this equipment is not in use.

10. To save energy you should...

A. Turn off the lights every time you leave the room?
B. Leave them on until you return?

Answer: A

It saves energy to turn off lights when not in use. The cost effectiveness of turning lights off depends on the bulb. Generally, the more energy efficient a bulb is, the longer you can leave it on before it is more cost effective to turn it off. Halogen and incandescent bulbs should be turned off when not in use. Cost savings for turning off CFL or LED bulbs are small but can still make a difference.

11. To save energy in the winter you should...

A. Turn the thermostat down if you are leaving the house for eight hours?
B. Leave the thermostat where it is to keep the house warm?

Answer: A

Setting back your thermostat 7 to 10 degrees for 8 hours a day when you are asleep or away from home can save you as much as 10 percent a year on heating costs. A programmable or smart thermostat can be a great energy saving option.

12. To save energy you should...

A. Check your furnace filter every six months?
B. Check it every month?

Answer: B

Check your filter every month, especially during heavy use months. If the filter looks dirty after a month, change it. Generally, filters should be changed about every 3 months. A dirty filter slows air flow and makes the system work harder, which wastes energy and can put an unnecessary load the system.

13. To save energy in the summer you should...

A. Turn the thermostat up when you are leaving the house for eight hours?
B. Leave the thermostat set where it is to keep the house cool?

Answer: A

Save energy in the summer by setting your thermostat to 78°F and setting it higher when you are away from home. By turning the thermostat up 7 to 10 degrees for 8 hours you can save up to 10 percent a year on your cooling bill. Again, a programmable or smart thermostat can be a great energy saving option.

14. To save energy you should...

A. Wash several small loads of laundry?
B. Wash one large load of laundry?

Answer: B

Many washers use the same amount of water for a full load as they do for a partial load. To conserve more energy doing laundry, consider washing full loads in cold water and air-drying them when possible.

15. To save energy you should...

A. Check the lint filter in your dryer every week?
B. Check it before and after every load?

Answer: B

Lint filters should be checked before and after each load to keep for efficiency and to avoid a fire hazard. If you use dryer sheets, the filter should be scrubbed regularly to remove buildup that can reduce air circulation.

16. To save energy you should...

A. Wash a full load of dishes by hand?
B. Wash the same dishes in the dishwasher?

Answer: B

Recent studies show washing full loads of dishes in a dishwasher uses less energy than hand washing the same load.

17. Which uses less energy...

A. Streaming movies on a game console?   
B. Streaming on a Smart TV or small media player?

Answer: B

Streaming movies on a game console consumes 10 to 20 times more energy to stream a movie than on a Smart TV or a small media player, which can use 4 or fewer watts to do the same thing.

18. Which uses less energy...

A. A full refrigerator?
B. An empty refrigerator?

Answer: A

A full refrigerator retains cold better than an empty one. The chilled items enable the refrigerator to recover faster after the door has been opened. However, do not overfill it. This interferes with the circulation of cold air inside.

19. Which uses less energy...

A. Taking a shower?
B. Taking a bath?

Answer: A

Generally, it takes less hot water to take a shower than a bath. To test this, put the plug in the tub the next time you take a shower. After your shower, see how much the tub filled up. If there is less water than you would usually have in a bath, then you will probably save energy by taking a shower instead.

20. To save energy you should...

A. Charge your cell phone only when it needs charged?
B. Leave it on the charger all night?

Answer: A

Cellular phones should be charged only when they need charged and for the recommended charging time; over charging your cell phone overcharges your electric bill. Chargers should also be unplugged or turned off using a power strip when not in use to avoid vampire (standby) power.

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Did you make the grade?

Count the answers you got correct. Then assign 5 points to every right answer.

A = 80 to 100 points
B = 55 to 75 points
C = 25 to 50
D = 10 to 20
F = 0 to 5 points
 

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