Let's see how much you know about energy conservation and cutting your heating and electric bill.

1.How much insulation should be in your attic?
a.) 4 inches
b.) The depth of my hand
c.) 10 inches
d.) 13 inches

2.How much can you save on your heating bill by dialing down your thermostat for 8 hours?
a.) 5% for every degree
b.) 1% for every degree
c.) 3% for every degree
d.) 6% for every degree

3.What’s the cheapest way to heat your home?
a.) gas fireplace
b.) wood stove
c.) propane furnace
d.) geothermal heat pump

4.How much of the electricity your home uses goes for lighting?
a.) 10%
b.) 20%
c.) 30%
d.) Too much

5.How many electricians does it take to replace incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescents?
a.) One
b.) Two–One to take out the old light and one to put in the new one
c.) None
d.) Six–One to screw in the bulb and five to check out the wiring in your entire house

6.Who should you contact if you have trouble paying your electric bill?
a.) Your dad
b.) Your electric utility
c.) Your local Department of Human Services office
d.) Your best friend

7.What’s the first thing you should check if your electric bills are really, really high?
a.) Your toaster
b.) Your refrigerator
c.) Your electric water heater
d.) Your electric blanket

8.What uses the most energy in your home?
a.) Lighting
b.) Water heater
c.) Refrigerator
d.) Clothes dryer

9.How much less electricity does a fluorescent bulb use, compared with an incandescent bulb of the same light output?
a.) 1/4
b.) 1/2
c.) 3/4
d.) 7/8

10.What costs less than burning a 100-watt light bulb for 24 hours?
a.) a pack of gum
b.) a cup of coffee
c.) a cup of yogurt
d.) a can of pop

11.You should replace your refrigerator with a new model if it was made before what year?
a.) 1993
b.) 1997
c.) 2000
d.) 2001

12.Electric cooperatives serve in how many Michigan counties?
a.) 35
c.) 59
b.) 52
d.) 71

How do you rate?
Perfect score: They need you at the Department of Energy
10-11 correct: You’re already saving energy and money
6-9 correct: You’ve been paying attention
3-5 correct: You need to pay more attention
0-2 correct: Let’s hope you learned something here

Answers
1. d – 13 inches of fiberglass or cellulose insulation equals a resistance to heat transfer ( R ) rating of roughly 40.
2. b – Dial down two degrees all day and you’ll save 6 percent.
3. d – Geothermal heating systems have the lowest operating cost and the best long-term return on investment. They provide economical cooling, too.
4. a – You can cut that considerably by using fluorescent bulbs.
5. c – You won’t need help; compact fluorescents screw in just like the incandescent bulbs you’re used to.
6. c – Your utility, whether gas or electric, can tell you if your circumstance qualifies for shutoff protection or assistance. Look for guidance on state programs in the Nov/Dec issue of Michigan Country Lines.
7. c – Unless you have electric heat or a gas water heater your electric water heater will by the biggest user in your home. If you heat water with gas, check your refrigerator as the likely suspect.
8. b – See 7.
9. c
10. none – What can you find for 25 cents, which is what the electricity will cost?
11. a – A typical new refrigerator with automatic defrost and a top-mounted freezer uses less than 500 kwh per year, whereas a typical model sold in 1973 used over 1,800 kwh per year. Federal efficiency standards first took effect in 1993, while a new set of stricter standards took effect in 2001.
12. c – That’s about half the land mass in Michigan. Co-ops cover a lot of space with far less people than other utilities. Despite the higher operating expense (more poles and wire), co-op rates remain close to those of the nearest investor-owned utility. They’d be higher if not for the cooperative, not-for-profit business model.