URL Home Improvement Betsy Schiffman

Even though oil prices fell to below $28 a barrel on April 10, off of a high in late February of nearly $40, Americans are more energy conscious this spring than they have been in years. On the heels of the "my SUV is bigger than yours" years, recent high gas prices have been painful reminders of how much it can cost to heat one's home and fill one's tank.

Once again--or at least until prices at the pumps dip low enough--public attention is focusing on the cost of energy. As it does every time prices go up, there are growing murmurs about alternative fuel sources, ending dependency on Mideast oil, conservation, etc., etc. In the past these murmurs tended to subside with the return of low gas prices--but there could be a genuine hope that the current war might inspire more long-term changes on both a national and a personal basis.

Even if the war in Iraq is wrapped up quickly, experts maintain that it could be as much as several years before its oil network is brought back online. Moreover, continued political uncertainty in Venezuela and civil unrest in Nigeria have contributed to a depletion of global oil reserves and prices--so there's no guarantee that prices will stay down indefinitely. (There never is.)

So it's not a bad idea to start saving money on fuel at home now. Unfortunately, many at-home energy conservation solutions involve expensive or complicated equipment that most Americans don't need--or know what to do with. In many instances such devices may not pay for themselves in energy savings for years. However, there are many ways of conserving fuel that don't cost homeowners thousands of dollars.

Washington might be able to provide some help too. Last month Illinois Republican Rep. Jerry Weller introduced legislation called the "Save America's Valuable Energy Resources Act of 2003" that proposes allowing home builders/owners to obtain tax credits for building energy-efficient properties or improving energy efficiencies of existing structures.

We asked several experts for low-cost tips to conserve fuel at home and we found that you don't have to go into debt to reduce your energy costs. After all, it's hard to justify spending thousands of dollars (and in some cases, tens of thousands of dollars) to save what may be a negligible amount of money in energy savings.

High-end energy-efficient appliances, for example, are environmentally friendly--and they may actually pay for themselves over the long-term, but they're not for everyone. They're often the most expensive models on the market and, depending on each household's energy usage, they could take years to pay for themselves. There are, however, some inexpensive easy things that everyone can do. Here are some low-budget tips that could save you money.

Windows There's no way of avoiding the fact that windows simply aren't energy efficient. Cold air leaks through in the winter and heat comes in during the summer. Even window replacements--considered a highly efficient way to insulate the home, thus cuttting down heating costs--don't always pay for themselves. Remodel Magazine's 2002 Cost Vs. Value report (an annual study that looks at the average cost of remodeling jobs and the percentage of costs that may be recouped) found that on a national average, homeowners that replaced ten 3-by-5-foot double-hung windows spent on average $15,502 for an upscale job--and 77% of that cost was recouped in the resale value of the home. (Although, if one were to throw energy savings in the mix, the percentage of costs recouped could climb up slightly.)

"There's no doubt that new windows or storm windows will save energy," says Larry Spielvogel, a consulting engineer for trade group American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers. "The concern becomes the amount of money saved relative to the cost of installation. Windows tend to be expensive to begin with and they are expensive to install."

Spielvogel also says that, in general, windows are massive energy suckers. Even the most efficient windows lose about ten times as much heat as a wall. So apart from removing all the windows in one's house, how can the average homeowner lessen window-related energy losses? Try weather-stripping all doors and windows. Weather-strip or weatherseal tape closes up cracks and crevices where cold air could be leaking in. Although it's not a permanent solution--it should be replaced every few years--it is very inexpensive to do, even if you hire a contractor to do it, and helps insulate the house. In fact, one package of ten feet of foam weather-strip should only cost a couple of dollars.

Air-Conditioning/Heating System Perhaps the easiest, least expensive and most effective thing homeowners in cold climates can do is replace their heater/air-conditioner thermostat. A basic thermostat can cost as little as $20 and a fancy programmable thermostat only costs $100. A thermostat may last up to 20 years--and could deliver up to 35% in annual energy savings. A high-end thermostat allows homeowners to program the thermostat to start and stop at certain times and, depending upon your heater and home, if you can install zone valves, you might be able to zone off the parts of the house that aren't being used and don't require heat/air-conditioning. Although wood stoves seem like an attractive alternative, they're hardly environmentally friendly--and for folks living in Western states, they may even be banned or there may be restrictions for usage.

Seeing how air-conditioners often account for 20% of energy usage, it's an important appliance to draw efficiencies from. An older air-conditioner can be made more efficient without being replaced. About 70% of all air-conditioning systems are retrofitted--that is, people upgrade existing systems rather than replace an entire system, according to Eric Evans, the vice president of air-conditioning at Copeland Corporation, a division of St. Louis, Mo.-based Emerson Climate Technologies (nyse: EMR - news - people ). An old air-conditioner may not be retrofitted for everything, however: For example, it may not be possible to upgrade an older air-conditioning system for zoning (zoning off different parts of the house at different temperatures).

The important thing to consider when looking at new air-conditioning systems is the compressor. Although a compressor can be replaced, they tend to be expensive. An efficient air-conditioner compressor, however, could reduce energy usage by 15%. One thing most air-conditioning users might do, if they can, according to Scott Ceasar, vice president at engineering firm Cosentini Associates, is install a $300-to-$400 air-conditioner soft starter (which limits the voltage used by starting the motor in a softer, slower mode). It could pay for itself in energy savings quite quickly--depending, of course, on whether one lives in a warm climate and how often the air-conditioner is used. Spielvogel also recommends insulating air-conditioning ducts or heating pipes to prevent energy from being lost

Water Heater One of the biggest energy suckers in the home is the water heater. On average, it accounts for between 15% and 25% of household fuel costs. If an annual fuel bill, for example, is $1,000, the water heater is responsible for between $150 to $250 of that. Replacing an existing water heater with something substantially more expensive (several thousand dollars) may cut down fuel usage, but it could take a long time before the energy savings cover the premium cost. What one can do, however, to reduce water-heating costs is install water-efficient fixtures, such as low-flow showerheads, which only spray 2.5 gallons per minute as opposed to the four gallons per minute. Also, Spielvogel suggests buying a water-heater jacket--which should only cost about $15 to $20--to insulate the heater and prevent energy losses.

Also, if the homeowner lives in a warm climate where the swimming pool is a central part of the home, a solar pool heater could pay for itself quite quickly. One homeowner told us, anecdotally, that while living in Florida he spent about $200 a month heating his pool and Jacuzzi. He took the plunge and bought a solar pool heater for several thousand dollars--and after two years it paid for itself.

Posted on Mon, Apr. 07, 2003 Associated Press

CAMARILLO, Calif. - Motorists are seeing the first drop in gas prices in four months due in part to falling crude oil prices because of increased certainly about Middle East oil supplies, an industry analyst said.

Gas prices dropped six cents a gallon nationwide over the past two weeks. It's the biggest two-week drop since October 2001, analyst Trilby Lundberg said Sunday.

Another factor was the completion of repairs and maintenance at refineries in advance of spring demand, she said.

The average price for gas nationwide, including all grades and taxes, was about $1.70 a gallon on Friday, according to the Lundberg survey of approximately 8,000 gas stations. That was a decrease of 6.03 cents from March 21, the date of the last Lundberg survey.

It was the biggest two-week drop since the price of a gallon of gas fell 6.6 cents in late October 2001.

Lundberg said gas prices will likely continue to drop in the near term "because world crude oil supplies seem to be more secure now and because U.S. refiners are gearing up to supply plenty of gasoline."

Only a few oil fields have been set ablaze in Iraq and the fires were extinguished quickly, Lundberg said. In addition, Venezuela's oil industry has been recovering from a strike and is back to producing about two-thirds of its pre-strike level.

The price of a barrel of oil was $28.62 on Friday, down from $34.93 on March 17 - the day President Bush gave Saddam Hussein 48 hours to leave Iraq or face war.

The national weighted average price of gasoline, including taxes, at self-serve pumps Friday was about $1.67 for regular, $1.76 for mid-grade and $1.85 for premium.

Posted: April 6, 2003 at 6:37 p.m.

CAMARILLO, Calif. (AP) -- Gas prices dropped six cents a gallon nationwide over the past two weeks, the first decrease in four months and the biggest two-week drop since October 2001, an industry analyst said Sunday.

Falling crude oil prices resulting from increased certainty about Middle East oil supplies contributed to the decrease, said analyst Trilby Lundberg.

The average price for gas nationwide, including all grades and taxes, was about $1.70 a gallon on Friday, according to the Lundberg survey of approximately 8,000 gas stations. That was a decrease of 6.03 cents from March 21, the date of the last Lundberg survey.

"Lower crude oil prices since mid-March resulting from reduced uncertainty about Middle East oil supplies are working their way down to the gasoline pump," Lundberg said.

Another factor was the completion of repairs and maintenance at refineries in advance of spring demand, Lundberg said.

It was the biggest two-week drop since the price of a gallon of gas fell 6.6 cents in late October 2001.

Lundberg said gas prices will likely continue to drop in the near term "because world crude oil supplies seem to be more secure now and because U.S. refiners are gearing up to supply plenty of gasoline."

Pre-war oil market jitters have been somewhat calmed because only a few oil fields have been set ablaze in Iraq and the fires were extinguished quickly, Lundberg said. In addition, Venezuela's oil industry has been recovering from a strike and is back to producing about two-thirds of its pre-strike level.

The price of a barrel of oil was $28.62 on Friday, down from $34.93 on March 17 -- the day President Bush gave Saddam Hussein 48 hours to leave Iraq or face war.

The national weighted average price of gasoline, including taxes, at self-serve pumps Friday was about $1.67 for regular, $1.76 for mid-grade and $1.85 for premium.

<a href=www.thisisexeter.co.uk>Express 7 Echo 12:00 - 04 April 2003

There's a perception that Devon has some of the most expensive petrol prices in the country and uncertainty about how the Iraq conflict would affect oil supplies saw pennies regularly being added to the price of a litre of petrol over the winter. Rob Sims discovers if we are getting a raw deal Fears that a long and bitter conflict in Iraq could interrupt the smooth supply of oil has contributed to a steep rise in the cost of fuel at the pumps in recent months. Rises of up to three pence a litre have led to the growing suspicion that while petrol companies are quick to increase prices during times of crisis, there is always less haste to lower them again. Devon - which was at the centre of nationwide protests about the price of fuel in September 2000 - is particularly vulnerable to rising prices. The rural economy is dependent on the car and parts of Devon pay some of the highest prices in the country. Recent research from the Devon and Cornwall Business Council revealed that prices could vary by as much as seven pence a litre at urban and rural garages owned by the same companies. In some more remote areas motorists are paying more for their fuel than at any time since the fuel protests, with a litre of unleaded petrol priced at more than 80 pence. The cost of a barrel of oil has fluctuated widely in recent weeks and fears over a long conflict in Iraq led to prices creeping up. Its wasn't the only factor. At the end of last year crude oil shortages caused by a general strike by workers in Venezuela caused prices to soar. Pump prices rose by 2.5 per cent in the month before the Iraqi conflict began, hitting a two-year high of 80p for a litre of unleaded fuel. At the start of the current conflict the Petrol Retailers Association (PRA) predicted a rise in the cost at the pumps followed by a gradual fall. Once military action was launched and the conflict looked like it would come to a swift end, it said prices would drop rapidly. Now that the bid to remove Saddam looks like it may be more protracted, the situation is less clear. Ray Holloway, director of the PRA said: "In the coming weeks the price of crude will be going up and down like a yo-yo. "Prices are now beginning to come down and I think they will come down more the closer we get to Easter. "BP announced a penny cut last week and I expected the others to follow. I have begun to notice the pennies coming off. I think we have already seen the effects of the war, which pushed up prices between December and the end of February. "Although the Iraq conflict will keep the cost of crude high, other factors, like seasonal demand, will help to keep prices down. "People always say that prices go up quickly when there are rises in crude oil but are slow to come down again when prices fall. But there isn't really much of a lag." Mr Holloway denied claims that prices were higher in Devon than elsewhere and said rural areas shouldn't have to charge more than urban locations. The price of fuel fluctuates because oil is a commodity traded on international stock markets and its price is affected by confidence over supply. Anything that could affect the smooth supply of oil - especially conflict in a major oil-producing country like Iraq - means motorists are likely to take a hit at the pumps. Dr Simon James, a lecturer at Exeter University's economics department, said motorists shouldn't panic about the current crisis - as long as it doesn't last for too long. He said: "In the longer term there is not too much to worry about because the cartels have never been able to keep oil prices high for long - there are too many countries producing oil for that. "As long as the conflict is confined to Iraq and doesn't spread to countries like Saudi Arabia, there is no reason for prices to stay high for long. A lot of short-term rises in the cost of petrol are based on speculation - that is quite normal. "If you think that the wheat crop is going to fail then the price of wheat will rise well before it actually does. "Motorists are not allowed to stockpile fuel; they have little choice but to pay the prices at the pumps. There is plenty of oil in containers around the world that could be used if the need is there. "I don't think motorists really have much of a cause for concern at the moment." Tim Jones, chairman of the Devon and Cornwall Business Council, accuses the big petrol companies of exploiting local motorists. Mr Jones said: ""Rural areas get a bad deal. The same petrol companies continue to charge four pence a litre more within a 30 mile radius. "In particular, the major petrol companies are exploiting main road sites, where people have no choice but to buy petrol from them. The tourism season is about to start and we need to show that we can offer fuel at reasonable prices, especially as train services are poor." The business leader said fears of big price rises following the start of hostilities had so far proved unfounded. He said: "They have managed to take control of some of the big oil wells in the south so supply is no longer a problem. "Things should be looking quite rosy, but that is not always reflected at the pumps. "There should be a downward spiral in prices now. "If the supermarkets can maintain prices throughout all their stores, I don't see why petrol companies can't. "Not only are rural businesses and households paying dearly for their petrol anyway, but they do not have a choice - for the majority of people in rural areas there is no train and no bus unless you want to wait for a day. The whole of the rural economy is totally dependent on cars." A spokeswoman for BP said the company considered a whole range of criteria before setting the price of its fuel. She said: "Oil prices have been fluctuating a lot in recent weeks. "It is something we look at on a daily basis so that prices reflect the current market." There is little alternative for motorists but to pay the prices that are fixed by the big companies. Last month the pumps at one of the last remaining independent petrol stations in Devon ran dry. The Harris Motors garage at Nomansland, near Tiverton, stopped selling fuel after owners Bev and Fred Harris - who ran the petrol station for 18 years - were unable to compete with supermarkets and oil firms. While Liquid Petroleum Gas (LPG) has yet to take off, the market for diesel is growing all the time. Two years ago diesels took 15 per cent of the new car market but the figure is now around 27 per cent and could reach 30 per cent by the end of the year. Some economists have predicted that conflicts in oil-producing countries could become more common in future years as precious resources begin to dwindle. The rate of new oil discoveries has slowed in recent years and, depending on who you listen to, production will begin to decline sometime between 2010 and 2025. Supplies are limited and lifestyles will have to change without the luxury of what is still, essentially, a cheap form of fuel. But for now, despite all the concerns about rising petrol costs, it remains a relatively cheap and plentiful fuel. And while many motorists will vent their frustrations at ever-changing prices, it is worth remembering that around 80 per cent of the cost of a litre of fuel in the UK is tax.

<a href=www.vheadline.com>Venezuela's Electronic News Posted: Thursday, April 03, 2003 By: VenAmCham

Oil prices have plunged 10% as US reserves show a surprisingly robust recovery following record declines and as US-UK allied forces advance toward Baghdad.

Crude oil inventories in the United States rose 6.8 million barrels last week, greatly exceeding the expected 2.75 million barrel recovery. The price of US light crude had recently fallen 81 cents to 27.75 dollars per barrel losing 3.30 dollars per barrel so far in April, while fears of a prolonged interruption of global supply have lessened.

US gasoline reserves increased 1.7 million barrels instead of an expected 700,000 barrels leaving tanks less full than in previous years, although there are more than 50 million barrels of crude oil and 13 million barrels of gasoline on hand.