What Is the Difference Between Energy Efficiency and Efficacy?

Ceiling fans don't have energy efficiency ratings; they have efficacy ratings. Since light bulbs are also described by their efficacy, I started wondering about the term.

How much bang for your buck?

Here's the deal. Efficiency in general is defined as output divided by input. It's a number that tells you how much bang you get for your buck.

By itself, though, that definition doesn't distinguish between efficiency and efficacy because the latter is also a bang-to-buck ratio. Here's the difference: An efficiency rating has the same type of quantity in the numerator and denominator. That quantity is energy.
Take a look at furnace efficiency, for example. The official efficiency rating is called Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency, or AFUE. It's the number of BTUs of heat that can be delivered to the heated space divided by the number of BTUs of heat that result from burning the fuel. A typical furnace might have an input rating of 80,000 BTU per hour and have an AFUE of 80. That means 64,000 BTU of heat per hour get delivered to the house.

Efficacy is different but the same

You put a certain amount of energy in, and you get a certain amount of energy out. Same quantity on both sides. That's efficiency.
With ceiling fans and light bulbs, you put energy in and get something else out. With fans, it's air flow, measured in cubic feet per minute. The rating that you see on ceiling fan boxes now shows cfm per watt.

With light bulbs, you put energy in (watts) and get brightness out (lumens). Look for the ratings on light bulb packages, and you'll see lumens per watt.

In both of these cases where we use efficacy, the output quantity chosen makes more sense to look at than does energy. With heating and cooling, it makes more sense to talk about efficiency because we want to know about the energy output, and we can measure it relatively easily.

Now you know the difference. You can use the word efficacy and look smart. And you'll look even smarter when someone asks why you're using that word instead of efficiency.

Repost from Energy Vanguard

Reliably Clean Water

Your water met or exceeded all state and federal drinking water health standards. Read all about it in EWEB's 2013 Consumer Confidence Report. http://www.eweb.org/public/documents/water/consumerConfidenceReport.pdf

Single Inlet EV Charging is Here

Big names in global car manufacturers have announced a common method for charging electric vehicles. The companies are in agreement with a common charging technology for use on electric vehicles in Europe and the United States. The new method will provide special convenience by enabling car owners to charge their EVs using AC or DC from a single inlet. The charging system will allow for both alternating current and faster direct current charging on the same port. Another feature of the new system is that the charge can be done in faster time; a battery charge will take only 15 to 20 minutes.

Local Economy Gets Better

Electricity use is closely tied to the state of the economy, and I'm pleased to announce some very positive news based on EWEB's First Quarter 2012 sales figures. Total retail consumption increased by 2%, over 2011 consumption. Residential consumption was up 1% from Q1 of last year. General Service and industrial sales, with the exception of Hynix, were up by 3.1% and are at the highest level since 2008.

WiFi Thermostats

As technology marches on, even thermostats have been affected. Now you can buy a "wifi thermostat" (or "ip thermostat", "internet thermostat", etc) which will allow you to control your thermostat settings remotely, be it from a computer or even your iPhone! I suppose some people may utilize this technology to hang out in bed in the morning before turning up the heat with their phone, but these devices are really handy for the frequent traveler, landlord, or anyone who owns a vacation home. While a programmable thermostat has already made many people's lives easier (and cheaper), a thermostat with wireless capabilities takes things to a whole new level. Now, while a wifi thermostat is cool and affordable for many, it is still a relatively new technology. Before buying one of these gadgets yourself, make sure you understand how things work. http://www.squidoo.com/wifi-thermostat

Energy Efficiency

If you, or someone you know are in the market for a new TV check out The Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance's (NEEA) website for which TVs use the least energy and where to find them in your state: http://energyefficientelectronics.org/

As you may know, televisions are the fastest-growing consumer of residential power in the Northwest - there are more of them, they are on more hours, they have more devices attached to them - and those screens just keep getting bigger!

(And if it's not a TV you are in the market for - the site also lists the top ten most energy efficient refrigerators, dish washers and several other appliances and electronics.)

Senate Concurrent Resolution 13

76th OREGON LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY--2011 Regular Session

Enrolled

Sponsored by Senators EDWARDS, PROZANSKI, Representatives BARNHART, HOLVEY, HOYLE, NATHANSON

   Whereas the Eugene Water & Electric Board, Oregon’s largest consumer-owned utility, will celebrate its 100th year of operations on March 11, 2011; and
   Whereas in 1908 Eugene voters approved $300,000 in bonds to purchase and reform the local private water utility following a typhoid fever epidemic; and
   Whereas the Walterville Hydroelectric Plant on the McKenzie River was constructed in 1911 to power pumps and ensure adequate water pressure, leading to the sale of surplus power to Eugene and the subsequent acquisition of the local private electric utility; and
   Whereas the Eugene Water & Electric Board has invested in clean, affordable and reliable electricity through projects such as Leaburg Dam, the Carmen-Smith Hydroelectric Project, the Federal Columbia River Power System, and the Foote Creek, Stateline, Klondike and Harvest Wind Farms; and
   Whereas the Eugene Water & Electric Board made an early commitment to energy conservation in 1976, having weatherized over 42,000 homes since then and annually investing five percent of retail revenues in conservation programs; and
   Whereas the Eugene Water & Electric Board has saved its customers almost 500 million kilowatt hours of power usage through its robust conservation efforts; and
   Whereas the Eugene Water & Electric Board has earned several local, regional and national awards for best-tasting and cleanest water from the McKenzie River; and
   Whereas the Eugene Water & Electric Board adopted a “Customer Care” program in 1986 to provide a wide range of assistance to low-income customers having difficulty paying their utility bills, helping on average 4,000 customers annually; and
   Whereas the Eugene Water & Electric Board in 2009 and 2010 invested more than $10 million back into the community to help customers affected by the economic downturn pay their utility bills; now, therefore,

Be It Resolved by the Legislative Assembly of the State of Oregon:

   That we, the members of the Seventy-sixth Legislative Assembly, in legislative session assembled, recognize, honor and celebrate on behalf of all Oregonians the 100 years of dedicated service of the Eugene Water & Electric Board to the customers to whom it provides safe, clean and reliable water and electricity; and be it further
   Resolved, That a copy of this resolution shall be presented to the Eugene Water & Electric Board of Commissioners.

Adopted by Senate March 14, 2011
Robert Taylor, Secretary of Senate

Peter Courtney, President of Senate

Adopted by House May 5, 2011
Bruce Hanna, Speaker of House
Arnie Roblan, Speaker of House