Energy User Quiz

Progress:

1. You are shopping for a new home. Your ideal purchase is:

A) A small, older ranch just big enough for the family. Even if it’s a little outdated, you’ll save a bundle on heating costs with the small square footage;

B) A brand-new, state-of-the-art home that was built to be 100% energy-independent, with large floor-to-ceiling windows, solar photovoltaic panels for electricity, a geothermal heat pump, and a water-recycling system. You may even have energy left over to sell back to the grid;

C) A large, 3000+ square foot period home, complete with the original leaded windows, and 10’ ceilings. Yes, it might be extravagant, but you plan on insulating, installing storm windows and replacing the dinosaur boiler in the basement with an updated energy efficient heating system; OR

D) A fixer-upper. Sure, it may need a lot of work inside, but it’s a GREAT deal. Even if it needs some structural work, you’re saving enough money to address those issues if necessary. And who knows? Maybe it doesn’t need much work at all, in which case you can add on a few rooms, make other updates, and even landscape.

2. You think that the country’s biggest energy problem is:

A) We use too much of it;

B) We aren’t harnessing enough from renewable sources like wind and solar;

C) We aren’t taking enough chances on domestic exploration; OR

D) It’s too expensive.

3. It’s mid-January during the coldest winter you can remember. The first thing you do when you get home is:

A) Turn the heat up a bit in your bedroom, put your fuzzy slippers on, wrap up in a down comforter & settle down with a good book. You’ve kept the thermostat low all winter; it’s time to treat yourself a little;

B) Call that guy your brother recommended about purchasing electricity generated from local wind farms and natural gas produced from low carbon footprint wells. You’d feel much better about turning up the thermostat if you knew you were supporting energy that wasn’t coming from a coal-fired plant;

C) Turn the thermostat up to 75 degrees, take a long, hot shower with the bathroom heater on to get the cold out of your bones, and then sit in front of a roaring fire in your gas fireplace with a movie and nice glass of wine. Hopefully there won’t be too many days like this; OR

D) Head to the coffee shop down the block. It’s warmer than staying home, and you just love the warm wood-burning stove, hot cocoa and cozy atmosphere.

4. Your laundry routine consists of:

A) Washing everything in your high efficiency washing machine and hanging it out to dry, weather permitting;

B) Hand washing and line drying everything. You can use the same water for all your loads, and sunshine is nature’s natural dryer;

C) Throwing everything into the washer together and then tumble-drying it all. If you use cold water, you’ll save money and the colors won’t run. Well, they probably won’t run; OR

D) Going to the laundromat. You’ve run the numbers and it’s definitely cheaper than buying your own machines and paying for the maintenance, water, gas and electricity it takes to run them. Besides, you don’t own that many clothes, and you only wash them when they absolutely need to be cleaned.

5. It’s October, and your new neighbor asks your advice on which home-renovation project she should undertake first. You tell her to:

A) Consider replacing the furnace with a 93% energy efficient condensing unit, and look into some new windows. The payback would be modest, but the energy savings would be significant over time;

B) Install photovoltaic solar panels on her roof, a project your solar contractor suggested after an evaluation a few months back. Your neighborhood gets LOTS of sun;

C) Start work on the interior first before worrying about insulation, new windows, etc. A lot of folks are predicting a really mild winter this year anyway; OR

D) Install a digital thermostat, water heater blanket, and plastic sheeting over the windows – all available at the local big box store for under $100 total. It’s the cheapest things she can do to save some money this winter.

6. When you head to the grocery store, you look for produce that:

A) Is locally-grown, just a few miles from the store. No strawberries from Peru in the wintertime; you eat with the seasons;

B) Is organic – how it’s grown is just as important as what it is;

C) Looks delicious, even if it’s not something you’ve tried before – that star-fruit is intriguing; OR

D) Is nutritious but on sale – if that means just apples and bananas, okay.

7. When it’s time to get a new television, you buy:

A) Whatever it is, it better have the highest Energy Star rating possible;

B) Television? You prefer your solar-powered radio;

C) The latest 3D technology, even if you’re not sure it will still be cutting-edge in six months; OR

D) Whatever is on sale that day at the big box store, even if it’s an old CRT model – unless, of course, you find something even cheaper online.

8. Your ideal car is:

A) A nice sedan that gets 31+ miles to the gallon;

B) An electric hybrid vehicle that can take E85 gasoline (85% ethanol);

C) A classic sports car with a diesel engine. Diesel is a more efficient fuel than gasoline, and if prices fall you’ll really be making out; OR

D) A sub-compact gas-sipper. Cheap to buy and cheap to keep running.

9. Your idea of “getting outdoors” means:

A) Volunteering to sell raffle tickets at the high school Homecoming football game. You get to watch the game, get some fresh air and help out a good cause all at once;

B) A walk through your neighborhood with gloves and a plastic bag for picking up trash;

C) The newest extreme sport. You love to get that adrenaline pumping! OR

D) A spin through the local park. It’s beautiful any time of year, and during the summer they hold free community concerts there.

What Type of Energy Consumer Are YOU?

ACCES Interactive Quiz

Click “Submit” to determine your Energy Preferences Profile:

Energy User Quiz

What Type of Energy Consumer Are YOU?

ACCES Interactive Quiz

Click “Submit” to determine your Energy Preferences Profile:

Sign up for the quarterly ACCES Consumer Update!