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ENLARGE
Compact fluorescent light bulbs, such as these shown Wednesday at Fred Meyer in Roseburg, cost more than regular bulbs, but use 75 percent less energy and provide many more hours of usage. Specials through the end of the year at several local retailers make the bulbs more affordable.
Cash incentives, tax credits
The Energy Trust of Oregon offers a variety of cash incentives to seal heating ducts, add insulation, replace old windows and appliances and to make other improvements.
A chart showing the incentives, along with potential state and federal tax credits for the same purchases, is available by clicking the link below.
A chart showing the incentives, along with potential state and federal tax credits for the same purchases, is available by clicking the link below.
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One of the biggest wasters of electricity in the average house may be one that doesn't attract a lot of attention.
Many people are good about limiting the trips to the kitchen refrigerator to grab an apple or a bottle of pop. They regularly vacuum the coils to remove dust that forces a refrigerator to work harder to provide a consistent cool.
Those same people, however, may give little thought to the old refrigerator stored in the garage to handle the overflow from the main unit or to store added goodies for a barbecue, Super Bowl party or other gathering.
Today's Energy Star-rated refrigerators use half the electricity of models meeting the government's minimum standards as recently as 1993, according to engineer Bruce Harley, author of the book “Cut Your Energy Bills Now.” The gap is even wider for older models.
“Just because you don't see it every day doesn't mean it isn't consuming energy and costing you a whole lot of money,” said Matt Iacoveone, training coordinator for the Portland office of Conservation Services Group.
Iacoveone led a three-hour seminar Tuesday evening at the Douglas County Museum. It was sponsored by the Energy Trust of Oregon and Pacific Power. He provided suggestions on how to make homes more efficient and how to save energy.
Side-by-side refrigerators and those that offer drinks and ice through the doors — even those that are Energy Star approved — use more electricity than other models. Government standards allow side-by-sides to use 10 to 30 percent more energy.
Compact fluorescent lamps use 75 percent less energy than a standard incandescent bulb and provide up to 15,000 hours of usage, compared to 1,000 hours for a regular bulb. Although the compact bulbs cost more — up to $4 apiece compared to 25 cents for a standard bulb — they end up costing far less over the life of a bulb.
For an incandescent bulb, virtually unchanged since its invention by Thomas Edison, 90 percent of the energy produced comes out as heat. The compact bulbs return 90 percent of the energy consumed as light, thus allowing a smaller bulb to provide the same light.
For example, a 15-watt compact bulb produces the same amount of light, 800 lumens, as a 60-watt incandescent bulb.
Through the end of the year, the Energy Trust — a nonprofit organization funded through a 3 percent charge to customers of Pacific Power, Portland General Electric and Northwest Natural — has a special promotion by which compact fluorescent bulbs can be purchased for 99 cents apiece from several local retailers.
Ace Hardware, Albertsons, Bi-Mart, Fred Meyer, Home Depot, Lowe's, True Value Hardware and Wal-Mart are all participating in the program.
Besides that program, the Energy Trust offers cash incentives for a variety of improvements, from sealing heating ducts, replacing windows or old appliances, adding insulation.
A chart available online at www.nrtoday.com shows the incentives and potential state and federal tax credits for each program. Included is a $30 rebate for recycling an old refrigerator, an incentive that has been increased to $50 through the end of the year. Free pickup is included.
Home heating and cooling systems are another area that should receive close attention, Iacoveone said. Up to 60 percent of the energy used to heat and cool homes can be lost due to leaky ducts, inefficient equipment, inadequate insulation and air leaks, he said.
Pacific Power customers who heat their homes primarily with electricity can receive a free energy review through the Energy Trust and performed by a trained energy advisor from the United Community Action Network.
The advisor will spend an hour looking at the heating system, insulation levels, air sealing and windows and ventilation. The evaluator will also look for moisture problems and look at old appliances.
A prioritized list of recommendations and available cash incentives for improvements will be provided. In addition, a set of compact fluorescent light bulbs, high-performance shower heads and water-saving faucet aerators will be given out free of charge.
“We're not trying to sell you anything,” said Brian Hudgins, a UCAN official who performs some of the evaluations.
UCAN typically completes 60 to 70 evaluations a month during the winter in Douglas and Josephine counties, Hudgins said. They are valuable in helping homeowners to learn where improvements would help make a home more efficient and less costly to heat and cool.
To schedule an energy audit, contact the Energy Trust at (866) 368-7878.
Iacoveone offered several suggestions for ways families can reduce energy consumption. He urged participants to create an energy plan to reduce usage by a set amount, such as 10 percent per year.
Families with children could assign one child to turn off households lights when they aren't being used and monitor which other family members tend to leave lights on.
He also recommended a weekly “no power hour,” where all lights and nonessential appliances are turned off. Iacoveone suggested family members go outside and do something together. It's also easy to encourage neighbors and friends to join in, he said.
“Don't make a goal that is unattainable,” he said.
• You can reach reporter John Sowell at 957-4209 or by e-mail at jsowell@nrtoday.com.
Many people are good about limiting the trips to the kitchen refrigerator to grab an apple or a bottle of pop. They regularly vacuum the coils to remove dust that forces a refrigerator to work harder to provide a consistent cool.
Those same people, however, may give little thought to the old refrigerator stored in the garage to handle the overflow from the main unit or to store added goodies for a barbecue, Super Bowl party or other gathering.
Today's Energy Star-rated refrigerators use half the electricity of models meeting the government's minimum standards as recently as 1993, according to engineer Bruce Harley, author of the book “Cut Your Energy Bills Now.” The gap is even wider for older models.
“Just because you don't see it every day doesn't mean it isn't consuming energy and costing you a whole lot of money,” said Matt Iacoveone, training coordinator for the Portland office of Conservation Services Group.
Iacoveone led a three-hour seminar Tuesday evening at the Douglas County Museum. It was sponsored by the Energy Trust of Oregon and Pacific Power. He provided suggestions on how to make homes more efficient and how to save energy.
Side-by-side refrigerators and those that offer drinks and ice through the doors — even those that are Energy Star approved — use more electricity than other models. Government standards allow side-by-sides to use 10 to 30 percent more energy.
Compact fluorescent lamps use 75 percent less energy than a standard incandescent bulb and provide up to 15,000 hours of usage, compared to 1,000 hours for a regular bulb. Although the compact bulbs cost more — up to $4 apiece compared to 25 cents for a standard bulb — they end up costing far less over the life of a bulb.
For an incandescent bulb, virtually unchanged since its invention by Thomas Edison, 90 percent of the energy produced comes out as heat. The compact bulbs return 90 percent of the energy consumed as light, thus allowing a smaller bulb to provide the same light.
For example, a 15-watt compact bulb produces the same amount of light, 800 lumens, as a 60-watt incandescent bulb.
Through the end of the year, the Energy Trust — a nonprofit organization funded through a 3 percent charge to customers of Pacific Power, Portland General Electric and Northwest Natural — has a special promotion by which compact fluorescent bulbs can be purchased for 99 cents apiece from several local retailers.
Ace Hardware, Albertsons, Bi-Mart, Fred Meyer, Home Depot, Lowe's, True Value Hardware and Wal-Mart are all participating in the program.
Besides that program, the Energy Trust offers cash incentives for a variety of improvements, from sealing heating ducts, replacing windows or old appliances, adding insulation.
A chart available online at www.nrtoday.com shows the incentives and potential state and federal tax credits for each program. Included is a $30 rebate for recycling an old refrigerator, an incentive that has been increased to $50 through the end of the year. Free pickup is included.
Home heating and cooling systems are another area that should receive close attention, Iacoveone said. Up to 60 percent of the energy used to heat and cool homes can be lost due to leaky ducts, inefficient equipment, inadequate insulation and air leaks, he said.
Pacific Power customers who heat their homes primarily with electricity can receive a free energy review through the Energy Trust and performed by a trained energy advisor from the United Community Action Network.
The advisor will spend an hour looking at the heating system, insulation levels, air sealing and windows and ventilation. The evaluator will also look for moisture problems and look at old appliances.
A prioritized list of recommendations and available cash incentives for improvements will be provided. In addition, a set of compact fluorescent light bulbs, high-performance shower heads and water-saving faucet aerators will be given out free of charge.
“We're not trying to sell you anything,” said Brian Hudgins, a UCAN official who performs some of the evaluations.
UCAN typically completes 60 to 70 evaluations a month during the winter in Douglas and Josephine counties, Hudgins said. They are valuable in helping homeowners to learn where improvements would help make a home more efficient and less costly to heat and cool.
To schedule an energy audit, contact the Energy Trust at (866) 368-7878.
Iacoveone offered several suggestions for ways families can reduce energy consumption. He urged participants to create an energy plan to reduce usage by a set amount, such as 10 percent per year.
Families with children could assign one child to turn off households lights when they aren't being used and monitor which other family members tend to leave lights on.
He also recommended a weekly “no power hour,” where all lights and nonessential appliances are turned off. Iacoveone suggested family members go outside and do something together. It's also easy to encourage neighbors and friends to join in, he said.
“Don't make a goal that is unattainable,” he said.
• You can reach reporter John Sowell at 957-4209 or by e-mail at jsowell@nrtoday.com.
