Energy Audits & Savings For Homeowners

        Last winter, the Pacific Northwest was covered in snow, which is really unusual for this region.  The snow was at its peak right during the winter holiday season, making for a beautiful, white Christmas.  Lots of people were unable to drive and the local bus system was almost inoperable for a time...So, many families got to spend real quality time together.  That's the good news...

        The bad news is that many households were left in the cold, either due to electrical outages, or because the heat generated by furnaces and wood stoves was lost through inadequate insulation.

        What can you do to prepare for the winter cold this year?   You might consider an energy audit of your home.  If you live in a new home, there is probably an Energy Audit report that is included in your purchase documents. If you live in an existing home, you can do an audit yourself or hire a professional to do it for you.

        If you want to hire a professional and live in Seattle, you can apply to be one of 5,000 households who will receive a professional energy audit, valued at approximately $600.00, for $95.00. They began in August and are scheduled to continue until all 5,000 are completed. Details about this program can be found at the Seattle City Light website.

If you prefer to do the audit yourself, there are a few major focus areas to evaluate:

1. Air Leaks,
2. Insulation,
3. Heating & Cooling Equipment, and
4. Lighting.  The US Department of Energy has a basic checklist for a Do-It-Yourself Home Energy Audit that's pretty comprehensive. 

        Acting on your audit results can result in lower utility expenses immediately.  Also, federal tax credits are available for certain home improvements.  For more information about the specifics of new tax credits, a helpful link is the Federal Tax Credit page of U.S. Dept. of Energy website.

What a great idea! Just a few activities can help folks save money right away, stay warm this winter, AND receive a tax credit next spring.

Until next time!
                                          Kathy

No Time? Limited Funds? You CAN Save on Electricity

We’ve all read those articles about saving on your energy bill…You just need to buy a BRAND NEW washer, dryer AND dishwasher. OR, you need to go around your house each night and turn off all the phantom electricity. Phantom electricity culprits include anything that stays on when you turn it off but leave it plugged in. Examples are things like microwave ovens, coffee makers, the cable box and the computer. What those articles generally don’t address is how inconvenient it is to turn them all on again. It’s not hard to hit the “on” button, but isn’t so easy when you have to re-set the clock to get the coffee maker to work and boot up the computer to get to the emails you need to know about before you walk into your job – all when you have about 30 seconds before having to leave the house for work in the morning.

Well, there really is a better way to get started saving on electricity…Change from old fashioned light bulbs to the new CFL or LCD light bulbs. You’ll be amazed at the difference in your electricity bill just a month after you install the new bulbs. The retail cost of the new light bulbs is less now than it ever has been.

I hope you find this information helpful!  How do you save money on electricity at your home?


                                        Kathy

PS.  There’s even a way to get CFL light bulbs FREE! Puget Sound Energy is giving them away at their “Rock the Bulb Tour”. All you have to do is show up with 10 of your old light bulbs – they are offering to give you 10 new CFLs for free. Rock The Bulb is going to be in Kent on October 3rd-4th and in Auburn on October 10th-11th.  For more information about this giveaway and other ways to save on electricity, go to http://www.rockthebulb.com//.

Is Affordable Housing Really Affordable? How to Begin Taking Control of the Cost...

Just what is affordable housing in the Puget Sound area?  According to the Social Justice Committee of King County, housing is considered affordable when it costs 30% of income.  The average rent, plus utilities, for a 2 bedroom apartment in King County is currently $996.  So, a household would have to bring home $19.17 per hour for 40 hours each week to afford  "affordable housing".  As a result, almost 40% of households in King County pay more than 30% of their income for housing. 

How can people decrease the cost of their housing?  Cutting energy costs is one way to see immediate, tangible savings.  One area that will yield great benefits with minor changes is hot water consumption.  Your water heater can account for up to 13% of your total energy cost.  Making just a few easy changes can help decrease energy costs significantly...

1. Use Less Water In the Shower - If you live in King County, call Puget Sound Energy and ask them to send you a free low-flow showerhead.  To make the request in Seattle, call Seattle Public Utilities.
2. Use Cold Water in the Washing Machine - 90% of energy use in the washing machine is used for heating water.
3. Turn the Water Heater down or off - Most households keep the water heater thermostat set at 140º.  If you turn it down to 120º, you'll save between 3-5% on energy.  If you are going on vacation, turn the water heater off while you are away.
4. Insulate the Water Heater - Adding insulation is inexpensive and can reduce heat loss enough to save you between 4-9% in water heating costs.  Newer water heaters come with insulation and don't need this added padding.  But, if your water heater has an R-Value of less than 24, additional insulation will help decrease your cost.

I hope this is helpful!
                                 Kathy

PS.  For more information about energy savings related to the hot water heater, there is a great article called "7 Ways to Lower Water Heater Costs" on wisebread.com.