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

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.

Welcome!

My Husband and I began providing housing for people in and around the Seattle area almost 13 years ago - three months before the birth of our almost adolescent son. As we prepared for this new endeavor, we said things like...It'll be a piece of cake...How hard can it be?...It shouldn't take much time at all...


We quickly learned that our sense of well-being was directly connected to the prosperity of the folks we were serving. Over the years, we celebrated as folks moved out of our property after purchasing their first home - and we fretted over others who had to leave because of a lifestyle that we knew would become dangerous if continued.


Now, almost 13 years later, we see the effects of this nation's economic crisis on the faces of the people that are our customers. So, we've decided to do what we can to help by sharing information with folks that live in the region through this blog...


It'll be a piece of cake...How hard can it be?...It shouldn't take much time at all...

I'll keep you posted.

                                                                     Kathy