October Topic and Key Point
Energy Saving Technologies for Your Home
October 13, 2005
(Click on the panelist's names to jump to their key points below.)
A panel of green building professionals discussed the key issues of energy efficiency in the home from the perspective of their professions. The panel included knowledgeable professionals with the following specalities: weatherization - David Tooze of the Office of Sustainable Development, heating and cooling systems - John Ott of Home Comfort Zones, renewable energy - Jonathan Cohen of Imagine Energy, and tax incentives and rebates - Kacia Brockman of Energy Trust of Oregon.
Afterward people broke into small groups to ask questions and talk with one another. Along with the panelists, Aquila Velonis from Envinronmental Building Supply also lead discussions.
Key Points
Here's what our panelists think people should know about Energy Saving Technologies for Your Home.
Weatherization
David Tooze
Senior Energy Specialist, City of Portland's Office of Sustainable Development,
www.sustainableportland.org
(503) 823-7582, dtooze@ci.portland.or.us
1. Insulation is Your Top Priority
Adding insulation is frequently the most cost effective energy saving strategy in Portland homes older than 1980 construction. For a typical old Portland style home, the insulation priorities are:
1. Walls
2. Under floors over crawlspaces
3. Attics
4. Seal and insulate heating ducts
2. Windows
High performance windows can save a lot of energy, but are a much larger capital cost.
3. Don't Forget the Easy Stuff!
- Compact fluorescent light bulbs use 70% less energy than regular incandescent bulbs.
- Low flow showerheads can save you $25 a year by reducing the hot water you use.
- Turning down the temperature on your hot water heater can save $12 a year.
- Buy Energy Star products: furnaces, clothes washers, dish washers, PCs, light fixtures, replacement lamps. It's an easy way to choose energy efficient products.
Heating and Cooling Systems
John Ott
Home Comfort Zones, zoned heating systems
www.homecomfortzones.com, jott@homecomfortzones.com
1. Get your ducts in order
- Oregon Department of Energy (ODOE) estimates that 30-50% of all Oregon homes have duct issues.
- Consider getting them tested. ODOE has a list of certified testers and there are rebates. At a bare minimum check to be sure they are connected!
- Cold air return is essential. Have it checked to be sure it's doing it's job.
2. Consider upgrading your equipment
- If your equipment is 15 years or older and it is low efficiency equipment, upgrade now before it fails. There are good tax incentives for installing high efficiency equipment.
- Consider the pros and cons of both heat pumps and natural gas.
- A programmable thermostat is a must. They save a lot of energy without effort.
3. Zoning and why it makes sense
- You can not control a two story home with a single thermostat.
- How zoning can save energy and make you more comfortable.
Renewable Energy
Jonathan Cohen
Imagine Energy, energy consulting, design & products
www.imagineenergy.net, (503)282-6800, j.cohen@imagineenergy.net
1. Lots of great renewable energy options in Portland:
- Green power from your utility: you can make a difference now.
- Solar electric (photovoltaics): a good short and long term investment in energy.
- Solar hot water: a very cost effective way to use solar energy.
- Wind on the coast and in the gorge: the least expensive option for lots of power.
2. Look at your whole energy picture before choosing a renewable option.
- What are your goals? Where would your money best be spent? A new heat pump?
- Conservation first. $1 spent on conservation saves $3 on a solar electric system.
- Think long term. Will your choice will be scalable, durable, and easy to maintain?
3. Adjust your expectations to the technology
- Solar needs 100% access to the sun. A 10% shading of a panel can reduce output 75% or more.
- Don't expect to produce 100% of your current electrical usage. Do what you can afford and conserve.
- Solar can't power electric resistance heating effectively.
- Basic solar electric grid-tie systems offer no blackout protection.
4. Now is a great time to act with great incentives and rising fuel costs. You can make a difference and make a smart investment!
Tax Incentives and Rebates
Kacia Brockman
Solar Program Manager, Energy Trust of Oregon
(incentives and a list of contractors on the website) www.energytrust.org, 1-866-ENTRUST (368-7878), info@energytrust.org
1. Understand your energy usage
Is your home's energy usage above or below average? Energy Trust of Oregon offers a free online Home Energy Analyzer tool to help you understand your home's energy consumption, and to suggest ways you can reduce your energy usage. Have your electric and gas bills handy when you use the tool. Energy Trust may also be able to send someone to your home to review your home's efficiency and recommend improvements.
2. Invest in efficiency - there are incentives to help you!
For customers of PGE, Pacific Power and NW Natural, Energy Trust offers rebates or financing to help you afford to invest now in energy efficiency upgrades. Contact Energy Trust before you begin a project. Incentives are available for insulation, high-efficiency heat pumps or furnaces, windows, duct and air sealing, efficient appliances, water heaters and compact fluorescent lighting. In addition, Oregon offers income tax credits for many of these same upgrades.
3. Consider a solar system - incentives available now are unprecedented!
To help you recoup the cost of a new solar electric or solar water heating system, cash incentives are offered by Energy Trust, state income tax credits are available in Oregon, and new federal income tax credits will become effective in 2006. The combination of all these credits and incentives can total more than half of the cost of a solar system for your home. Call a solar contractor today!
For more information about incentives, call today!
Energy Trust of Oregon: 1-866-ENTRUST (368-7878) (incentives for Oregon customers of Pacific Power, PGE and NW Natural)
Oregon Department of Energy: 1-800-221-8035 (tax credits for Oregon residents)