From Sustainable September: Ways to Save Energy and Money
I think I’ve become a Sustainable September, energy saving, recycling groupie! I’ve been to four classes in the 
last couple of weeks and have
learned a lot about energy savings, etc. As part of the Sustainable September, I attended the workshop last Saturday which focused on ways to save energy. There are many things one can do to save energy, some are very simple and inexpensive, others are more costly and result in long term benefits. Everyone has to decide what works best for them. But everyone should do at least something to change and reduce his or her carbon footprint.
Here’s some of the information I learned about ways you can save money and energy:
Let’s start with CFL’s, one of the easiest and least expensive ways to save energy and money. Change your light bulbs to CFL’s, compact fluorescent lighting. It’s important to convert your high use areas, the kitchen, the bath, and bedrooms, to CFL’s.
But where do you recycle your CFL’s at no cost?
- Take it Back Network
- PSE locations
- Ikea
- Bartells
- Home Depot
- McLendon Hardware (part of Take It Back Network and PSE program)
- Washington State Dept of Ecology Recycling information page
Are there incentives out there to save energy? YES, and Puget Sound Energy has several available:
- Insulation: up to $1600
- Natural Gas Furnace: $350
- Air Source Heat Pump $200-350
- Tankless Water Heater $150
- Clothes Washers $50-100
- Storage Water Heater $50
- CFL’s Discount $2/$20
Other tips are not to close off rooms and heating vents. I always thought it was practical to close off vents and close doors in unused rooms, but apparently not! It causes the heating system to work harder and less efficiently.
People and heating companies, tend to forget about the heating ducts when installing new heating systems. The sizing and installation of heating ducts is critical to an effective heating system. Heating ducts should be sealed off , but not with duct tape! Mastic is a better way to seal ducts. Aerosol spraying of heating ducts is another way, although more expensive, to seal heating ducts.
Places to contact for more information:
- PSEEnergy Advisors Line: 1-800-562-1482
- Puget Sound Energy
- King County Green Tools website (tons of great information)
- Better Business Bureau
- Lawrence Berkeley Labs Recycling Information
- Energystar
Contact Puget Sound Energy or look at their website. There’s a wealth of information there. Energy advisors can help you save, save, save and give you the most up-to-date information above the rebates mentioned above.
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