Using Less Energy at Home
Posted on October 7, 2021 by Charlotte Shuff
Tags, Energy, General Interest
Are you interested in using less energy at home? Energy efficiency saves money on energy bills, reduces emissions, and can even make your home more comfortable. There are many ways to lower your home energy use, including installing energy efficient appliances and adding insulation.
Finding the right changes and a contractor you can trust are important steps in making your home more energy efficient.
To learn more, read CUB blogs on our staff’s experiences switching to a heat pump water heater and a heat pump for air conditioning and heating.
What Upgrades Should I Consider?
When considering energy efficiency upgrades, it’s important to think about where you are already using energy in your home.
Source: https://energyinfo.oregon.gov/2018-ber, ODOE 2018 Biannual Energy Report
The two biggest areas where Oregonians use energy at home are air heating/cooling and water heating. Focusing on the biggest energy uses first can have a larger impact.
For heating and cooling, consider:
- Adding insulation to your attic, crawl space or basement, and exterior walls
- Adding air sealing around windows, doors, and exterior walls
- Installing high efficiency heating and cooling systems, like electric heat pumps
- Installing a smart thermostat or programmable thermostat
For water heating, consider:
- Installing a high efficiency water heater, like a heat pump water heater
- Upgrading your washing machine or dishwasher to Energy Star rated models
If you would like to find out more about how your home specifically uses energy, you can do a home energy assessment. With this assessment, you will receive specific information about changes that would be best for your home. For more information, visit the Oregon Department of Energy website.
How Do I Find a Contractor?
Contractors can be difficult to find for small home projects, especially for energy efficiency upgrades. Many contractors do not work with heat pumps or do not prioritize sustainability or energy savings in their work. When looking for a contractor, ask about their familiarity with energy efficiency and the type of upgrade you are hoping to do.
Energy Trust is a great statewide resource to find installers and contractors for energy efficiency upgrades. You can request quotes directly from their website or browse the list of contractors by region. Using the approved contractors (called Energy Trust Trade Allies) can also allow you to get incentives that lower the cost of install.
If you opted to do a home energy assessment, you can also ask the assessor for contractor recommendations based on their recommended changes or upgrades.
Where Can I Find More Affordable Options?
Energy Trust has a program called Savings Within Reach that helps low-income families get lower cost home repairs. Any Energy Trust Trade Ally will be able to get their customers those benefits, but it’s best to ask the contractor to apply for the incentives before starting work.
There are also options for air sealing and insulation upgrades through state Weatherization Assistance Programs. Each county in Oregon has programs specifically designed for low-income families to receive free services to improve their home’s energy efficiency. Resources are limited and the type of upgrade options available depends on the county you live in. You can find more information for services by county here.
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10/07/21 | 0 Comments | Using Less Energy at Home