The case for solar power in Washington

Solar power isn’t exactly the first thing you think of when you think of Western Washington, but the truth is that we receive 70% of the solar energy that the best locations in the United States receive and have a lot of potential to harness solar for our homes and businesses. Due to a policy called net metering, if a building produces more energy than it uses during a long summer day that energy can go into the local grid for other consumers to use. The building owner is credited for the extra energy they generated, which allows them to withdraw an equivalent amount of energy during a cloudy day at no extra charge. Since a large percentage of our solar potential is available in the summer, this policy allows buildings with their own photovoltaic panels to take advantage of the cost savings all year.

On November 17th, over 50 representatives from local businesses gathered at Sustainable Connections for a Solar Power Happy Hour. Attendees learned how the Community Energy Challenge can help them take advantage of current financial incentives and tax credits to buy down the cost of solar projects and representatives from three local installers offered a 5% discount to businesses that attended the event. Current incentives make solar more affordable than it’s ever been and some businesses are finding that adding solar panels offers a good return on their investment.

Everyone at the event enjoyed a selection of beers from North Fork Brewery, a local restaurant that is in the process of installing a solar array with the goal of providing 100% of the establishment’s power.

The CEC is Creating Jobs - We're Hiring!

Energy efficiency is creating and sustaining jobs in an industry that has been hit hard by the recession. The Community Energy Challenge is one of many programs across the country putting the building industry back to work and helping transition into a greener economy. To date, the CEC has been responsible for the creation of more than a dozen full time positions and is helping contractors to gain valuable skills in the field of energy efficiency, which will continue to serve them and our community long after the economy pulls out of this slump.

The Opportunity Council has recently put out a request for qualifications to local contractors interested in joining the team of contractors qualified to carry out work for residential participants in the CEC. If you're a local contractor interested in helping Whatcom residents save money and energy, check out the link to learn how to apply.

October 30th is Weatherization Day!

October is Energy Awareness month and the federal, state, and local governments have been working to highlight the actions that are making our country more energy efficient. To this end, Washington State Governor Christine Gregoir has named October 30^th 2010 as “Weatherization Day” to celebrate and highlight the many successful energy efficiency programs in our state.

Washington’s Weatherization Assistance Program for low-income residents, in place since 1987, has long been considered an important part of our state’s efforts to address poverty issues. Since its inception, over 125,000 homes have received services, reducing energy bills and increasing comfort and safety in those households that are most in need.

Thanks to funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA), many government agencies and non-profit organizations have received grants to help make these services affordable to an even larger percentage of the population and to raise awareness about the benefits of energy efficiency for homes and businesses. The Community Energy Challenge is proud to be a part of the effort to make Whatcom County a leader in energy efficiency!

Read the Proclamation here.

October Energy Saving Tip #6: Banish Drafts

Sealing unwanted air leaks and drafts in your house can be the most important first step toward energy efficiency. If you’re cold you would try zipping up your coat before putting on another coat, wouldn’t you? Air sealing can provide significant savings and increased comfort in your home. While a home energy assessment and professional whole-house air sealing done by a contractor are the best way to realize these savings, there are some simple, low-cost actions you can take to greatly reduce drafts in your home.

October Energy Saving Tip #5: Heat Wisely

The number one energy user in most households is the heating system. Although we live in a rather temperate climate, heating our living and work spaces is necessary for much of the year. By following a few simple guidelines you can stay comfortable while reducing your energy use and saving money on your bills.

October Energy Saving Tip #4: Switch to CFLs

Photo by AZAdam

 Switching from incandescent lighting to Compact Fluorescent Lamps (CFLs) is one of the simplest and most cost effective ways to save energy in your home. The easiest way to make the change is to start by replacing incandescent bulbs in just the 5 most used fixtures in your home. This will save you $60 on your energy bills each year! As other bulbs burn out, replace them with CFLs as well for even more savings.

Not every CFL is perfect for every fixture, but by putting just a little bit of thought into how you use them and what type you purchase you can avoid the common complaints about CFLs and enjoy high quality lighting at a low cost.

October Energy Saving Tip #3: Hot Water (Part 2)

Because saving hot water is one of the easiest ways to save energy in your home, here are a few more tips for cutting back!

Wash Your Clothes in Cold

Most modern laundry detergents are made to work equally well in warm or cold water, so why not save yourself some money and set your washer to the cold/cold setting? You won’t notice any difference except on your energy bills, which could be as much as $70 lower per year. Save the warm wash for oily or extra stubborn stains and wash the rest in cold.

Take Shorter Showers

Showering can use more hot water than all other residential hot water uses combined and presents a major opportunity for savings. The average 10 minute shower can cost you between $0.60 to $1.50 depending on the heat of your water and the flow rate of your showerhead. That means that by only taking 5 minute showers you can save at least $80 per year.

Look for the ENERGY STAR Label

When you set out to buy a new water heater tank, dishwasher, or washing machine, be sure to pick a unit with the ENERGY STAR label showing that it is an efficient model. ENERGY STAR certified appliances perform just as well as their counterparts, and although they sometimes (though not always) cost a little more up front, over the lifetime of the unit they can save you big time on energy costs. This makes them not only the most sustainable choice, but the most cost effective as well.

City of Bellingham honored by ICLEI with national award for Energy Efficiency Innovation

Local Governments for Sustainability (ICLEI) awarded nine governments around the country with Leadership Awards for taking innovative actions to promote sustainability in their communities. As a lead partner and a key funder of the Community Energy Challenge, the City of Bellingham was recognized in the Energy Efficiency Implementation Innovation category, along with the cities of Aspen and Austin.

“This award recognizes Whatcom County’s commitment to reducing green house gas emissions by reducing the amount of energy we use,”  Bellingham Mayor Dan Pike said. “Bellingham is pleased to share this leadership award with Sustainable Connections, the Opportunity Council, Whatcom County, all six cities that also are committed to this effort, and a host of other local organizations.” 

The Community Energy Challenge is commended for implementing its unique Loan Loss Reserve program through Banner Bank and for providing financial incentives and technical guidance to make energy efficiency improvements feasible for a large portion of the residential and local business community in Whatcom County. The ambitious goal of weatherizing 900 homes and 150 businesses through the program is recognized for having a significant positive impact in the community. These projects have the potential to eliminate 7,000 tons of CO2 emissions per year, the same reduction that would be seen by removing 1,400 cars from the road annually.

To read more about this award, check out these links:
City receives national award for Community Energy Challenge
Aspen, Bellingham, and Austin Honored for Energy Efficiency Innovation

October Energy Saving Tip #2: Hot Water (Part 1)

Photo by stevendepolo

Although water can seem like something we have a lot of in the Pacific Northwest, there are many good reasons to conserve it, not the least of which is the fact that hot water is the second highest energy cost for most households. This can easily add up to $200 to $500 per year for the average household! The good news is that there are many ways to use less hot water in your home without sacrificing convenience or comfort.

October Energy Saving Tip #1: Phantom Draw

Photo by grendelkhan

Did you know that many appliances still draw energy when they are turned off? This has several spooky names, including vampire draw or phantom load, and can account for up to 5-10% of your residential energy use.

Not all electronics fall into this category, but anything with an internal clock, timer, standby mode, memory, or a little light can be sucking power even when you aren't using it. In order to avoid this unwanted draw, you can unplug appliances when they aren't needed or put them on a power strip and turn off the red switch. Flipping the switch on a power strip breaks the circuit so no more energy is being drawn while simply turning the item off often still allows it to use power.

October is Energy Awareness Month!

Every month is energy awareness month at the Community Energy Challenge, but since 1991 the federal government has recognized October as Energy Awareness Month. It's an effort to raise awareness about the ways in which clean and efficient energy systems are central to a thriving economy, clean environment, and healthy citizens.

Photo by zheem

Whatcom County is doing its part as local homes and businesses are receiving energy assessments through the CEC, and together we have already saved more than $269,249 in energy costs since 2009. That's 1,058 tons of greenhouse gasses that were never released into our atmosphere and a whole lot of saved money that was reinvested in the local economy.

All over the country businesses, non-profits, citizens, and government organizations are stepping up energy awareness. To learn more about Energy Awareness Month 2010, check out these links:

Federal Energy Management Program

Energy Star

Kill the Chill: Winterize

At the Community Energy Challenge we care a lot about weatherization, or the practice of protecting a building from the elements in order to save energy and increase comfort for the occupants. As the weather turns chilly it’s time to think about another very important and closely related W-word: winterization. From simple measures such as programming your thermostat or putting weather stripping around your door, to getting a home energy assessment and investing in an insulation upgrade, taking specific steps to prepare your home for winter weather can save you big on energy costs and help you feel cozy even when it’s chilly out.

Click here to learn about 19 ways to make your home feel warmer without turning up the heat.

Local event celebrates energy efficiency successes and ARRA support

Yesterday, a crowd of political officials, non-profit leaders, contractors, business owners, and weatherization personnel gathered at the Building Performance Center’s state of the art training facility to celebrate innovative energy efficiency programs supported by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA).

Congressman Rick Larsen, Representative Kelli Linville, and Senator Phil Rockefeller (visiting from the 23^rd District) applauded the groundbreaking work being done to increase job training, expand the existing low-income weatherization program, and establish the unique Community Energy Challenge (CEC), which brings affordable energy efficiency services to homeowners and small businesses while creating local green jobs. 

Jennifer Soners, a senior policy advisor from the Department of Energy, flew all the way from Washington DC to witness the event. Representatives from the offices of Senators Maria Cantwell and Patty Murray were also in attendance, as was Bellingham’s Mayor Dan Pike, Whatcom County Executive Pete Kremen, and other Whatcom county elected officials. 

So far the CEC has aided over 100 homeowners and 25 local businesses in reducing energy use which, combined with community efforts, will save $269,249 annually to be reinvested in the local community.  As Representative Larsen quipped: “For those nay-sayers on the Recovery Act, I say ‘let them come to Bellingam.’”

Overestimating the Light Switch, Underestimating the Insulation

Think you know what saves the most energy? Chances are...you dont. A recent study shows that the majority of Americans perceive behavioral conservation efforts (shutting of lights, drying clothes on a line) as more impactful than they are in reality, and grossly underestimate the potential savings of one-time investments in energy efficiency (such as insulation and air sealing). These misconceptions about energy efficiency lead many to postpone the efficiency measures that will save them the most (while improving their comfort and home value) and remain perplexed when their dedication to 5 minute showers doesnt seem to make a big dent in their energy bills. We need both, conservation and efficiency, to successfully reduce energy use, and the latter needs a little promotional help. Only when we understand what efficiency measures will be most effective can we go from taking baby steps toward making major strides. By serving as an energy concierge, that's exactly what the Community Energy Challenge seeks to do.

Leading the Way for Energy Efficiency Lending

Just yesterday the Community Energy Challenge in partnership with Banner Bank, made its very first energy efficiency loan! This isn't just any old home improvement loan, it's a unique low-interest loan utilizing a loan loss reserve (LLR) made possible by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. This LLR allows the bank to provide more attractive loans with lower interest rates, longer terms and enhanced access to credit. The reserve stretches the public funds much farther than a traditional revolving loan program, and unlike a loan guarantee program, the public risk is clearly capped. Banner Bank's local Senior Vice President had this to say: “We saw this program as a way to live Banner’s community bank values. We added up the attributes: creating green jobs, building the communities where we live and work, and teaming up with important community partners. These are all part of Banner Bank’s core mission to Do the Right Thing.”

Efficiency: Twice the Impact of Renewables, Nuclear and Clean Coal. Combined!

With so much buzz about our energy future its easy to get caught up in the excitement of new technology. And new technology will certainly be necessary. But a recent study by the International Energy Agency estimates that efficiency alone will deliver roughly 65 percent of carbon emission cuts. It's so elegantly simple: improve the use of our limited resources and these resources will take us far. Check out this article for more info.

Home Improvement at Half the Cost

The Hansens were given recommendations to reduce their high heating bills by improving air sealing, duct repair and insulation, and adding attic insulation. The upgrades totalled to $4,688, but with Community Energy Challenge and Puget Sound Energy incentives combined, the final project cost was only $2,593. Now that the work is complete they will save hundreds of dollars a year on their energy bills and have a healthier, happier, more comfortable home.
See the pyramid of CEC incentives

20 Local Businesses Saving Energy!

A pioneering group of 20 small independent businesses are tackling energy savings opportunities one at a time, saving money and reducing their environmental impacts by making changes based upon Community Energy Challenge recommendations. Businesses of all types are participating including a health clinic, a restaurant and brewery, a credit union, several retailers, a retirement residence, a commercial plant nursery, the list goes on and on! Across all sectors these businesses are saving an average of $1000 each year just by implementing quick fixes and low-cost energy-savings measures.

Find out more

Insulation: Behind the Scenes

Blow cellulose or fiber glass? What insulation will work best? Where does it come from? How does it work? Get an inside peek in this video from the New York Times.

More than Just a Fish Wrapper

First project officially completed!

Today we're proud to say the very first home has been weatherized through the Community Energy Challenge program. The happy homeowner you see here is receiving a check for $1500 in cash incentives towards his energy efficiency improvement project. Not only will the retrofit save him money, but he also mentioned how much he appreciated the education along the way. Recalling other home improvement projects which had taken longer and cost more than expected, he said the Community Energy Challenge's professional expertise and quality assurance made all the difference.

Looks like we're off to a great start!

Taking It One Room at a Time

Sometimes the toughest part of doing the right thing is knowing where to start. How about one room at a time? The Federal Trade Commission has come up with a simple website, no flashy graphics or advertisements, just sound straightforward advice on how to improve energy use in your home room by room.

http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/microsites/energysavings/

House passes HomeSTAR bill! More jobs and less energy waste coming soon!

Rebate programs like HomeSTAR make a big difference in how many households make energy efficient improvements. Not only are these retrofits good investments (see graph at right, courtesty of energysavvy.com), they are job engines, ecomonic turbo boosters, and major players in carbon reduction. With strong bi-partisan support, its seems HomeSTAR is charging onward to change the market for energy efficiency in our country. We couldn't be happier to cheer it on!

How many jobs? DOE says 1.3... million!

A study from the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory last month estimates that energy efficiency could create 1.3 million jobs by 2020. Yet another reason to get the word out about energy efficiency and how it can revitalize our economy. However, significant work remains in ramping up education and awareness of this opportunity as well as providing training for this growing industry. Educational institutions will need to work quickly to create new training programs. Luckily, here in Whatcom County we have one of the most renown professional training programs in the state. the Building Performance Center.

Energy Efficiency is All-American

Just after baseball and apple pie, energy efficiency is about as American as your next weekend project gets. A new study reviewed by the  New York Times shows that not only does efficiency create local jobs for installation, but the materials themselves are almost entirely produced right here in the US of A. That means energy efficiency puts more Americans back to work manufacturing, distributing, and installing the stuff that make will make our county cleaner and greener, and more secure. When it comes to economic recovery and energy independence, efficiency hits a home run.

News about HomeSTAR

Obama spoke in Savanah Georgia today about HomeSTAR, a government initiated energy efficiency retrofit program. As a tool for both job creation and reduced emissions, HomeSTAR is on its way to being included in the highly anticipated Jobs Bill now in Congress.

• Direct rebates of $1000-$3000
• Quality Assurance
• Financing

Rockin "Double Panes"

Energy Efficiency meets M.I.A.

Check this video out!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pezKEkBIhqA

CEC recognized by Mayor as "robust" and "compelling" non-profit leadership

The CEC got props from Mr Pike, Mayor of Bellingham, at the 2010 State of the City Address!
Click here to see the full speech on video.
*Skip to 10:00 for the clip about the Community Energy Challenge.
(Courtesy of the City of Bellingham and BTV10)

Clean Energy Takes Center Stage at State of the Union

Last night's State of the Union address pushed clean energy politics to the forefront of American televisions everywhere. President Obama positioned clean energy at the core of the country's progress toward economic recovery; with the power to create jobs, help alleviate the strapped budgets of middle-class families, and maintain a competitive edge in global markets. With applause spreading across the aisle as his speech wore on, the President's support of clean energy was hard to argue with; "because the nation that leads the clean energy economy will be the nation that leads the global economy. And America must be that nation."

DOE gets serious about Energy Efficiency standards

It has been rumored that some energy efficient appliances may not perform quite as efficiently advertised. Though against the law, the issue has received little attention. Until now.  In response to the sub-standard performance of a certain freezer, the US Dept of Energy has commited to step up enforcement of energy efficiency standards for appliances. Yesterday, the Dept received energy use data on 600,000 residential appliances in order to determine compliance with standards and protect the Energy STAR brand.

One small step for freezers, one big step for consumer protection!

Bonds for Energy Efficiency in WA Schools

Dunshee wants $860m in bonds for energy-efficient schools
Posted by Jim Brunner, Seattle Times

"House Capital Budget Chairman Hans Dunshee today rolled out a proposal to issue $860 million in state bonds to pay for energy-efficiency upgrades at schools across the state.
The idea is to put people back to work while also making public schools more energy efficient through new lighting, insulation and other upgrades. Dunhsee, D-Snohomish, said that such efficiency projects have been proven to pay for themselves in the long run.
He estimates his bill would create 38,000 jobs and save $190 million in energy costs.
"That's the mom, apple pie and baseball of politics," Dunshee said at a news conference this afternoon.

click here for the full article