10 Holiday energy saving tips

An energy efficient figgy pudding

1. Switch to LED Christmas lights to save 80% on energy costs.

2. You don’t need to preheat the oven when you are cooking a turkey, and you can turn the oven off a few minutes before it is done cooking.

3. When cooking on top of your range, match the size of the pan to the heating element. This can save you up to 40%!

4. To keep your Christmas lights from running all night, put them on an automatic timer, both indoors and out.

5. Set your thermostat between 66°F and 68°F. You'll stay comfy, and for every 1°F you lower your thermostat, you can reduce your energy use by 1-3 percent.

6. Install a new furnace filter at the start of heating season, and clean or replace it monthly to keep your furnace running efficiently.

7. Keep your refrigerator and freezer well stocked. A refrigerator or freezer full of cold food and drinks stays cooler when you open the door.

8. If you are baking in glass or ceramic pans, you can turn the oven temperature down 25 degrees, and foods will cook just as quickly.

9. If you use a wood-burning fireplace, keep the dampers closed to keep the heat in when the fireplace is not in use.

10. Weatherize your home to save an average of 20-30% on your energy bills! Contact the Community Energy Challenge to sign up for your home energy assessment today.

Incentives available for residential (and commercial) solar projects!

Incentives for residential solar projects are once again part of the many tools offered to CEC homeowners to make becoming energy efficient even easier and more affordable. Any home that has had an energy assessment and has completed all of the recommended weatherization measures in Tier 1-3 is eligible for cash incentives to install solar panels with one of the CEC's vetted local solar installers. Approved projects will receive $1/watt up to $3,000 total for the project.

The CEC also continues to offer a low-interest rate financing opportunity through Banner Bank. In many cases energy savings and incentives can cover the loan payment, making this an attractive way to finance a solar project.

If you are interested in installing solar panels on your home or business, or would like more information, contact the Community Energy Challenge at 360-676-6099.

Low-interest loan opportunity available for CEC participants

Making energy efficiency easy and affordable is the mission of the Community Energy Challenge (CEC). By providing local homes and businesses with a One-Stop-Shop for energy assessments, personalized recommendations, energy advisors, vetted local contractors, quality assurance, and financial incentives, the CEC has helped over 400 homes and 200 businesses in Whatcom County save energy and money. Thanks to a public/private partnership between Banner Bank, Whatcom County and the Cities of Bellingham and Ferndale, one of the most innovative tools the CEC offers is a first-of its-kind low interest rate loan program for participants.

National solar tour kicks off in Bellingham, and the CEC will be there

The tour will kick off at Itek Energy and the Community Energy Challenge will be there. Come down and see us and learn more about solar technology and how it can work for you. Itek provided us with this information about the event:

On October 6^th the American Solar Energy Society’s (ASES) national solar tour is coming to Bellingham.  Bringing together installers, manufactures and system owners alike the Bellingham solar tour is your chance to explore the potential of solar energy here in the Northwest. Starting the day’s festivities at 9 am will be an opportunity to tour the facility of Bellingham’s newest addition to the renewable industry by walking around Itek Energy solar panel manufacturing plant. Join us for some coffee and a bit to eat while exploring the process of solar manufacturing. You will also have an opportunity to meet with local installers, Ecotech, Western Solar and Advanced Solar Energy LLC, as well as other energy efficiency professionals and representatives from the Community Energy Challenge, a local program that helps home and business owners access financial incentives and low-interest loans for energy efficiency projects, including solar. After discussing potential sites with local installers attendees will then have the opportunity to travel to the individual sites around Bellingham and discuss with system owners how solar has worked for them until 4 pm. With sites ranging from the North Fork Brewery to the Bellingham Coop, the adaptability and diversity of solar will be a highlight of this year’s tour. For more information regarding this year’s Bellingham tour, feel free to visit http://solarwa.org/2012tour/sites/bellingham.

 

See Mindport in a new light

Mindport, a museum that creatively showcases works of art and scientific principles through hands-on exhibits at their downtown Bellingham location, has some new technology to show off: all of the incandescent lights in the museum have been replaced with cutting edge, efficient LEDs. As a business participant in the Community Energy Challenge, they were eligible to have much of their lighting switched out for free, and the CEC helped them take advantage of utilities rebates to purchase the remainder of the lights they needed at a discounted rate. Getting the right color, quality, and intensity of lighting to set the mood for the exhibits was a primary concern, so CEC staff worked with Mindport to try different LED samples until they settled on just the right replacement.

 

“Emily & Martin made the changeover a fun & interesting process,” said Carol Oberton, Public Relations Coordinator at Mindport. “They worked with our lighting concerns regarding the quality of our patron's experience, kept to our timeline and provided support whenever we had a question. Our first monthly electric bill after the lighting changeover was $100 less than previous bills.”

If you own a business in Whatcom County, you may be eligible for up to $750 in free efficient lighting for your business through the CEC. Contact Emily at emily@sconnect.org to learn more.

Help the Community Energy Challenge Reach Our Goals, Get $20

The Community Energy Challenge has been a big hit in and around Bellingham, but participation rates among homes in the other cities of Whatcom County are lower. We know that our best source of advertising is word of mouth. So for a short period, we are offering an extra incentive to refer your friends and family to the program.

Community members who refer customers residing in the small cities to the Community Energy Challenge will receive $20 for each referred customer who purchases a home energy assessment (assessment must occur within an incorporated small city of Whatcom County [Blaine, Everson, Ferndale, Lynden, Nooksack, and Sumas])*. Referred clients receive a free PSE HomePrint Assessment, which includes up to 50 free CFL light bulb replacements**.  This promotion is available through May of 2012.

New customers can sign up online HERE, or call: 360-676-6099. When they are asked how they heard about the program, they just need to give us your name (and contact information if we don't have it). It's as easy as that.

* Employees of CEC partner organizations are not eligible for this promotion.
** Certain restrictions apply

2011 round-up / special deal for small cities residents

2011 was a great year for the Community Energy Challenge! The program really hit its stride and we have some amazing numbers to show for it.

Jobs supported through the program: 84
Jobs created: 18 (full time equivalent)
Number of participating businesses: 114
Completed residential energy efficiency projects: 300+
Participating households: 625 (completed assessments)
Average annual savings per home: 20-30% or $200-$400
Average annual savings per business: 3-5% or $500-$1,000

Going into 2012 we are working hard to keep this momentum and continue to help even more homes and business in Whatcom to save serious energy and money.

Special offer for residents of Whatcom's small cities

If you live in one of the small cities of Whatcom County, the Community Energy Challenge has a special offer available to help make energy efficiency even more easy and affordable.

For residents of Whatcom's small cities*, for a limited time the entire cost ($195) of a CEC home energy assessment will be refunded when you complete any recommended home energy improvements through the CEC.