Whether you find inspiration through altruism, pragmatism or economics, now is the time to develop a thriving and local energy economy.
As previously discussed in our Energy Matters column, our community needs to cut the islands’ electricity consumption growth to zero to avoid more expensive “tier 2” power prices. This month we’ll look at ways to conserve electricity with direct and simple measures that you can begin right away. Your efforts will be rewarded and really do add up.
In developing your energy conservation plan, use the following approach: 1) identify energy loss or inefficiencies, 2) prioritize according to potential energy savings and 3) systematically correct the prioritized problems according to your household energy improvement budget. OPALCO is now offering a $25 professional home energy assessment through its Energy Snapshot program that can help you develop a personalized plan. Sign up with Anne Bertino at 376-3571.
First, let’s discuss habits. You really will lower your energy consumption by using a clothesline or rack. Run the dishwasher with a full load and air dry. Set your freezer at 0 to 5 degrees (F). Turn off lights not in use. Unplug home electronics when not in use to reduce vampire (standby) loads.
Appliances and other electronics add up to about 40% of our energy bills. Big consumers are refrigerators, clothes washers and clothes dryers.
Refrigerators built before 1990 are great candidates for replacement. When shopping imagine two price tags: the “down payment” at checkout, then your utility bill for the next 10-20 years. Replacing a 1980s model will save you about $100 a year in electricity. Double that for a 1970s model! Look for the Energy Star logo, and read the yellow tags to compare annual energy usage. Avoid side-by-side design or a model larger than you need.
Heating represents 30-40% of a typical energy budget. Use a programmable thermostat, set back at night or while you are away. Maximize your furnace efficiency by keeping its filter clean and sealing your duct work. Leaks in your duct work are leaks on your pocketbook.
Lighting comprises about 10% of our energy use; change your incandescent bulbs to compact florescent bulbs (CFLs). CFLs are free with the OPALCO Snapshot.
Water heating represents approximately 12% of our energy budget. Insulate your tank, and set it to 120 degrees to save energy and protect from scalding. Wash your clothes in cold water. A low-flow shower head helps. Or, even better, heat your water via the sun by installing a solar water heater!
Retain the warm air in your home. Seal the air leaks, but have it done by a professional who will ensure healthy indoor air quality. Hot air rises; insulate your attic with loose-fill cellulose. Windows are inefficient when it comes to heat retention, so take advantage of OPALCO rebates and consider replacing any single-paned or aluminum-framed windows.
All of these efforts can add up to save you considerable money on your energy bills, while at the same time doing your part for our community and the environment.
Visit OPALCO or the Energy Star websites for additional specifics on energy savings and information on rebates and tax credits. Contact our group at 468-4047 or islandenergymatters@googlegroups.com.
(Written By Doug Poole and The Lopez Island Energy Taskforce, this article was first published in the Islands' Weekly.)
Forum for discussion, news and updates by Islands Energy Coalition
Showing posts with label OPALCO. Show all posts
Showing posts with label OPALCO. Show all posts
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
A Time of Crisis and Opportunity
It wasn't long ago that the business model that made sense for our cooperative power utility, OPALCO, was to sell as much electricity as possible. The wires and transformers that deliver the electricity cost about the same regardless of whether you're consuming 5 or 500 units (kWh) a month. Utilities like OPALCO have high fixed costs (wires, transformers, etc.) and the more electricity they sold, the more these fixed costs could be spread out, leading to lower rates.
Inexpensive electricity was made possible by an abundance of federally-funded hydropower dams, built mostly by the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) starting in the 1930s. Fortunately, (if you're a rate payer) or not (if you're a salmon), these dams aren't going away soon. But nobody is building any more big dams here either. The Columbia River is now a staircase of 14 dams. There just aren't any more big untapped rivers.
Over the years, electricity consumption has been growing and electricity surpluses the region once had are now gone. BPA's response has been to tell utilities like OPALCO something like, "Listen -- we've got a problem of limited supply here. Starting in 2011, if your power consumption grows, that additional power will have to be purchased on the open market." This new power is called "Tier 2". "Tier 1" is the inexpensive legacy hydropower.
There are few certainties in the electricity sector these days, but here's one: Tier 2 power is going to be more expensive. OPALCO currently buys Tier 1 BPA power for around 3 cents per kWh. No one knows for sure, but folks in the industry are saying that Tier 2 is likely to be at least twice as much.
Ouch. That turns the old business model on its head. More sales no longer means lower rates. On the contrary, the way to keep rates down now is to try to keep our power growth to zero so OPALCO won't have to buy any of that expensive Tier 2 stuff.
Crisis and Opportunity
It might seem like there's a crisis on the horizon. But there's a popular saying that the Chinese character for 'crisis' is composed of characters for 'danger' and 'opportunity'. Investing in energy efficiency (getting the same warm houses, cold beer for less energy input) is a lot cheaper than building new power plants and fueling them for 30 years. Here in the San Juans we use the bulk of our electricity for heat -- water and space heating, cooking, drying clothes. Heating takes a surprising amount of electricity -- an electric water heater takes over 100 times more electricity than a laptop. Heating a building takes even more. We can slash our electric bills by weatherizing our homes, using clothes lines, and investing in efficient appliances.
The good news is that saving energy saves money in two ways. If you implement energy conservation in your own home or business, your bills will be lower -- because you purchase less power. You also help keep the rates low for all OPALCO members.
Energy conservation is clearly a win-win for all -- AND there is money available through OPALCO and federal tax credits to help. To get started, contact OPALCO about an energy audit at 376-3571, or explore OPALCO's webpage: http://www.opalco.com/energy-efficiency. We'll investigate these and other ways we can shape our collective energy futures in upcoming Energy Matters articles. See you again next month!
(Written by Chris Greacen and Lopez Island Energy Taskforce, this article first appeared in Island Weekly in June.)
Inexpensive electricity was made possible by an abundance of federally-funded hydropower dams, built mostly by the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) starting in the 1930s. Fortunately, (if you're a rate payer) or not (if you're a salmon), these dams aren't going away soon. But nobody is building any more big dams here either. The Columbia River is now a staircase of 14 dams. There just aren't any more big untapped rivers.
Over the years, electricity consumption has been growing and electricity surpluses the region once had are now gone. BPA's response has been to tell utilities like OPALCO something like, "Listen -- we've got a problem of limited supply here. Starting in 2011, if your power consumption grows, that additional power will have to be purchased on the open market." This new power is called "Tier 2". "Tier 1" is the inexpensive legacy hydropower.
There are few certainties in the electricity sector these days, but here's one: Tier 2 power is going to be more expensive. OPALCO currently buys Tier 1 BPA power for around 3 cents per kWh. No one knows for sure, but folks in the industry are saying that Tier 2 is likely to be at least twice as much.
Ouch. That turns the old business model on its head. More sales no longer means lower rates. On the contrary, the way to keep rates down now is to try to keep our power growth to zero so OPALCO won't have to buy any of that expensive Tier 2 stuff.
Crisis and Opportunity
It might seem like there's a crisis on the horizon. But there's a popular saying that the Chinese character for 'crisis' is composed of characters for 'danger' and 'opportunity'. Investing in energy efficiency (getting the same warm houses, cold beer for less energy input) is a lot cheaper than building new power plants and fueling them for 30 years. Here in the San Juans we use the bulk of our electricity for heat -- water and space heating, cooking, drying clothes. Heating takes a surprising amount of electricity -- an electric water heater takes over 100 times more electricity than a laptop. Heating a building takes even more. We can slash our electric bills by weatherizing our homes, using clothes lines, and investing in efficient appliances.
The good news is that saving energy saves money in two ways. If you implement energy conservation in your own home or business, your bills will be lower -- because you purchase less power. You also help keep the rates low for all OPALCO members.
Energy conservation is clearly a win-win for all -- AND there is money available through OPALCO and federal tax credits to help. To get started, contact OPALCO about an energy audit at 376-3571, or explore OPALCO's webpage: http://www.opalco.com/energy-efficiency. We'll investigate these and other ways we can shape our collective energy futures in upcoming Energy Matters articles. See you again next month!
(Written by Chris Greacen and Lopez Island Energy Taskforce, this article first appeared in Island Weekly in June.)
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