By Matt Neznanski
Gazette-Times reporter | Posted: Wednesday, March 5, 2008 12:00 am
Energy Trust of Oregon sets goal of conducting 1,000 audits in Corvallis
Michael Viliardos and Cheryl Good aren't strangers to the idea of conserving energy.
The pair, both employees of First Alternative Co-op, already have cut their electric usage to just 300 kilowatt hours per month - about one-third of a typical home's power consumption - by using compact fluorescent bulbs and buying an ultra-efficient refrigerator.
But with a house temperature hovering around 60 degrees, they were a bit surprised to learn that by adding some insulation and weather sealing, they might be able to live a bit warmer without using any more natural gas.
"Fortunately, this is a climate where you can keep the temperature low and get away with it," said Steve Bohachek, lead energy adviser for Energy Trust of Oregon, who audited the couple's south Corvallis home. "You might be able to tolerate it, but the house may not due to moisture that could collect or freezing pipes."
Viliardos and Good volunteered their late-1970s 1,100-square-foot rancher for the first wave of free home energy audits in a year-long Corvallis Energy Challenge that officially kicks off this week.
Organizers of the energy challenge program have set a goal of conducting 1,000 audits, such as the one this spring at Viliardos and Good's house. They're already well under way, with 65 planned for this week alone.
In October, statewide nonprofit Energy Trust announced that it would create a first-of-its-kind partnership with the Corvallis Sustainability Coalition to craft a model campaign promoting energy incentives and alternatives to homeowners and businesses.
By joining together, both hope to increase visibility in the community and bring new people to their programs. This week, the City Council officially endorsed the program.
Viliardos and Good have already made great strides toward being more efficient, Bohachek said. Solar panels on top of the house lower the already-low power bill, and using the fireplace helps save some therms on the gas bill.
Despite noting steps already taken, Bohachek crawled through the attic, shuffled around in the crawl space, examined energy bills and tested showerheads and faucets as part of the audit.
Although the showerheads were using a fairly miserly two gallons per minute, he offered free replacement ones that used a quart less per minute. Under the floor, Bohachek found just three inches of insulation. Energy Trust recommends six. Adding insulation to pipes, he said, might shave a few dollars from the water heating bill, too.
Energy Trust is charged with encouraging a transformation in the state's energy markets toward sustainable resources by offering free energy audits to find energy waste suggest ways to conserve.
The nonprofit was created in 2002 by the Oregon Public Utility Commission and is funded through a 3 percent "public purposes charge" collected by energy companies.
The Corvallis Sustainability Coalition is made up of more than 85 local nonprofit groups, businesses, educational institutions and city government to promote sustainable practices.
Energy Trust last year spent more than $90 million on programs and incentives for energy efficiency and renewable power generation. Locally, Energy Trust collects funds from customers of Pacific Power and NW Natural.
In the end, Bohachek had a list of recommendations for the receptive homeowners: add insulation in the attic and under the floor, have heating ducts tested for leaks and consider an in-line water heater that would heat on demand.
It's the new water heater that lights up this pair.
"We could do that," Good said. "We've been talking about doing that."
Energy Challenge
The Corvallis Energy Challenge is a year-long campaign to help residents and businesses boost energy efficiency and control energy costs. It is a collaboration between the Corvallis Sustainability Coalition and Energy Trust of Oregon.
A few goals of the year-long effort include:
• Conduct 1,000 home energy audits by April 22.
• Encourage more Pacific Power customers to subscribe to the company's Blue Sky program, which underwrites renewable energy production.
• Conduct energy audits and solar energy promotion at 50 small- and medium-sized businesses.
• Convince 65 homeowners and businesses to install solar devices and the community at large to support a solar electric system at Corvallis High School.
• Conduct energy audits at city facilities, including the aquatic center, library and Public Works buildings.
For information, go to www.corvallisenergychallenge.org.
Ways to save
Easy ways to use less energy and save money:
• Replace incandescent lights with compact fluorescent bulbs.
• Clean or replace filters monthly to help your furnace work efficiently.
• Turn down the thermostat to 65 to 68 degrees during the day and 58 to 60 degrees at night.
• Install a programmable thermostat.
• Install gaskets on switches, caulk small holes and cracks and close fireplace dampers when not in use to prevent drafts.
• Wash laundry with cold water. To save more energy and water, run full loads.
• Check to make sure refrigerator and freezer gaskets seal tightly.
• Use a countertop convection or microwave oven instead of a full-size stove when possible.
• Unplug battery chargers when not in use.
Source: corvallisenergychallenge.org
Matt Neznanski can be reached at 758-9518 or matt.neznanski@lee.net.