Energy Saving Tips- Part II

Safety Dog, whom we know by now moonlights as the ever-vigilant Energy Saving Tips Dog, has returned today to elaborate on our previous discussion of energy usage.

Greetings, citizen. Today I would like to discuss some of the options available to you in regard to the energy efficiency of your home or doghouse.

How old are your appliances? I’m talking about your dishwasher, washing machine and dryer, refrigerator, water heater, etc. If you suspect the greedy little suckers are sapping more than their fair share of energy, now is a great time to look into replacing them with Energy Star certified efficient replacements!

The reason? Last year the state of Oregon received over 3 million dollars toward a rebate program to encourage homeowners to increase their energy efficiency. The program will continue until the funds are depleted, so now is the time to get in on this! Depending on what appliances you buy, you could receive anything from $50 to the full cost of the appliance!

Energy Star-certified appliances must pass rigorous guidelines to receive that certification, so you know when you buy one that it’s going to save you money!

One of the replacement options to look into is a more efficient water heater. Your water heater uses up to 15% of the energy you pay for every month. Click here to see an Energy Star guide to high-efficiency water heaters. The four main types to consider are storage (tank), demand (tankless), heat pump, and solar.

If you are heavily interested in streamlining your energy efficiency, consider having motion or occupancy sensors installed for your lighting. This option is excellent for small business and religious institutions as well, where it’s important to save every penny possible. Lighting sensors come in several different kinds. Some detect sound, others motion, and others still detect body heat. Remembering to flip a switch when you leave the room may not seem like a big deal, but the bigger your home or building the more those lighting costs add up.

If you are not sure how much energy each of your appliances is consuming, use this formula to find out and help you to make your efficiency decisions!

That’s all for now-give your dog a cookie today and don’t forget, safety first!