Rebates are available to customers who replace single pane or aluminum-frame windows with new energy-efficient windows.

Chelan County PUD will offer cash incentives to homeowners who add insulation and replace windows beginning Jan. 1, 2010.

The PUD will pay 25 cents per square foot of insulation added, and $3 per square foot for energy-efficient windows and glass doors. The rebates are expected to cover from 10 percent to 25 percent of the cost, depending on the type of project.

Mark Wiser, conservation program manager, said he expects rebates to total about $250 for insulation and about $500 for windows in a typical home.  The maximum rebate per homeowner is $2,500.

All electrically heated homes are eligible, including manufactured homes and multi-family homes up to a four-plex.

The rebate program will replace a low-interest loan program operated by the PUD for more than 20 years. That program ends Dec. 31, 2009. Customers interested in loans can still apply through Nov. 13.

Wiser notes that with the new program, customers can finance their projects through local banks and credit unions and still be eligible for the PUD rebates.

Click here to put your name on a list to receive a reminder postcard or e-mail when the new program starts.

It’s time for a lot of local retirees to fly south for the winter. Energy-conscious snowbirds are calling Chelan County PUD’s Conservation Department  for advice on shutting up their homes for the season.

Their main question: At what temperature should I set my thermostat when I’m away?

The answer: about 55 degrees F. In older homes that are not well insulated, customers may want to leave the thermostat at 60 degrees. If there’s no fear of pipes freezing, you might be able to get away with 50 degrees.  Tip: Leave cupboard doors under sinks open so warm air can get to your pipes.

Here are some additional tips:

• To save energy, turn off the circuit breaker to your hot water heater. Just remember to turn it back on when you get home before you jump in the shower.
• Unplug electrical appliances and computers (but not the refrigerator/freezer). Power outages and/or power surges may cause undue stress on any electric equipment.
• Make sure your smoke alarms work and have new batteries.
• Turn off those faucets throughout the home. Check drains to make sure they are open and ready to drain if necessary. Turn off the supply valve of water to the toilet and water supply lines to your washing machine.
• Ask a friend, neighbor or family member to check your home every week or two while you are away, especially during extended periods of cold weather.

Related links
Closing your home for the winter

Need help finding energy savings in your home? Step into the House of Savings and reduce your energy bill.

The House of Savings is a new interactive feature on Chelan County PUD’s Conservation Web page. Place your mouse over a feature in the house and a pop-up box provides tips on saving energy and money. Hover over the thermostat, for example, and you’ll learn that for every degree you set your thermostat lower (or higher for summer cooling) you can reduce your power bill by 2 percent. The items also contain links to related information.

The house is a collaborative effort of  technology, graphics and conservation staff at the PUD. Come on in!

Lake Chelan development first of its kind in county
A proposed development covering 270 acres on the south shore of Lake Chelan aims to combine energy-efficient housing with organic farming, commercial enterprise and, for good measure, a bit of “art and architecture.”

Two of the property owners, Dr. Bob Jankelson and Guy Evans, kicked off the permitting process for the proposed Tuscan Village during an open house at Tsillan Cellars winery on Oct. 22. Jankelson owns that winery, while Evans’ family owns and operates the neighboring Tunnel Hill winery as well as the organic Sunshine Farms and Market. They propose to create a harmonic blend of houses, condos, a resort, retail shops, vineyards and trails covering the rolling hills between the two wineries.

The developers are Jankelson, Fred Ross, Bob Hild, Andy Precht, and Guy, Luke and Denny Evans.  They have termed the rolling hills above the lake the “Golden Mile;” the development begins on the south side of Highway 97A about one mile from Lakeside and extends west one mile to the Pat & Mike’s store. The property includes four ownerships, all of which border the highway.

Conservation staff from Chelan County PUD attended the open house to provide information on energy efficiency and heating options, including the use of geothermal heating systems.

Referring to “thoughtless development” near Chelan, Jankelson told about 100 people at the open house, “We will make sure that that doesn’t happen here.” Tuscan Village, he said, will “combine environmental stewardship with culture, art and architecture.”

Mark Esvelt, of Esvelt Environmental Engineering in Spokane, said effluent will be turned into water for food crops, and grey water will be treated to reuse for drinking water.

Lee Smith, economist from Sun River, Ore., said an economic analysis indicates the project is viable. Residents and visitors at the proposed Tuscan Village could add some $12 million annually to the Chelan economy, he said.

The proposed project would include 956 residential units, including single- and multifamily homes and hotel rooms, more than 30 retail stores, 90 acres of agricultural operations and 42 acres of open space.

A draft environmental impact statement will be completed and published for public comment in mid-December. Comments are due to the Chelan County Planning Office by Jan. 30, 2009. A final decision on the Tuscan Village application is due in April.

Related links:
Chelan development touts green building (Wenatchee World)

Tuscan Village web site

Planned development application to Chelan County

The Chelan-Douglas Community Action Council has money — lots of it — to help low-income families pay energy bills this winter.

Tanya Render, energy and rental assistance coordinator for Community Action, said the agency received $720,000 for the 2008-09 winter heating season. That compares to $385,000 earmarked for the federal Energy Assistance Program last winter.

“We served almost 1,500 households this past year,” Render said. “With this increase we could potentially double that.”

The funds are used to help pay heating costs or to help with repairs or replacement of heating systems.

Eligibility is based on federal poverty guidelines for household size and income. To apply, customers should call (509) 662-6156 and ask for Energy Assistance.

You can tell winter has arrived when customers start calling about thermostats. They want to know whether they’ll really save energy by turning their thermostats down at night. Some have the erroneous belief that because an electric furnace runs longer in the morning to bring a home back to a comfortable temperature, it costs more to recover from a nighttime setback than it saves.

Here’s the skinny: You almost always save by turning down your thermostat, regardless of how long you sleep or are away from home. A typical furnace runs 20 minutes per hour to heat your home. If you set the thermostat to 60 degrees before you go to bed and leave it there for eight hours, the furnace will not need to run 20 minutes each hour. The furnace may have to run some during the night, depending on how cold it is outside, but it certainly won’t be 20 minutes per hour.

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, you can save energy in the winter by setting the thermostat to 68°F while you’re awake and setting it lower while you’re asleep or away from home. By turning your thermostat back 10°-15° for eight hours, you can save about 5 percent to 15 percent a year on your heating bill—a savings of as much as 1 percent for each degree if the setback period is eight hours long.

This doesn’t apply if you have a heat pump. In its cooling mode, a heat pump operates like an air conditioner, so turning up the thermostat (either manually or with a programmable thermostat) will save energy and money. But when a heat pump is in its heating mode, setting back its thermostat can cause the unit to operate inefficiently, thereby canceling out any savings achieved by lowering the temperature setting. Maintaining a moderate setting is the most cost-effective practice.

Bottom line: If you have a heat pump, turn the heat down just a couple degrees when you go to bed at night. If you don’t have a heat pump, turn the heat down to about 60°.

Related links/sources:

Clark Public Utilities

U.S. Department of Energy