Rebates are now available on energy-efficient dishwashers and other appliances and water heaters.

A state program offering rebates on high-efficiency clothes washers and Energy Star refrigerators has been expanded to include several more appliances. Rebates now available through the Washington State Cash for Appliances program are:

• $100 rebate on high-efficiency clothes washers
• $75 rebate on ENERGY STAR® refrigerators
• $75 rebate on ENERGY STAR® dishwashers
• $200 rebate on ENERGY STAR® gas storage water heaters
• $300 rebate on ENERGY STAR® gas condensing tankless water heaters
• $250 rebate on ENERGY STAR® heat pump water heaters
• $750 rebate on ENERGY STAR® ductless air source heat pumps

Provisions of the program include:

• Must recycle your old refrigerator (click here for information on recycling at Chelan County’s Dryden transfer station)
•  Purchase on or after March 15, 2010
•  Rebates are in addition to available utility or manufacturer rebates (Chelan PUD does not have its own rebate program at this time)
• Rebates available while funds last

Complete information, eligibility requirements and rebate forms are available on the Washington State Cash for Appliances website.

Now’s the time to add insulation to your home; PUD incentives can help with costs

Adding insulation to your home is one of the most cost-effective ways to improve energy efficiency. Act now and you’ll enjoy the extra warmth this winter and reduced electric bills. And Chelan County PUD will pay a portion of the cost.

The PUD will pay 25 cents per square foot for added insulation. New insulation must increase the R-value by R-10 or greater (both fitted/batt type and blown-in). For attic insulation, the existing insulation must be R-19 or less. For wall and floor insulation, existing insulation must be R-5 or less. Insulation must be installed only where cavities separate conditioned (heated/cooled) from unconditioned areas of the residence. Any insulation installed outside the cavity, such as siding applications, does not meet incentive requirements.

The PUD also offers incentives for replacing old windows and glass doors; an incentive payment of $3 per square foot is available. Windows must have a U-factor of .30 or lower (the lower the U-factor, the more efficient the window). Glass patio doors must have a U-factor of .35 or lower. Both must be rated by the National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC). Existing windows and patio doors that are being replaced must be single-pane, or double-pane with metal frame.

All electrically heated, existing homes are eligible. New homes are not eligible. The maximum total payment per household is $2,500.

Customers are required to fill out an application and submit contractor invoices and window stickers. Customers may also do the work themselves; do-it-yourself projects will be inspected by a PUD energy adviser.

Complete details and an application form are available here or call (509) 661-8008.

Keeping energy bills low is high on the priority list of Dave Gerlach, manager of the Wenatchee Community Center building.

When Dave Gerlach began managing the Wenatchee Community Center building in 2006, one of the first things he did was install energy-saving compact fluorescent light bulbs. It’s one of the last things he did as well, because the bulbs have continued to burn without fail.

“The architect (in charge of renovation and new construction) planned for all new lighting and fixtures (that would accommodate energy-saving bulbs),” Gerlach said. “The choice was judicious, because I replaced bulbs for the first time just 2 ½ months ago.”

There are about 400 fixtures in the center at 504 S. Chelan Ave., outfitted with a variety of compact fluorescent light bulbs and energy-saving T-8 fluorescent tubes.

Keeping the electric bills low is high on Gerlach’s to-do list. It’s a tall order.

The center is a conglomeration of old and new structures, including the former Catholic Church and rectory dating to 1921 and a brand new Veterans Hall built in 2006. The buildings were remodeled and constructed using federal grant funds. The facility serves low-income and disadvantaged families, primarily in the south end of Wenatchee, through agencies offering literacy tutoring, GED instruction, housing, early childhood education and other programs.

The Wenatchee Community Center, 504 S. Chelan Ave., is the former home of St. Joseph's Catholic Church.

The complex covers about 6,000 square feet and is served by seven different heating and cooling units. Large meeting rooms go unoccupied much of the time yet offices need to be kept comfortable for workers five days a week, 8-10 hours a day. Because the church is on the National Register of Historic Places, stained-glass windows can’t be replaced with more energy-efficient models, and ceilings can’t be lowered to improve heating and cooling.

Gerlach has done what he can. Four inches of foam insulation was applied over the old roof, covered by new sheeting. New thermostats hold unoccupied rooms at a specific temperature before switching to warming or cooling just prior to meetings. Wenatchee Valley College instructor Greg Jourdan has been through the buildings and recommended changes to the air handling system, which Gerlach has carried out, to improve comfort and efficiency.

If additional grants or community donations become available, more improvements could be made, Gerlach said.

In the meantime he’s focusing some of his energy outdoors, where a new community garden is growing behind the center. Local residents rent 10 x 10 plots for $5 per year to grow squash, tomatoes, corn and flowers. Sixteen gardeners cultivated 26 plots this summer.

Local celebrities share their energy- and water-saving tips
We asked people active in our communities — local celebrities, if you will — to share their favorite conservation tips. Watch the video to learn what the mayor of Wenatchee, the Apple Blossom queen, the AppleSox Coyote and others are doing to save energy and water.

Do you have a favorite tip? Post a comment to share yours.

The award-winning 'Barn' at Barn Beach Reserve in Leavenworth includes green features such as solar-heated water that radiates through the floor for winter heating.

If you haven’t been to Leavenworth lately, here’s a really good reason to go: Visit Barn Beach Reserve. 

The reserve spans eight acres overlooking and adjacent to the Wenatchee River.  A group of conservation-minded citizens established the reserve in 2002 to help protect the river ecosystem and, according to the Barn Beach website, “to promote the environmental, economic and social sustainability of the Greater Wenatchee Valley through educational programming and stewardship bridging environment, arts and cultural history.” 

Executive Director Jeff Parsons has been with Barn Beach since its inception in 2002.

This they do through exhibits, programs and community events along the river at the focal point of the reserve,  the 107-year-old River Haus, home to the Upper Valley Museum and Icicle Arts as well as Barn Beach Reserve. Jim White, senior energy services engineer for Chelan PUD, conducted an audit at the historic former home last month to recommend ways to save energy. 

That’s not necessary at “The Barn,” the  new, green-built education and environmental center constructed on the foundation of a 1960s-era home on the property. The facility features 

The century-old River Haus is home to Barn Beach Nature Center, Icicle Arts and the Upper Valley Museum at Leavenworth.

countertops made from recycled paper, low-VOC pressboard cabinets, recycled corrugated metal, and acoustic “cloud” ceiling panels made of remnants from a Hanes underwear factory. Solar energy is collected in two systems, one to heat the building and another to provide electricity. A simple, passive convection ventilation system operates in mild weather. In summer heat, cool air from a basement is circulated to the main floor of the 4,000-square foot building. 

The American Institute of Architects named “The Barn” one of the top 10 green building projects in the Northwest in 2009. 

If Barn Beach Executive Director Jeff Parsons isn’t there to show you around, interpretive signs can guide visitors through the building and its green attributes. 

The reserve is adjacent to the city park and Blackbird Island, a popular stop on Audubon’s Great Washington Birding Trail. Check out upcoming events at the reserve here.

This chip tells controls at Sleeping Lady Resort that guests have arrived so it's time to adjust the thermostat and turn on the lights.

The operators of Sleeping Lady Mountain Resort in Leavenworth believe they may have found a key to saving energy. Actually, 40 keys.

In April, 40 of the resort’s 58 guest rooms were outfitted with the Entergize key fob system. When guests enter these rooms, they insert a small chip attached to their room keys into a special light switch. This sends a signal to the upper half of the rooms’ electric receptacles and thermostats, putting them in the “occupied” mode. Some of the lights go on and heat or air conditioning comes on to pre-programmed settings. When guests leave their rooms they remove the key and fob from the control switch, which causes the lights to go off and the heating and cooling system to drop into the “unoccupied” energy-saving mode.

Ken Erikson, maintenance technician at Sleeping Lady, said the goal is to automate energy savings. Guests don’t mean to waste energy, he said, but it happens. For example, a couple out for a winter walk might crank the heat way up when they return to their room, then leave for dinner and forget to turn it down. With the new system, setback will occur automatically.

A majority of rooms at Sleeping Lady have been outfitted with energy-saving setback systems.

Entergize claims energy use in guest rooms can drop by up to 45 percent, but Erikson isn’t expecting savings that dramatic. Sleeping Lady has no TVs, so the resort can’t be compared to hotels where TVs, even in standby mode, are using power. Erikson said Sleeping Lady’s goal is to save energy over the long term.

Greg Felix, Entergize contractor who installed Sleeping Lady’s system, said he’s done work all over the country, including at actor Ed Begley’s home. The company’s work was featured on a History Channel Modern Marvels episode that focused on ways to reduce phantom load — the energy drain caused by cell phone chargers, TVs and other appliances that are left plugged in and continue to draw power. You can watch that show here.

Extreme temperature changes partly to blame for jump in winter electric bills

A mild November followed by a chilly December caused electric bills to climb this winter, sparking customer calls to Chelan County PUD offices.

Mark Wiser, conservation program manager, said his department handled more than the usual number of customer inquiries related to heating bills. But a closer look at seasonal temperatures explains why.

“The average temperature in November was 40 degrees,” Wiser noted. “The average temperature in December was 23 degrees.” That will nearly double your energy use. Add this year’s 9% surcharge and a customer will see a much larger bill than November. This year’s average temperature is comparable to last December, but this year’s bill includes the surcharge.

Commissioners instituted a temporary 9-percent electric rate surcharge May 1, 2009, to last for up to 12 months. The rate surcharge, coupled with cost-savings measures, were aimed at reducing a budget deficit brought on by lack of snowpack, the economic recession, and a steep decline in revenues from the wholesale sales of the PUD’s hydropower. Increased residential energy use in December can also be attributed to the holidays, with Christmas lighting, cooking, and guests in the house using more appliances, electronics and hot water.
For customers with specific concerns, PUD staff can chart electric use from year to year, adjusted for temperatures. The information is presented in Watts Used Per Square Foot. A fairly energy-efficient older home or new home with a heat pump should use approximately 2.5 watts of energy per square foot at 20 degrees outside temperature. The same home with a forced-air electric furnace should use about 3.5 watts per square foot. Use above the norm can signal the need to look for air leaks or other problems. Use under the norm means the customer is enjoying the benefits of a comfortable, energy efficient home.

Wiser noted that base use – the amount of energy used year-round, regardless of the season – is increasing worldwide as consumers purchase more wide-screen TVs and other energy-hungry electronics.  A 2009 report by the International Energy Agency warns that energy used by computers and consumer electronics will increase threefold by 2030. Average base use varies from .5 to 1 watt per square foot, Wiser said.

For more information contact Wiser at 661-4382 or e-mail mark.wiser@chelanpud.org.

Chart shows energy use in a Wenatchee home before and after a heat pump failed and was repaired. PUD Conservation staff can help customers pinpoint problems by charting their energy use this way.