Help Others Save Energy

You can build on our nation’s 41 years of Earth Day celebrations with energy-saving actions that range from lowering your thermostat or signing up for your utility’s green power programs to outfitting your home with the latest in energy-efficiency options or investing in solar power. Make a commitment to complete five actions and help us secure a clean energy future. Challenge your coworkers, family and friends to lower their energy costs. Plus, by working with Energy Trust of Oregon you can get help prioritizing the best energy solutions and may get cash-back incentives for some improvements.

You could be wasting as much as 60 percent of the energy used to heat and cool your home. Leaky ducts, inefficient equipment, poor insulation and air leaks may be inflating your energy costs. To find out what is causing the energy loss, use an online Home Energy Profile or schedule a Home Energy Review with Energy Trust of Oregon. An energy advisor will come to your home when it’s convenient, spend an hour walking with you through your home and visually assessing typical areas of energy loss. After the review, you’ll get customized recommendations on where to start, plus information on cash incentives available when you improve the energy efficiency of your home. Sign up at www.energytrust.org/her for your Home Energy Review.

There are plenty of simple, affordable—and often, free—ways to make your home more energy efficient. Complete Energy Trust of Oregon’s top five and you can start saving energy immediately.

1. Unplug battery chargers for power tools, mobile phones, laptops and other devices when not in use.

2. Caulk small holes and cracks around plumping pipes, exhaust fans, dryer vents, sink and bathtub drains, and fireplaces and under countertops.

3. Replace incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescent light bulbs, which last up to 10 times longer and can save $30 over the life of each bulb.

4. Recycle that old fridge or freezer in your basement or garage—you may be able to get free pickup and $50 cash from Energy Trust, plus save up to $200 per year on energy costs.

5. Install an ENERGY STAR® programmable thermostat so it adjusts automatically.

Find more no-cost, low-costs tips on Energy Trust’s website.

Insulation may not be the most exciting home improvement, but it’s one of the most cost-effective updates you can make to your home. Besides keeping you cool in summer and warm in winter, sealing air leaks and insulating your attic, walls and floors can pay for themselves through energy cost savings. Combine insulation and air sealing to trim heating and cooling costs up to 30 percent. Work with an Energy Trust contractor to ensure quality installation and for help applying for cash incentives.

If you’re thinking about investing in a solar electric system for your home but aren’t sure who to hire, what to buy or how to finance the system—start with your neighbors through a Solarize project. These projects are community-driven, bulk purchase efforts to help homeowners overcome the financial and logistical hurdles of going solar. By working with a Solarize project in your neighborhood, you can attend information workshops, receive a free solar site assessment, work with a solar contractor competitively chosen by the project coordinators, and realize lower purchase costs (by more than 25 percent) as you and your neighbors buy the solar electric systems in bulk. To learn more about solar technology, or to find information and a contractor to install a system individually, visit Energy Trust’s website at www.energytrust.org.

You may not own your home, but it's easy to make it more comfortable, save money and use less energy with just a few low-cost and no-cost changes. Download Energy Trust of Oregon’s energy-saving checklist. You may also be able to recycle your old fridge or freezer (provided you own it, of course) and get $50 cash and free pickup. Or, ask your landlord to make energy-saving improvements—they may qualify for Energy Trust cash incentives and tax credits to make the investments more attractive. Learn more about what you can do at www.energytrust.org/renters.

There's one way to be sure you're making an energy-efficient appliance purchase for your new home: Just look for the blue ENERGY STAR® label when you shop. Whether you're replacing your old clothes washer, buying stylish appliances for your kitchen or stocking up on light bulbs, high-quality, technologically-advanced ENERGY STAR products can save you money year after year. And now you could get cash-back incentives from Energy Trust of Oregon when you buy qualified ENERGY STAR appliances, such as dishwashers, clothes washers, and fridges and freezers.

Visit www.energytrust.org/appliances for more information on these incentives and buying ENERGY STAR, and a list of qualifying models and retailers that carry ENERGY STAR appliances, lighting and home electronics.

Give your budget a break and make your home more comfortable with energy-saving home improvements. Portland General Electric, Pacific Power, NW Natural and Cascade Natural Gas customers have access to energy-efficiency programs through Energy Trust of Oregon.

1. Evaluate your home for energy savings

2. Choose upgrades that make sense for you.

3. Work with an Energy Trust trade ally contractor, or any licensed contractor, to install the improvements. Visit www.energytrust.org/findacontractor or call 1.866.368.7878 to find a trade ally near you.

4. Apply for Energy Trust cash-back incentives, which apply to energy-saving improvements, such as ENERGY STAR® clothes washer, dishwasher, refrigerator or freezer purchases, water heaters, windows and many more.

Call Energy Trust today at 1.866.368.7878 or visit www.energytrust.org to find out more.