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Energy Trust of Oregon, Inc., is a nonprofit organization dedicated to changing how Oregonians use energy by promoting energy efficiency and clean renewable energy for Oregon customers of Pacific Power, Portland General Electric, NW Natural and Cascade Natural Gas. This page includes general information about the terms efficiency, conservation and renewable energy as well as links to other energy education resources.

Energy Conservation vs. Energy Efficiency

There is some confusion between the term "conservation" and the term "energy efficiency." They are related, but do not mean the same thing. Energy conservation means making a personal choice to use less energy in the present, possibly saving it for others or for the future. Energy efficiency does not mean going without. It means using energy more productively and not wasting it.

The Citizens' Utility Board website, CUB Online, states it this way:

"Conservation is often invoked when its equally important cousin, energy efficiency, is meant. Conservation is turning off the light when you leave the room. Energy efficiency is burning a compact fluorescent light bulb. Conservation is turning down your furnace; energy efficiency is installing double-paned windows and a high-efficiency furnace. Conservation is cutting the hours of your manufacturing plant to use less fuel; energy efficiency is retrofitting the plant with a technology that uses less fuel even while it keeps working. You get the idea."

Why consider energy efficiency?

Using energy more wisely provides positive economic impacts and overall societal benefits. On the economic side, energy efficiency reduces individual energy bills, leaving homeowners and businesses more money to invest in other areas. On the societal benefit side, using less energy reduces carbon emissions and reduces the need for costly investments in new generation, transmission, and distribution capabilities of energy providers.

Energy efficiency doesn't mean turning the thermostat down to the lowest tolerable level. Quite often, efficiency improvements yield greater comfort in homes and businesses. The key is to use less energy, more productively. In this sense, energy efficiency means saving energy and going about your business, at the same time.

Improved energy efficiency can be achieved in many ways without huge financial outlays. Improvements like the following are within reach of many homeowners and businesses:

In many cases, efficiency improvements like these pay for themselves over a short period of time by reducing energy costs. As energy prices increase, the payback period can become even shorter for these investments.

Other Benefits of Energy Efficiency

From a societal standpoint, everyone benefits from using energy more efficiently. Reducing energy demand offsets the need for energy suppliers to build or upgrade power plants, transmission lines and distribution capabilities, thus reducing capital costs passed on to consumers. Using energy efficiently also reduces the amount of carbon released into the atmosphere through burning natural gas, coal, oil, or other fossil fuels to generate electricity or heat homes and businesses. Efficiency also helps reduce the impact of peak demand periods on the electric grid, thus reducing supply concerns.

Overall, everyone benefits from using energy more wisely. The cost of energy efficiency projects, on average, is less than half the cost of building new power plants and related transmission and distribution capabilities, which would otherwise be inevitable as populations grow and energy demand increases.

Oregon is one of a handful of states that offers programs like those provided by Energy Trust. Energy Trust incentives and services help Oregonians make wise and long-lasting positive decisions to use energy more efficiently and reduce reliance on fossil fuels for energy generation.

Why consider renewable energy?

Renewable energy is, by definition, energy generated from sources that cannot be depleted. Two well-known examples are wind and solar energy. Unlike fossil fuels, which exist in finite amounts, renewable energy sources continue to be replenished, even as we tap into them.

Renewable energy sources are cleaner than traditional power generation technologies. Little or no carbon is released into the atmosphere by harnessing renewable energy, the fuel sources are in abundant supply, and are naturally occurring.

Energy produced from renewable sources is available to homeowners, businesses and utilities. Existing technologies include (but are not limited to):

 

Energy Trust of Oregon helps reduce the cost of utilizing renewable energy by offering incentives to customers who choose these alternative power sources. We also offer an established network of trade ally contractors who are able to provide site analysis and install renewable energy systems.

As with energy efficiency implementations, renewable energy projects offset the need for traditional electric power plants that burn fossil fuels, providing Oregonians important economic and quality of life benefits from utilizing renewable energy.

For more information on energy efficiency and renewable energy, please visit the following sites:

 


Photo Top:Proceeds from the sale of Ryan Olsen’s home at 2005 Street of New Beginnings were donated to Doernbecher Children’s Hospital.