Renewable Energy Resources

Weatherization

In the United States, buildings use one third of all energy consumed and two thirds of all electricity.  By taking steps to make your home more weatherproof, you can contribute towards the reduction of energy consumption and potentially see a 30% reduction in your energy use. To an individual homeowner, especially in older homes built with less energy efficient materials, this is one of the most immediate steps available to reduce your energy demand.

Weatherization can include:

• sealing doors and windows from cracks and gaps
• properly sealing air ducts
• improving insulation coverage throughout the home
• installing storm doors and windows, etc

To learn about the effectiveness of reducing the energy costs for low income families, visit the Weatherization Assistance Program Overview. Weatherization Plus expands on this approach to look at whole house energy usage.

Energy Audits

Look for ways to be more resourceful with the energy we use and embrace change individually. This approach can be carried to all aspects of our lives. In terms of individual homes and buildings, immediate results can come from analyzing potential areas of energy loss, by performing do it yourself energy audits. Or, look into contracting for professional energy audits.

Professional energy audits typically use a blower door test and a thermographic scan to provide more detailed results about the thermal performance of a building. Through this process, consumers can pinpoint problem areas throughout the building envelope (including the walls, roof, windows and doors, etc.) where improvements through weatherization can be made.

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle and be Resourceful

R4/Reduce,Reuse,Recycle and be Resourceful!

There are so many aspects of our day to day lives that provide opportunities to make a valuable and quantifiable contribution.  With little effort, we can make a significant positive impact on our environment. Take a look at your current lifestyle. Assess ways to reduce your energy consumption and environmental impact. Reuse and recycle what you can. Be resourceful.  Make a conscious effort to change in ways that place the health of our planet first. The sum of these efforts will make a difference!

R,R, and R List

• be idle free
• use mass transit
• carpool
• combine errands whenever possible
• maintain your vehicle
• be sure your tires are inflated properly
• turn heating and cooling down when possible
• use curtains and blinds to keep the sun out in the summer
• use curtains and blinds to maximize passive solar energy in the winter
• replace your incandescent lights with fluorescent or LED lights
• use a programmable thermostat in your home
• run your dishwasher during off peak times and only when full
• recycle whenever possible
• shop with reusable bags
• compost