Daily news blog for Seattle's Queen Anne neighborhood

 

Earth Day tips for a more efficient home

April 22nd, 2011 by Geeky Swedes

Today is Earth Day, a day focused on being a little “greener.” Washington Energy Services is a Magnolia-based family-owned company that sells energy efficient home improvement products and services. They sent us a list of the top five energy projects for your home:

Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Energy Star Program

1. Seal the leaks around windows and exterior doors. This is easy to do and will help your home keep the heat in. Use caulk, weather stripping or spray foam and it will have an impact on improving your comfort and reducing utility bills. You can also contact a handyman, or a reputable window, insulation or painting company to provide this service.

2. Stop electrical outlets and wall switches from letting cold air in. Outlets and wall switches leak air and create heat loss. Caulking and sealing air leaks isn’t just for windows and doors, you should do it wherever plumbing or electrical wiring penetrates through walls, floors or ceilings, and in recessed light fixtures. Most homes will see 2%-4% air leakage this way, and it’s easy to fix. Caulking is one option or use foam gaskets behind outlets and switch plates on the walls. If you want to see this for yourself, hold incense or a smoke source up to an outlet. If the smoke flows horizontally, you have air leaks.

3. The number one way to improve home energy efficiency is insulation. Most homes, even newer ones lack good insulation or enough of it. According to the Department of Energy, “Inadequate insulation and air leakage are leading causes of energy waste in most American homes. Energy use and bills can be reduced significantly by adding insulation.” While traditional rolls of fiberglass are still around, new types of foam insulation offer higher quality and greater flexibility in tight spaces. Talk to a professional about local code requirements and recommendations for your area.

4. Clean and seal heating ducts. Almost 20% of the air that moves through your duct system is lost due to leaks and poorly sealed connections. Over time, ducts can sag or collapse. Vermin and other Seattle animals can chew holes in crawl space ductwork. Ducts can also come apart at the seams. When this happens, air that should be going to the rooms in your home is instead being wasted by ending up in your attic, your walls, or under your house. If duct tape was used on your ductwork originally, it’s best to have it replaced with aluminum or foil tape. Traditional duct tape deteriorates quickly. Metal seams should be cleaned and then sealed with duct mastic, which doesn’t crack and creates a permanent seal.

5. Let your equipment breathe. Your heating and cooling systems depend on a flow of air to maximize their efficiency. Homeowners can easily change the furnace filter, and check for leaves/debris around an outside heat pump or air conditioner. A clogged air intake outside or dirty indoor furnace filter limits air flow to the equipment and causes it to function inefficiently. It can eventually lead to costly breakdowns and repairs. This is similar to changing the air filter in your car. Electronic filters typically need cleaning at least twice per year and paper filters need replacing. Check your product warranty for your manufacturer’s specific instructions.

Washington Energy Services recommends to consider a home energy audit if you’re interested in saving energy. The home energy audit is a three-hour analysis that measures about two-dozen elements in the home. The non-profit association, Home Performance Washington, can help you find a local company that provides energy audit services.

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McClure pilot project bolsters bill to fund energy cost saving improvements for WA schools

January 27th, 2010 by Thea

McClure Middle School, located at the top of Queen Anne hill, was originally built in the 1960s, and like many other schools in the Seattle School District, it is currently on a long wait list for a remodel. In the meantime, however, McClure has a long list of structural demands needed to improve both the conditions for the staff and students, and energy costs incurred by the district, that cannot wait. According to 36th District Rep. and Queen Anne resident Reuven Carlyle, the building is often so cold, many of its 600 students wear their coats from class to class.

This is one of many reasons why last year Carlyle worked to help secure $1 million in state funds for McClure Middle School to undergo energy efficiency upgrades, a pilot project that he says has laid the groundwork for new legislation that, if passed, will fund energy and cost-saving improvements for schools and universities statewide, creating 38,000 jobs in the process.

“The money was a pilot project to show the value proposition of this core idea that has been embraced nationally as a way to create high wage jobs while improving the energy efficiency and reducing utility costs for public agencies like schools nationwide,” Carlyle wrote to us in an email last week.

So far, part of McClure’s $1 million award has been used to fund an energy audit of the building, identifying energy cost-saving improvements that will also be covered under the funding. According to Carlyle, construction has already been approved and is set to begin sometime in late spring or early summer. And although this pilot project is not connected directly to House Bill 2561, which passed through Washington’s House of Representatives just last week, Carlyle says it serves to positively reinforce support for a public policy initiative that has the potential to save money, promote sustainability and benefit communities throughout the state.

“This pilot didn’t create this larger legislation but it showed the idea on the ground in a public school. It played a modest but important role because it showed how a community-based model can work on the ground for real schools,” he wrote. “The value proposition of conducting an audit and then making decisions about how best to improve both the school and reduce costs work together. The model worked and McClure helped to show it.”

Bill 2561 would raise $850 from a state bond and allocate it to clean energy construction projects to improve schools and universities across the state, in so doing, creating 38,000 “well paying jobs,” according to Carlyle. The funds would support energy audits and structural upgrades including the installation of energy efficient windows, weathering, roofing and insulation improvements, and solar energy projects, to name a few–-projects that are “all related to energy efficiency–the most economically efficient way to reduce costs,” Carlyle said.

If the bill is passed by the Senate and signed by Governor Gregoire, it will be put to voters on the November ballot.

“I’m really proud of the small but important role that the McClure project has played in the larger development of this bold energy efficiency and jobs program. This bill has a long way to go before being enacted into law but this is the first critical step,” Carlyle wrote.

(Reuven Carlyle is a sponsor of QueenAnneView).

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Tips for weathering winter storms

November 9th, 2009 by Thea

One of our sister sites, Phinneywood, recently posted a story with tips on how to weather the coming stormy season. Considering the rainy, windy weather we’ve been having lately, I thought it might be pertinent to share some of those winter weather pointers.

Here are some tips from local utilities:

  • Assemble an emergency kit with a battery-powered radio, flashlight, extra batteries, a first-aid kit, a fire extinguisher, bottled water and three days of non-perishable food and drinking water. Store a kit at home, work and in your car.
  • If you encounter a downed power line, stay well away from the line or anything it may be touching. Immediately report the location of fallen wires to PSE by calling 1-888-225-5773 or Seattle City Light by calling (206) 684-7400, or call 911.
  • Do not use charcoal or a gas grill to cook indoors. Both can cause a buildup of poisonous carbon monoxide gas.
  • If using an emergency generator, follow the manufacturer’s instructions and only use the generator outdoors.
  • Turn off lights and unplug all appliances and sensitive electronic equipment, such as computers, to prevent an overload on your circuits when electric service is restored. Leave one light on to let you know when service returns.
  • Make sure the battery in your smoke detector is fresh. Test the smoke detector to make sure it’s working.

Customer energy efficiency tips to prepare for winter:

  • Seal up leaky drafts around doors and windows with weather-stripping, caulking, and door sweeps. Also seal up any leaks or gaps in furnace ducts that extend through unheated basements or crawl spaces.
  • Reduce air leaks by repairing broken windows and using inexpensive weather-stripping around entry doors.
  • Insulate attics, outside walls and floors over crawlspaces.Have the furnace inspected and serviced to make sure it is in proper working order.
  • Clean or replace the furnace air filters at least every two months during the heating season. The furnace will run more efficiently and use less energy.
  • Set the thermostat at the coolest level you can without making your rooms uncomfortable. For most homes, the heating bill drops by about 2 percent for every 1 degree the thermostat is lowered.
  • Lower the thermostat at bedtime or while away during the day. Setting the thermostat to 58 degrees while asleep can cut a natural-gas bill by up to 7 percent.

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