Energy audits help you and the environment

October 31, 3:04 PMPortland Environmental News ExaminerBarclay Charles

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Go green this winter
Barclay Environmental.com

Winter is coming quickly and if you are looking to save money on bills and help the environment take a look at the new products available to save on heating/cooling, water and energy consumption. They are a great way to help you take control of your expenses. There are a huge array of easy to use products that can take a serious bite out of your energy and water bills. The local home improvement stores have displays usually as you walk in and are more than helpful if you have any questions on the products or installation.

If you don’t know where to start you can get an energy audit or go to the websites below to find ideas that you are comfortable doing yourself. The best places to start saving money are those that fit within your budget and have the fastest payback (return on investment). Some of the cheapest, easiest and fastest improvements are listed below:

1. Turn down your water heater temperature.
2. Weatherize doors and windows.
3. Put in water saving features on your bathroom/kitchen fixtures.
4. Check your attic insulation – you should have R-30 in the NW or 5 inches of blown insulation.
5. Use crack sealer for any gaps between pipes and the walls.
6. Buy a digital thermostat for heating/cooling.
7. Change all light bulbs to the new low energy long-lasting fluorescent.

The cold winter season is coming in the next couple of months so get out there and see what’s available. This time of year is perfect to get these projects done and save money immediately. There are of course much more expensive projects like changing out less energy efficient windows and appliances, but those types of projects should be looked at on a project by project basis with a professional that can give you hard facts and figures on your true energy savings and return on investment. Look at the websites listed below to find great ideas to get started. 

 Helpful websites: Barclay Environmental, LLC and Energy Star