Biggest Impact for Homeowners

If everyone purchasing a refrigerator this year chose an ENERGY STAR model, together we would save 715 million kWh per year and reduce greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to those from about 100,000 cars. On average, refrigerators manufactured before 1993 cost over $65 more per year to operate than new ENERGY STAR qualified models. Refrigerators manufactured before 1980 can cost about $200 more per year!

Find Out More:

• For Pacific Power and NW Natural customers, Energy Trust of Oregon offers FREE refrigerator and freezer recycling to help you save money and energy. It’s quick and convenient—and you’ll get $40 for participating. Check it out: Energy Trust of Oregon Refrigerator and Freezer Recycling.
• Find out how much you could save with the Refrigerator Retirement Saving Calculator.
• Check out rebates for Energy Trust of Oregon incentives for Pacific Power and Northwest Natural customers.
• Check out rebates for Consumers Power customers.

About the Numbers:

How much energy could you save by replacing your inefficient refrigerator?

• In one month: 158 pounds CO₂.
• In one year: 1,900 pounds CO₂.

If everyone in Corvallis did this for a year we would save 47,400 metric tons of CO₂, which is equivalent to:

• Annual greenhouse gas emissions from 9,875 passenger vehicles. 
• CO₂ emissions from the electricity use of 7,096 homes for one year.
• Carbon sequestered by 1,215,385 tree seedlings grown for 10 years.
• Greenhouse gas emissions avoided by recycling 17,753 tons of waste instead of sending it to the landfill.

* According to EPA Greenhouse Gas Equivalencies Calculator.

Here is how we calculated that:

To estimate how much energy you could save by replacing your inefficient refrigerator, let’s assume your old refrigerator used 1,630 kWh per year and that your new energy-efficient model uses only 400 kWh per year, which is 75% reduction in energy use.

• Calculating kilowatt-hours (kWh): You would save 1,230 kWh per year by upgrading to a new refrigerator (1,630 kWh per year to run your old refrigerator – 400 kWh per year to run your new refrigerator = 1,230 kWh per year saved).

• Calculating pounds (lbs) of CO₂: On average, 1.54 lbs of CO₂ are emitted for every kWh used, so you would save 1,900 lbs of CO₂ per year (1.54 lbs of CO₂ x 1,230 kWh per year = 1,894.2 lbs of CO₂ per year, which we’ll round up to 1,900 lbs).

In the winter, it is a great idea to check your furnace filter every other month, and change it if it looks dirty. A dirty furnace filter will slow down airflow and make your heating and cooling system work harder, which requires more energy, to keep you warm. A clean filter will also prevent dust and dirt from building up in the system, which can lead to expensive maintenance or early system failure.

Find Out More:

• Find out how to clean or replace your furnace filter here.

About the Numbers:

How much energy could you save by cleaning or replacing your furnace filters?

• If you do this quarterly for one year: 2,100 pounds CO₂ if you have an electric furnace or 700 pounds CO₂ if you have a gas furnace.

 

If everyone in Corvallis did this for a year we would save 35,000 metric tons of CO₂, which is equivalent to:

• Annual greenhouse gas emissions from 7,292 passenger vehicles. 
• CO₂ emissions from the electricity use of 5,240 homes for one year.
• Carbon sequestered by 897,435 tree seedlings grown for 10 years.
• Greenhouse gas emissions avoided by recycling 13,109 tons of waste instead of sending it to the landfill.

* According to EPA Greenhouse Gas Equivalencies Calculator.

Here is how we calculated that:

We’ll calculate the energy savings for electric and gas furnaces separately because they use different types of energy. To estimate how much energy you could save by cleaning or replacing your furnace filters, let’s assume your electric furnace uses 27,300 kWh in one year and that your gas furnace uses 1,190 therms in one year.  Let’s also assume that you save 5% of your heating costs by cleaning or replacing your filter. (If you do this action for the Take Charge program and tell us how it went at the end of the month, we’ll ask what kind of furnace you have so we can give you a better estimate of how much energy you saved.)

Energy Savings for Electric Furnaces

• Calculating kilowatt-hours (kWh): If your furnace uses 27,300 kWh per year and cleaning or replacing your furnace filters regularly saves 5%, then you will save 1,370 kWh per year (27,300 kWh x 5% increase in efficiency = 1,370 kWh).

• Calculating pounds (lbs) of CO₂: On average, 1.54 lbs of CO₂ are emitted for every kWh used, so you would save 2,100 lbs of CO₂ per year (1.54 lbs of CO₂ x 1,370 kWh = 2,109.8 lbs of CO₂ per year, which we’ll round to 2,100 lbs).

 

Energy Savings for Gas Furnaces

• Calculating therms: If your furnace uses 1,190 therms per year, and cleaning or replacing your furnace filters regularly saves 5%, you will save 60 therms per year (1,190 therms x 5% increase in efficiency = 60 therms).

• Calculating pounds (lbs) of CO₂:  About 11.7 lbs of CO₂ are emitted for every therm used, so you would save about 700 lbs of CO₂ per year (11.7 lbs of CO₂ x 60 therms = 702 lbs of CO₂, which well round to 700 lbs).

 

 

Pacific Power or NW Natural customer can register for FREE energy saving light bulbs and faucet aerators. One of our Energize Corvallis team members will come to your house and install up to 10 compact fluorescent light bulbs, 2 bathroom aerators, 1 kitchen aerator, and 2 low-flow showerheads. We can even install harder-to-find bulbs like floodlights, 3-way lamps, and candelabras. That adds up to about $80 worth of free energy-saving goodies. Plus you can expect an annual savings of up to $185 in homes with electric heat and up to $125 in homes with gas heat!

Find Out More:

• Pacific Power and NW Natural customers can register for FREE CFLs and faucet aerators here

About the Numbers:

How much energy could you save letting us install FREE CFLs and faucet aerators for you? 

• In one year if you install 10 CFLs: 1,500 lbs CO₂.
• In one year if you install 3 low-flow faucet aerators and two low-flow showerheads: 1,308 pounds CO₂ for electric water heaters and 372 pounds CO₂ for gas water heaters. 

If everyone in Corvallis did this, in one year we would save 58,500 metric tons of CO₂, which is equivalent to:

• Annual greenhouse gas emissions from 12,187 passenger vehicles.  
• CO₂ emissions from the electricity use of 8,757 homes for one year. 
• Carbon sequestered by 1,500,000 tree seedlings grown for 10 years. 
• Greenhouse gas emissions avoided by recycling 21,910 tons of waste instead of sending it to the landfill.

* According to EPA Greenhouse Gas Equivalencies Calculator. 

Here is how we calculated that: 

Replacing CFLs

To estimate how much energy you could save by letting us install FREE CFLs, let’s assume you upgrade to 10 CFLs and that these bulbs are turned on an for an average of 6 hours per day. 

• Calculating kilowatts: 1,000 watts is equal to 1 kilowatt, so a 60-watt incandescent bulb is equal to 0.060 kW (60 watts / 1,000 watts per kW = 0.060 kilowatts). A 15-watt CFL bulb is equal to .015 kW (15 watts / 1,000 watts per kW = 0.015 kilowatts).  The savings per bulb is 0.045 kW (0.060 kW - 0.015 kW = 0.045 kW savings per bulb). 

• Calculating kilowatt-hours (kWh): Using 1 kilowatt for 1 hour is equal to 1 kWh, so 0.045 kW in energy savings for ten bulbs, six hours per day, 30 days per month is equal to 80 kWh per month (0.045 kW savings per bulb x 10 bulbs x 6 hour per day x 30 days per month = 81 kWh per month).  

• Calculating pounds (lbs) CO₂: About 1.54 lbs of CO₂ are emitted for every kWh used, so you could save 125 lbs CO₂ per month (1.54 lbs CO₂ x 81 kWh per month = 124.74 lbs CO₂ saved per month, which we’ll round to 125 lbs). 

Even in Oregon, the sun’s light provides abundant energy for both plants and photovoltaic cells to harvest.  Investing in solar energy is a big project, but there is no better way to supply your home with 30+ years of clean, fuel-free electricity. Work with a solar contractor to find out what tax credits and incentives are available for solar panels (see below for information). 

 

Find Out More:

• Check out the Energy Trust of Oregon solar electric cost calculator.  
• Energy Trust of Oregon Residential Tax Credits
• Federal Tax Credits for Solar
• State of Oregon Tax Credits for Solar

 

About the Numbers:

Your hot water heater is likely one of the biggest consumers of energy in your house. It typically accounts for approximately 15% of home energy use.  If you have an electric water heater, you can upgrade to a more efficient model or a heat-pump water heater. If you have gas water heater, you can upgrade to a more efficient tank water heater or a tankless water heater. Regardless of what kind of fuel you currently use to heat your water, you could also upgrade to a solar water heater. Upgrading your water heater could save you up to half of your water-heating bill.

Find Out More:

• Check out our Green Shares contractors to find the right person for the job
• Rebates for Consumers Power customers.
• Oregon Tax Credits.
• Federal Tax Credits.

About the Numbers:

How much energy could you save by replacing your water heater with a new more efficient water heater?

• In one month: 62 pounds CO₂ if you have an electric water heater or 73 pounds CO₂ if you have a gas water heater.
• In one year: 744 pounds CO₂ for electric water heater or 878 pounds CO₂ for gas water heater.

 

If everyone in Corvallis did this, in one year we would save 20,275 metric tons of CO₂, assuming half gas and half electric water heaters, which is equivalent to:

• Annual greenhouse gas emissions from 4,225 passenger vehicles. 
• CO₂ emissions from the electricity use of 3,035 homes for one year.
• Carbon sequestered by 519,872 tree seedlings grown for 10 years.
• Greenhouse gas emissions avoided by recycling 7,594 tons of waste instead of sending it to the landfill.

* According to EPA Greenhouse Gas Equivalencies Calculator.

Here’s how we calculated that:

Electric water heaters and gas water heaters use different amounts of energy, so we’ll look at them separately to estimate the potential energy savings. (If you do this action for the Take Charge program and tell us how it went at the end of the month, we’ll ask you what kind of water heater you have to give you a better estimate of how much energy you saved.)

Energy Savings for Electric Water Heater

Let’s assume that your old water heater uses 5,080 kWh a year, and that an efficient water heater uses 4,600 kWh a year.

• Calculating kilowatt-hours (kWh) saved: If your old water heater uses 5,080 kWh a year, and your new water heater uses 4,600 kWh a year, you would save 480 kWh a year (5,080 kWh in a year - 4,600 kWh a year = 480 kWh saved per year).

• Calculating pounds (lbs) of CO₂ saved: About 1.54 lbs of CO₂ are emitted for every kWh used, so you would save about 739 lbs of CO₂ per year (480 kWh x 1.54 lbs of CO₂ = 739 lbs of CO₂), or 62 lbs of CO₂ per month (739 lbs CO₂ saved per year / 12 months = 62 lbs CO₂ saved per month).

Energy Savings for Gas Water Heater

Let’s assume your old water heater uses 250 therms a year, and that an efficient water heater uses 175 therms a year.

• Calculating therms saved: If your old water heater uses 250 therms a year and your new water heater used 175 therms a year, you would save 75 therms a year (250 therms – 175 therms = 75 therms saved per year). 

• Calculating pounds (lbs) of CO₂ saved: About 11.7 lbs of CO₂ are emitted per therm used, so you would save about 878 lbs of CO₂ per year (75 therms saved x 11.7 lbs of CO₂ = 877.5 lbs of CO₂ saved a month, which we’ll round up to 878), or 73 therms a month (878 therms / 12 months = 73 therms saved a month).