Think your home is energy efficient? Take the challenge
Over 1,000 homeowners have agreed to let their homes be reviewed by Energy Trust of Oregon, including OSU President Ed Ray
Lauren Sigel
Issue date: 3/7/08 Section: News
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The Corvallis Energy Challenge, which began on March 3, will allow representatives of 70 organizations from the Corvallis Sustainability Coalition to receive energy assessments of their own homes and begin recruiting 1,000 additional Corvallis homeowners to sign up for reviews by April 22.
Jan S. Shaeffer, communications and marketing director for the Energy Trust of Oregon, said that ETO experts will conduct free home energy reviews for customers of Pacific Power and/or Northwest Natural, which serve about 90 percent of Corvallis homes.
"Energy reviews point out cost efficient ways to reduce energy use, save on energy costs, and improve comfort in homes built before 1993," Shaeffer said.
"This is when Oregon residential building codes began requiring significant amounts of insulation."
Brandon Trelstad, OSU campus sustainability coordinator, signed up OSU President Ed Ray and wife Beth Ray to participate in a home energy review.
"The Energy Trust wants to review prominent Corvallis citizens to inspire other residents to get their homes reviewed," Trelstad said. "President Ray's house is actually owned by OSU, so we would like to make it as sustainable as possible to set an example for others."
Since 2002, 18,000 reviews have been done by Energy Trust.
Not only do ETO experts suggest energy-saving measures specific to your home, but they also install free compact fluorescent light bulbs, faucet aerators and showerheads.
Shawn O'Neil, an ETO expert and program management contractor for Energy Trust, conducted the energy review done on Ray's house.
"In an energy review, we look at the lighting, the insulation levels, and water usage," O'Neil said.
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