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Energy adviser: Online calculators add up energy savings

The Columbian
Published: May 25, 2017, 6:05am

When trying to make a decision, many of us seek credible input. It helps to have someone, or somewhere, to help find solid information, weigh potential outcomes, and bolster our decision. For those of us calculating the potential energy savings from efficiency upgrades, free online tools are a boon. Clark Public Utilities offers several free, online energy calculators to help prioritize home projects.

“Customers can find several calculators for figuring potential energy savings on our website,” said DuWayne Dunham, energy services supervisor and energy counselor for the utility. “These tools are a great first step for figuring out which improvements to tackle first. And when questions arise, we are happy to provide additional guidance.”

The appliance calculator covers most appliances found inside the home and a few, like water and sump pumps, outside. Customers simply key the information for an appliance, say a television noting the amount of time they use it, its wattage and then calculate its energy consumption. Or, they can add a house-worth of equipment, or just their media room gizmos, like a TV, DVD player and stereo, and compute the energy used.

“Anyone considering a new appliance also can key in the information on the models they’re thinking about and compare the possible savings,” Dunham said.

The lighting calculator is simpler but works almost the same. By entering the wattage and the number of bulbs, a customer can see the kilowatt savings achievable by switching to CFL or LED bulbs. The formula also shows the carbon offset from switching to these more efficient bulbs.

The programmable thermostat calculator resembles a thermostat. By typing in the number of stories in a house, its square footage, the relative air-tightness, then selecting the temperature wanted, customers can see the savings that a programmable thermostat may provide.

The heating calculator is a good one for homeowners considering system replacement. It will help compare energy savings based on the type of system and home. By setting the size of their home, its air-tightness, and an average temperature, they can estimate their bill for gas, propane or electric heat. They can also see the impact that moving the temperature up or down a few degrees has on the cost of heating their home.

“For some, our free in-home energy review with a trained energy counselor is the right way to go,” said Dunham. “But for those only looking for a few bits of energy information, we offer an online do-it-yourself whole-home energy calculator that provides a quick evaluation of energy use in the home and helps identify potential areas where wasted energy could be reduced.”

This DIY home energy review asks you nearly all the same questions an energy counselor coming to your home will, and is available 24 hours a day. In about 10 minutes, the free home energy calculator can uncover where homeowners are burning up energy dollars and compare their home with average savings for similarly sized dwellings.

“The home energy calculator requires a very basic knowledge of your home because calculations can change dramatically based on how well the home is insulated, the type of heating system, and size of appliances,” said Dunham. “But it’s an easy way to get started and can help rule out potential projects that might not pencil out for cost effectiveness.”

For anyone wanting an in-person home energy review with a Clark Public Utilities energy counselor, it’s easy to schedule a visit by calling the energy counselor help desk at 360-992-3355 or stopping by the 100 Columbia Way office during business hours.

“Whether customers find answers using the online calculators, or with an in-home energy review, both are a way to learn more about their home, cut out energy waste and bring the bill down,” said Dunham. “If there’s one thing the calculators make clear, it’s that changes do add up to real savings.”


Energy Adviser is written by Clark Public Utilities. Send questions to ecod@clarkpud.com or to Energy Adviser, c/o Clark Public Utilities, P.O. Box 8900, Vancouver, WA 98668.

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