Solar conference: Here comes the sun and renewable energy: ‘Community solar park’: State hopes Ellensburg idea takes off.ELLENSBURG – Gary Nystedt was brainstorming with a group of colleagues at a solar energy conference a few years ago when the idea hit him.What if Ellensburg put up solar panels in a park and invited residents to invest in the system? As a return on their investment in clean energy, residents would get a credit on their electric bill. Continue reading ‘Community solar park sets shining example’
This article was published first on My Edmonds News.
Whether you want to save money on heating bills or do your part to save the planet, there are many reasons to improve your home’s energy efficiency. But there’s an additional payoff that many homeowners aren’t aware of: Homes defined as “green” – Built Green, Energy Star or LEED certified, or that have other environmentally-friendly features – sell for more money and in less time than conventional homes.
Continue reading ‘Remodeling your home? Think green now and earn green later’
See this great article By Craig Curtis and Lisa Richmond. It appeared in the Thursday, December 3, 2009 issue of the Seattle Times.
This article, by Don Knapp, first appeared on Nov 04, 2009 on the ICLEIUSA blog.
Cities and counties need to show that the stimulus funds they received were money well spent. A new communications guide from Resource Media, “Framing Energy Efficiency as a Smart Stimulus Investment,” shows them how to do it, and is a must-read for local government staff. The guide’s introduction explains why:
Continue reading ‘Communicating Your Energy Efficiency Successes’
This article By DAVID LEONHARDT appeared in the New York Times on November 18, 2009. Other publications have added the title “Cash for Caulkers” in discussing Leonhardt’s article.The one highly visible success of the stimulus program has been the cash-for-clunkers program. It induced a boom in vehicle sales this summer that clearly would not have happened otherwise.
The rest of the stimulus has created a lot of jobs — 700,000 to 1.5 million, according to economists’ estimates. But it has done so in thousands of little ways: scattered construction projects, plugged-up school budgets and the like. Politically, these measures are not popular enough to create a groundswell for more of them.
And the economy still needs help. So White House officials are looking at creating a new version of cash for clunkers — this time for home weatherization.
Continue reading ‘A Stimulus That Could Save Money (”Cash for Caulkers”)’
Switching to energy-saving lighting and appliances, and changing your daily habits regarding energy use, are two simple ways to lower your electricity bill, advised speakers at last week’s Sustainable Edmonds meeting on Home & Business Energy Efficiency.
“The single best thing to reduce your lighting load is to change to compact fluorescent bulbs,” said Laura McCrae of the Snohomish Public Utility District.
Continue reading ‘Give your home an energy makeover with efficient lighting, appliances’
Weatherizing your home is the fastest and best way to save money on your home heating bill. That’s the word from representatives of two gas and electric utilities who spoke at the Nov. 5 Sustainable Edmonds meeting, part two in the group’s series on Home & Business Energy Efficiency.
Ben Pelkey of Puget Sound Energy and Laura McCrae of the Snohomish County Public Utility District discussed the various options available for homeowners
Continue reading ‘Want a warmer home for less money? Weatherize it!’
This article was published as “Feds push electric cars in Puget Sound” in the Tacoma News Tribune
A year from now, roughly 1,000 all-electric vehicles will be whispering around the Puget Sound are as part of a federally funded project that eventually might lead to an electric corridor stretching from Eugene, Ore., to Vancouver, B.C., where you could swipe your card and receive a 15-minute quick charge to speed you on your way.Washington is one of five states with metro markets selected to participate in the 36-month study funded by a $100 million grant from the Department of Energy under the Continue reading ‘A chance to get more electric car charging stations for Edmonds’
This column by TOM ZELLER Jr. was published in The New York Times’ “Green Inc. Column” on October 19, 2009
Bainbridge Islanders Challenged to Cut Back on Electrical Usage
[Published in the Kitsap Sun Monday, April 27, 2009 - original article here. Here are some links to websites about the project: more, more, and more]
Bainbridge Island residents are being challenged to cut back their electrical usage by 4 percent, then cut even more for years to come.
If they can do it, island residents may avoid the environmental consequences of building a new electrical substation — and the island would make history for its energy conservation and greenhouse gas reduction, Bainbridge Island City Councilwoman Hilary Franz said. Continue reading ‘How a neighboring community is reducing electrical consumption’
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