October is Energy month. Learn more about the Oregon energy landscape, and options for renewable energy. And make sure to sign up for the Waste Wise News e-newsletter and follow Waste Wise Lane County on Facebook and Instagram to stay in-the-know!

Fast facts: Solar energy in Lane County

Solar energy: it's clean, renewable, and has the potential to dramatically reduce energy bills. Recently, Jeremiah Chavez, general manager at Energy Design, shared some interesting facts about solar.

• The two most important factors for determining if your home is a good candidate are roof age & sun exposure. “Most rebate and incentive programs, if available through the state or a local (utility company), require the roof to have at least 15 years remaining roof life,” he said. “Ideally, we’re looking for 20 to 25 (years of remaining life)."
• If you want to reduce your home's energy footprint, look to weatherization and heating/cooling systems first, before solar. “We always recommend that people first look at heating and air conditioning upgrades and weatherization (before considering solar),” Chavez said. “Those programs are not as ‘sexy,’ but…long term…(they) are the best way to invest in the home, and solar should really just be considered after those.”
• Chavez said most local power in Lane County is already cheap and clean, so solar may not always make sense for owners.
• Chavez said the cost of solar panel installation has come down approximately 80 percent during his two decades at Energy Design, and most people can “pay for a solar electric system that offsets 100 percent of their consumption annually in about 12 years.
• Solar systems today produce approximately 10 percent more power annually than 15 years ago.
• The cost of solar panel installation has come down by approximately 80 percent in the past two decades.
• Without incentives, rebates, or tax credits applied—solar installation costs an average of around $27,000 for an Oregon home.
  

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Information provided by: Oregon Department of Energy 

Waste Wise Tip: Use cold water when washing

Kelly Bell, Lane County Master Recycler program coordinator, encourages you to consider using cold water when you wash your clothes to save energy.

Energy resources

Blachly-Lane Electric Cooperative Rebate Program
blachlylane.coop/conservation/energy-efficiency-rebates/residential-rebates

Central Lincoln (Florence) Residential Rebate Programs
clpud.org/energy-efficiency/residential-rebates

EWEB Education Programs
eweb.org/your-public-utility/for-our-community/education-programs
 
EWEB Rebates & Savings
eweb.org/rebates-and-savings

Emerald People's Utility District Energy Incentive Programs
epud.org/energy-efficiency/energy-incentive-programs
 
Green Child Magazine: Energy Checklist
greenchildmagazine.com/teach-kids-to-save-energy-checklist

HomeAdvisor: Home Energy Conservation for Kids
homeadvisor.com/r/home-energy-conservation-for-kids/

Lane Electric Cooperative Energy Efficiency Programs
laneelectric.com/programs-services/energy-efficiency

Lane County/Homes for Good Weatherization Programs
https://www.homesforgood.org/programs/weatherization

Oregon DEQ: Clean Vehicles
oregon.gov/deq/aq/programs/pages/zev-rebate.aspx

Oregon DEQ: Oregon Solar + Storage Rebate Program
oregon.gov/energy/Incentives/Pages/Solar-Storage-Rebate-Program.aspx

Pacific Power Savings & Energy Choices
pacificpower.net/savings-energy-choices/home.html

Springfield Utility Board Rebates & Loans
subutil.com/conservation/for-your-home/rebates-loans
 
United Nations: Start with these ten actions!
un.org/en/actnow/ten-actions