Consumer Blog

Sary goes to Salem: worker tells her remarkable story to legislators to encourage CEWO funding

It is still difficult for Sary Dobran to tell her story. Just three short years ago she was a single mother, living on welfare, and in a single room she shared with her then 3-year-old child.

Today she works as a residential energy auditor and a home performance technician, earning a good living as a trained expert in a growing green industry.

And last week, Sary took a day off work, travelled to Salem, Oregon, and told her story to more than a dozen legislators, encouraging them to continue funding Clean Energy Works Oregon – one of the organizations that helped her pull herself out of poverty.

“When they met me and learned that I was a product of the program, I think it made a difference,” she said.

In 2003, Sary graduated with a degree in environmental studies from the University of Oregon. After graduation, she traveled and worked in Italy and Mexico. But things changed after her son’s father died. She struggled to regain her footing and was forced to rely on government assistance, while she tried to find work.

Sary considered her options and determined that she preferred the hands-on aspect of weatherization and was happy that it built on her past experience in finished carpentry. Like a growing number of successful women who are working in home performance, she enrolled in a pre-apprenticeship program at Oregon Tradeswomen, Inc., and also accessed help through WorkSource Oregon, the state’s resource for businesses and jobseekers. She was eventually hired by a contractor, received on-the-job training support and also found more funding for advanced trainings in air and duct sealing and building performance. Sary’s particular journey was funded by a series of grants tied to transforming energy efficiency markets and putting people back to work.

Today, she is enjoying meeting homeowners and hearing the story of their houses and what they want to do. She feels like an “absolute success story” and is committed to making the most of her opportunity so the investments that were made in her are there for others.

That is why she went to Salem last week, she said.

“I’m a professional now. It seems uncomfortable to go back and relive the past, but it was way more positive than I thought it was going to be,” she said. “My story is a testament to the demographics of the unemployed. We’re often educated. We’re often hardworking. We’re often experienced. We simply need the tools to get into a market like this.”

Posted on March 25, 2013 at 5:20 pm

Senator Merkley Talks Clean Energy Works Oregon

Senator Jeff Merkley This past week, Sustainable Business Oregon sat down with Senator Jeff Merkley, discussing the Oregon senator’s most recent announcement, being appointed chairman of the Senate subcommittee tasked with looking at green job creation and a clean energy economy.

When asked about what his new appointment means for his home state, Senator Merkley responded:

“This has a powerful tie into Oregon. It’s focused on renewable energy and green jobs, and Oregon strong state program of energy efficiency finance and job creation — the Clean Energy Works Oregon program. The lessons we’ve learned with that program are worth bringing forward. It has the highest potential in terms of leveraging bang for the buck for jobs created and dollars spent.”

Merkley went on to discuss creating living wage jobs, simplified lending options that help homeowner confidence and ‘Made in America’ materials that go into making homes more energy efficient.

Senator Jeff Merkley’s Sustainable Business Oregon Interview

Posted on February 20, 2013 at 11:26 pm

Five Apps for an Energy Efficient Life

According to Nielsen, the average smartphone user has 41 apps on their phone. The typical app ranges from games, to email, to social networks, but what about energy efficiency apps? After diving in deep to the energy app world, here are five of our favorite apps to help you save money, improve the comfort of your home and become more energy efficient.

Light Bulb Finder

Earlier this month we reported the demise of the 75-watt incandescent light bulb. The 75-watt bulb, along with the 100-watt bulb, were phased out, while 2014 will see the phasing out of the 40-watt and 60-watt bulbs. All of this means it’s time for you to switch those light bulbs to more energy efficient options. Light Bulb Finder helps you make the switch, giving you stats on the financial and environmental benefits, while helping you find the right replacement bulb options.

Meter Readings

One of the most unique apps on the marketing for measuring your energy output is Meter Readings. This advanced app helps you monitor your household energy and water usage. Over time, the app shows you trends in your use with simple graphs, while providing tips on how to save money on your utility bills by changing your electric and water usage habits.

JouleBug

Gamification is all the rage these days, making complicated ideas and tasks easier to understand by breaking them down in a game setting. JouleBug is an energy savings game, pushing you to set energy habits by observing how you act throughout your typical day. Through offering tips, players can change their habits, being rewarded with badges. The best part of all, you can play JouleBug with friends and share your energy accomplishments through Facebook and Twitter.

My CO2 Carbon Calculator

Have you ever wondered what your daily carbon footprint is? It fairly easy to track your home energy use, but what about the energy you use at work or the carbon output commuting? My CO2 Carbon Calculator helps you track your every day activities, giving you an idea of your carbon impact, then suggesting ways you can improve. Best of all, it allows you to set targets, which keep you on task.

Opower

While the first four apps are all smartphone specific, the Opower app is a Facebook app. It’s still in beta mode, but offers a fun way to compete against your friends, seeing who can be most efficient with their energy. Empowering the user with tips and tricks along the way, taking on your friends not only brings about the competitive spirit in individuals, but helps drive behavior change. Best of all, if you expend the least amount of energy over the course of your competition, you have some pretty impressive bragging rights.

Posted on January 18, 2013 at 8:21 pm

Good News: Homeowner Energy Efficiency Tax Credit Extended

Good news for homeowners who’ve completed residential energy efficiency projects over the past year, or are planning to complete one in 2013. The federal government decided to extend the residential energy efficiency tax credit, meaning a homeowner who completed an energy efficiency project in their home in 2012 may be eligible for a one-time credit up to $500.

The energy efficiency tax credit applies to some types of water heaters, furnaces, insulation, windows, roofs, heat pumps, boilers and central air conditioning units.

Equally as nice, homeowners who complete a first-time home energy efficiency project in 2013 are eligible for the same credit. To find out more, reference the listed links and make sure to consult with your tax advisor.

U.S. Department of Energy Energy Efficiency Tax Credit Information

CEWO Contractor Neil Kelly Discussing the Tax Credit

Posted on January 11, 2013 at 11:09 pm

A Must Have: Consumer Guide to Home Energy Savings

There are a lot of great resources online touting the benefits of home energy efficiency and how best to transform your home to be more comfortable and lower your energy bills, but there are few resources as comprehensive and thorough as the 10th edition of the Consumer Guide to Home Energy Savings.

With over 250 pages of home energy efficiency information, from what are the most beneficial and cost-effective improvements, to statistics on the environmental impact of your home, this guide is the perfect resource for all your home energy efficiency needs and a great tool to help you make informed decisions when it comes to your home.

Consumer Guide to Home Energy Savings – 10th Edition

Posted on January 7, 2013 at 11:33 pm

RIP 75-Watt Incandescent Light Bulbs


As of January 1, 2013, the 75-watt incandescent light bulb is no longer. Under a law passed during the Bush Administration in 2007, most incandescent light bulbs are being phased out of the marketplace. This past year the 100-watt bulb was phased out, the 75-watt bulb is phasing out now, while 2014 phases out the 60-watt and 40-watt versions.

Federal law states that American light bulb manufacturers can no longer produce and sell the 75-watt bulb, while retailers in the U.S. can no longer offer the 75-watt option. What’s replacing the 75-watt bulb, similar to the other incandescent light bulbs, are compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) and light-emitting diode bulbs (LEDs). These types of light bulbs are strikingly more energy efficient, thus saving homeowners money, while still offering the same quality brightness.

“90 percent of the energy the bulb uses is wasted, so what they replaced them with are much more energy-efficient bulbs which are just as bright, just as good and will actually save you money over the long run,” explains Consumer Reports’ Celia Kuperzmid-Lehrman

Seeking more information on energy efficient light bulbs and what you can replace those 75-watt incandescent bulbs with? Check out the ENERGY STAR’s Light Bulb Site.

Posted on January 2, 2013 at 9:05 pm

Join Your Neighbors: Introducing Neighborhood View


We’re proud of the growth we’ve seen over the past two years at Clean Energy Works Oregon. There are over 2,200 happy homeowners in Oregon who have completed projects through our program, now living in more comfortable and energy confident homes. With such success, we want to share insight into the program and allow homeowners interested in applying to learn more about those individuals in their neighborhood who are already part of Clean Energy Works.

See how Clean Energy Works is becoming part of your neighborhood by using our new Neighborhood View tool, where you’ll learn:

  • The number of applicants in your area
  • The average project cost in your area
  • The most popular energy upgrades
  • Homeowner success stories

See how many of your neighbors have applied to be a part of Clean Energy Works with Neighborhood View and Apply today to become part of the growing community!

Posted on December 14, 2012 at 9:26 pm

Thank You, Susan Ziolko

Susan Ziolko, Sustainability Supervisor for Clackamas County retires this week after being the catalyst and driver behind an alliance between Clackamas County and Clean Energy Works Oregon which has made energy efficiency and home comfort possible for hundreds of County homeowners. Under her watch, nearly 200 Clackamas County homes have completed a multi-measure, deep energy retrofit with Clean Energy Works, creating 20 direct new hire construction jobs and over $2,000,000 in economic activity.

Clean Energy Works Oregon honors Susan this week and the legacy of sustainability she leaves behind in Clackamas County. Best wishes and thank you, Susan!

Posted on December 3, 2012 at 5:04 pm

Energy Efficiency Upgrades Can Increase Home Values

Clean Energy Works Oregon Animated Home

A recent study conducted through the partnership of the University of California Berkeley and the University of California Los Angeles found “green energy” upgrades can increase a home value between 5.5 to 9 percent. The study is one of the most extensive in the United States and offers detailed evidence of the monetary and property benefits from home energy efficiency upgrades.

One of the homes in the study insulated and air sealed their attic and walls, added shower valves, upgraded their pool pump and added weather stripping, which combined increased their home value $45,000, an increase of 6%. Additionally, they saw health benefits from their home upgrade, as well as saving an average of $2,237 in energy costs per year.

Deborah Little, the appraiser who conducted the study, concluded:

“We used methodologies beyond the typical appraisal scope, taking into account the energy efficiency benefits as well as factors such as healthier indoor air quality and sealing air leaks — a construction technique that improves the durability and effective life of a home. We ultimately determined that the many benefits of green homes do lead to higher home values in the local market.”

Read More on the Study

Posted on September 27, 2012 at 3:45 pm

A Smart Light Bulb? The Next Generation of Energy Efficiency

LIFX Light BulbImagine a light bulb that is energy efficient, lasts up to 25 years, offers multiple colors and can be controlled with your smartphone. Well, that type of futuristic technology is here, as start-up company LIFX is starting to produce the next generation of light bulb.

“We’ve created the world’s smartest, energy-efficient lightbulb,” says LIFX co-creator Phil Bosua in the company’s introductory video.

Here are some of the benefits of the LIFX light bulb:

  • Each LIFX light bulb can be controlled by your smartphone, allowing an individual to turn on lights in an entire room or just one light.
    25 year, energy efficient LED bulb
  • Change the mood of the room by changing the color to blue, green, red, etc.
  • Get email or social network notifications by having your lights flash, being synced with your smartphone applications
  • Set timers on your lights to turn on, fade or turn off at certain times of the day

LED light bulbs were a big landmark in home energy efficiency, now the LIFX light bulb is taking that same energy efficient technology and providing more options and functionality. The next generation of the light bulb has arrived. Watch the LIFX video to learn more.

LIFX Company Website / LIFX Kickstarter Page / TechCrunch LIFX Article

Posted on September 25, 2012 at 5:23 pm