People often turn to their favorite internet search engine when looking for ways to lower their home energy bill, but the information they find often isn’t written by an expert.
“Spend five minutes reading online energy conservation articles and you’re going to find a lot of inaccurate and contradictory advice — all written in a very confident tone — and sometimes the suggestions are downright dangerous,” said Clark Public Utilities Energy Services Supervisor DuWayne Dunham. “But the average person can’t be expected to spot those things, which is all the more reason why they should reach out to us.”
The Clark Public Utilities Energy Services Department is filled with professionals who are well-versed in cutting-edge home energy efficiency products, practices and utility rebates and incentives. Helping customers save energy and live comfortably is at the heart of what they do. And customers are welcome to ask for advice either over the phone, email or during an in-person home energy review.
Next time you’re looking for ways to lower your utility bills, reach out to the Clark Public Utilities Energy Counselor of the Day. One quick call or email is often all it takes to learn how to maximize every energy dollar. Customers can call 360-992-3355 any time from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday or send questions to ecod@clarkpud.com.
An energy counselor can use data from a customer’s energy account — including a home’s consumption history, information about the home’s size and age and more — to give each caller personalized savings suggestions backed by data.
For a more in-depth analysis, customers can request an energy counselor perform an energy review of their homes. They will walk through your home and point out places where air leaks, low insulation, inefficiency or other issues could be driving up your energy bills. They can also speak to your neighborhood group, homeowners association or other organization about our conservation programs and ways to cut energy waste.
Whether meeting with the counselor in person, on the phone or online, don’t hesitate to bring up energy conservation advice offered elsewhere. These pros can verify, dispel and update information that is often circulated.
“Blocking crawlspace vents to save energy is one of the most enduring energy myths we run into,” Dunham said. “Crawlspace vents are there to release excess moisture from beneath the home. The insulation beneath your floor and wrapping water pipes is the best way to save energy down there.”
For reliable information online, visit ClarkPublicUtilities.com. There you’ll find a variety of home energy calculators and several pages on energy conservation practices, details about the utility’s many rebates and incentives, in addition to much more.
To get an even more personalized review of your energy use, use the energy calculator found after logging into MyAccount. The tool combines your answers to a few basic questions with information from your household’s utility account to offer customized results and potential savings.
MyAccount is secure, convenient, and designed to work on computers and mobile devices.
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.
