Maine offers energy tips through new state-run Web site
Bangor Daily News, Maine -- June 24
With gas prices at about $2 per gallon, energy efficiency is increasingly a financial concern.
"It's good for your wallet and it's good for the air you breathe,"
Beth Nagusky, director of the state's Office of Energy Independence and
Security, said by phone after a demonstration of the new site at the State House
on Wednesday morning.
The new site, MaineEnergyInfo.com, links tips for improving household
efficiency with information on Maine State Housing Authority programs that fund
weatherization and heating projects for low-income Mainers, and federal
information on buying certified-efficient Energy Star appliances.
The executive branch has been working toward this "one-stop shopping
resource" for more than a year through its Energy Resources Council, a
cooperative effort of many state agencies, she said.
The site also includes details of state government programs to make the state
vehicle fleet more efficient, to encourage adherence to green building standards
for state projects, and to heat several buildings, including the Blaine House,
with a blend of renewable biodiesel and fuel oil -- with the dual aim of saving
money during tight budget times and reducing Maine's contribution to air
pollution and global warming.
The governor has set an example, and now the general public can use the tools
available online to follow his lead in their own homes, Nagusky said.
"I know that Maine people are currently concerned about high gas and oil
prices, about our dependence on politically unstable nations for oil, and about
global warming," Gov. John Baldacci said in a statement released Wednesday.
"We have the ingenuity and creativity to make energy conservation and
energy efficiency household words again."
The state also will be launching radio advertisements encouraging Mainers to
make the connection between oil prices and their energy use habits. If the high
energy costs remain, people will look for ways to reduce their gas and oil use,
Nagusky said.
Energy efficiency need not require buying a brand-new hybrid car or making
major renovations to your home. Remedies as simple as switching to compact
fluorescent light bulbs, better insulation or reducing unnecessary driving can
make a big difference, according to the site.
And overall, a household could save more than $300 annually by increasing
energy efficiency, according to the Web site. In fact, for every dollar spent on
weatherizing a house, a homeowner can save $2 in energy costs, Nagusky said.
The site's top 10 energy tips are:
--Set your thermostat back.
--Insulate heat pipes and duct work.
--Replace incandescent bulbs with screw-in fluorescent bulbs.
--Tune up your heating system.
--Close all unoccupied areas and reduce the heat.
--Close flue dampers on fireplaces.
--Remove and vacuum your furnace filter monthly, and replace it when it can't
be vacuumed clean.
--Close storm windows. Use drapes and shades at night to conserve heat.
--Insulate, caulk and weatherstrip your home as needed.
--Install faucet flow restrictors and low-flow shower heads.
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