Tri-City Area and Real Estate Blog

New laboratory building for PNNL in Richland have been built with green technology and materials, and that in turn has earned PNNL with a gold certification level from the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design program. The Biological Sciences Facility and the adjoining Computational Sciences Facility were opened last fall and house about 300 employees. The materials used in the construction consisted of approximately 78% of recycled and because of the design concept that goes beyond standard building codes, there was a 35% savings on energy. Both of the buildings use heat to warm offices generated from the computer servers in the Computational Sciences Facility that would be wasted otherwise. The gold level certification is the 2nd highest status for the LEED program, and very few laboratories have reached that award level throughout the nation. PNNL deservedly should be proud of their accomplishment. Kudos to those green thinking individuals for their hard work and determination.

Like a car, your home needs to be running efficiently to save you  money. Is your home running as efficiently as it can? Does it need a tune-up? Take a moment and review some easy steps you can make to increase the energy efficiency of your home.

Step 1 – Heating and Air Conditioning

Heating and cooling can account for up to 70% of your electric bill. Upgrading your heating and cooling system and minimizing air infiltration can have a dramatic effect on lowering the money you spend on heating and cooling. Get your system checked annually or as recommended by the manufacturer to ensure it’s running as efficiently as possible. Rebates are now available on qualified systems.

Step 2 – Winterization

Does your home have enough insulation? Ceilings, floors, walls and ductwork must be well insulated to reduce heat loss. A house that leaks air can be made tighter with the result of being more comfortable. Benton PUD in Kennewick can help with rebates for additional insulation of for new windows.

Step 3 – Appliances

Appliances can account for up to 20% of your bill. Like a car’s fuel is gasoline, your home’s fuel is electricity. You will get higher “electricity mileage” if the appliances in your home are operating efficiently. When you are shopping for a new appliance, look for the ENERGY STAR label and available energy usage information. With some extra care when shopping for an appliance, you can save energy and money for years to come. And the best part is you get a rebate from Benton PUD in Kennewick.

Step 4 – Lighting

Increasing your lighting efficiency is a quick way to decrease your energy bills. Replace incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs that will save energy and money over their lifetime. They are four times more efficient, last 6 to 10 times longer and provide the same lighting. They now come in all sizes for all uses.

Source: Benton PUD “Between the Lines” pamphlet

Combining this winter’s cold temperatures with economic concerns about saving money on heating bills means it’s a good time to audit your home for energy saving ideas.  Here are some ideas to get a big return on energy savings:

• Did you know that 10 to 50 percent of energy is lost through walls, ceilings and floors due to inadequate insulation?  The first place to look for missing or inadequate insulation is in the attic.  Where the interior of walls and ceilings is easily accessible, adding insulation can be a relatively inexpensive way to get a big return on energy savings.  
• Sealing the leaks from the heating space into the attic dramatically reduces heating costs and also limits the amount of moisture seeping into the atic. 
• Installing child proof electrical outlet caps is an excellent way of reducing air movement into the wall cavity, particularly in outlets along outside walls.
• Installing a programmable thermostat can help you save money on your heating bills by keeping the temperature lower when no one is home.
• If it’s time to replace any kitchen appliances, buy ones with the Energy Star label and reap energy bill savings.

Your Canyon Lakes Realtor,

Sharon Sasser Warren,

Distinctive Properties, Inc.                                                                        

(509) 551-4393                                                                         swarren2@charter.net