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Saving
Energy
First Things
First
Before
undertaking a renewable energy project, you should first do everything you can
to make your home or business energy-efficient. The following resources can help
you save money and energy at the same time.
Alliance
to Save Energy
A nonprofit organization that promotes the
efficient use of energy to strengthen America's economy, improve the
environment, make housing more affordable, and move the country toward energy
independence. Its website offers a variety of useful information, including
information on the Alliance's programs, energy-saving tips, publications, and a
list of links related to energy efficiency.
American
Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE)
A nonprofit organization dedicated to
advancing energy efficiency as a means of promoting both economic prosperity and
environmental protection. Produces a number of publications, including
Consumer Guide
to Home Energy Savings, which discusses the entire spectrum of home energy
savings and residential appliances, including a list of the most
energy-efficient equipment and appliances available.
Appliance Calculator
Use this handy online calculator from NorthWestern Energy to find out how much your appliances are costing you each month.
Commercial Energy Calculator
This tool from NorthWestern Energy can help you understand where and how energy is used in your facility, find out more about demand charges, and to access the commercial energy systems library.
E+® Business Partners Program
NorthWestern Energy's E+ Business Partners Program offers funding for local energy conservation and load management projects in new and retrofit applications including commercial, institutional, industrial, agricultural, and multi-family residential facilities/systems. NorthWestern Energy solicits proposals for this program through customers, architects, engineers and other energy efficiency trade allies
E+® Energy Appraisal for Small Businesses
NorthWestern Energy can help businesses use energy more efficiently. With an E+® Commercial Energy Appraisal, NWE says it can help business customers learn how they use energy and where their energy dollars are going. When its appropriate, the utility offers recommendations on energy efficiency opportunities for business including managing a facility for energy efficiency and choosing energy efficient products and equipment.
EERE Information Center
DOE's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy offers this information center where you can access consumer fact sheets, tools, and other resources on energy topics.
Energy Library
Check out this extensive library from NorthWestern Energy, which provides tons of useful information about how energy is used in your home.
Energize Montana
Montanans who want to learn about ways to cut energy expenses in their homes, businesses, government buildings and schools will find lots of helpful information on the Energize Montana website maintained by the Montana Department of Environmental Quality.
Energy Connections Newsletter
A monthly newsletter from NorthWestern Energy that will help you conserve energy around your home and business.
Energy Savers
Did you
know that the typical U.S. family spends close to $1,300 a year on their home's
utility bills? Unfortunately, a large portion of that energy is wasted. The amount
of energy wasted just through poorly insulated windows and doors is about as much
energy as the United States gets from the Alaskan pipeline each year. And electricity
generated by fossil fuels for a single home puts more carbon dioxide into the
air than two average cars. By using a few inexpensive energy-efficient measures,
you can reduce your energy bills by 10% to 50% and, at the same time, help reduce
air pollution. Visit Energy Savers to learn more about energy-efficient insulation
and weatherization, heating and cooling your home, water heating, windows, landscaping,
lighting and appliances. You'll also find a Major Appliance Shopping Guide.
Energy Saving Tips
A NorthWestern Energy publcation that provides useful tips for conserving energy used for clothes drying, lighting, space heating, water heating, and more.
Fuel Heating Cost Comparison
Have you ever wondered if it made sense to switch to another heating fuel? Find out with NorthWestern's cost comparison.
Energy
Star
A government-backed program that helps
businesses and individuals protect the environment through superior energy
efficiency. Energy Star certifies products in a variety of categories that
achieve high levels of energy efficiency, including
appliances,
lighting,
windows and doors,
heating
and cooling,
exit signs,
office equipment, and
electronics. Products meeting Energy Star standard are identified on the
website, along with other sources of information, savings calculators, and more.
As well, the
Energy Star New Homes program certifies homes that meet strict
energy-efficiency guidelines set forth by EPA. The website also identifies ways
to make your home or business more energy-efficient and, thus, less costly to
operate.
Energy Tips for the Home-Montana
Use this informative NorthWestern Energy publication to learn how you can save energy and money in your home!
Energy Usage
Ravalli Electric Coop in Corvallis, Montana, has assembled an "Energy Usage" page on its website.
The page lists average monthly kilowatt-hour figures for various appliances.
Five Ways to Conserve Water and Energy
A brief publication from Northwestern Energy.
Home
Energy Saver
Sponsored by DOE and EPA, this resource
serves as an Internet-based tool for calculating energy use in residential
buildings. Helps identify best ways to conserve energy in the home, estimates
how much energy and money can be saved by implementing energy-efficiency
improvements, and connects users to "how-to" information resources to help
capitalize on the energy savings opportunities identified by the module.
House-Energy
Provides useful information on making a home more energy-efficient. Covers topics such as greenhouses, windows, insulation, solar energy, and more.
Lighting Calculator
Use this online calculator from NorthWestern Energy to see how much you might save by replacing a standard 100-watt light bulb in your home with a 18-watt compact fluorescent light bulb.
Low Cost Ways to Cut Energy Bills
You can take simple steps on your own to reduce your home's energy use and your energy bills. You can also make sure that you use your home appliances efficiently and buy new ones that are energy savers. The Oregon State University Extension Energy Program has published a series of pamphlets on simple steps to reduce home energy use and cut energy bills, buying and using efficient appliances, appliances in general, clothes washers and dryers, dishwashers, refrigerators/freezers and water heaters.
Mountain States Appliance Report 2001
Households in the Mountain States consumed 0.58
quadrillion Btu of energy in 1997 (the most recent year for which data are available),
according to an Energy Information Administration regional energy profile. That
consumption accounted for about 6 percent of the nationwide total of 10.2 quadrillion Btu.
About 30 percent of Mountain household energy was used to operate appliances (including
refrigerators) and to run electric air-conditioning. That share is about the same as share
for the United States as a whole (31 percent).
Northwest Energy
Efficiency Alliance
A
non-profit group of electric utilities, state governments, public interest groups
and industry representatives working to bring affordable, energy-efficient products
and services to the marketplace.
Rate Comparison Tool
If you are planning to relocate your family or business, this NorthWestern Energy tool can help you estimate the cost difference of your monthly electricity bill.
Residential
Energy Factsheets
These are downloadable factsheets (Adobe Acrobat .pdf files) are designed
for Western Area Power Administration customers. These factsheets provide basic
information on how to "think" about energy efficient appliances and
what questions to ask when making purchasing decisions. The factsheets are optimized
for printing in color and black and white.
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