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Sept/Oct 2008
Conservation is power for tomorrow
In 2007, conservation saved the utility enough electricity to power 116,000 homes and avoided carbon dioxide pollutants equivalent to taking 131,386 cars off the road for a year. Conservation is our lowest-cost, lowest risk renewable resource. During the next five years, we plan to double our conservation efforts. Every bit helps so keep up the good work! Here are conservation ideas to consider:
- Remove little-used second refrigerators which account for 10-20 percent of electric bills. We'll give you $30 to take your old refrigerator away. To schedule a pickup, call
1-877-577-0510.
- Turn down the heat. Electric heat accounts for 40 to 60 percent of your electric bill. Recommended thermostat settings: 65-68 F when you are home and maximum 55 F overnight and when you're not home.
- Set your water heater thermostats to 120 F and cut back on hot water consumption. Electric water heating accounts for about 20 percent of your bill. Use energy efficient showerheads; run only full loads in your dishwasher; wash clothes in cold water using cold-water detergent.
- Take our online Home Resource Profile survey at www.seattle.gov/conserve/homeprofile to learn how your home uses electricity. Call (206) 684-3800 or visit www.seattle.gov/light/conserve to request a free "Do-It-Yourself Home Energy Audit" guide for determining energy efficiency and the best ways to improve your home's efficiency.
Compact fluorescent bulbs not lasting?
Here are several causes for early burnout:
- Poor quality brands: Energy Star ® CFLs meet established performance criteria and when used according to directions, last six to ten times longer than incandescent bulbs. You can purchase Energy Star® bulbs at Twist & Save discounted prices. For a list of participating retailers, call (206)684-3800 or visit www.seattle.gov/twistandsave.
- CFLs on dimmer switches or three-way socket fixtures: For best results, use CFLs that specify these uses. They are specially designed to work in these applications.
- CFLs in tightly enclosed or recessed ceiling fixtures: For best results, use a reflector ("R") CFL since its design evenly distributes the light down to your task area.
- CFLs in outdoor fixtures: Extreme temperatures can affect CFLs. Look for "weatherproof" models for your outdoor spot lights.
- Turning CFLs on and off too frequently can shorten their lives. For best savings and longer life, use them in fixtures that are kept on for at least 15 minutes at a time.
If your hardware store does not stock CFLs in the size or specialty that you need, you may want to purchase them online. Visit www.energystar.gov for more detailed information about CFLs.
Recycle used CFLs
CFLs are not accepted in the garbage or at King County Transfer Stations because they contain trace amounts of mercury. You can recycle them for free at all Home Depot stores and at two City Light locations:
- North Service Center (206) 615-0600
1300 N. 97th Street, Seattle
- South Service Center (206) 386-4200
3613 4th Ave. South, Seattle
For more recycle locations visit www.metrokc.gov/dnrp/swd/takeitback/fluorescent.
Public Power Week
Seattle City Light is your public utility. We are proud of our history as the first municipally owned hydroelectric utility in the United States. Our earnings are reinvested in new infrastructure and keeping our system reliable. Our goal is to provide environmentally responsible electricity. We give customers the cheapest electric rates of any comparably-sized city in this country. And, our commitment to you is to deliver the best customer service experience of any utility in the nation.
Jorge Carrasco, Superintendent of Seattle City Light
Improving streetlight service
City Light is launching a new streetlight maintenance program. Instead of relying on streetlight trouble reports, crews will replace, clean and adjust lamps for maximum illumination every four years to ensure proper maintenance. With a regular replacement schedule, repair times will improve for most problems individually reported by customers.
To report a burned out or flickering streetlight, call (206) 684-7056 or go online to www.seattle.gov/light/streetlight. Please be prepared to provide the pole number (yellow numbers 6 to 15 feet above the ground) and the nearest address.
Solar Works in Seattle
Solar might be right for you if your roof is in good shape and shade-free. It is a long-term investment that will increase in value as energy costs rise. State and federal incentives may apply. Solar events:
October 4, 2008
Seattle/Shoreline Solar Tour: Visit homes and businesses with solar energy systems. No reservations required for this free self-guided tour.
November 8, 2008
Solar Works in Seattle Workshop: Learn the basics of solar electric systems: costs, benefits and the logistics of installing a solar system.
For more information, visit www.seattle.gov/light/solar or call (206) 684-3800.
Kid-power: shrinking Bigfoot
Seattle City Light launches a new school program, "Shrinking Bigfoot," for school grades 3 through 5. Through teacher training, student assemblies and classroom workshops, the kids learn about global warming, climate change, greenhouses gases, the carbon cycle and how to shrink their carbon footprint. We also provide: exhibits for use at science fairs; educational handout materials; and field trips. Contact Mark at Mark.Vanoss@seattle.gov for assistance.
Seattle City Light
Retail fuel mix for 2007
(The numbers below do not include power resources from conservation.)
| Hydro |
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90.6% |
| Nuclear* |
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4.8% |
| Wind |
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3.3% |
| Coal* |
|
.8% |
| Other* |
|
.5% |
| (natural gas, biomass, waste and petroleum) |
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| Total |
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100.0% |
| *Fuels from power purchased from the Bonneville Power Administration. |
City Light employees join Heart Walk
City Light volunteers will raise money to fight heart disease at the Puget Sound Heart Walk, October 4, 2008.
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Seattle City Light is a publicly owned utility dedicated to exceeding our customers' expectations in producing and delivering low-cost, reliable power in an environmentally responsible and safe way. We are committed to delivering the best customer service experience of any utility in the nation.
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