Everyone in Juneau is trying to find ways to reduce their energy costs. A catastrophic avalanche took out over a mile and a half of power line from our hydroelectric plant and cut off Alaska's capital city. Everything is operating on huge generators. It's estimated to take 100,000 gallons of diesel every day to keep things running. In turn, our rates are soaring to an estimated 50 cents per kilowatt hour.
Needless to say, every little bit helps. If we all conserve enough, maybe we won't need to ship in so much fuel. After all, it takes a lot of time to find that kind of supply and get it here, and it isn't cheap!
Here are some examples of what our family has done so far:
• Obviously, turn off lights when we aren't in the room. I was surprised at how I automatically reach for that light switch when I enter a room. Sometimes it isn't even dark! Part of that reflex may be because we are just coming out of winter when it was dark all the time.
• We switched out some of the more commonly used lights for compact fluorescents. We'd purchased these but never had gotten around to installing them. Talk about money lying around! HINT: I've been told that many of these have a warrantee. The catch is, you need to keep the receipt and the packaging and take them to the place you bought them!
• Close off the rooms you are not using. We are recent empty-nesters. There are a few rooms in the house that are rarely used. Surprisingly, I found electrical devices plugged in. Phone chargers with no phones attached, lamps, alarm clocks, televisions, and even a stereo that was ON but with the volume turned down!
• After cleaning these rooms, I turned down the heat and closed the doors. Since then, I came to realize that I have less carpet to vacuum (Now there's an idea - an excuse to vacuum less!)
All this was on the first day. I've tried to improve a few other habits, but it takes a while to break routines. Baby steps, baby steps, and one day at a time!
Feel free to share your ideas!
I Sell Alaska! Serving Southeast Alaska since 1999
Everything I ever need to know about customer service, I learned from my dentist! (Part Three)
Everything I ever need to know about customer service, I learned from my dentist! (Part Two)
Everything I ever need to know about customer service, I learned from my dentist! (Part One)
Because we are such good friends…
Late October 2007 Update - not quite as scary as Halloween!
Southeast Alaska Building Industry Association
The Juneau economy is growing!
Please take your home off the market!
ActiveRain Corp. is not responsible for the accuracy of the site's content (which is written by members of the ActiveRain Real Estate Network) and does not endorse the views of the real estate agents, mortgage brokers, and others listed here.
Powered by the ActiveRain Real Estate Network
© 2008 ActiveRain Corp. All Rights Reserved
Debe - We've been following the utility disaster you guys are having down in Juneau. I sure hope they have you'll up and running (off diesel) soon but it sounds like it might be a little bit of a wait. With summer sort of just around the corner that will make it a little easier. Keep us updated.
Jesse - I will... lately I've had so many people asking me for energy ideas, I decided to share my experience. I have a challenge to see how low we can go on kilowatt usage! We are unwilling to give up TIVO, our aquarium, and reasonable use of computers and other goodies. I won't be taking cold showers either.
Thank God we are going towards summer instead of winter. That would be so much worse!
I agree... going into winter would be a nightmare scenario. Has the State allocated any emergency funds/measures to help defray the costs?
Jesse - At this time they have not. If they declare a state of emergency we may or may not qualify for federal funding. There are a lot of people on fixed incomes who are scared right now!
A increase like the one they're talking about is going to put a serious hurt on a lot of folks that are probably already hurting. I heard reps from FEMA were headed your way. Heaven help you. :)
I love your blog Debbie...Almost as good as mine...www.thejuneaublog.blogspot.com
A shameless plug I know but I am linking your blog to my site...
By the way have you heard the latest, that one of our assembly members blocked the $3 million dollar interest free loan from the city? Stay tuned, eh?
Hello, Steve -
I heard about Anderson's vote and I've got to admit it's the first time I've ever agreed with him. Sometimes he's just contrary to the rest for practice. I guess he needed it this time because everyone had a chance to weigh in. I'm not sure that was the solution!
Hopefully in the next few days I'll be getting some good ideas online, things that people can really do, to help reduce consumption. It's our only hope.
Sorry, Late to read this, hopfully you have the power back on in Juneau by now, and everyone could still benefit from the energy saving ideas posted by you!
We are still on diesel. Our power rate will be over 50 cents a kilowatt. We have kind of hunkered down to wait this out, but it's been frustrating. One day they act like things are going to improve, then when everyone's mood improves they deliver more news.
It will likely be months before we see improvement.