Anchorage Sponsors Energy Efficiency!

We do things a little differently here in Anchorage, including our focus on energy efficiency. For the Anchorage Municipality, September is Energy Efficiency Month.

In the lower 48, the Federal Energy Management Program highlights energy efficiency in the month of October.

Why wait another month? Join the folks here in Anchorage by taking stock of your energy usage to see what you can do to save energy and reduce your carbon footprint.

Winter will soon be here and our consumption of energy will increase. Fall is the time to take stock and make changes.

Weatherize now and you will be more comfortable this winter while saving money. That should be a good incentive. Many states, counties, cities and energy companies are offering incentives to homeowners which will save you even more than just a reduction in your monthly energy bill. You may qualify for a grant from The Anchorage Department of Neighborhoods depending on your income.

Alaska is one of the states offering an incentive to property owners. You may even qualify for other home improvements as well. Alaska offers a no-income qualifying Home Energy Rebate to property owners who make energy efficient improvements through the Alaska Housing Finance Corporation.

The Alaska Building Sciences Network, located here in Anchorage, is a great resource for the best practice of energy usage. Their website offers homeowners energy audits, green living information and more.

Get on the bus with Anchorage's People Mover transit system. With the high price of gas many have begun to look at public transportation as an alternative for commuting to work. Many cities including Anchorage are now offering better people moving systems as well as car pool information. The public transportation is a great alternative and I would like to suggest that you look at your local bus schedule as an alternative means for visiting local attractions as well.

You know the old saying "practice what you preach"? Well, Anchorage does that. The Municipality of Anchorage is working to reduce the city's energy usage and working to a more green living future. This will not only benefit our planet but will save taxpayers millions of dollars.

Anchorage facility managers are working towards energy efficiency in their individual departments. City Hall employees have already earned a GreenStar certification for their efforts. The Performing Arts Center did such a great job at reducing their energy usage that the power company thought the meter was broken.

Just last month a policy requiring new green public building standards was unanimously adopted by the Anchorage Assembly. The adopted policy is known as "LEED". LEED standards will apply to public buildings of 5,000+ square feet; the new policy also offers private construction incentives adopt LEED standards.

Now look up at the lights. You will soon see new streetlights throughout the city. When you see them you can smile because they are saving you money ($360,000 a year). Old streetlight bulbs are being replaced by new LED bulbs. Replacement will begin in October.

True energy efficiency may not be reached for many years. But, if each of us will do our small part, we can maximize what we have today.