Chris Livingston

Q- On cold days when I leave home, won’t it save more energy if I turn off the heat completely versus just turning it down?

Yes, turning your heat completely off saves more energy than turning it down. But we recommend 60 degrees as an energy-saving setback at bedtime or when you’re away from home for more than a few hours. Why don’t we say to turn it off? Because if you turn off the heat regularly, there is the potential you could end up with moisture or mold problems in your house, depending on insulation levels, the type of windows and other factors. You also have a greater risk of ending up with frozen pipes during really cold periods. That’s why PGE generally recommends 60 degrees as a set back that saves energy while helping avoid those other problems.

Exceptions to the rule: If you have ceiling cable heat, the maximum setback is 2 to 3 degrees. Heat pump systems vary.

Also, it’s good to keep in mind that, if you turn the heat completely off, it will take longer to get the temperature back up to your comfort zone when you return home.

Trees are dormant, but power lines are live — look up!

Gardeners are already looking out at their yards and plotting their moves for the new year. First up on the to-do list? Pruning. Now through late February is generally a good time for pruning because trees are dormant.

If you’re thinking about pruning any trees, it’s important to be very careful. The leading cause of accidental contact with power lines in Oregon is tree trimming or tree falling gone wrong.

How you can prevent dangerous accidents

• Consider hiring a professional. Tree pruning can be hazardous. We often recommend that you contact a licensed arborist who is specially trained to do the job correctly and safely.
• Look up! Whenever you’re moving a ladder or a long tree-pruning tool outdoors, look up and make sure you’re away from overhead utility lines.
• Remember that tree limbs can conduct electricity; they contain water. Electricity can pass through a branch that’s touching a power line and seriously injure you.

How to choose, how to use, how to stay safe.

Electric space heaters can be a handy way to warm up a room without turning up the heat for your whole house. To help you keep costs under control and keep safe, we’ve put together this space heater guide.

How to use a space heater efficiently
Even though an electric space heater uses electricity, it can still potentially help you save on heating if used correctly. Follow these tips:

• A space heater is designed to heat one space. Do not try to heat an entire home with a space heater. To save energy, what you want to do is use a space heater in one room, such as a bedroom, home office or family room. Close the door to that room and lower the heat for the rest of the house.
• Choose the right size of space heater for the right size space. Look on the box for the recommended square footage. Too big of a heater will just waste energy.
• Look for temperature controls. Thermostatic controls, multiple heat settings and programmable timers can help you avoid overheating a room and wasting energy.

What type of heater? The facts first
No matter how much they cost, all electric space heaters are 100 percent efficient. That means all of the electrical energy they use is converted to heat.

Most electric space heaters use about 1,500 watts, and all 1,500-watt models produce the same amount of heat. Some models offer lower settings that use fewer watts.

Two basic categories
There are a lot of different types of electric space heaters — ceramic, quartz, oil filled, infrared, parabolic — but they generally fall into one of two categories: convection or radiant.

Convection heaters warm the room
Convection heaters use the circulation of air to heat up a room, so they are a good choice if you have a number of people in a room. Some have fans and some don’t. Models with fans heat up a room faster, but think about whether or not you’re okay with the feeling of air blowing and the sound of a fan.

According to EnergySavers.gov, a quiet, oil-filled radiator style is one of the best types of convection heaters because the sealed oil “stores” the heat. The heater cycles less and you get a more constant, even heat. This style generally doesn’t get hot enough to be a fire or burn hazard, making it a smart option to warm a family room or a child’s bedroom, for example.

Radiant heaters heat people directly
Unlike convection heaters, radiant heaters do not heat up the air in a room. Instead, they emit infrared radiation that directly heats up objects and people that are within the line of sight of the heater.

A radiant heater can be an efficient option if you’re going to be using it for a short time and staying in one spot, such as getting dressed in the morning or watching TV for an hour or so. However, many radiant heaters styles can pose more of a danger of burns or fires, so they’re probably not a safe choice if you have children or pets.

Another good thing to be aware of is many styles of radiant heaters — such as parabolic heaters — glow when operating, so they might be too bright for a bedroom at night.

If you’re shopping for a space heater, the Electric Heaters Reviewwebsite is one spot to start your research.

Space heater safety
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission estimates that more than 25,000 residential fires every year are related to space heaters, and many people also end up in the emergency room with burns from space heaters. That’s why safety should be your top concern with electric space heaters. Follow these rules.

• Look for safety features. That old heater that your dad handed down to you? Not a good idea. Instead, opt for a newer model with current safety features including:
  • Tip-over safety shutoff
  • Overheat shutoff
  • Safety certification from a Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory — look for a UL, ETL or CSA listing on the box
• Plug the heater directly into the wall outlet. Using an extension cord increases the risk of overheating, fire and electrical shock. (If you absolutely must use an extension cord, make sure it’s a heavy-duty model.) Always shut off and unplug the heater when it’s unattended.
• Keep the heater away from damp locations. Water and electricity don’t mix! There are a few models, however, that have GFI plugs and are labeled for use in damp areas, making them safe for use in bathrooms.
• Avoid deadly carbon monoxide poisoning. Do not use portable kerosene or propane heaters as supplemental heat indoors. These types of heaters can only be used in open areas with adequate ventilation. Also, don’t use charcoal briquettes for cooking or heating indoors.
• Follow manufacturers’ safety precautions. When using the heater, place it on a level surface away from foot traffic and flammable material. Keep kids and pets away from the heater.

Bye-bye, energy wasters. Hello, savings!

Did you know that up to 90 percent of the energy used by an incandescent light bulb produces heat instead of light?

Congress has delayed enforcement of the planned phaseout of these watt-guzzlers that were slated to the way of the buggy whip. (You can read about delay in this story from The New York Times.)

But, even with that delay, there’s nothing stopping you from switching to more efficient lighting. It’s one of the easiest, lowest-cost ways to save energy. If you upgrade 15 of the inefficient incandescent light bulbs in your home, you could save about $50 per year on energy costs.*

What are your new choices?

• GOOD: Energy-saving incandescents. These are about 25 percent more efficient and last up to three times longer than old-school incandescent bulbs.*
• BETTER: Compact fluorescent lights. ENERGY STAR® CFLs use about 75 percent less energy and last up to 10 times longer than standard incandescent light bulbs.* CFLs are generally the most cost-efficient replacement right now.
• BEST: LEDs. Light emitting diode bulbs provide 75 percent to 80 percent energy savings and last up to 25 times longer than incandescents.* Since LED technology is still maturing, these bulbs are more expensive, but prices are starting to come down. (Be aware, however, that 100-watt equivalent LED bulbs are not expected to be on the market until later this year. Right now, 60-watt and 75-watt equivalent LEDs are available.)

Compare lumens instead of watts
You’re probably used to choosing a light bulb based on watts. But that really only tells you how much energy a bulb uses. Instead, you’ll want to start selecting light bulbs based on lumens — a measurement that tells you the brightness of a bulb. Here’s an example: A 60-watt incandescent bulb provides about 800 lumens, while a 15-watt CFL also provides 800 lumens — it’s the same light level for a lot less energy.

To make shopping easier, light bulb packaging for common screw-base bulbs will start carrying lighting facts labels this year (they might not be on the shelves yet). They look a lot like nutrition labels on food, but instead of listing calories and fat grams, the lighting facts label shows wattage, lumens, annual energy cost, life expectancy and whether the light has a “warm” or “cool” appearance.

Learn what can make winter bills jump up — and how you can save.

Did your energy usage go up this month, and you’re wondering why? Here are a few things that can trigger a high bill this time of year and solutions to help you save

Trigger: Increased heating, including space heaters, due to colder weather.
Solutions: Watch that thermostat! Keep it set no higher than 68 degrees. Each degree you lower the temperature saves about two percent on heating. Remember to turn it down to 60 degrees at bedtime or when you’re away from home for more than a couple of hours. If you use a space heater, use it in one room, such as the family room or a bedroom, close the door and lower the heat in the rest of your home.

Trigger: Lack of insulation and weatherization. Heating systems run more often when the weather turns cold — especially if your home is drafty and under-insulated. That heat is just leaking out of your house.
Solutions: If you don’t have any insulation or not enough, then adding insulation should move to the top of your home’s 2012 to-do list. It’s one of the most important things you can do to help control your heating bills. Caulking, weatherstripping, and sealing and insulating ducts are also key steps to help save energy and make your home more comfortable.

Trigger: The holidays. Did you do some extra holiday cooking? Hang holiday lights? Welcome overnight guests?
Solutions: You can still celebrate while keeping your energy bills from getting out of hand. Try using the microwave and slow cooker when possible for cooking, which both use less energy than the oven. Replace the old strings of holiday lighting with new LED lights that use just a fraction of the energy. And if your overnight guests are fond of long, hot showers, install a high-efficiency showerhead before they visit again.

Trigger: Lights on more often because of shorter, darker days.
Solutions: You can use 25 to 80 percent less energy on lighting if you switch out old-fashioned incandescent light bulbs for high-efficiency incandescents, compact fluorescent blubs or new LED options.