Q and A: How can residents save on energy bills?

Though the rainy weather may tell a different story, spring has sprung and the searing heat of summer will soon follow. Rob Lechner, manager of customer service and programs for Lodi Electric Utility, talked with News-Sentinel staff writer Jake Armstrong about the Lodi Energy Audit Program and ways residents and business owners can cut down on power consumption and still keep their cool as summer grows closer.

Q: What is the Lodi Energy Audit Program and who can use it?

A: We provide energy audits to residential customers as well as small business owners here in town. We offer both an online free energy audit where customers can access our online system and answer a questionnaire about their home's and business' energy use, with questions such as how many television sets do you have? How many loads of laundry do you do each week? It's a probing survey to get the most specific information about the property. That online survey will generate a quick printout on where your energy use is going. Or, if a customer prefers, we can come out to their home or business and do a free walk-through audit and make recommendations.

Q: What are some of the recommendations?

A: One of the first things we like to do is go to the garage to look for old refrigerators. A lot of families need them. But the problem is that in the summer months, the average temperature in the garage is 120 degrees. That means the refrigerator has to work harder. The compressor keeps running and running and the meter keeps spinning.

Also, outdoor hang-drying clothes. I went to outdoor clotheslines about two years ago. I've cut my drying time by about by 75 percent and my energy by about 25 percent on my monthly bill. Can most homeowners do that? Absolutely.

Q: What are some other things customers can do to save energy as the weather heats up?

A: We encourage customers to set their thermostat at 78 degrees or higher, health issues permitting. You should talk to your doctor to make sure that temperature is OK for whatever ailment you have. And when you leave your home or go to bed at night, shut (the thermostat) off. Ceiling fans and portable fans — they're extremely energy efficient. They've done studies that show using a ceiling fan or portable fan reduces the temperature mentally by 5 to 10 degrees. It's a psychological thing.

Q: How much can home and business owners save by making a few changes in power consumption?

A: It all depends upon the number of recommendations the customer chooses to pursue. The low end could be 2 to 5 percent, the high end could be 40 percent. One of the questions we ask is how much attic insulation do you have? The more attic insulation you have, the better your house is insulated, and that is the No. 1 energy saving method.

Unplug old refrigerator, on average you can $30-40 per month

Q: How long is the audit process?

A: Online, there are two audits you can do. The E-Z Audit takes about five minutes. You can do a longer energy audit that takes about 20 minutes to complete. It asks if you have an attic, if you floor is solid concrete or if it is a raised floor. The more detailed audit is a little more involved but it will produce a more refined report. The in-home audit takes anywhere between 40 minutes and 60 minutes, depending on how big the home is. We like to turn over some rocks while we're out there to see if we can find something that would save energy.

Q: How many people request in-home audits?

A: We average about five to six audits per week. Anytime we promote it, we tend to see a spike. We also tend to see a spike in calls around the holidays and right about May. Always in the summer we see a spike because customers receive their first or second bill. We'd love to do more.

Q: Who are the energy auditors?

A: Kathy Allen is our residential auditor. I serve as her backup and I'll perform the small commercial audits.

Q: How can home and business owners request an audit?

A: We would urge customers to give us a call (333-6762) if they would like help with an audit. The audit process is step one to identify where you are using energy in your home or business. And we stand here ready to help. There is a link on our Web site for small business owners to do an energy audit themselves.

Q: The city offers rebates for home and business owners who purchase approved energy efficient appliances. But the $260,000 budgeted for the program this year has been used up. When will the program be available again?

A: Our programs are all based on a first-come, first-served basis. I'll take my package to council in June. (If it gets funding) the program will start back up in July.

Q: How many people make use of the rebates?

A: I would venture to say at least 1,500 a year. Everything from shade screens to attic insulation.

Q: What about double-pane windows. Are they effective energy savers given Lodi's climate?

A: (Double-pane) windows just don't work here (as an energy efficiency measure). The savings just aren't there. In terms of overall energy savings, it's just nominal at best.

Q: What methods make windows more energy-efficient?

A: Window tinting and shade screens are great tools because they reflect the sun. It's still an item we rebate for. I did shade screens on my two southand west-facing windows and it is a dramatic improvement. Shade screens, by our standards, have to block 70 percent of the sun's rays (to qualify for a rebate). The more blockage it provides, the more value it is to a homeowner.

Q: The city spent $260,000 on the rebate program this year. What are the returns?

A: We just completed an exhaustive measurement process with a consulting firm. We're now doing the second phase which is the cost effectiveness of our program. That will be finished in two weeks. What we refer to in our communications is that for that investment into the community, we're reducing consumption by 10 to 20 percent.

Contact reporter Jake Armstrong at jakea@lodinews.com.

First published: Saturday, March 25, 2006