Peninsula Light Company News

Supervising Editor: Jacqueline Goodwill • 253-857-1567 • newsletter@penlight.org • Produced by Peninsula Light Co.

DON’T FORGET THOSE HIDDEN NUMBERS!Every month, five randomly chosen account numbers are hidden in Lights. If you spot yours, call Cathy at 253-857-1525 and receive a $50 credit on your next bill.

INSIDE:PenLight 253-857-5950 • PenLight.org • PenLight Office: 13315 Goodnough Drive NW, Gig Harbor, WA 98332

4Questions4… Smart Home ImprovementsHomeowners have a never-ending wish list of upgrades—from a new roof to refinished floors. Some of these even save money and preserve the value of your home. We asked our own Jim Bellamy, PenLight’s energy services coordinator, four questions that may help you prioritize your next home improvement projects.

1. What are the first things you can do to improve home comfort and reduce heating costs? Research what types of improvements are right for your home, given its age and construction. Energy-saving technology has evolved rapidly, so don’t skip this step even if you have a newer home. Focus on the basics first. Experts recommend insulating your home and sealing windows and doors in preparation for winter, but no matter when you take on these tasks, they will always pay off. Then look at your heating system and major appliances. After your research, make a list of your priorities.

2. What are other energy-saving priorities? The most bang for your home improvement buck is to upgrade inefficient appliances. Top energy drains in the home include older heating systems, water heaters, refrigerators and washing machines. There are easy ways to adjust the energy use on some appliances, like switching to cold-water settings on your washer and installing programmable “smart” controls for your heating system. However, if your unit is more than 15 years old, you should consider replacing it. For example, today’s heat pumps and heat pump water heaters have innovations that can greatly reduce your energy consumption, especially if your existing equipment is in poor condition. In addition, we help make it even more affordable with PenLight rebates. www.penlight.org/energy-services/rebate-programs

3. How do you find a reliable contractor? First thing, do your homework:

• Ask for referrals. Hands down, word-of-mouth is the best way to find a qualified professional for your job.

• Check Angie’s List or local contractor associations. Be wary of free dinner invitations for expensive home improvements.

• Interview candidates. Look at credentials. Check references.

• Get at least two bids on your project.

4. What types of questions should you ask during your contractor interview? • What is your experience with similar projects?

• How long have you been in business in this area?

• What are the warranties for labor and equipment?

• Will you prepare a written contract?

• How much do you require up front, and what is the schedule for payments, including final payment?

When complete, the benefits go beyond your utility bill. For example, studies show changing the entry door has an 86 percent return on investment and installing vinyl windows has a 71 percent return on investment. Not bad for both cosmetic and energy-efficiency upgrades.

Helping Your Neighbors

Smarten Up Your Home Simple ways you can make your home more efficient

There is a virtual explosion of smart home technology on the market. The talking points on each item claim to make your life easier and your home a lot more capable. Given this publicity, it can be a challenge to sift through it all. However, you can smarten your home without wreaking havoc on your budget or putting your personal information at risk. Here are a couple ideas to get you started:

• Secure your home Wi-Fi. Since most smart home devices connect through your Wi-Fi, you must protect your Wi-Fi network from hacking. A good first step is to ensure your home wireless network uses Wi-Fi Protected Access protocol and that you employ a strong, complex password. Also, give your Wi-Fi network an obscure ID, withholding your name and home address.

• Strengthen your Wi-Fi signal. Sounds simple, but install up-to-date hardware. Make sure you have the most current router available. Next, ensure your router delivers a robust Wi-Fi signal throughout your home. It may seem unattractive, but the router needs to be on a flat, elevated surface, free of obstruction, and preferably in the center of your home to ensure the widest coverage area.

If you have further questions, ask your internet service provider (ISP) or any of our local computer solutions professionals. Once you cover these basics, we recommend a few products that offer more savings in comparison to their grandparent devices.

• Smart Thermostats. A Wi-Fi-enabled or “smart” thermostat works with your existing home heating system so you can keep tabs on the temperature from anywhere using a simple online interface or mobile app. This allows you to reduce energy use, lower your bill and maintain optimum home comfort, all from the touchpad on a smartphone. PenLight offers a $100 incentive on select models. Check out the rebate programs section on our website to learn more. (www.penlight.org/energy-services/rebate-programs/)

• Smart Lighting. There is a wide array of smart lighting options. These range from a simple screw-in bulb to smart dimmer switches and more, all with the ability to pair with a smartphone app. Smart bulbs use LED and other technology that make them internet-capable, so they cost more than a traditional or simple LED lightbulb. However, smart bulbs use far less energy, last a lot longer and are interactive.

If you are considering ways to smarten up your home this year, these are a few ways to get started. With just a few simple, straightforward steps, you can ensure your home runs more efficiently. If you have questions about these and other energy-efficient appliances, such as heat pumps or water heaters, email us at EnergySpecialist@Penlight.org.

Smart Thermostat Incentives

Monitor Your Energy Use

To find the most up-to-date community calendar information, please visit the following resources: • Gig Harbor Tourism and Communications Office – www.gigharborguide.com

• Pierce County Library System – www.piercecountylibrary.org/calendar

• Harbor History Museum – www.harborhistorymuseum.org/events

• PenMet Parks – www.penmetparks.org

• Key Pen Parks – www.keypenparks.com/events

• Downtown Waterfront Alliance – www.gigharborwaterfront.org/annual-events

• Harbor WildWatch – www.harborwildwatch.org

Holiday Closure: February 19

February/March 2018

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Peninsula Light Co. Newsletter January/February 2018

Project Help: Helping Your NeighborsWhen people ask about Project Help, they inevitably ask why members need help with their electric bills. The answer is as varied as those who complete the paperwork and meet with us to ensure they qualify for this program. Frequently, they are over 65 or older and on a fixed income. Too often, they have just experienced the worst of life’s losses, whether the loss of a spouse, the loss of a job or the loss of their health.

We provide financial relief to ease them through a difficult period. We also help connect them to other organizations for further support.

Your donation stays local, is 100 percent tax deductible and is matched dollar-for-dollar by PenLight. Consider helping your neighbors through Project Help in one or more of these three ways:

• A one-time gift.

• A recurring monthly donation.

• By rounding up each monthly bill to the nearest dollar (average $6 per year).

Take Control of Your Energy Use and Save$100 incentive for smart Thermostats

Your thermostat controls half your energy bill—more than appliances or electronics. So, shouldn’t it help you save energy? Independent studies show smart thermostats saved an average of 10 to 12 percent on heating bills and 15 percent on cooling bills. That means that in two years, investing in a smart thermostat can pay for itself.

PenLight is offering incentives for the purchase and installation of smart thermostats for homes with electric forced-air furnaces, air-source heat pumps and ground-source heat pumps as their primary system. Buy yours now through March 2018 and receive a $100 rebate from PenLight on select models.

Smart thermostats are available at local retail stores such as Home Depot and through online retailers. These incentives are available for existing and new construction single-family, manufactured and multifamily homes. Smart thermostats may be installed by homeowners or HVAC contractors. Learn more today by visiting the PenLight website at www.penlight.org/energy-services/rebate-programs and selecting “Smart Thermostats.”

Monitor Your Energy Use With MyMeter™

When you open your PenLight bill, do you understand how and why your energy use varies? Take the mystery out of your electric bill by using MyMeter to view, compare and manage your energy use. With MyMeter, you can:

• Access your meter data across all of your devices all of the time.

• Compare your monthly use to previous periods and other variables.

• Set markers to indicate energy-efficiency upgrades and track your savings.

• Take control of your use by joining the Energy Challenge, setting a six-month energy-savings goal and measuring your progress against the same period last year.

Click on the round MyMeter icon on the PenLight.org homepage, use your PenLight username and password to log in, and start exploring all of the information at your fingertips.

It’s your energy—make the most of it.

Let Your Voice Be HeardVote for the PenLight Board of DirectorsAs part of your member-owned electric cooperative, you can help run Peninsula Light by voting for open seats on your board of directors. Ballots will be mailed to PenLight members at the end of March and can be easily returned in the postage-paid envelopes included with the ballots. Those elected to the board will be announced at our annual meeting. All our members are invited.

This year’s annual meeting is:

May 7, 2018, 6:30 P.M. PenLight Headquarters – Second Floor 13315 Goodnough Drive NW Gig Harbor, WA 98332

Along with announcing the newly elected Board members, the annual Treasurer’s Report will be presented, with a Q&A session concluding the meeting. If you have any questions, call Ashley at 253-857-1504.

0160870079509

A local mom and her “lion cub” sign up for Project Help with PenLight Member Services Rep, Cathy.

YOUR VOTE MATTERS