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Jan 16 , 2012
Impacted: Energy Star dishwashers, clothes washers and fireplace dampers in Wash./Idaho
If your energy efficiency improvements for 2012 include buying an Energy Star dishwasher or clothes washer or installing a fireplace damper insert, make sure to submit your Avista energy efficiency rebate form by March 30, 2012. After that date, the rebate for an Energy Star clothes washer will be reduced to $25 and rebates for a fireplace damper insert and Energy Star dishwasher will be discontinued.
The changes are part of an on-going analysis by Avista’s energy efficiency experts to make sure our rebates line up with products and equipment that will provide the most energy savings for the dollar. The impacted rebates are/were only available in Idaho and Washington.
Lots of rebates remain for upgrading to high efficiency equipment like furnaces and water heaters and for other energy efficiency improvements around your home. Visit us at www.everylittlebit.com, where you can also learn about rebates for commercial and industrial customers.
Energy efficiency helps individual customers reduce their energy use during a time when energy costs continue to rise. Energy efficiency is a benefit to Avista too. Long-term, using less energy helps all customers by allowing us to delay building or acquiring more expensive generation to meet customer needs.
And, it costs less per kilowatt-hour (kWh) to help customers reduce their energy use through energy efficiency programs than it costs to purchase or generate new power to meet customer needs. Using our resources wisely has a positive impact on our community and on our environment.
I admit that I’m partial - I think Avista’s energy efficiency rebates are great. Along with thousands of other Avista customers, my family has received rebates for energy efficiency upgrades we’ve made that have helped us reduce our energy use while making our home more comfortable. You just can’t beat that combination.
Dec 08 , 2011
When you look around your garage, shed or home, can you spot what could be costing you up to $100 a year to run? If you have a refrigerator or freezer built before 1990, it’s consuming up to four times more energy than a new, more efficient model and costing you more to use.
With Avista’s Refrigerator Recycling Program, you can earn $30 to recycle your old refrigerator or freezer. You also have the option of donating your rebate to Project Share - a customer, community and Avista funded program that provides one-time emergency energy assistance to help families in need in our region.
Here’s what you need to do: • Be an Avista electric customer • Own the appliance you want to recycle • Make sure your unit is in good working condition • See if it was manufactured in 1995 or earlier • Call (877) 577-0510 to schedule a free pickup or visit everylittlebit.com for more information • When scheduling your refrigerator or freezer pick-up, let the customer representatives know if you would like to donate your rebate to Project Share
Our partner JACO Environmental will pick up your old refrigerator or freezer which will be dismantled and recycled through a process that returns up to 95 percent of each unit back into the manufacturing stream.
If you’re purchasing a new Energy Star refrigerator or freezer, check out our energy efficiency appliance rebates at everylittlebit.com.
Dec 01 , 2011
If you have a creative high school student at your house, here’s an idea that can pay off in more ways than one – Avista’s third annual Every Little Bit video contest.
By creating and submitting a 30-second to two minute video about ways we can all limit our energy use, students attending high schools served by Avista could receive a $1,500 or $2,500 tech grant for their school. Plus, students could receive individual awards like an iPad 2, iPod Nano and iTunes gift card.
Videos must be uploaded to Avista’s website – www.everylittlebitvideo.com – by Dec. 16. Visitors to the site can vote online for their favorite video until Jan. 13, 2012, when a panel of judges will select the video winners. Judging criteria will include energy efficiency message, originality of approach, creativity, design and style.
Participating in the video contest could have lasting benefits. We hope that by engaging youth in the importance of energy efficiency today, it will help them value saving energy even more when they become customers tomorrow.
Dec 01 , 2011
If you’re an Avista customer who is renting your residence, you can receive a free energy efficiency kit to help make sure you aren’t being a powermonger, and all you need to do is “Like” us on our Every Little Bit Facebook page. While supplies last, we’re giving away 1,000 Powermonger kits that include a power timer socket, switch and socket insulators, shower coach, shrink-fit window insulation film and other energy savings tools. If you’d like a free kit, go to Every Little Bit Facebook page and “Like” us. If you aren’t on Facebook, you can get a kit by sending an email to kelly.conley@avistacorp.com.
The Powermonger kit is the newest addition to Avista’s suite of energy efficiency programs, all created to provide resources and incentives to help customers manage their energy use. That’s important because we’re using more electric devices to power our lives than ever before.
Nov 21 , 2011
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Whitworth student body president Eric Fullerton is
joined by Avista’s Chris Drake for a special award
ceremony. |
Whitworth’s Cornerstone Hall was one of the top
three living groups in the entire competition. Here,
students receive a $500 award to be used for non-
energy consuming dorm improvements. |
Students earn school the title of Most Energy Efficient University in 2011, via Power Down, Add Up
Pirates know how to Power Down, Add Up - at least the ones at Whitworth University do. The school celebrated October’s National Energy Awareness Month by competing in (and earning top honors for) the Avista Power Down, Add Up, energy conservation challenge between all the universities in Avista’s service territory.
Together with students from Washington State University, the University of Idaho, Gonzaga University, and North Idaho College, students recorded an estimated savings of 78,470 kilowatt hours, which is enough power to supply 2,841 homes for a day.
At the end of the competition it was Whitworth students who conserved the most energy, earning them the title of Avista’s Most Energy Efficient University in 2011.
Congratulations to everyone who participated. The energy efficiency habits learned through this challenge should serve you well for the rest of your collegiate career and beyond.
Nov 10 , 2011
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Joe Brabeck, manager of Avista’s Home Energy Audit
Program on camera with KHQ's morning show,
discussing Avista and energy efficiency. |
Some days start a lot earlier than others. This morning between 5:00 and 6:15 a.m., Avista’s own Joe Brabeck, manager of Avista’s Home Energy Audit Program, shared tips with KHQ’s Matt Rodgers on low-cost ways to make your home more energy efficient this winter. Because making sure that the warm air you heat stays in your home is important to everyone, here’s what you can do:
1. Replace incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs or LEDs lights.
2. Set back the thermostat at night or when at work to 68 degrees. For convenience, install a programmable thermostat that will automatically adjust the temperature for you. If you have a heat pump, look for a programmable thermostat that is compatible with it.
3. Check the furnace filter every month and change it when dirty. Pleated paper filters remove finer particles and need more frequent changing.
4. Keep the hot water tank set to approximately 120 degrees.
5. Seal air leaks around doors, windows and behind light switch plates and outlet covers. If you can see daylight through a crack/gap, you are losing heat from your home.
6. Take advantage of the radiant heating of the sun by opening curtains/blinds on the south and west side of the house on sunny days. Close drapes on cold, cloudy days and at night.
Nov 08 , 2011
Noxon video
The last turbine to be upgraded at Noxon Rapids Dam was removed from service on Oct. 19, 2011. Avista's Brandi Smith interviewed project engineer P.J. Henscheid on the big day. See the video above.
The removal of the turbine is part of a $45 million project to upgrade four original generating units with newer, more efficient technology. The project started in July 2008 and is on schedule to be finished by spring 2012.
Nov 04 , 2011 slideshow
Last evening more than 350 individuals stopped by Avista’s Energy Fair at the West Central Community Center in Spokane. Fairgoers were treated to energy efficiency demonstrations and provided free samples to get their home projects underway this heating season. It’s time to keep the warm air in and the cold air out.
Community agencies: SNAP, Second Harvest Food Bank, Money Management Int. and WorkSource were on hand to provide information.
Avista customer service representatives met with customers on site and discussed any account or billing questions.
Kids of all ages learned about energy, energy efficiency and safety from Wattson, Avista’s Energy Watchdog, who sang and danced his way into their hearts.
A hearty meal was also provided through Christ Kitchen.
Events like this are free to the community, but often are invaluable for our customers. Similar events, which are staffed by Avista employees, have been held previously in Spokane, Coeur d’Alene and Clarkston. Stay tuned to the blog for the next event in early 2012.
Oct 18 , 2011 Hockey Night in Spokane is also energy efficiency night
Avista is hosting an energy efficiency night with the Spokane Chiefs on Friday, Oct. 21. The event will help raise awareness of energy efficiency and Avista’s programs. Employees from Demand Side Management will staff an informational table at the Spokane Arena to share information and answer customers questions.
Throughout the night the Chiefs will announce energy efficiency tips and feature performances by Wattson, Avista’s energy watchdog.
The first 5,000 attendees will receive a souvenir flashing glow light – perfect for trick or treating safety. Attendees will also be able to enter to win an energy efficient washer and dryer. Sorry, employees aren’t eligible.
Avista employees are encouraged to stop by the informational table to show your support and say hello to your co-workers who will be sharing the message of energy efficiency with our customers.
Oct 18 , 2011
Cold weather is on the way – there’s no getting around it. So, before it hits with all its fury, it’s a good time to reach out and provide information about bill assistance and energy efficiency. Two Avista Energy Fairs are scheduled this fall to do just that – Lewiston/Clarkston on October 22 and Spokane on November 3.
“We’ve done two fairs in Spokane and one in Coeur d’Alene over the past year and they have been well attended. We’re pleased that people are finding value in the energy efficiency demonstrations and weatherization materials they receive,” said Anne Marie Axworthy, Avista’s director of consumer affairs. “It’s great to take customer service opportunities like the Energy Fair out to where it’s convenient for our customers. Our hope is that the information about billing options, energy assistance and energy efficiency is helpful to those struggling to pay their bills and also of benefit for anyone who wants to better manage their energy use.”
Avista employees and community service providers will be on hand to answer questions about the following:
• Bill Assistance – Avista customer service representatives will answer billing questions, provide information about payment options and refer customers to energy assistance programs. And they will demonstrate how to use Avista’s free online Bill Analyzer to get more information about managing your energy bill.
• Energy Efficiency – See low-cost and no-cost efficiency demonstrations to help keep your home warm like rope caulking, door sweeps and window plastic. Free samples will be handed out.
• Community Assistance – Avista and community service providers will be on hand to answer questions about energy assistance, weatherization, and other topics.
For the kids, and the kids at heart, Wattson, Avista’s energy watchdog, will guide attendees through his musical message of energy efficiency and safety. Employee volunteers will have craft projects and interactive activities available to keep little hands busy while taking a break from the information tables. Food and beverages, door prizes and a grand prize basket that includes a Housewarming Certificate will also be available to all participants.
What you need to know
Saturday, October 22: Walla Walla Community College, 1470 Bridge St., Clarkston, Wash. 2 p.m. – 4 p.m.
Thursday, November 3: West Central Community Center, 1603 N. Belt St., Spokane, 4 p.m. – 7 p.m.
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