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From left, Shawn O'Neil, a program management contractor with Energy Trust of Oregon, Brandon Trelstad, OSU campus sustainability coordinator, and Beth Ray, wife of OSU President Ed Ray, discuss ways to increase sustainability and energy efficiency in the Ray's home.

Think your home is energy efficient? Take the challenge

Over 1,000 homeowners have agreed to let their homes be reviewed by Energy Trust of Oregon, including OSU President Ed Ray

By: Lauren Sigel

Posted: 3/7/08

Corvallis is heading for an energy makeover.

The Corvallis Energy Challenge, which began on March 3, will allow representatives of 70 organizations from the Corvallis Sustainability Coalition to receive energy assessments of their own homes and begin recruiting 1,000 additional Corvallis homeowners to sign up for reviews by April 22.

Jan S. Shaeffer, communications and marketing director for the Energy Trust of Oregon, said that ETO experts will conduct free home energy reviews for customers of Pacific Power and/or Northwest Natural, which serve about 90 percent of Corvallis homes.

"Energy reviews point out cost efficient ways to reduce energy use, save on energy costs, and improve comfort in homes built before 1993," Shaeffer said.

"This is when Oregon residential building codes began requiring significant amounts of insulation."

Brandon Trelstad, OSU campus sustainability coordinator, signed up OSU President Ed Ray and wife Beth Ray to participate in a home energy review.

"The Energy Trust wants to review prominent Corvallis citizens to inspire other residents to get their homes reviewed," Trelstad said. "President Ray's house is actually owned by OSU, so we would like to make it as sustainable as possible to set an example for others."

Since 2002, 18,000 reviews have been done by Energy Trust.

Not only do ETO experts suggest energy-saving measures specific to your home, but they also install free compact fluorescent light bulbs, faucet aerators and showerheads.

Shawn O'Neil, an ETO expert and program management contractor for Energy Trust, conducted the energy review done on Ray's house.

"In an energy review, we look at the lighting, the insulation levels, and water usage," O'Neil said.

"We also look at the heating and cooling ducts and check for telltale signs of leakage. If we see any of these signs, we suggest to the customer to get their ducts pressure tested so that they are not wasting any more energy than necessary."

Energy Trust would like to complete these reviews by the end of summer. In order to review such a large number of homes, the ETO is hiring for full-time ETO expert review positions for mid-June through mid-September.

"The recruitment and interview process is going to begin in May," Trelstad said.

"Positions will be posted by the end of March on the OSU sustainability Web site. Students will be hired and trained by the ETO."

For Corvallis homeowners who are interested in participating in an energy review, online registration is available at the ETO Web site, http://www.energytrust.org/residential/index.html.

Renters, including students, can be involved in the campaign, if they challenge their landlords to sign up for a home energy review.

Renters who are successful in getting their landlords to enroll will be entered into a drawing for a $500 gift certificate.

For more information regarding the Corvallis Energy Challenge, visit www.corvallisenergychallenge.org.

Lauren Sigel, news writer

news@dailybarometer.com, 737-2231