The Energy Efficiency Puzzle

Keeping the inside of an older home comfortable is a bit of a puzzle–one that can be solved by piecing together key efficiency upgrades while saving money through rebates in the process. Over time the investment in your home can save you hundreds or even thousands on electric bills, while also helping conserve energy on our growing grid.

The Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) provides the PUD $900,000 in funding every 2 years to be distributed as rebates for energy efficiency upgrades by customers. Since 2019 funding has helped an average of 405 local projects annually. 

Rebate incentives help cover upgrades for older homes including energy efficient appliances, heat pumps (up to $1,200), heat pump water heaters, insulation upgrades, window replacements, and weatherization. Ducted and ductless heat pumps offer some of the biggest savings and are 3-4 times more efficient than conventional models and can save thousands over the life of the unit. Likewise, the BPA offers up to $1,100 on qualified heat pump water heaters (which are up to 50% more efficient than traditional water heaters). Water heating is the second largest source of energy use in the home. Rebate restrictions do apply, and you can view a full list of available rebates and a list of participating installers by visiting: jeffpud.org/rebates. The energy cost burden impacts low-income homeowners the most and additional rebates are available for income-qualified households.

Paying customers to not use power may seem like an odd business plan for a power provider, but the power saved annually easily outweighs the immense expense of new substations, transmission lines, and generation facilities. For utilities, infrastructure cost is passed to utility customers in the form of higher wholesale power rates which, in turn, affect rates. Jefferson PUD hosted the regional BPA energy efficiency roundtable in October which brought together BPA program managers and western Washington utility providers. Discussions help the BPA and utility energy efficiency teams gauge program effectiveness and future goals. JPUD General Manager, Kevin Streett kicked off the event noting, “We have a lot of infrastructure needs here in Jefferson County to keep up with demand–every dollar saved on efficiency projects, big or small, counts.”

Home efficiency upgrades are an important piece of the energy puzzle for our region, and you can save on your project now!