State offers energy tips through new Web site

AUGUSTA – With gas prices at about $2 per gallon, energy efficiency is increasingly a financial concern.

The state responded this week by unveiling a new informational Web site designed to help Mainers take advantage of existing state and federal services to reduce their energy waste.

“It’s good for your wallet and it’s good for the air you breathe,” Beth Nagusky, director of the state’s Office of Energy Independence and Security, said by phone after a demonstration of the new site at the State House on Wednesday morning.

The new site, MaineEnergyInfo.com, links tips for improving household efficiency with information on Maine State Housing Authority programs that fund weatherization and heating projects for low-income Mainers, and federal information on buying certified-efficient Energy Star appliances.

The executive branch has been working toward this “one-stop shopping resource” for more than a year through its Energy Resources Council, a cooperative effort of many state agencies, she said.

The site also includes details of state government programs to make the state vehicle fleet more efficient, to encourage adherence to green building standards for state projects, and to heat several buildings, including the Blaine House, with a blend of renewable biodiesel and fuel oil – with the dual aim of saving money during tight budget times and reducing Maine’s contribution to air pollution and global warming.

The governor has set an example, and now the general public can use the tools available online to follow his lead in their own homes, Nagusky said.

“I know that Maine people are currently concerned about high gas and oil prices, about our dependence on politically unstable nations for oil, and about global warming,” Gov. John Baldacci said in a statement released Wednesday. “We have the ingenuity and creativity to make energy conservation and energy efficiency household words again.”

The state also will be launching radio advertisements encouraging Mainers to make the connection between oil prices and their energy use habits. If the high energy costs remain, people will look for ways to reduce their gas and oil use, Nagusky said.

Energy efficiency need not require buying a brand-new hybrid car or making major renovations to your home. Remedies as simple as switching to compact fluorescent light bulbs, better insulation or reducing unnecessary driving can make a big difference, according to the site.

And overall, a household could save more than $300 annually by increasing energy efficiency, according to the Web site. In fact, for every dollar spent on weatherizing a house, a homeowner can save $2 in energy costs, Nagusky said.

The site’s top 10 energy tips are:

. Set your thermostat back.

. Insulate heat pipes and duct work.

. Replace incandescent bulbs with screw-in fluorescent bulbs.

. Tune up your heating system.

. Close all unoccupied areas and reduce the heat.

. Close flue dampers on fireplaces.

. Remove and vacuum your furnace filter monthly, and replace it when it can’t be vacuumed clean.

. Close storm windows. Use drapes and shades at night to conserve heat.

. Insulate, caulk and weatherstrip your home as needed.

. Install faucet flow restrictors and low-flow shower heads.