Maintenance

A US energy efficiency programme in the pacific northwest region is harnessing peer pressure to encourage consumers to save energy.

Washington-based utility Puget Sound Energy (PSE) is giving 40,000 of its customers Home Energy Reports that allow them to compare their energy usage with similar households in the area.

As well as giving an insight into average energy usage, the reports also reveal how much less energy the most energy efficient households use. The reports then provide individual and specific suggestions on improving efficiency.

The approach is unique and innovative, says the company. Many of the tips offered are free behavioural changes or low cost simple options like switching to compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs).

“By learning more about how their energy choices compare with energy use in similar homes, our customers can have a better sense of the improvements they can make, and of the potential savings they can achieve,” says Cal Shirley of PSE.

Many households are not as energy efficient as they think, says PSE, and the reports serve as reminders about all the energy savings that are possible.

“At first, I was surprised by the information in my Home Energy Report,” says customer John Gegus. “We’ve already started using CFLs, but then I took a look at the energy-saving ideas and realized there were some great opportunities to become even more efficient.”

PSE says that it expects its energy efficiency programmes to save around 53.3 MW of electricity and 5.3 million therms of gas over the next two years – equivalent to the energy use of around 40,000 homes.

For further information:
www.PSE.com