At the beginning of May, we told you about the 5 new energy conservation programs that Dominion began offering to our customers. These programs will help customers manage their energy usage and costs.
One program that I’d like to tell you more about is our Smart Cooling Rewards program. Participants in this program is will receive $40 for every summer they participate for allowing Dominion to cycle their air-conditioning on and off for short periods during times of high energy demand in the summer months. This program helps us manage energy costs by reducing the need to import electricity from outside sources and relieving the pressures on our electrical system. By easing the strain on the power grid for even a few minutes, our customers can help control energy costs and keep his/her power reliable.
Dominion will install a device, also known as a smart switch, on the outside of the home’s air-conditioning unit. During periods of high demand - usually on the hottest few days of the summer- we will cycle on and off your air conditioner compressor. The fan will stay on, circulating already cooled air, and you’ll be saving energy when it’s needed the most.
Today this program is available to customers living in the Charlottesville, VA region of our service territory. We will continue to offer in additional areas as we grow the program, including offering the program to customers in the Alexandria area later this summer. Find out if we are in your area and learn more about this program and our other energy conservation programs at our website.
Our Built and Natural Environments
15 hours ago
2 comments:
I would like to see the following programs somehow.
Since apartment dwellers have no real ability to insulate their living quarters should there be some kind of program with apartment complexes to weatherize these as a group? I can spend $150 a month on electricity and with 14 apartments in my 4 story building, I am sure that there is a lot of money and energy that could be saved with the project and by the same insulation.
Also, there should be a way for you to have a website where I can put in information about my home like square feet and you can tell me what my price for electricity is per square feet and how that matches against other residences.
Knowledge is power after all.
Thanks for your inquiry. We’re not familiar with any collaboration projects that involve apartment dwellers, but there are many items that you and your landlord can do to help maximize energy efficiency:
- Ask maintenance to replace weather stripping (especially around sliding glass/patio doors)
Ask maintenance to change your air filter on a regular basis
- Ask maintenance to turn your water heater down to 120 degrees
Keep the front door of your building closed to keep unconditioned air out
- Change the light bulbs to CFLs
Keep your thermostat set at 68 degrees in the winter, 78 degrees in the summer
- Keep the blinds down in the summertime to keep the heat out
- If you live in an old building, consider installing window film during the winter (it’s super cheap and does a great job keeping the draft out)
If you’re in an old building, it might be worthwhile to have everyone encourage your landlord to update the windows, water heaters, and HVAC systems for all tenants.
There are a few tools on the market that can compare energy consumption to your neighbors. Keep in mind, unless you have the actual data from the utility, these numbers are just an estimate.
One of the popular tools is the Microsoft Hohm, which is a free resource that estimates your energy consumption and gives you a Hohm Score, which you can compare to the averages in different zip codes.
The Energy Detective is another tool, this one working with Google Powermeter, to give you your real time energy consumption (do note, your landlord might not grant you permission to have this device installed).
Another popular (and super easy) tool is the Power Cost Monitor. You install the device on the outside of your meter and then monitor your real time electricity usage with the in home display. You can see savings when you dial back your HVAC system, turn off lights, and dial back the water heater.
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