North Carolina Energy Conservation Programs Preview

As Stephen mentioned a couple of months ago, over the last year we have not only been focused on running our five programs in Virginia, but we have also been preparing to offer the same programs to our North Carolina customers.  That time is near!  In June, we will begin offering the following energy conservation programs to help our North Carolina customers conserve energy while maximizing savings.

Home Programs
Lighting Program:  Buy qualifying ENERGY STAR® compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) from participating stores- discount brought to you by Dominion.   A full list of participating stores and products will be available online.

Home Energy Improvement Program: Income-qualifying customers receive a free in-home energy audit and installed energy efficient measures.  An energy specialist conducts an energy audit in your home and installs energy efficiency improvements in the same visit with your permission.

• Installed measures may include:
• Weather-stripping, caulking and foam sealer around doors and windows
• Attic insulation, pipe insulation and air filters
• Low-flow faucets and showerheads
• Compact fluorescent light bulbs

Customized home energy reports and educational tips and resources are also provided to help customers continue to save energy and money.

Smart Cooling Rewards Program: Dominion will install an A/C cycling switch on your outdoor air conditioner or heat pump unit.  During periods of high demand- usually on the hottest few days of summer- we will call an “event” which means we will cycle your air conditioner or heat pump compressor on and off.  Even though your compressor will be cycling on and off, the fan will continue to circulate already cooled air.  Cycling will typically occur between 2 PM and 6 PM and will not occur on weekends or holidays.  Participants receive $40 following each summer season they participate.

Business Programs
Lighting Rewards Program: Businesses select a participating contractor to install more efficient lighting and receive a rebate from Dominion.  Both new equipment and the replacement of existing equipment are eligible for the rebate.  Rebate amount is based on a per fixture rate.

HVAC Rewards Program: Businesses select a participating contractor to upgrade their old HVAC system to a more efficient unit and receive a rebate from Dominion.  To qualify, the new unit must feature a rating greater than the current national minimum efficiency standards.  Both new equipment and the replacement of existing equipment are eligible for the rebate.  Rebate amount is based on a per ton rate.

Protect Your Home While On Vacation

Now that the weather is warming up and the kids are completing the school year, it’s VACATION TIME! I remember the days as a kid going to the Outer Banks each and every year with the family, making great memories and world class, errrr, barely standing sandcastles. A few of my buddies went camping each year, and even some lucky friends traveled international.

While you’re packing up for a trip full of fun memories, it’s a great idea to protect your home during your excursion. This year, try some energy conservation measures, too!

Let’s first cover the basics:

• Alert the local police department. Many have programs where they will come by and check on your home.
• Hold the mail and the newspaper. There’s no better display to criminals that you’re on vacation than a stack of newspapers piling up.
• Put your valuables in a safe or safe deposit box. It’s an extra step of caution, but it’s much easier than replacing family heirlooms.
• Don’t advertise on social media websites that you are going out of town.
• Give your house key to a trustworthy neighbor and ask them to watch over the house. Even better if they move your car around in the driveway a few times.
• Pay a trustworthy neighbor to cut your grass, giving the appearance someone is home.
• Double check your locks (and window locks!) before you leave.

This year, consider some Energy Conservation measures:

• Keep your CFL light bulbs on timers. They’ll turn on and off; making it look like someone is home.
• Adjust your thermostat up a few degrees. Nothing too extreme, though. And many programmable thermostats have a ‘Vacation’ setting which will have the home at a comfortable temperature upon your return.
• Unplug electronics you don’t need, like the TV, microwave, computer, and alarm clocks. Better yet, keep the electronics on a power strip and turn the strip off.
• Make sure your water heater is set to 120 degrees, not artificially higher (this is a tip you can use year round!)

Think you’ll forget these items? In addition to making a packing checklist, make a home protection checklist. This will help ensure everything gets done, even if you’re scatterbrained looking for your 5 year old son’s right shoe.

Get Ready: Dominion Riverrock Is This Weekend!

Remember when you were a kid and you got two days in the spring for ‘Field Day’? The good ol’ days where class was on the soccer field and you were competing in a tug of war contest, crab walking races, and a hula-hoop rolling contest…all in hopes of scoring the most points to win a ‘no homework pass’?

While you might not be a kid anymore, here’s your chance to have a grown up field day. Dominion Riverrock is a giant two-day festival held in downtown Richmond, Virginia, celebrating the river we have in our backyard.

We’re even using the river for kayak and paddleboard competitions!

There are going to be flying kayaks, bouldering rock climbers (teaser video), wild mountain bikers, trail runners, distance jumping dogs, trick freestyle bikers, standup paddleboards, not to mention, a bunch of world class bands. Performing this year are: Big Gigantic, Perpetual Groove, Yonder Mountain String Band, just to name a few. The best part is that it’s FREE to watch both the bands and athletes!

Instead of playing video games, watching movies, doing laundry, and the rest of the ordinary things in life, come on out to the riverlife celebration. It’s not too late to sign up for many of the events, like the MGD 64 Filthy 5K Mud Run (that’s the one I’m racing!), the James River Scramble 10K, or the Red Bull Canal Crashers.

Competing in an event not your thing? Come on out, bring your dog, and take some photos – there’s plenty of gnarly action.

While everyone is out having a blast this weekend, you can rest assured that on top of being outside by our gorgeous river, this event is a green event too!

Dominion Green Power has purchased renewable energy certificates (RECs) on behalf of Dominion Riverrock to help green this event. In addition to greening the event, there will be a Green Team there to help promote recycling, a place to recycle your old shoes (roughly $1/pair goes to the James River Fund), and organic food options.

On top of all of that, the James River Fund is the official charity of Dominion Riverrock. The James River Fund has been set up to provide grants to organizations working to enhance recreational use of the public parks along the James River.

Put down the electronics, come out and play. Come join me for the 5K Mud Run. You’ll have a blast!

Gearing up for Summer: Energy Savings Video

This video blog post needs no introduction, it’s one of our most popular videos (here’s our number one) where former blogger Bob Fulton takes less than 4 minutes to discuss summertime no cost and low cost energy saving tips for the home, most tips are transferable for the winter, too.

Now is a great time to get out and make a weekend energy conservation project list; it’s not too hot, it’s not too cold, and your house will be ready for the dog days of summer (and you won’t sweat as much in the attic now as you would in August!).

Sit back, relax, and enjoy the [conservation] show.

At work and can’t watch the video? Click the link for our text version of many of Bob’s summer tips.