Heat Pumps & Cooling Seasons
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Heat Pumps & Cooling Seasons
A few thoughts on heat pumps and their efficiencies
Meet the team... price differences,
equipment
efficiencies and the
Isaac Hallock home’s design and
Journeyman Tree Trimmer insulation levels.
For climates with
moderate heating
and cooling needs,
heat pumps offer
an energy-efficient
alternative to
furnaces and air
conditioners. Like
your refrigerator,
heat pumps use
electricity to move
A properly installed air source heat pump can save up to 50% of your heating heat from a cool
costs in the winter and provide comfortable and economical cooling in the space into a warm,
Isaac came to Lane Electric in summer months, too. It’s a system for all seasons. making the cool
2004 as a Journeyman Tree space cooler and
Trimmer. Prior to being part It is easy to forget about our home’s the warm space warmer. During the
of Lane’s team, Isaac worked heating needs in the summer. In fact, heating season, heat pumps move heat
for UpperCut Tree Service as now is the right time to focus on getting from the cool outdoors into your warm
a tree trimmer. the best bang for your buck during the house; during the cooling season, heat
When you ask Isaac what winter months. pumps move heat from your cool house
he does, you typically get the With energy prices changing on a into the warm outdoors. Because they
response, “climb trees.” daily basis, it becomes more and more move heat rather than generate heat,
Born in Boise, Idaho, Isaac important for consumers to look at heat pumps can provide up to 4 times
and his wife Tammy, have the costs of using various heating the amount of energy they consume.
two daughters, Grace and alternatives. Below is a table that will The most common type of heat
Addison, and they’re having hopefully shed a little light on the heat pump is the air-source heat pump,
a blast with them. content of commonly used fuels. which transfers heat between your
When Isaac’s not climbing One thing that we do know is how house and the outside air. If you heat
trees, he running, weight many BTUs (British Thermal Units) with electricity, a heat pump can trim
lifting or mountain biking. are released by various fuels. A BTU the amount of electricity you use for
Self proclaimed Track & is equivalent to the heat created by a heating by as much as 40%–50%.
Field “geek”, Isaac enjoys the typical wooden match stick. It is also High-efficiency heat pumps also
physical things in life. the amount of energy it takes to raise dehumidify better than standard central
the temperature of one pound of liquid air conditioners, resulting in less
water by 1 degree Fahrenheit. The energy usage and more cooling comfort
Thanks Isaac, for being following chart and table will help you in summer months. However, the
on the team. We determine the cost of generating one efficiency of most air-source heat pumps
appreciate what you do million BTUs using common heating as a heat source drops dramatically
for us and our members. systems. at low temperatures, although there
While we try to provide our members are systems that can overcome that
with the best information possible, there problem by using a multiple stage
are always going to be circumstances compressor. In Lane County, much of
that fall outside of the typical situation. the heat will be produced by the electric
These differences include regional resistance auxiliary heat strips when
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the temperature falls below 35 degrees geothermal (ground-source or water- source heat pumps can be used in
Fahrenheit. source) heat pumps, which transfer heat more extreme climatic conditions than
For homes without ducts, air-source between your house and the ground air-source heat pumps, and customer
heat pumps are also available in a or a nearby water source. Although satisfaction with the systems is very
ductless version called a mini-split heat they cost more to install, geothermal high.
pump. In addition, a special type of air- heat pumps have low operating costs If you are interested in installing
source heat pump called a “reverse cycle because they take advantage of relatively a heat pump or learning more about
chiller” generates hot and cold water constant ground or water temperatures. Lane Electric’s heat pump program, feel
rather than air, allowing it to be used However, the installation depends on free to give one of our energy service
with radiant floor systems. the size of your lot, the subsoil and representatives a call at 484-1151.
Higher efficiencies are achieved with landscape. Ground-source or water-
More Energy Saving Tips For Summer!
By following a few simple guidelines, you Landscape for Energy Efficiency Weatherize
can cut your energy bills by 10 to 50 • Plant trees or shrubs to shade air • Adding insulation to floors, walls and
percent. conditioning units, but do not block the ceilings provides benefits all year long.
airflow. Shaded units use less electricity. • Replace old windows with efficient
Use Air Conditioning and Fans Wisely • Ivy or grapevines can shade windows vinyl or fiberglass framed units.
• Open windows and use fans. or the whole side of a house. • Air leaks waste energy dollars all year.
• Use fans with your window air • Avoid landscaping with lots of • Caulking and weatherstripping keeps
conditioner to circulate cool air. unshaded rock, cement or asphalt on the cool air in during the summer.
• Use a programmable thermostat to south or west sides - it radiates heat to the • Add insulation around ductwork when
adjust temperatures when no one is house after the sun has set. located in attics, crawl spaces and garages.
home. • Deciduous trees planted on the south • If there are holes or separated joints in
• Don’t place lamps or TVs near your and west sides, will keep your house cool your ducts, have them repaired.
thermostat. Their heat will cause the air in the summer and let the sun warm your • Be sure your fireplace damper is closed.
conditioner to run more. home in the winter.
• Look for the ENERGY STAR® label. • Three trees, properly placed around a Visit www.laneelectric.com to see what
New energy efficient models can save up house, can save between $100 and $250 other incentives and rebates might be
to 50 percent on your cooling bills. annually in cooling and heating costs. available and always look for the Energy
• Consider a whole house fan or Guide label when buying new appliances.
evaporative cooler if appropriate for your Shade Your Windows
climate. • Sunny windows can make your air
conditioner work two to three times
Low Cost Tips to Save Energy harder.
• Replace incandescent bulbs with • Install white window shades, drapes or
compact fluorescents. blinds to reflect heat away from the
• Air dry dishes instead of using your house.
dishwasher. • Close curtains on south- and west-
• Use a microwave oven instead of the facing windows during the day.
electric range or oven. • Install awnings on south-facing
• Turn off your computer and monitor windows. Because of the angle of the sun,
when not in use. trees, a trellis or a fence will best shade
• Plug home electronics into power west-facing windows.
strips. Turn them off when not in use. • Apply sun-control or other reflective
• Lower the thermostat on your water films on south-facing windows.
heater. 115° is comfortable for most uses. • If you replace your windows, consider
• Take showers instead of baths. double-pane windows with spectrally
• Wash full loads of dishes and clothes. selective coatings.
• Use cold water to wash your clothes. • When buying windows or appliances,
look for the Energy Star® label.
J U LY 2 0 1 0 5
It saves you
MONEY. It costs you
NOTHING.
Why not give it a try?
Spring has sprung and you’ve probably got some outdoor chores to do.
Well, it's pretty simple, when you’re
WORKING ON A LADDER,
never work around power lines.
If you, our ladder comes into contact with power lines, even if it’s just for a second, they could
very well be the last thing you ever touch. We can’t stress this enough...be aware! Keep your
ladder, your tools, and most importantly, yourself far away from power lines.
Look up and Live!
8 J U LY 2 0 1 0
J U LY 2 0 1 0 25
787 Bailey Hill Road / P.O. Box 21410
Eugene, Oregon 97402
Office Phone: (541) 484-1151
Website: www.laneelectric.com
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
OR-16
Jeri Nelson, President
Oakridge District
Down the line
Chris Seubert, Vice-President
Central District
Pat Dymock, Secretary
McKenzie River District
Loy Sparks, Treasurer Dear Member:
Central District
Chuck Leighter, Director If you ask your spouse, a friend, neighbor, or a stranger their
Central District opinion of hydroelectric power, their response will likely be
favorable. Increasingly, the overwhelming view of citizens in the
Jim Hill, Director
Oakridge District Pacific Northwest is that the hydroelectric resource the region has
depended on for decades is viewed as a premier source of clean,
Ed Bangle, Director
Row River District renewable and low-cost energy. Further, most people oppose the
removal of dams and especially support keeping in place the dams
on the lower Snake River.
MANAGEMENT STAFF Those views and others were recently expressed in a poll of 700
Vester Sanders registered voters in Oregon, Washington and Idaho. Davis, Hibbitts & Midghall, a well known
Engineering & Operations Portland polling firm, conducted the public opinion poll in March. Some of the results of the
poll were:
Debi Wilson
Office & Staff Services • In addition to hydropower being viewed as clean and renewable, 70 percent of respondents
recognize it does not contribute to greenhouse gases and climate change.
Dave D’Avanzo
Member & Regional Affairs • More than 67 percent of Northwest voters recognize the importance of the Snake River
dams to the region’s power system. In Idaho this view was 79 percent – a view that has changed
BOARD MEETINGS little since opinion research began in 2005.
4th Monday of each month • Nearly 70 percent of respondents said they would be concerned if their electricity rates
(Unless otherwise noted) increased 5 percent every couple of years solely to improve salmon runs. More than half were
Lane Electric's Office at 11 a.m.
concerned (34 percent very concerned) with even a 2.5 percent increase in their power bills for
this purpose.
These opinions are important as we anxiously wait for a decision from a federal judge
concerning a plan designed to restore salmon runs. The plan that is known as the Biological
Opinion, or BiOp, would determine how the federal hydroelectric dams on the Columbia and
Snake Rivers would be operated during the next 10 years to enhance salmon and steelhead.
In this issue... The BiOp includes proposals from the Obama administration. Lane Electric and most other
electric utilities in the region support the BiOp as the best and most comprehensive plan for
Feature: Page # salmon recovery.
The BiOp comes with a price tag. If the judge approves the BiOp in its current version,
Summertime Energy the cost will be about $1 billion a year; mostly reflected in the electricity rates charged by the
Saving Tips... 4&5 Bonneville Power Administration (BPA). That is a lot of money, but much less than what some
Look Up and Live! 8 interest groups are requesting in changes to the BiOp. Changes the judge is considering.
Aware of the prevailing opinion of customers, combined with the tremendous price tag of
Search for Solutions... 25 the BiOp, Lane Electric has been actively involved in the discussion and process to advance
the plan. We feel that for the judge to approve the BiOp in its current
Power Lines... 28-29
form is consistent with the interests (opinions) of the region’s citizens,
Down the Line... 32 and provides the best approach to preserving salmon – a unique and Rick Crinklaw
cultural legacy of the Pacific Northwest. General Manager
32 J U LY 2 0 1 0 www.laneelectric.comYou can also read
