We are both members of the Wasatch Back chapter of the Citizens Climate Lobby. Intending to walk the talk as local members, we recently took advantage of Wattsmart’s free energy assessment program (through Rocky Mountain Power) to optimize energy efficiency and comfort in our homes. Enbridge Gas does a similar audit for a $25 fee, which is refundable if you take advantage of the rebate-eligible recommendations. We are excited to share our results with our community! While federal tax credits for home energy improvements are now discontinued, rebates are still available through the two Utah energy companies. The audit itself takes 30-60 minutes, depending on the size of your home. The auditor (approved through Rocky Mountain Power) checked windows, appliances, crawl spaces, attics, thermostats, vents and more. Listed are the details, followed by our actions: Apply smart thermostats, plugs, sensors and heat tape controls.  Install a heat pump (electric or dual fuel, mini-split or using existing ducts). Update washers, refrigerators, water heaters and driers, electric preferred, including fireplace. Seal ducts, insulate, air seal and update windows. Mary had a leaky crawl space, so she invested in enhanced insulation in addition to duct sealants throughout the home. The intent is to create less moisture in the space so a heat pump could eventually be installed. Next up is to find a knowledgeable water heater contractor to find an efficient substitute for the current 11-year-old gas hog.  Joan had her electric panel assessed to confirm wattage coverage as she continues to electrify appliances and heating. The furnace is 25 years old and will be replaced with a heat pump/air conditioner. She also plans to replace her gas stove with an electric induction cooktop stove to reduce energy usage by 40% and enhance inside air quality — currently she’s using an induction hot plate. The auditor recommended sealing ducts to prevent dust and heat from escaping and also to upgrade attic insulation from R38 to R49. She hired a handyman to help seal ducts to start and she also has started to set her water heater to vacation mode when traveling.    Already between the two of us, our windows are decent, our thermostats are smart and our appliances are Energy Star. Driers are minimally used (replaced with drying racks), cooking and fireplaces are electric and our ducts are sealed. Our main takeaway from the assessment is the importance of tightening up leaks and drafts with better insulation and also transitioning from gas to electric appliances.    You can learn more about efficiency rebates in Utah at the Utah Clean Energy website: https://hub.utahcleanenergy.org/energy-efficiency/energy-efficiency-incentives/. Also contact Wattsmarthomes.com and/or thermwise.com for a free or low-cost assessment today! Citizens Climate Lobby, a nonpartisan grassroots advocacy organization, empowers people from diverse backgrounds to educate key stakeholders, policymakers and the public about effective solutions to climate change. This reputable and effective organization since 2007 focuses on four pillars: carbon pricing, healthy forests, building electrification and efficiency and clean energy permitting reform.  If you are interested in becoming involved in our local group, contact [email protected] for more information.  Mary Closser and Joan Entwistle Citizens Climate Lobby/Wasatch Back The post Quest for energy efficiency appeared first on Park Record. ...read more read less