Staying Warm and Happy: Part One

Winterization

Winter on the Wenatchee River, Leavenworth, WA. (Photo by J. Leach)

This is only my second winter on the eastside, so I am still figuring out how to be properly prepared for the long stretch of snowy months.  Taking a little time in the fall to winterize your house and car might just make the difference between a cozy winter season and a rather miserable one (I learned that lesson last year)!  Plus, a few steps can save significant money and resources and, here at Cascadia, we are all for conservation!

The following lists were adapted from:

• “Winter Storms and Extreme Cold.”  Ready.gov.  Federal Emergency Management Agency.  http://www.ready.gov/winter.
• “19 Easy Home Winterization Projects” The Daily Green.  2011.  http://www.thedailygreen.com/green-homes/latest/winterize-home-tips-energy-461008.

  YOUR CAR

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:A_car_under_snow_in_Norilsk.jpg

Keep your gas tank full, in
case you have to leave, and
also to prevent water from
getting in and freezing in
the tank and fuel lines.  In
addition, check or have a
mechanic check the
following items on your car:

  Antifreeze levels

  Battery and ignition system

  Brakes

  Exhaust system - check for leaks and crimped pipes. Carbon monoxide is deadly and hard to detect!

  Fuel and air filters

  Heater and defroster.

  Lights and flashing hazard lights

  Oil levels

  Thermostat

  Tires - make sure the tires have adequate tread. Consider snow tires if you live somewhere  particularly snowy/icy, and carry chains with you at all times.

  Windshield wiper equipment

      Note: It is important to fix engine leaks to for a car's health, but also for our lakes and streams!  Runoff still occurs in the winter, and is especially amplified during thaws, when all the pollutants that have been building up in the snow run all at once into our waterways.

  Another note:  Cars tend to get really dirty in the winter, with all the dirt, pollutants, and snow mixing on the roads.  If you do decide your car needs a clean-up, take it to a commercial carwash.   The water from a commercial car wash flows into the sewer system and is treated at a wastewater treatment plant before it enters local waterways. Plus, who wants to haul out a hose in the middle of winter?

  

    Sign up to receive car wash tokens and learn more about what you can do to improve water quality in Chelan County by visiting our "Picture the Wenatchee" campaign website: http://www.picturethewenatchee.com/!

YOUR HOUSE

• Poor insulation and drafts can waste 5-30 percent of your energy use.  Make sure your home is well insulated and that you have weather stripping around doors and windowsills to keep the warm air inside. 

• Consider installing energy efficient windows and glass doors.

Seem like an expensive project? Chelan County PUD has a Weatherization Incentives program! They offer cash incentives to customers who add insulation and install energy-efficient windows and glass doors.  According to their website, customers can receive as much as $2,500 back.  Not to mention the money saved on heating costs and benefits of other factors- like enjoying a draft-free house!

Two of our staff here at Cascadia are participating in this program this year.  One is just beginning the process:

"I was really looking forward to the improved heat retention in the house and a reduced heating bill. The diminished noise from outside traffic and improved the view of Lake Entiat were unexpected bonuses. Not to mention, I found the Chelan County PUD incentive program to be a very simple process and staff were extremely helpful."

My supervisor, Phylisha, has completed the process and received her rebate:

"I’m still in the process of getting new windows put in.  From what I understand, the windows need to go in first, then [I] apply to the PUD for the rebate.  The folks that put the windows in need to be on the approved PUD list, and the windows need to be E-Star energy efficient...All the windows should be in by January."

She also includes a warning about not forgetting to apply for your rebate:

"[The rebate deadline] was 90 days from project completion. I know this because of my procrastination, I nearly missed the deadline. I would have lost out on over $440!"

 For more information, visit http://chelanpud.org/Weatherization-Incentives.html

MORE FOR YOUR HOUSE:

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Log_cabin_covered_in_snow.jpg

• Further decrease energy loss through windows by installing plastic window insulation kits (found at most home improvement stores). They’re easy to use, and do make a difference!

• For those of you who have a ceiling fan, look for a switch that will reverse the direction of the blades.  This will cause the fan to circulate warm air (because warm air rises, right?) back down to the “living space.”

• Insulate pipes with insulation or newspapers and plastic and allow faucets to drip a little during cold weather to avoid freezing.

• Learn how to shut off your water valves (in case a pipe bursts).   

• Hire a contractor to check the structural stability of your roof to sustain unusually heavy weight from the accumulation of snow or water, and make sure drains (on flat roofs) and gutters are clear of debris.

And with that, have an enjoyable winter!

Your Friend in Conservation,

Julia