GET $200 OFF YOUR ELECTRIC BILL

By Ella Tyler

Now that we are having a real summer, with temperatures into the high 90s, next month’s electric bill might be a shocker. However, the city of Houston has a new web site, Power to People, which explains five easy, low-cost steps to reduce your electric bill. It also allows you to sign up to win $200 off your August electric bill.

One suggestion to reduce energy use is to plug the leaks around your windows with simple caulking and add weather stripping to outside doors. This step plus adding insulation to the attic can reduce power bills by 20 percent.

The site also informs us that insulation systems, windows, and doors that reduce heat loss or gain; and specially coated metal roofing that keeps the heat out of your home might qualify for as much as $500 income tax credit.

Electric heat pump water heaters, electric heat pumps, geothermal heat pumps and central AC may qualify for as much as $300 credit, and a new natural gas, propane or oil water heater, furnace or hot waster boiler could get $150 return.

Products that qualify for the credit will contain a manufacturer’s certification statement in the packaging or on the product web site. This statement and receipt should be kept like other tax records.

In addition reducing utility bills, these steps will cut pollution by reducing the need for new power plants. Energy plants are built when existing plants can no longer meet peak demand.

For more ideas, check out the film “Kilowatt Ours” at Rice Media Center on August 29, at 7pm, at Rice Media Center. Kilowatt Ours is the story of Jeff Barrie’s 18-month journey across the southeast United States to document our energy related problems and present practical solutions. The free event is hosted by CLEAN and Rice Environmental Club. After the film, a guest speaker will be available for a Q & A.

Also, Houston Climate Protection Alliance will be leading a Low Carbon Diet Class on Thursday, September 13, from 7-8:30pm and the three following Thursdays. This class will be taught at Christ Church Cathedral. For information see the Alliance’s website.