FAQ: Energy conservation, renewable resources and low-income weatherization

• Conservation improves energy efficiency, allowing homes, businesses and industries to accomplish the same goals using less energy. Consumers and businesses save money.
• Energy conservation is a public benefit – schools and hospitals can spend more of their limited budgets on education and healthcare and less on electricity.
• Conservation causes no environmental damage and costs less than new power plants. Our salmon are safer and our air and water are cleaner.
• Since 1981 the Northwest has saved over 1500 megawatts of energy through conservation – enough to power a city 1 1/2 times the size of Seattle. Without this conservation, the region would need power generation equal to either two dams or another power plant 1 1/2 times the size of the Centralia coal plant.

– Gary Zarker, former superintendent,
Seattle City Light

• Environmentally sound energy sources such as wind, solar and geothermal power are renewable and won't run out, unlike fossil fuels such as coal or natural gas.
• Use of clean energy means less reliance on energy that harms our air, water and wildlife. Fossil fuels are the leading cause of air pollution.
• Unlike renewable resources, oil and natural gas are subject to price spikes and supply interruptions. The U.S. relies on other countries to supply over 50% of its oil.
• With no fuel costs, renewable resources are far cheaper in the long run. Unfortunately investment in renewables is discouraged by a market focused on short-term costs.
• Utilities and marketers can promote renewables as “green power” with customers supporting environmentally friendly energy through their energy choices.

• Weatherization conserves energy by insulating homes. Homes are warmer and less drafty, and heat up faster. Weatherization saves money and lowers electric bills.
• Lower electric bills promote financial independence for low income families and mean more money for other necessities such as food, clothing and medicine. No one should have to choose whether to heat or eat!
• Weatherization reduces the power a household consumes from a dirty coal plant or a fish-killing dam.
• 540,000 homes in the Northwest have incomes below the federal poverty line. Between 165,000 and 235,000 electrically-heated homes have not been weatherized. The need is great, yet funding for these investments is uncertain.

Regional population is projected to double in the next 40 years. Strong public policies supporting conservation and renewables will ensure that we meet the increasing demand
for electricity with clean, affordable energy, not dirty power plants and fish-killing dams.