Experts shared their insights on what to do about surging energy costs during a webinar CUB hosted for residential energy customers.
Check out the replay below or on CUB’s YouTube Channel. You can download the full presentation slides here.
The webinar on Aug. 18 was the second in a three-part series of webinars that aim to help residential utility customers plan for rising costs and consider steps they can take to save energy and money.
The first residential webinar was held on July 21, and that replay is available on the CUB blog on CUB’s YouTube Channel.
The second session, What to Know About Where Energy Costs are Headed … and What to Do, was moderated by Tom Content, CUB executive director. Sharing presentations were Francisco Sayu, emerging technology director at Renew Wisconsin; Kaila Wilson, program director at the Vernon County Energy District; and Saidirick Walker, program manager at Green Homeowners United in Milwaukee County.
Content described rising natural gas market costs and their potential to put pressure on home heating costs as well as electricity costs starting this fall.
Sayu discussed how Wisconsin residents can see savings if they consider electrification technologies such as heat pumps and electric vehicles. His own family, Sayu said, has saved $1,300 in annual fueling costs after shifting from a conventional vehicle to an EV.
Wilson described the community effort in Vernon County to boost awareness about energy choices and energy use. The energy district has provided assessments, consultations and in-home energy monitoring equipment to participants, both residents and businesses.
She invited participants to take an online energy assessment using a tool VCED has already used to help local residents.
Walker discussed opportunities for customers to make their homes more comfortable and save on energy bills at the same time. Key upgrades to homes consist of adding insulation to attics and shoring up insulation in basements. It’s the same effect as putting on a warm hat and extra pair of socks to keep warm when winter’s chill starts to grip people, he said.
Among the take-home messages from panelists:
“Take a look in your attic. Look and see what is up there and see what kind of insulation you have,” said Walker.
“Plan and set personal goals. Get an energy assessment. See where you’re at and where you need to go,” said Wilson. “Then talk to your neighbors about it” and build a community network of understanding of these issues.
“Get curious about your energy use,” said Sayu. He urged people to check the state Focus on Energy program for incentives and remember to consider heat pumps, energy efficient electric appliances and be sure to test-drive an electric vehicle.
The third webinar in the series, set for noon on Thursday, Sept. 22, will focus on Action Steps You Can Take to Use Less Energy at Home. CUB board member Heather Goetsch will moderate a panel featuring Tom Content from CUB, Chad Laibly from Wisconsin Focus on Energy, and Cristina Carvajal from Wisconsin EcoLatinos.
CUB also has two small business webinars coming up in October. See everything that’s coming up by checking CUB’s events calendar.
