This was in a recent issue of the Republican Journal/Village Soup. I could not help but notice that just about every one of their energy savings tip involved oil or propane-related equipment (with the single exception of insulation and caulking) and coincidentally enough involved paying for cleaning, paying for installation of new devices (i.e. programmable thermostats (although arguably you could buy one yourself at a local hardware store), outdoor reset controls, etc.) or buying new equipment (i.e. new boiler, on-demand hot water heaters, etc.)
However, what really takes the cake for me is their suggestion to have a potluck dinner and invite folks over to use body heat to heat up the home . . . shoot . . . if they are serious and really want to make a difference maybe they should suggest we start having eight or nine kids to really crank up the heat in the house.
Thought the folks here would get a mild chuckle out of their potluck dinner idea.
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Oil dealers prepare for angry winter; Don't blame the deliveryman
By Victoria Wallack
State House Reporter
AUGUSTA (July 29, 08): Maine’s oil dealers are going on the road for a series of "town hall" forums, and training their furnace technicians to spot obvious energy wasters like leaky windows and doors to help keep their customers from revolting this winter.
Jamie Py, head of the Maine Oil Dealers Association, said he is concerned some people will abandon oil all together and turn to wood — particularly the popular wood pellet stoves.
Natural gas companies also are making a pitch to get people to convert in the more-populated areas of the state where gas lines already exist — an access problem that has kept the number of households heating with natural gas low compared to other states.
The majority of the 80 percent of households in Maine that will continue to use oil this winter no doubt will be unhappy about the price and that could spill over into their relationship with the fuel deliveryman.
Py, who is planning eight public forums around the state, said he will talk about what’s going on in the market that’s driving the price, have a panel discussion on things people can do to reduce consumption, discuss the dangers of improperly installed heaters or stoves, and ask customers not to take out this winter’s prices on their oil man.
“I’m going to tell them not to murder their oil dealer when they come with an $800 bill,” Py said.
Py admits that part of it is a public relations campaign, but one that can save people money. “Yes, we’re looking out for our turf. We’re not denying that,” Py said. “We’d rather keep you as a customer and sell you 70 percent of what we sold you last year.”
The schedule of the forums will be formalized in early August.
Technicians working for oil companies also will be trained to do a basic review of customers’ homes to help them conserve energy this winter. The reviews won’t be full-blown energy audits, but they will be a start, Py said.
Oil dealers already are circulating a checklist of top conservation tips. They are:
• Save 5 percent with an annual furnace tune-up.
• Save 5 percent or more with a programmable thermostat.
• Space heaters using propane, oil and kerosene can reduce fuel usage.
• Energy-efficient indirect water heaters and instant-on hot water systems save energy.
• Automatic outdoor reset controls help boilers run more efficiently.
• Replacing old burners or heating systems can reduce heating costs up to 40 percent.
• Insulation, caulking drafts and replacing old windows can cut heating costs dramatically.
There are more energy saving tips on the Maine Oil Dealers Association Web site, meoil.com, including one that’s aimed at making people feel a little less traumatized by the upcoming winter. It suggests people invite a bunch of friends over for a potluck dinner. At 98.6 degrees of body temperature, every friend is worth 500 Btus per hour.
Other Web sites with energy-saving advice include:
eere.energy.gov/consumer/your_home
eere.energy.gov/consumer/tips/
energystar.gov/
mainehousing.org/ENERGYPrograms.aspx
natresnet.org/ratings/default.htm
eere.energy.gov/buildings/building_america/pdfs/38309.pdf
Based in Augusta, syndicated State House Reporter Victoria Wallack can be reached at 207-338-0484 or by e-mail at [email protected].
However, what really takes the cake for me is their suggestion to have a potluck dinner and invite folks over to use body heat to heat up the home . . . shoot . . . if they are serious and really want to make a difference maybe they should suggest we start having eight or nine kids to really crank up the heat in the house.
Thought the folks here would get a mild chuckle out of their potluck dinner idea.
-----------------------
Oil dealers prepare for angry winter; Don't blame the deliveryman
By Victoria Wallack
State House Reporter
AUGUSTA (July 29, 08): Maine’s oil dealers are going on the road for a series of "town hall" forums, and training their furnace technicians to spot obvious energy wasters like leaky windows and doors to help keep their customers from revolting this winter.
Jamie Py, head of the Maine Oil Dealers Association, said he is concerned some people will abandon oil all together and turn to wood — particularly the popular wood pellet stoves.
Natural gas companies also are making a pitch to get people to convert in the more-populated areas of the state where gas lines already exist — an access problem that has kept the number of households heating with natural gas low compared to other states.
The majority of the 80 percent of households in Maine that will continue to use oil this winter no doubt will be unhappy about the price and that could spill over into their relationship with the fuel deliveryman.
Py, who is planning eight public forums around the state, said he will talk about what’s going on in the market that’s driving the price, have a panel discussion on things people can do to reduce consumption, discuss the dangers of improperly installed heaters or stoves, and ask customers not to take out this winter’s prices on their oil man.
“I’m going to tell them not to murder their oil dealer when they come with an $800 bill,” Py said.
Py admits that part of it is a public relations campaign, but one that can save people money. “Yes, we’re looking out for our turf. We’re not denying that,” Py said. “We’d rather keep you as a customer and sell you 70 percent of what we sold you last year.”
The schedule of the forums will be formalized in early August.
Technicians working for oil companies also will be trained to do a basic review of customers’ homes to help them conserve energy this winter. The reviews won’t be full-blown energy audits, but they will be a start, Py said.
Oil dealers already are circulating a checklist of top conservation tips. They are:
• Save 5 percent with an annual furnace tune-up.
• Save 5 percent or more with a programmable thermostat.
• Space heaters using propane, oil and kerosene can reduce fuel usage.
• Energy-efficient indirect water heaters and instant-on hot water systems save energy.
• Automatic outdoor reset controls help boilers run more efficiently.
• Replacing old burners or heating systems can reduce heating costs up to 40 percent.
• Insulation, caulking drafts and replacing old windows can cut heating costs dramatically.
There are more energy saving tips on the Maine Oil Dealers Association Web site, meoil.com, including one that’s aimed at making people feel a little less traumatized by the upcoming winter. It suggests people invite a bunch of friends over for a potluck dinner. At 98.6 degrees of body temperature, every friend is worth 500 Btus per hour.
Other Web sites with energy-saving advice include:
eere.energy.gov/consumer/your_home
eere.energy.gov/consumer/tips/
energystar.gov/
mainehousing.org/ENERGYPrograms.aspx
natresnet.org/ratings/default.htm
eere.energy.gov/buildings/building_america/pdfs/38309.pdf
Based in Augusta, syndicated State House Reporter Victoria Wallack can be reached at 207-338-0484 or by e-mail at [email protected].
