Oregon Swap

Instead of burning precious fossil fuels for energy, many Oregon residents are using alternate energy sources to fuel their everyday needs. One of the most practical and effective energy sources being used in Oregon is Solar Energy.Wipe the image of massive metal solar panels out of your mind. Thanks to the evolution of solar technology, it’s possible to harness the energy of the sun without compromising design or function. One of the more notable and usable solar technologies being used in Oregon is Solar Water Heating. Since 1979, more than 16,000 solar water heaters have been installed in Oregon for domestic hot water, swimming pools, and spas. These solar heating systems meet the standards for performance, safety, design, and maintenance established by the Solar Rating and Certification Corporation. Already, solar water heaters are saving the US an average of 2,600 kWh.Now, saving energy is great and all, but what about saving money? Thankfully, Oregon makes both of these worthy endeavors possible by enforcing solar space heating. While all homes use solar energy to meet some of their heating needs, it is possible to reduce annual heating bills 20 to 30 percent by installing south facing windows, tile floors (great for thermal storage), and overhangs. Well built solar homes can provide better temperature control, bright day-lit spaces, and lower energy bills. If this isn’t incentive enough to go solar, Oregon provides a 1,500 tax credit for passive solar features.In addition to providing heating power, technology today can directly convert energy from the sun into electricity. Though this form of renewable energy is pricier than traditional electricity, it is pollution free and can offset your utility power under 20-25 year warranties. To learn more about solar electricity, download The Oregon Solar Electric Guide (http://www.oregon.gov/ENERGY/RENEW/Solar/PV.shtml).