Local Sustainability Champions

Meet Marge…

Here’s the story of our goal to have a Net Zero Energy home. My husband, Peter, and I started with a 1954 ranch house on a city lot. First, we conserved the amount of electricity, gas and water we used. Over several years, we did insulation, thermal windows, light bulbs, appliances and toilets. We compost, recycle and have will-call trash service.

We added renewable energy with solar electric panels, a wood stove and offsets from Blue Sky and Smart Energy. We got rid of the lawn and planted an edible landscape. We travel by bike or electric cart or biodiesel. Our electric bills are down to $8.34 per month and gas bills are $34 per month.

There’s always more we can do. The lesson is that you don’t need to have a brand new house to make it energy efficient! If you are inspired to save money on utility bills and lower your carbon footprint, check the Energize Corvallis website for great resources and information on rebates, tax credits, and incentives.

Check out more actions from our local sustainability champs.