Reduce, Reuse & Recycle!

This spring, go green when you clean.  As you go through your piles of stuff, think about ways you can reuse or recycle the items that you don’t want anymore.  There are plenty of ways to re-purpose, sell, or donate the clean out pile.  Remember, one person’s trash, is another person’s treasure!

If you are getting rid of a few things of value, don't miss out on an opportunity to earn some green.  Check out opportunities to sell your items at your local consignment stores, and consider company or local classifieds. For the more internet savvy, try eBay or Craigslist.

If you have your own personal library and need to free up some space, check out your local library's book drive and http://www.discoverbooks.com/.

Many organizations are looking for and will accept donations.  Goodwill and Salvation Army are widely known and have the donation process down to a science. But don't forget your local organizations and charities. Some common organizations that take donations include Junior League (clothing), Veteran organizations (clothing, DVDs, care package items), SPCA (towels, rags), food banks (dry and canned goods), etc.

Do you still like the item but don’t want to use it in its current state?  Go to the web to get inspiration on giving it a facelift and a new purpose!  I personally like Pinterest which combines ideas from different people, websites, blogs, etc.  It’s a great place to start imagining the new possibilities for what might otherwise seem like trash.

As you recycle and reuse, remember to safeguard against identify theft and don't put yourself in uncomfortable situations.  If you are donating items to a charity, remember to ask about tax deductions.

Good luck & happy cleaning!!

Put Some Green in Your Pocket on Earth Day

Mark your calendars for Saturday, April 20th and join Dominion at the 20th Annual RVA Earth Day Festival and show your support for this event. 

Saturday, April 20th
11:00am to 5:00pm
17th Street Farmer’s Market

And, best of all, stop by our booth to register for a chance to win a $100 gift card to put some green in your pocket on Earth Day!

Dominion is proud to be a participant in this year’s Earth Day Festival and we invite you to join in the fun.  Richmond Magazine recently ranked the 20th Annual RVA Earth Day in the top ten “31 Things You Must do in 2013.”

Celebrate with Dominion and enjoy live music, art, environmental exhibits, an eco-friendly 5k run, kid’s activities, food, drink, and, locally grown produce and plants.

Want to learn more about Dominion’s energy efficient rebate programs to help you save energy and money?   Stop by the Dominion booth during the Earth Day Festival and bring your questions.  You’ll get the answers and at the same time you can register for a chance to win a $100 gift card.

In the meantime, sign up to receive information on our energy conservation programs and tips that can help you save on your energy bill now and year-round.  Visit www.dom.com/linktosavings to join our email mailing list.

See you on April 20th!

For more information on all Dominion energy conservation programs and participation and eligibility requirements, visit www.dom.com/savenowVA .

To contact a participating contractor in your local area for more information, or to schedule an appointment, go to www.dom.com/contractorsearch .

Six Ways to Save Energy at Home and at Work

Did you know that more than 40% of your energy bill comes from heating and cooling costs*?

To help customers save money on their energy use, Dominion has developed a series of customer-friendly energy conservation programs.  These programs are designed to help you maximize your savings.

Check out our rebate programs and get in on the savings NOW!

Home Energy Check-Up - $230 Average Rebate
The Home Energy Check-Up program offers an on-site analysis of your energy use with incentives for the installation of a variety of energy-saving measures.

Residential Duct Testing and Sealing - $125 Rebate
A duct testing and sealing procedure can help you reduce energy use in your home and save money; improve indoor comfort by eliminating loss of conditioned air to attics, crawlspaces, or other places; and, improve indoor air quality by decreasing the risk of pollutants entering and circulating through your home.

Heat Pump Tune-Up - $90 Rebate
Receive a Heat Pump Tune-Up and save energy all year. A heat pump tune-up can help you improve the efficiency and prolong the life of existing equipment and ensure your unit is clean, has good air flow, and provides better temperature and humidity control.

Heat Pump Upgrade - $200 or $250 Rebate
If your system is more than 10 years old, now is the time to consider a Heat Pump Upgrade and receive a rebate for the replacement of existing heat pump equipment with a more energy-efficient model to help lower your energy bill, increase the efficiency of your home, and improve your comfort.

Commercial Energy Audit
An Energy Audit provides an on-site analysis and report of a non-residential facility’s energy use with financial incentives to help cover a portion of the cost of the audit, up to the full price of the audit, after completing some of the recommended improvements.

Commercial Duct Testing and Sealing
The Commercial Duct Testing and Sealing program promotes the testing and general repair of poorly performing duct and air distribution systems in qualifying non-residential facilities.  Proper sealing can significantly improve airflow to reduce energy use and save money. Customer incentive(s) are based on the unit size in tons.

For more information on these energy conservation programs and participation and eligibility requirements, visit dom.com/savenowVA

Contact us today!

Interested in more ways to save? Sign up to receive energy saving tips and other rebate offers at dom.com/linktosavings

To locate a participating contractor in your local area for more information, or to schedule an appointment, go to dom.com/contractorsearch

*Source: www.energystar.gov

Clear the Clutter with eBill

Do you have paper clutter that just builds up? Are you constantly recycling junk mail and shredding account information?

Switch to eBill and get clutter free. With eBill, Dominion’s paperless billing program, you can opt to receive your bill electronically.

No more paper. No more shredding.

eBill is easy. Once you enroll you’ll receive an email notification that your bill is ready to view in Manage Your Account.

Simply log in to see the same information you would receive on a paper bill. You can even make free same-day payments from your checking or savings account.

Other benefits of eBill include: 12 months of bill history, the ability to view, print or save your bill at any time, and an email payment reminder before your bill is due.

Once you’re logged into Manage Your Account you can analyze your usage, sign up for bank draft or budget billing, and enroll in programs like Dominion Green Power.

Feel the Warmth This Winter

As we enter into the final stages of winter (and some of the coldest days we’ve had thus far!) are you feeling as cozy and warm in your home as you should be? As temperatures drop, you can take steps to improve your comfort and lower your energy bill.

Did you know that in a typical house, about 20 percent of the air moving through the duct system is lost due to leaks, holes, and poorly connected ducts*? Proper sealing of your home’s duct and air distribution system can significantly improve airflow, offering many benefits including lowering your energy bill, increasing the energy efficiency of your home, and improving your comfort.

What are some indications your home has poorly performing ducts?

• High summer and winter utility bills.
• Rooms in your home are difficult to heat and cool.
• Rooms feel stuffy and never seem to get to the right temperature.
• Ducts are located in an attic, crawlspace, or the garage.
• There are tangled or kinked flexible ducts in the system.

The Duct Testing and Sealing program provides a $125 rebate for the testing and general repair of poorly performing duct and air distribution systems and can help you:

• Reduce energy use in your home, which can save you money—properly sealed ducts often pay for themselves in energy savings.
• Improve indoor comfort by eliminating the loss of conditioned air to the attic, crawlspace, or other places where your existing duct system may be leaking.
• Reduce the risk of pollutants entering and circulating through your home, improving indoor air quality.

Qualified home owners participating in the Duct Testing and Sealing program receive a one-time incentive of $125 per unit for completion of the procedure. To learn more about the program and eligibility requirements, visit www.dom.com/homeducttestandseal or call 1-888-366-8280.

To contact a participating contractor in your local area for more information, or to schedule an appointment, go to www.dom.com/contractorsearch or call 1-888-366-8280.

Stay warm and save money and energy this winter… and year-round!

*Source: energystar.gov

Tip of the Day - Let us bring the savings to you!

Register and get rewarded!

Take advantage of a new way to acquire information on saving energy and money.

Sign up to receive information on energy conservation programs and tips that can help you save on your energy bill with rebates now and savings year-round.
 
Visit www.dom.com/linktosavings to join our email mailing list today.

Kick Off Pre-Game Celebrations with Savings!

Are you in the market for a new TV before The Big Game?  Or maybe you’re just thinking about upgrading…but how can you possibly choose?

The main thing to remember is that in terms of energy efficiency, LED LCDs are the cream of the crop.  CCFL LCD come in second with plasma in third (although they have gotten a lot more efficient than when they first came out).

To select the best TV for your budget and needs, take advantage of this list from ENERGY STAR- the ENERGY STAR Most Efficient 2012 Television.

Slim Down Your Energy Bill this New Year with a Home Energy Check-Up

The Home Energy Check-Up program offers you quick and affordable improvement options to lower your energy bill year-round. Qualifying homeowners can use rebate incentives to help offset the cost of the check-up.

How It Works:

1. Walk-through. A participating contractor will perform a 2-3 hour walk-through of your home to show you how you can reduce the amount of energy you use and save money. The contractor will check things like:
   
   • Lighting
   • Insulation levels
   • Air leakage
   • Heating and cooling systems
   • Windows and doors
   • Water heater equipment
2. Discuss your options.  The contractor will generate a personalized report that recommends certain direct install measures that can be completed the day of the check-up and are eligible for rebates as well as project more advanced savings opportunities you can also take advantage of.
3. Installation of energy-saving measures. With your permission, the contractor will install the recommended energy-saving measures.
4. Rebates. The contractor will ask for your information in order to complete the electronic rebate application for you and your rebate check will be mailed directly to you.

The average one-time incentive is approximately $230, based on measures installed.  Find out more at www.dom.com/homeenergycheckup.

To contact a local participating contractor for more information and appointment scheduling go to www.dom.com/contractorsearch or call 1-866-DOM-HELP (1-866-366-4357).

Value Your Power? Makes Sense!

Have you checked out the Virginia State Corporation Commission’s Virginia Energy Sense website?

If not, I highly recommend you do!

Whether you are interested in learning about available energy efficiency incentives, or you want to take a home energy test to learn more about your own home’s energy use and how to manage it, this website has your bases covered.  The website also offers valuable information for businesses and schools. 

The Virginia Energy Sense website was launched as part of a statewide campaign to complement Virginia’s goal to reduce the state’s energy use by 10% by 2022 (based on 2006 data).  As we’ve said previously, Dominion is committed to helping Virginia reach this voluntary state goal.

Check out our current programs to learn more about Dominion’s initiatives.

Energy Star Most Efficient 2013

Another year, another purchase that needs to be made.

Need a new refrigerator or washing machine?  Check out this list of EnergyStar’s most efficient products for 2013 before you shop.

You might have to pay a little more upfront, but it will save you money and energy in the long run!