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City of Ashland, Oregon / Community Development / Conservation Division / Conservation Programs
Conservation
The City of Ashland Conservation Division was established more than 20 years ago and is responsible for operating water, recycling, air quality and energy conservation programs.
The Division works with the Ashland School District, Southern Oregon University, Ashland businesses, and homeowners to increase the efficiency of their resource usage.
The following services are designed to improve the efficiency of your home. See Conservation Tips for a list of energy and water saving ideas. Thank you for your participation and for doing your part to conserve our valuable resources. Conservation Division
541-488-5306
Visit the following web site for more information on energy saving programs.
Green Business Program
The City of Ashland's Green Business Program is a voluntary program that encourages environmental stewardship while practicing economical and ecologically sound business practices. Flexible criteria are addressed for organizations of any size and type. The Criteria are straightforward and attainable. They center on activities that promote resource conservation, reduce waste, minimize pollution and education for employees and the public.
Participation will bring numberous benefits to participating businesses including:
Lower resource and wate disposal costs.
The satisfaction of minimizing the impact on the natural environment.
Recognition for working to build a stronger and healthier community.
For more information on the Ashland Green Business program you may contact: The City of Ashland Conservation Division at 552-2062 or email pearcer@ashland.or.us.
We would like to acknowledge the following businesses as
Ashland Green Businesses:
Appliance Rebates
Washing Machine Rebates
Rebates are given to customers who purchase resource efficient clothes washers. These machines use up to 40% less water and up to 50% less energy. Clothes washers with the ENERGY STAR label qualify for an $70 City rebate if the home has an electric water heater and $35 if the home has a gas water heater. More efficient clothes washers found on Oregon Dept. of Energy's list of models qualifying for state tax credits are eligible for a $100 City rebate if the house has an electric water heater and $50 if the water heater is gas. (Qualifying appliance lists can be found at www.energystar.gov and www.energy.state.or.us). Click here for City rebate form.
Dishwasher Rebates
Rebates are given to customers who purchase resource efficient dishwashers. These models use up to 30% less water than standard models. Dishwashers with the ENERGY STAR label qualify for a $50 City rebate if the home has an electric water heater and $25 if it has a gas water heater. More efficient dishwashers found on Oregon Dept. of Energy's list of models qualifying for state tax credits are eligible for a $60 City rebate if the home has an electric water heater and $30 if it has a gas water heater. (Qualifying appliance lists can be found at www.energystar.gov and www.energy.state.or.us). Click here for City rebate form.
Refrigerator Rebates
Rebates are given to customers purchasing resource efficient refrigerators. Refrigerators with the ENERGY STAR label qualify for a City rebate of $25. More efficient models from the Oregon Dept. of Energy's list qualify for a rebate of $35 and are eligible for a state tax credit. To qualify for the City rebates, the old refrigerator must be decommissioned. (Qualifying appliance lists can be found at www.energystar.gov and www.energy.state.or.us).
Electric Water Heater
Rebates of $65 are given to customers replacing electric water heaters with new energy-efficient electric models. Before purchasing, check with the City for specific details and requirements. Click here for City rebate form.
Water Conservation Programs
Indoor Water Analyses
A Water Conservation Analyst will visit your home to evaluate the efficiency of your plumbing fixtures and will replace the showerheads, faucet aerators, and retrofit toilets to reduce water used, if needed.
Low Flow Toilet Rebates
Rebates are given to customers who replace existing toilets (2.5 gallons per flush or greater) with low flow toilets (1.6 gallons or less per flush): $25 for the first toilet, $20 for the second and $15 for the third all located in the same house or business. Click here for City rebate form.
Ultra-Low Flow Toilet Rebates
Rebates are given to customers who replace existing toilets (1.6 gallons per flush or greater) with ultra-low flow toilets meetng the Water Sense Standard (1.28 gallons or less per flush): $45 for the first toilet, $35 for the second and $25 for the third all located in the same house or business. Click here for City rebate form.
Air Quality Program
Air Quality
If you have a woodstove currently installed in your home and you want to remove it, the City will pick it up and pay you $50. (The City must be notified before the woodstove is removed).
For more information on the City's appliance rebates, water conservation programs, or the woodstove rebate, call Robbin Pearce at 541-552-2062 or email her at pearcer@ashland.or.us
Residential Energy Conservation Programs
Home Energy Analysis
This program is free to residents with electric heat. The City’s Energy Analyst will come to your home and do an inspection to determine what can be done to improve its efficiency and provide the customer with a list of recommended measures and potential incentives.
Home Leakage
Test Free for electrically heated homes and $50 for those with non-electric heat. The blower door test will show where air is leaking out of the house. The Energy Analyst will provide a list of locations of the leaks and suggestions on how to repair them.
Duct System Analysis
Free for homeowners with electric heat and $100 for homeowners with non-electric heat. If your home has a central heating system, a duct leakage test can determine if the ducts need to be sealed or replaced. Financial incentives may be available to help defray the cost of duct sealing or replacement.
Duct Rebates
Customers sealing or replacing leaky ducts in electrically heated residences may receive rebates of 80% of the cost up to $300. This rebate is also available for duct systems installed in brand new homes with qualifying high efficiency heat pumps. Work must be performed by a heating contractor on the City's approved list and must meet the requirements of the Oregon Dept. of Energy.
Zero Interest Loans
Available to qualifying homeowners for up to $7500 for a variety of energy saving projects, including solar water heaters, heat pump systems, duct sealing or replacement, replacement windows, and weatherization measures.
Insulation Rebate
If your home has electric heat, you could receive a rebate to insulate your walls, ceiling, or floor. The amount of the incentive will vary, depending on projected energy savings resulting from the measure but cannot exceed 40% of the cost. An energy audit must be done by the City before insulation is installed.
Window Rebate
If your home has electric heat, you could receive a rebate of $2.00 per square foot of window area to replace existing ones with energy efficient ENERGY STAR windows having a U-value of 0.35 or lower. A $2.50 per square foot rebate will be paid for more efficient windows having a U-value of 0.30 or lower. An energy audit must be done by the City before the windows are replaced. In lieu of the rebate, the City offers a 0% interest loan that can be used to replace windows.
Heat Pump Program
Customers installing high efficiency heat pumps in either existing residences or new construction (non Earth Advantage or ENERGY STAR Homes) can receive a $500 rebate from the City. In order to qualify for this incentive, the new heat pump must have a minium 8.5 HSPF and 14.0 SEER, be installed and commissioned by a heating contractor on the City's approved list, and the ducts must be tested and tight. (An additional $300 duct rebate may be available).
Electronic Thermostat Rebate
Homes with existing electric resistive heating systems (baseboard, wall heaters, or ceiling cable heat) can qualify for a $115 rebate if the existing thermostats are bi-metal line voltage and are all replaced (except in bathrooms) with line voltage electronic thermostats meeting City/BPA specifications.
Manufactured Home Rebate
The City will pay $600 to customers purchasing and setting up an ENERGY STAR manufactured home with electric space heat in its utility service area.
Residential New Construction Programs
ENERGY STAR Homes NorthwestTM The ENERGY STAR label is awarded to homes that are built following a simple prescriptive path, resulting in homes that are at least 15% more energy efficient than code homes. These savings are typically achieved through a combination of tight duct systems, ENERGY STAR qualified windows, increased insulation levels, and high-efficiency water heating equipment, appliances, and lighting. Call to find out what current incentive levels are for ENERGY STAR certified homes. For more information on this national program, check out the website www.northwestenergystar.com To take a virtual tour of an ENERGY STAR home, click here.
Earth Advantage TM The City offers this program for sustainable new residential construction. Since all Earth Advantage homes must meet ENERGY STAR home standards, an Earth Advantage home is also at least 15% more energy efficient than a code home and is designed and built to provide its occupants with comfort and quality. An Earth Advantage home also has special features that ensure its occupants lower energy bills, healthier indoor air, reduced impact on the environment, and conservation of natural resources. The home must pass diagnostic tests which demonstrate that the house and duct system are tight and energy efficient. Plans need to be reviewed by the Conservation Division prior to starting construction. Call to find out what current incentive levels are for homes that are both Earth Advantage and ENERGY STAR certified. (The homebuyer may be eligible to receive additional City rebates and/or State tax credits, depending on the measures installed). For more information on this program, check out the website http://www.earthadvantage.com
For more information on residential energy conservation programs, call 488-5357.
Other Resource Saving Programs
Commercial Conservation Program
Rebates and zero-interest loans are available to Ashland commercial customers for lighting retrofits and other resource-saving measures. Call for a free site analysis.
Renewable Pioneers/Green Tag Program
Ashland utility customers can support clean, renewable energy by purchasing Green Tags from the Bonneville Environmental Foundation (BEF). Each time an Ashland resident buys Green Tags, BEF will direct a portion of the purchase to local renewable energy projects such as installation of solar electric systems. To become a Renewable Pioneer, visit www.GreenAshland.org or call BEF toll-free at 1-866-233-8247.
Solar Water Heater Program
Ashland utility customers using electric water heaters may qualify for either a cash rebate of up to $1000 or a zero-interest loan for installation of approved solar water heating systems. Call Larry at 552-2065 to schedule a free solar site analysis.
Net Metering Policy
Ashland was the first utility in Oregon to adopt a net metering policy. Customers that invest in small-scale wind or solar electric systems will be compensated at full retail cost for excess electricity they produce.
Solar Electric (PV) Rebate ProgramThis program is designed to encourage Ashland citizens and businesses to invest in photovoltaic generation installations by paying rebates for qualifying installations. Cash incentives offered by the City of Ashland for grid-connected solar electric systems are $2.25 per Watt of the system up to a maximum of $10,000 for residential systems and $1 per Watt up to $10,000 for systems installed on businesses.
In order to qualify, all of the following requirements must be met:
1) The system must be a net metered system interconnected with the City‘s electrical grid and must comply with all of the City‘s net metering requirements.
2) The owner of the system must enter into an Interconnection Agreement and Buyback Agreement with the City of Ashland.
3) The system must have adequate solar access: Systems must have total solar resource fractions (as per the Oregon Dept. of Energy Solar Electric Sun Chart Worksheet) of 75% and no shading by a tree between 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m.
4) The system must be installed with City Building and Electrical Permits and comply with all permit requirements.
For more information on these other resource saving programs, call Larry Giardina at 541-552-2065 or email him at giardin@ashland.or.us
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