Energy Q & A
We've collected the answers to the most frequently asked questions on our energy hotline. If you still can't find an answer to your question, call the Idaho Energy Hotline at 1-800-334-SAVE or Ask an Energy Specialist.
Biomass
QWhat is biomass?
ABiomass supplies about 9 percent of the total energy used in Idaho through waste products, such as forest and logging residue, municipal solid waste, agricultural residues, animal waste, and agricultural processing.
Commercial / Industrial
QDoes anyone in your office conduct audits on commercial buildings to help lower my energy costs?
ANo, the Office of Energy Resources funding doesn't cover our costs to do audits.
QDo you have guidelines for constructing a LEED qualified commercial building?
ANo, our focus is on energy efficiency.
Energy Conservation
QMy home is constantly cold and the furnace runs all the time. What should I do?
AContact a furnace dealer and have someone visit your home to inspect the furnace, heat ducts, and thermostat.
QWhat can I do to lower my utility bills in my home?
AThere are a lot of things you can do to lower your utility bills. Replace your incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescent light bulbs, install a programmable thermostat and lower your heat setting at night and when no one is home during the day. Turn off all electrical appliances, such as television sets and computers that are not being used. The Office of Energy Resources has a free handy tips booklet that you can request by calling the Idaho Energy Hotline at 1-800-334-SAVE.
Energy Star Programs
QWhat is an Energy Star Home?
AAn Energy Star must meet guidelines for energy efficiency set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. These homes are at least 15 percent more energy efficient that homes built to the 2004 International Residential Code, and include additional energy-saving features that typically make them 20-30 percent more efficient than standard homes. Energy Star certified homes include effective insulation, high performance windows, tight construction and air ducts, and efficient heating and cooling equipment. They also may be equipped with Energy Star qualified products, such as lighting fixtures, compact fluorescent bulbs, ventilation fans and appliances. Find out more about Energy Star homes.
QHow do I find someone to build an Energy Star home for me?
A Contact a Home Performance Specialist. They can tell you about builders in your area.
Low-interest Loans
QWhat home improvement projects can I finance with the low interest loan program?
AThe regular loan program finances Insulation, duct sealing and insulation, water heaters, furnaces, heat pumps, wood stove, and wood pellet stoves.
The home performance with energy star loan program finances air conditioners, home performance specialist fees and Energy Star windows in addition to the items listed above under the regular loan program.
QIf I filed for bankruptcy two years ago, can I still qualify for a loan?
AWe are unable to answer the question because the Office of Energy Resources does not make the credit decision. Your credit application will be analyzed by a financial institution you select from our list on the application. You must meet the bank's credit standards and demonstrate you have the ability and willingness to repay the loan. If your credit application is denied you cannot reapply with another lender from our list.
QAre there any grants, loan, tax credits available if I improve my home or install a solar system or wind turbine?
AGrants to improve your home are rare. Our office has a low interest loan program. The best place to look for tax credits is the www.dsireusa.org website which lists Idaho state tax deductions, and Federal tax credits. Be sure to check with your electric or gas utility for cash incentives. Some manufacturers offer rebates as well.
Manufactured Homes
QWhat is an Energy Star manufactured home?
AAn Energy Star manufactured home is a home that has been built in a factory, it must meet guidelines for energy efficiency set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. These homes are at least 15 percent more energy efficient that homes built to the 2004 International Residential Code, and include additional energy-saving features that typically make them 20-30 percent more efficient than standard homes. Energy Star certified homes include effective insulation, high performance windows, tight construction and air ducts, and efficient heating and cooling equipment. They also may be equipped with Energy Star qualified products, such as lighting fixtures, compact fluorescent bulbs, ventilation fans and appliances. Find out more about manufactured housing.
QWhat is the advantage of buying an Energy Star manufactured home?
ATwenty to Thirty percent reduction in your utility costs.
New Construction
QI'd like to build an energy-efficient home in Idaho. Who do I contact?
AContact a Home Performance Specialist. They can direct you to builders in your area that builds Energy Star homes.
Renewable Energy
QI am going to build a house in the country that's about two miles from the electric grid. What are my options for power?
ASolar electric (photovoltaics), small hydro and small wind may be potential power sources that may be less costly. The cost to extend power lines can easily exceed $30,000 per mile.
QHow do I determine if it's better to have solar power or a wind generator?
AFor solar, it is best to have full sun from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. (No trees, buildings, walls etc. to block the sun's rays during these hours.)
To generate power with a turbine, steady, non-turbulent winds should be approximately 11 mph.
An Idaho alternative energy dealer is generally the best avenue for designing a system that works well at a reasonable cost.
Solar
QI'm tired of paying such high electric bills. How do I switch to solar?
AContact a solar dealer/installer and ask for a site assessment; a partial listing can be found here. The dealer will tell you whether or not your site is a good one for using solar will give you an approximate cost of the project, timelines for installation and other vital information. Solar is modular so you can add panels as you like without major re-wiring.
But before you invest in solar electric, be sure your home is as energy-efficient as possible. It makes little sense to invest heavily in solar panels if your home is poorly insulated or has other major energy losses.
QAre there any grants or loans to install solar on my home?
AThere are no grants from the state, but it does have a low-interest loan program. See www.dsireusa.org. Click on Idaho map and scroll down to State Loan Program.
QI'm building a new home and want to add solar. Are they any state or federal tax incentives to help me?
ABoth solar electric and solar water heating qualify. For federal tax credits, see www.dsireusa.org and click on the small US map in the middle of the page.
The Idaho tax deductions are also at www.dsireusa.org. Click on the Gem State map and scroll down to Personal deduction, alternative energy tax deductions. Normally, the Idaho Tax Commission allows these deductions on the primary residence only.
Wind
QI want to install a wind turbine to produce electricity for my home. Will it qualify for a loan?
AWind turbines are eligible for low interest loans, however these projects currently are unable to meet the required 15 year simple payback criteria. If your goal is to lower your electric utility bill, energy efficiency projects such as insulation, geothermal heat pumps and energy star windows and appliances are probably a more cost effective solution.
Biodiesel Questions & Answers
Biodiesel fuel is being widely around the United States and now in Idaho. Now that biodiesel is available to the general public in our state, you may have questions about the fuel and also be unaware of many of its benefits. Here are the answers to some common questions about the fuel.
QWhat is Biodiesel?
AIt is an alternative diesel made from renewable resources such as vegetable oils (soy, corn, canola, mustard, etc), animal fats (tallow, lard, etc), and recycled cooking greases (grease, cooking oil, etc). Biodiesel can be used in pure form or blended with petroleum diesel at any level. The B number indicates the percentage of biofuel. For instance B20 is a blend of 20 percent biodiesel and 80 percent petroleum diesel. The University of Idaho pioneered and continues to be a worldwide leader in biodiesel research.
QIs Biodiesel safe to put in my engine?
AYes, using biodiesel requires no engine modification, but achieves significant performance, emissions and aesthetic benefits. Biodiesel has been tested by government agencies, universities, transit authorities, and private industry in the United States, Canada, and Europe. Biodiesel is also recognized as an alternative fuel by the Department of Energy and the Environmental Protection Agency.
QCan Biodiesel cause any problems for my diesel engine?
AIt can, depending on how old your vehicle is. Biodiesel is a form of solvent and can affect some seals, gaskets, and adhesives, particularly those made before 1991 and those made from natural or nitrile rubber. Most diesel engines made after 1993 have been constructed with gaskets and seals that are generally biodiesel resistant. Earlier engine models or rebuilds may use older gasket and seal materials and present a risk of swelling, leaking, or failure. Fuel pumps may contain rubber valves that may fail. Biodiesel also cleans dirty engine deposits, which may result in you needing an initial fuel filter change.
QWhat does Biodiesel mean to Idaho?
AIn addition to reduced air pollution, biodiesel has the potential for significant economic opportunities for rural communities and Idaho’s farmers by creating markets for crops. We are working to build an industry in Idaho to keep some of the petroleum money that now flows out of the state.
QDoes Biodiesel perform as well as regular petroleum diesel?
AThe most notable advantage of biodiesel is that it does not have the almost unbearable smell and black smoke of diesel. It has a higher cetane number, which means it ignites more quickly in the engine, yet it is less explosive and generally safer than diesel fuel. Using biodiesel will also reduce engine wear since it has superior lubricity. Biodiesel does have a slightly lower BTU value than diesel fuel because its oxygen content, which improves combustion and reduces emission, has no energy value. Biodiesel is a solvent. While this means your engine will be cleaner it also means first time users may need to change their fuel filter more often as diesel fuel contaminates are cleaned out. The main concern of most first time biodiesel users in Idaho is, however, that biodiesel has cold flow issues.
QCan I still use Biodiesel during Idaho’s cold winter months?
AYes you can. Biodiesel cold flow properties are dependant on the oil feedstock it is made from. Biodiesel made from Canola grown in Idaho has some of the best cold flow properties of all feedstocks. Biodiesel cold flow issues are handled exactly the same as diesel cold flow issues are handled. Usually #1 diesel is mixed with the biodiesel or additives are used. Like diesel fuel your fuel supplier is responsible for providing you a fuel that is appropriate with the weather conditions. Biodiesel is used throughout the winter months in Yellowstone National Park, at the Idaho National Lab on the Arco Desert, in ski areas and several other cold weather locations.
Why use Biodiesel?
Help America Gain Energy Indepenence
Biodiesel is made from crops we grow in Idaho and there is a commercial scale plant, Blue Sky Biodiesel, making biodiesel here. Other plants are also being planned. Biodiesel can help reduce our dependence on crude oil from foreign countries. Every 5 gallons of B20 we use in our diesel vehicles replaces .75 gallons of petroleum diesel each year. Idahoans burn approximately 465 million gallons of petroleum diesel in 2006. If we used 20-percent biodiesel instead, we could cut the need for imported crude oil by about 70 million gallons per year. And that’s just in Idaho! Imagine the impact if we applied that savings across our nation – where we burn some 38 billion gallons of diesel a year in on-highway use. In addition, biodiesel creates excellent economic development opportunities for America’s farmers by creating markets for crops used to produce biodiesel.
It’s Good for the Health of Our Children
Biodiesel can be a great health benefit to our children. Several recent independent studies on school buses have indicated that children who ride buses to school face up to eight times greater exposure to toxic diesel exhaust that if they walked. The Environmental Protection Agency says children are the most susceptible to the dangerous pollutants in diesel exhaust yet must ride diesel-powered buses for nine months of the year. Many school bus operations around the country have begun to use biodiesel fuel in an effort to reduce the harmful effects on children of breathing diesel exhaust.
Biodiesel Helps Clean the Air We Breathe
Biodiesel burns significantly cleaner than regular petroleum diesel. This means vehicles that use biodiesel will produce appreciably less harmful exhaust emissions. The higher the percentage of biofuel used, the greater the reduction in dangerous emissions. Using a 20 percent biodiesel blend, B20, will reduce the amount of harmful emissions into our air by approximately the following amounts:
- Carbon monoxide -12.6%
- Hydrocarbons -11.0%
- Particulates -18.0%
- Air toxics -12%—20%
- Mutagenicity -20%
It Can be Good for Your Engine
Biodiesel can extend the life of diesel engines because it is more lubricating than petroleum diesel fuel.
Biodiesel is 11% oxygen, which means that even in a blend such as B20, it assists in the combustion of the hydrocarbons. Biodiesel reduces air pollution and reduces greenhouse gases. The exhaust from biodiesel smells much better than diesel exhaust plus the black soot level is reduced. BIODIESEL IS SIMPLY A BETTER FUEL THAN DIESEL.