Seattle: the city known for its giant space needle, the birthplace of Starbucks, the home to Boeing, and an unlimited supply of rain. Well, if that isn’t enough, the city just added one more incentive to live there: a 5-year, $185 million plan to double city-wide energy savings.

Just recently, the mayor of Seattle announced plans for a five-year plan targeting residential and commercial electricity use. The plan includes conservation methods such as:

• increasing the use of compact fluorescent bulbs
• providing various coupons and discounts for more energy efficient heating and water heating systems
• improving the overall energy efficiency of buildings, and
• collaborating with The Seattle City Light Utility, which has volunteered to help customers determine how much energy they are consuming and pinpoint ways to reduce their consumption. Through these conservation techniques, the utility hopes to avoid building more power plants and reduce the overall production of greenhouse gases.

For a city that is rapidly expanding, it is encouraging to see the local government and utility companies tuned into the topics of conserving and increased energy efficiency. Historically, Seattle residents have responded well to these programs, and hopefully this one will be no different.

Although this plan sounds progressive in theory, the city still isn’t offering more incentives for the installation of solar systems.

Conservation is always a positive way of life, but will this expensive plan actually produce significant results? With a willing attitude already in place, the residents of Seattle should continue to encourage their elected officials to create programs that promote more solar installations. This link, DSIRE provides additional information on the solar incentives offered in the city of Seattle. Request free estimates from prescreened solar installers in your area to see how much it will cost you.

Posted on September 8th in Solar News by Anna.