On Saturday, October 11, 2014, SDCC hosted a workshop on Energy Efficiency. Experts from 7 area agencies gave short presentations. Watch the videos below to learn about the following topics:
- Solar Panels incl. interactive “solar house”
- Tools & Tips for Bike Commuting
- How to Save Energy and Money on Utilities
- Improving your Comfort at Home
- Energy Audits
- Furnace Maintenance
- How to read Ameren’s new statement
Richard Reilly, of the Sunflower+ Project and the EarthWays Center at the Missouri Botanical Garden, will talk about sustainability and energy conservation in the home, including how to improve the quality of your indoor environment while saving money and energy.
Judy Coverdell of Laclede Gas will talk about programs to reduce your heating costs including rebates for furnaces and insulation, and programs for low-income residents.
Tony Johnson of the Urban League talks about weatherizing your home to reduce your heating and cooling costs.
Stephanie Robinson of Ameren will talk about budget billing; rebates for air conditioning, furnaces, and old refrigerators; and explains how to read and understand Ameren’s new monthly statement, which shows your usage history and is designed to help you manage your energy use.
Molly Pearson of Trailnet’s TravelGreen program talked about how to save energy and get exercise while commuting – even as the weather gets cooler. She brought examples of handy equipment that makes your bike more useful including bags to carry groceries, lights, and different types of locks.
Marc Bluestone of SmartHouse Home Performance Experts talked about how to make your home more energy efficient. Some are very simple and can be accomplished by any homeowner in just a few minutes, while other ideas are more involved. Regardless of your level of interest and commitment, you will walk away with a list of great ideas to improve your home.
StraightUp Solar talked about how solar electricity can save you money and protect our natural environment. We learned about what it takes to install solar panels on your home, including current costs as well as guidelines for installing solar panels in a historic district such as ours.
Historic Skinker DeBaliviere Neighborhood in St. Louis, MO 