Fremont offers free class on energy use
By Steve Herring
Published in News on January 20, 2011 1:46 PM
FREMONT -- Residents will have the opportunity tonight to learn about ways to save energy and to reduce their electric bills.
It is the third consecutive year that the town and ElectriCities have sponsored the free evening energy audit class. The program gets under way with refreshments at 6:30 p.m. followed by the class at 7 p.m. at Fremont Town Hall, 120 E. Main St.
People planning to attend the free class are asked to call town hall at 242-5151 for reservations so that the town will know how many people to plan for, Town Administrator Kerry McDuffie said.
ElectriCities representative Brian McGinn will present the program that in prior years has been held in March.
However, "right now" is the time that people are thinking about the cost since more power is being used than might be in March, McDuffie said.
"So we decided to have it now," he said.
McGinn will explain how heat works in a house. For example, people using heat pumps should keep the temperature constant rather than turning it down while no one is home and then turning the heat up later, he said. That practice is more costly, he said.
However, people who heat with gas should turn the heat down during the day, he said.
McGinn also will talk about settings for items like hot water heaters and refrigerators.
Refrigerator and freezer efficiency can be increased by making sure the coils behind the refrigerator are cleaned at least once a year.
Fremont and ElectriCities have been offering free energy audits between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
The free energy audits can point out in each home how to save money. The audits are still available by calling or going to town hall to sign up.
A limited number of energy kits will be given away tonight.