Sitka Community Renewable Energy Strategy

Energy Efficiency and Conservation

What is the difference between conservation and efficiency?

Conservation: using less energy with behavior choices.
Example: you conserve electricity by turning off the lights in a room

Doing both saves the most!
Conservation + Efficiency =
Maximum Energy Savings

Use less, but better

Efficiency: using less energy with improved technology and materials.
Example: by using energy efficient appliances, you use less electricity

What it looks like Looks Like:

LED lights are more efficient because they are better at turning electricity into light and not heat! You can still conserve electricity by turning lights off when they are not needed.

Energy ≠ Electricity

Energy is the ability to do work

Energy is abundant in nature, but
not always readily available to do work.

Electricity is one form of energy

Electricity is a finite resource

Energy is used in many forms (electricity, heating, transportation, etc.) and is not synonymous with electricity. Conservation involves behavioral changes (e.g., turning off lights), while efficiency focuses on improved technology (e.g., LED bulbs, Energy Star appliances). Some examples of efficiency include using LEDs instead of traditional incandescent bulbs, which convert only 10% of electricity to light, with the rest wasted as heat. In contrast, LEDs convert 80% of electricity into light, making them far more efficient. Electric vehicles (EVs) are another example, as they are significantly more efficient than internal combustion engines (ICEs). ICEs convert only 16–25% of fuel energy into motion, with the rest lost as heat, while EVs utilize up to 90% of electricity for movement, with minimal energy loss.

The Benefits of Energy Efficiency and Conservation


Save Money No matter the source, energy costs money. Energy efficiency saves money, time, and effort for alternatives like wood heating.	Increase Home Comfort Efficiency and weatherization improve home comfort, reducing drafts, increasing humidity, and enhancing lighting.	Improve Health Not burning fuel indoors improves indoor air quality, reduces mold, and supports better circulation.

The Impacts of Efficiency on Sitka's Electric System

2024 Electricity Use

Sitka’s electricity is renewable, not unlimited

Sitka’s electricity is nearly 100% renewable from hydroelectric sources at Green Lake and Blue Lake, but has capacity limits depending on how much it rains each year. Residential energy uses the most power makes up approximately 38% of Sitka’s electricity consumption and significantly impacts the utility, which operates as a nonprofit to ensure affordable and reliable service. Saving energy at both a residential and commercial level saves the resources (hydro / water) that Sitka uses to produce electricity. Dam reservoirs can only hold so much water, and climate change may make it less reliable and/or consistent. Energy efficiency also opens up potential for other uses of electricity like heat pumps and electric vehicles, without placing more demand on the system then can be supplied. Fortunately, the utility is not-for-profit, and is not trying to make more money from more usage.

Learn more about:

Sitka's Power Sources Sitka's Utility Structure

The Pros and Cons of Energy Efficiency and Conservation

To Conserve or to be Efficient...
That's a great question but why not both?

Energy conservation generally means behavioral changes in how we consume energy. These kinds of changes are often free and have an immediate impact but require consistency. Efficiency means technology upgrades and can ultimately save more money long-term than conservation, with costs ranging from DIY projects to significant investments. Combining both conservation and efficiency maximizes Sitka’s energy savings.

Conservation
Choosing to use less energy

Efficiency
Using energy better

Pros

Free
Immediate

Cons

Takes practice
Requires consistency to see the results

Pros

Can sometimes save more money
Some are DIY and inexpensive

Cons

Many projects take money upfront
Savings come as Return on Investment (ROI)
Often require more planning

Conservation + Efficiency = Maximum Energy Savings
Doing both saves the most!

Calculate Your Energy Spending

Home energy budgets include transportation, heating, and electricity. Electrification in our households, such as switching to electric vehicles and heat pumps, may increase electricity use but decreases overall energy spending due to lower costs in other areas. It is important to note that electrification often means an increase on spending for electric utilities.

Energy spending calculators vary greatly. Bolded items are most commonly used across the country


	+		+		=
Transportation		Space Heating		Electricity		Energy Spending
Money spent on vehicle travel, typically cars, but can include air and boat travel.		Money spent on heating your home, water, and cooking. This can include fuel oil, wood, or natural gas. If your home heat, stove, and water heater are electric, this will be included in the electricity portion of your energy spending		The portion of your utility bill that you spend on electricity. The more your energy is sourced from electricity, the more your energy spending will be consolidated into your electric bill.		Learn how to read your utility bill

Make Your Personal Energy Saving Plan

Before you start reducing your energy usage, it’s helpful to have an idea of how much energy you consume and what you are currently paying in electric and heating bills each month. When you have this data, you can compare the same month year over year to track reductions. You can also track habits and usage, like how many times you run the dishwasher or do the laundry in a given week, how many lights your leave on at night, what electronics are always plugged in and on, etc.

Each month, monitor:

How much energy you use
How much you pay for each source
What you use it for. If you don't know where to start, most of your energy is probably used to heat something.

Electricity Cost Calculator

Inch Calculator

Most Energy is Used to Heat Something

Top Energy Saving Suggestions

Disclaimer: The information presented is for educational purposes only. It is not intended to provide specific tax guidance.

Printable Checklist(PDF, 60KB) Energy Saving Tips Booklet(PDF, 3MB)

Some of these suggestions may be supported by a federal tax credit

Home Heating

Check and unblock air vents, radiators, and registers

Seal your fireplace and other holes when not in use

Get your heating system tuned by a professional every year

Consider replacing heating systems that are older than 15 years

Thermostats

Set to 62-68° F in winter and turn off in the summer

Program your thermostat, if possible

Turn down the heat 2 hours before bed
Increase just before you wake
Turn down when no one is home

Hot Water

Turn down from 140° to 120° F
This can save 6-10%!

Add a fiberglass insulation blanket on old water heaters

Appliances

Purchase or upgrade to Energy Star appliances

If you have one, use your dishwasher only when full

Check the temperature of your fridge and freezer.

Set to 36-38° F for refrigerators
Set to 0-5° F for freezer

Water

Blue Lake provides water and power. In Sitka, saving water is also saving power!

Don't let the water run!

Fix leaking faucets and running toilets

Install low-flow showerheads and aerators on faucets

Upgrade and/or downsize your hot water heater

Weatherization

Identify major air leaks

Caulk cracks and gaps less than 1/4" wide
Use expanding spray foam for gaps 1/4" or more

Install efficient exhaust fans

Windows

Close and fully latch in the winter

Insulate with blinds, curtains, and/or a window insulation kit

Caulk gaps around windows

Repair cracked window panes

Doors

Replace or add weather stripping

replace old thresholds or add sweeps

Check draft stoppers frequently for moisture

Lighting

Turn off lights when not in use

Switch to LED bulbs and Energy Star fixtures and lamps

Watch the Webinar

Learn more about Energy Efficiency and Conservation

Keep Exploring Sitka's Energy

Questions? Contact

This page was last updated January, 2026