NW Natural was a company even before Oregon became a state in 1859. When you’re in business that long, you get used to thinking long term. That’s why over the years we’ve been working hard to encourage customers to save energy. After all, we’re in the great Northwest and we share the values of our customers and regional policymakers. So what have we done for the environment lately? Through our partnership with Energy Trust of Oregon, we encourage customers to adopt the measures necessary to make their homes as energy efficient as possible. We are over 149 years old. To us, thinking about sustaining natural resources and the earth’s ecosystem is just another part of the long-term thinking that’s gotten us this far.
Read on to find out more!
NW Natural is giving away a Smart Car!
If you are an Oregon Resident and a NW Natural Smart Energy customers then you could be eligible to win! For more, visit nwnatural.com or click here
Going Green with Smart Energy
In 2007, NW Natural became the first gas-only utility in the nation to offer customers a carbon offset option – called Smart Energy. Smart Energy is a new option available to NW Natural customers that gives them an easy way to offset the greenhouse gas emissions associated with their natural gas use. This new program empowers consumers and businesses alike to take a deliberate step to fight climate change and reduce their own carbon footprint.
Smart Energy works by customer’s making a voluntary contribution toward investment in carbon offset projects in the region which effectively neutralizes the greenhouse gas effect their natural gas use has on the atmosphere. While many types of projects can provide positive environmental benefits, NW Natural will focus on biogas, which has the greatest potential to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
So how can you stay warm and comfortable this winter while doing your part to protect the environment?
First, use energy wisely. Install high-efficiency equipment whenever possible and make sure your home is weatherized. Visit for tips on conservation and weatherization.
Second, offset the rest. Become a Smart Energy customer. To sign-up and for more information visit
This Month’s Feature:
What is Biogas?
Biogas is created when manure is placed in a machine called a "biodigester," designed to capture methane gas released by decomposing material. A dairy farmer, for example, could use a biodigester to help resolve a farms biggest solid waste problem: manure disposal.
When properly treated, biogas can be used to generate electricity or eventually added to a pipeline system and used in homes and businesses. Currently, biogas can be produced only in limited quantities, and NW Natural hopes that through Smart Energy biogas can become a viable, renewable energy source for our region.
Energy Efficiency Tips
- Choose high-efficiency natural gas equipment rather than less efficient gas appliances or electric equipment. Customers in Oregon using a high-efficiency gas furnace, water heater, cook top and dryer rather than comparable electric equipment (including a heat pump) can reduce carbon dioxide emissions from their home’s energy use by an average of 20 percent.
- Perform regular equipment maintenance. For example, dirty filters can cause your furnace to work harder than it needs to, wasting energy, so you should change your filter regularly.
- Regulate your thermostat and lowering the heat when you are away and at night. 65-68 degrees during the winter. For sleep hours, set it 5 degrees lower. This will give a big boost to your energy savings.
- Use kitchen, bath and other ventilating fans sparingly in cold weather. In just one hour these fans can blow away a houseful of warm air.
- Have your ducts tested for air leakage. Leaking ducts can reduce the efficiency of your heating system by up to 30 percent.
- Set your water heater thermostat to 120 degrees, or 140 degrees if you have a dishwasher.
- Check windows and doors to make sure they are weather tight, and install weather stripping if needed.
- Close the damper when not using your fireplace.
- Insulate floors, attics and walls to help maintain comfortable temperatures
- Plant trees in your yard, when strategically placed, can help shade your home in the summer and lower energy costs. Trees also absorb carbon dioxide as they grow, providing dual environmental benefits.
NW Natural, Doing Their Part
Currently, NWN is offsetting the carbon dioxide emissions from the natural gas used to heat their facilities! This results in the removal of more than 4,200 tons of CO2 over the next five years. With additional contributions from customers like you, Oregonians could offset thousands of tons of carbon dioxide!