The second annual North Haven Energy Forum, held Sept. 12 in the middle school auditorium, focused on safe, green strategies to save money and better the environment.

The forum, a series of vendor and independent presentations, was emceed by Director of Community Services Gerardo Sorkin.

“The second energy forum is to inform residents about energy assistance and energy conservation,” Sorkin said to an audience of several dozen. “It is the Department of Community Services’ duty to provide ways of saving energy.”

First Selectman Janet McCarty hoped that the forum would demonstrate that the town and state were cognizant of green energy and the needs of recession-impacted residents.

“I’m very proud of the fact that we’re doing this,” McCarty said. “We’re finding ways to save money and energy.”

Booths of eco-friendly vendors lined the school’s side entrance hallway. The vendors hawked and advertised green solutions for what could easily become a winter of sustained recession in which families struggle to pay utility bills.

“You will find ways to save money if you pay attention to what is going on here,” McCarty said. “This is a great tool.”

“I’m very pleased,” McCarty added of the forum. “Last year was successful and eye opening for the public.”

North Haven building official David Maiden offered a means for families to save roughly $1,800 over the course of a year in his presentation.

Maiden said that his condominium contained 41 light bulbs, which he ran for approximately 21 combined hours per day. Maiden quoted United Illuminating Company statistics that put the cost to power a normal light bulb at approximately 24 cents an hour. Therefore, Maiden calculated that it cost $5.16 a day to light his house, or $1,883 per year.

However, Maiden said, if he switched to energy-efficient fluorescent light bulbs, it would cost him only $1.10 a day to light his house. Fluorescent bulbs, which cost pennies per hour to power according to UI statistics, would cost Maiden just $401 per year.

“This is the cheapest and quickest way to save money,” Maiden said.

Another money and energy saving strategy expounded by the building official was to focus on a home’s windows. In the colder months, energy lost through windows can account for 25 percent of a residence’s heating cost, according to Maiden. Energy entering a residence during the warmer months can account for 50 percent of the cooling cost.

To alleviate the energy transfer through windows, Maiden suggested solar or insulated curtains, or planting a tree to cast shade over the glass panes. Maiden added that solar panels can be purchased at “Go Solar,” a solar energy store at 350 Sackett Point Road, locally owned by town native Peter Stevenson.

Maiden also advocated proper attic ventilation and water heater duct insulation as cheap, energy efficient residential upgrades.

Various vendors and their pamphlets offered a multitude of pro-green and money saving practices.

A U.S. Department of Energy booklet proposed a smart and conservative use of a house’s thermostat, air drying dishes, turning off computers and monitors when not in use, lowering the thermostat on a house’s hot water heater to 120 degrees Fahrenheit, taking short showers, washing only full loads of dishes or clothing, and driving slower to conserve gas.

The U.S. Department of Energy booklet also suggested plugging home electronics, such as TVs and DVD players, into power strips. The strips should then be turned off when not in use, as TVs and DVD players in standby mode still use several watts of power.

A representative from the Connecticut Energy Efficiency Fund spoke of the organization’s energy audits. For a fee, the CEEF is offering the services of “energy experts” to tour a residence and pinpoint areas were energy is wasted.

The CEEF speaker said the most common areas of energy waste included high-flow shower heads and faucets, improper basement and attic insulation, and airs drafts and leaks to the outside, which can be found around windows, doors, attic exhaust and dryer vents, recessed lights, crawl spaces, and ductwork.

The CEEF speaker also suggested that homeowners invest in Energy Star appliances, which are more efficient than older models.

The North Haven Clean Energy Task Force, which recently was rewarded a solar panel for signing up enough town residents, continued efforts to switch more locals over to clean energy. The task force’s pamphlet listed clean energy as renewable sources of energy, including solar, wind, fuel cells, hydroelectric, and methane gas. The task force wishes to lessen the reliance on non-renewable energy sources, including oil, coal, and natural gas.

Speakers from the Connecticut Housing Investment Fund, Operation Fuel, The United Illuminating Company, The Southern Connecticut Gas Company, and New Haven Legal Assistance all offered advice and financial assistance to individuals who may struggle to pay winter heating costs. Sorkin said that the Department of Community Services would also have funds available to help those in need of heat during the upcoming winter.

The UI presenter said that the company is offering lower rates to houses that shift 70 percent of their energy usage to off-peak hours.

With all the recommendations for clean energy use, Fire Chief Vincent Landisio spoke on safe conservation practices.

“We want to make sure that the products in your home that are using energy are used properly and efficiently,” Landisio said.

The fire chief said that all oil furnaces should be checked by a professional once a year. Any other furnaces should be checked every three years, and then once a year after a decade of use.

Landisio recommended that chimneys be inspected for cleanliness, cracks, and deficiencies by a licensed professional on an annual basis.

Any wooden, coal, or pellet stoves should be installed by a professional, Landisio said, and require that a permit be pulled from the town. Once a permit is pulled, a town official will perform a final inspection on the stove.

Portable heating devices may see an increase in use this winter to save on oil costs. Landisio said that any such devices should be at least three feet from any combustible materials. The fire chief added that any portable heating devices should have a “lab approved” label on the box. He also recommended newer models that come with automatic off switches.

Landisio said that any fuel burning devices must be properly vented outside the home.

As fireplaces may also see increased use this winter as a cost saving alternative, Landisio covered fireplace safety.

All fireplaces must be protected with a screen to block embers, Landisio said. Improperly disposed ashes pose a major risk for fires, the chief added, as ashes will burn through paper bags and melt through plastic buckets.

“Soak your ashes and place them in a metal bucket at least 10 feet from your home,” Landisio added.

The fire chief also said that the elderly should avoid using their kitchen stoves to heat their homes. “It’s not safe,” Landisio said. He also cautioned the elderly to refrain from wearing loose, hanging garments when cooking on stoves, so that the clothes do not become a fire hazard.

Those in attendance of North Haven’s second annual Energy Forum picked up useful tips for conserving both their home’s energy, as well as their wallet.

“We can’t make oil more cheaply,” Sorkin said, “but we can make ways to use it more efficiently.”

“We want to help you get through the winter and save some money.” Sorkin added.