We are living in the shadow of the "Energy Crisis." We have been waiting for bold, forward-thinking solutions to our energy problems. We hoped that by now the need for conservation and renewable generation of energy would be obvious to our government leaders. Instead we have witnessed hundreds of millions of dollars wasted in expensive, shortsighted and ineffective attempts to resolve the "crisis."
Let's just continue down the same old crude, nuke, coal, and gas highway to electrical power generation, the politicians say. Let's make it easier and quicker to get power plants on line, with fewer regulations and weakening of the clean air and water acts.
According to Oily George II, America's energy supply and economy must take priority over global concerns. He had no choice but to break his campaign promise to reduce emissions of carbon dioxide (read his lips), or break agreements of the Kyoto treaty. His sights are set on America's coastal waters, national monuments and the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. His Oilyness has said, "It doesn't matter to me where the gas comes from, in the long run, just so long as we get gas moving into the country."
The Governor, what's his nameÑ Gray Wilson? Pete Davis? Clueless in Sacramento?Ñhas shown himself to be a spineless, indecisive disciple of the oil industry and a servant of corporations. He's spending hundreds of millions of dollars a day (he has yet to disclose the exact amount) of our tax money to allow the polluting pirates to continue with their oily extortion. Not to worry, Ole Gray has a plan to meet our energy needs. He has issued Executive Order D-24-01 directing that the California Energy Commission expedite permitting of new electrical generators. He has charged the Air Resources Board with establishing an Emission Reduction Credit Bank to offset the extra three to ten tons of daily emissions of oxides of nitrogen (NOx) and particulate matter (PM) that his new generators will discharge. His plan to ensure an adequate supply of electricity is to add "Peaker Plants," gas-fired jet engines, which usually generate less than 50 megawatts each. (70% of their output is waste heat, unlikely to be utilized in these "quickie" projects.) He hopes to gain 1,000 megawatts this summer, enough to power about 750,000 households. Corporate generators that promise to provide power can bypass usual environmental restrictions and reviews, win permit approvals in days instead of months, qualify for low-interest state loans and receive $30 million in bonuses. To be "fair," the citizens will be given three days' notice to submit public input regarding proposed Peaker Plants in their communities.
Renewable energy can provide for California's power needs now and in the future. With common sense and simple legislation that promotes and funds renewable energy and broad conservation measures, we can have more energy than the proposed polluting Peaker Plants can produce. Davis could simply institute a statewide ban on incandescent light bulbs, replace them with compact florescent lamps (CFLs), and provide Californians with efficient faucets and showerheads on the government's (our) dime. Without building a single new power plant, he could actually reduce, by tons, the amount of carbon, mercury, NOx, PM, sulfur, etc. that is now put into our atmosphere. His unfortunate, compromising, expensive, shortsighted choice will negatively affect our health, our wallets and the environment. If Gray Dufuss were serious about protecting California's economy and environment he would fund conservation and promote and subsidize renewable generation now.
President Oil Slick has seized the opportunity to break campaign promises, weaken environmental regulations, promote nuclear power and drill for "Texas Tea." Governor Dip Stick is willing to compromise our health, air and water quality, and spend countless dollars investing in dirty, dangerous power plants that deplete a shrinking resource. They continue to hold our economy and environment hostage to the whims of unscrupulous, unprincipled, immoral energy profiteers. Does anyone believe that Gray Bush or George Davis or a politician by any other name isn't fully informed about the benefits of conservation or renewable energy? They have had scientists and knowledgeable experts educating them for years. Still, they say that there is no choice but to weaken environmental restrictions and use oil, coal and nukes in order to make enough power to serve our energy extravagance. Bush, Davis and their ilk are lying to us. They don't give a rat's patoot about the citizens, environment, or our future. They serve corporate masters, not us. Read my lips: the president and governor are liars.
There is only one solutionÑtake matters into our own hands. Reduce consumption. Generate our own renewable energy. Be ready to fight to stop the introduction of Peaker Plants and any type of non-renewable electrical generation in our county. We can take care of ourselves, and we don't need their poison power.
Although they don't promote it, the state has a program called the Emerging Renewables Buydown Account. The California Energy Commission is offering cash rebates on eligible renewable energy generating systems. You can get a rebate of up to $3,000 per kilowatt or 50% off your system purchase (whichever is less). Photovoltaics (PV/ solar cells), small wind turbines (with an output of 10 kilowatts or less), solar thermal systems (systems that use solar heat to generate electricity) and fuel cells are all eligible generating systems. All types of customers are eligible: residential, commercial, agricultural and industrial. Your site must be located in the service area of PGandE or other specified power company, and must remain connected to the utility grid. The initial financial outlay can still be a burden to many homeowners. With today's low interest rates many people are refinancing their mortgages. It is easy to add the cost of renewables into your new or refinanced loan and take your power back. With depreciation and tax incentives this program is particularly cost-effective for businesses.
There is a new short-term grant program, The Solar Energy and Distributed Generation Grant Program, established in March, with applications ending June 1. California residents can receive grants of up to $750 for solar domestic water heating systems, battery backup for PV systems, and PV systems not eligible under the Buydown Program. For solar swimming pool heating systems there are grants of up to $250 available.
For those who rent or can't afford to invest in renewable energy, conservation will go a long way toward reducing your utility bills. The following information was obtained from the Rocky Mountain Institute. Start with lighting. Lighting uses about a fourth of all electricity used in the U.S., consuming the energy produced by 120 large power plants (about 4/5 directly and 1/5 in extra air conditioning energy to remove unwanted heat). The first and simplest solution is to change your light bulbs from incandescent to compact florescent lamps (CFLs). The standard incandescent bulb is very inefficient, producing only 10-20 lumens per watt. It is so inefficient that about 90% of the energy it consumes is given off as heat instead of light. CFLs typically yield three to four times more light for each watt consumed, last up to thirteen times as long as standard incandescents and save you $25 to $50 over the lifetime of the bulb. Use daylighting and task lighting whenever possible. Paint and carpet rooms in lighter colors to reflect more light. Periodically wipe light fixture reflectors and lenses.
Efficient showerheads and sink faucets use 1 to 2.5 gallons per minute, less than half the flow of standard ones. Retrofitting one showerhead and two faucets at a total cost of $25 will reduce the average household's yearly electric bill (at today's PGandE rates) by about $180 (or $75 if you heat with gas), cut the yearly water bill by about $33 and reduce your annual carbon dioxide emissions by 580 to 3,200 pounds. Insulate hot water pipes wherever they are accessible, especially within three feet of the water heater. On gas water heaters, keep insulation at least six inches from the flue. Adding an insulating jacket to your water tank is one of the most cost-effective energy saving projects you can do yourself. The jacket will reduce heat loss by up to 45%, saving up to 10% of your water heating cost.
You can save an additional 5% to 12% of water heating energy by turning water heaters off for certain time periods when no hot water is being used, at night or during work hours. Your water heater can be controlled with a timer that will turn the heater off for preset periods. You will quickly recoup the $30 to $60 investment. Remember to turn your electric water heater off and your gas heater down to pilot when going on vacation.
Cooling your home more efficiently will save you energy dollars. The first, most important and least expensive step is to utilize the art of passive cooling, that is, cooling techniques that don't require energy. Passive cooling techniques keep your home from getting hot in the first place, thereby reducing the energy needed by electric cooling equipment. The best way to keep your house cool is to prevent the sun's rays from reaching it in the first place. Sunlight passing through windows contributes up to a fourth of the total unwanted heat gain in a typical house. Planting deciduous shade trees or trellised vines on the western and eastern sides of your home will reduce the amount of sunlight absorbed by windows, walls and roof. There are many annual vines that will grow quickly and provide you with shade this summer.
Window shading is also a very important aspect of passive cooling, especially on south- and west-facing windows. Awnings and exterior shades can stop from 60% to 80% of the sun's heat from getting to the window in the first place and are more effective than interior shades. Interior window coverings are still better than nothing and can reduce solar heat gain by up to 50%. A combination of interior and exterior shading is best. It is important to pay attention and actually use this shading when the sun is shining.
Attic insulation slows heat penetration into the living space. In hot summer climates it is cost-effective to increase attic insulation to R-19 or more. Attic insulation is even more important and cost-effective during the winter. Insulation rated R-30 or higher should be considered. Radiant barriers are very inexpensive and reflect up to 95% of the heat entering your attic.
Taking advantage of natural ventilation is a free way to cool your home. At night or any time it's cooler outside than in, open windows, especially those that catch prevailing breezes, to provide cross ventilation. Placing a window fan on the downwind side of the house, blowing outward, can enhance nighttime ventilation.
A whole house fan is an effective means of cooling in drier climates, consuming a tenth as much energy as an air conditioner. This fan should be centrally located in the attic so that it draws air from all around the house. Attics should have adequate gable or ridge vents to get rid of hot air.
Ceiling and portable fans make you feel cooler; they don't actually cool the air. But an indoor breeze can extend your comfort level by several degrees thus saving you energy by allowing you to set your air conditioner's thermostat higher or not use it at all.
In a hot, dry climate like ours, evaporative (swamp) coolers are a good substitute for air conditioners. They cost about half as much and will save you up to 80% of the energy used by an air conditioner.
Tests indicate that whitening the roof of a poorly insulated house in a hot, sunny climate can save up to 43% in cooling bills. If you have a tile, metal, or concrete roof, you can lighten it with a coat of white elastomeric (rubberized) paint. Elastomeric paint isn't suitable for shingles. An alternative is to install special white or reflective roofing materials, which similarly reduce cooling loads. This would only be cost-effective if you're installing a new roof anyway.
Small appliances and electronic equipment account for about 14% of the average household's energy consumption. When you need new appliances, replace them with energy-efficient ones. Ask yourself, do I really need this appliance? Extra refrigerators and second televisions, electric can openers and knives, electric coffeepots, and plug in room deodorizers are all extravagances. When sharing a common, inadequate energy pool, extravagant consumption is un-neighborly.
Many appliances use electricity when turned off. A small amount of electricity is constantly consumed by such features as AC adapter plugs on cordless and rechargeable appliances, cable TV and satellite converter boxes, clocks on coffeemakers and so on. Even when cordless appliances are fully charged the adapter plug still draws small amounts of electricity. In a study of one typical California home, these "phantom" loads consumed nearly 700 kWh (kilowatt-hours) a year, or about $120 worth of electricity. Televisions use up to 8 watts of electricity even when turned off. According to one calculation, the instant-on feature of all the televisions in the U.S. drains as much electricity as the output of a Chernobyl-sized nuclear power plant. Unplug or use power strips to make sure appliances are really off.
There are many common sense things that one can do to reduce energy bills. Don't run air conditioning or a heater when no one is home. Caulk around leaky doors and windows. Use full loads in dishwashers, clothes washers and dryers. Regularly clean out the lint traps and dust filters from dryers, heaters, and air conditioners. Know what you want before you open the refrigerator door; don't browse. Cover your water bed with a thick quilt and plug its heater into a timer set to turn off an hour before you get up and turn on a few hours before you go to bed. When cooking, cover pots with lids, learn to use a pressure cooker, and when boiling use as little water as needed to do the job. Turn off lights and appliances when leaving a room.
More information: Emerging Renewables Buydown Program, www. energy.ca.gov/greengrid, (800) 555-7794, or call the MEC. The Solar Energy and Distributed Generation Grant Program: www.energy.ca.gov/renewables/sb134; questions: Melinda Merritt at (916) 654-4536 or mmerrit@energy.state. ca.us.
Copyright Mendocino Environmental Center 2001
Permission granted to excerpt or use this article if source is cited