April Energy Newsletter

Curtis Park Energy Stars

SCNA/SMUD Energy Partnership

April 2007

"The pollution we send into the air today will drive the climate our children live in.The most expensive thing we can do is nothing."

-- Jason Mark, California director Union of Concerned Scientists

Dear Curtis Park Energy Stars:

We're in what SMUD calls the "shoulder" months - those temperate months when we need neither the heater nor the air conditioner. Though our spring weather is earlier than expected (on par with global warming expert's predictions of warmer weather and less rain in spring for the California Central Valley) it is an opportunity for us to use less energy and save on our monthly bills.

Below I share results from our recent survey of Energy Star participants, the energy saving tips some of you are utilizing, and lots more.

Survey Responses

About half of you responded to our online survey. There was difficulty accessing the survey link for some of you, and I apologize. To see the survey results, click here.

Volunteers Needed

Curtis Park Home Tour (April 28): Are you available to help recruit new Energy Star households for a two-hour slot between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.?

First Friday (May 4): The Curtis Park Energy Stars has agreed to host the popular First Friday evening in May. Are you available that evening for a two-hour slot to help spread the word about our energy conservation efforts while volunteering for the neighborhood event that brings neighbors together to dine and mingle?

Energy Stars Steering Committee (April 17): We will hold our first Energy Stars Steering Committee meeting at 2635 Portola Way (my house) at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, April 17. Feel free to join the Steering Committee or just stop by with a few suggestions.

If you are interested in any of the above volunteer opportunities, please respond to this e-mail with your name and availability.

Energy Tips

Over the last month, many of you have shared your energy saving measures with me. Here's some to inspire you:

More and more Curtis Park Energy Stars are abandoning their clothes dryer and air drying clothes outside. One Energy Star suggested using less soap to keep clothes from becoming too stiff outside.
Just when one of our Energy Stars thought they had converted every light bulb in the house to a CFL, he found 10 more to convert, making a total of 68 CFLs in his house, but only a few are on at any time!
Three of our followers have collectively purchased an electric lawn mower; taking advantage of SMUD incentives, they're each chucking their old gas mowers and will share the new one between them.
One of our neighbors was inspired by our efforts and launched a similar effort through her midtown church; members were asked to undertake an "energy fast" during Lent; CFLs were sold at the church at $10 for 4 CFL bulbs.
Looking for that last little bit of energy savings? One of you has suggested turning off your wireless Internet when not in use; it sucks up at lot of energy even when it's idle.

Please share more of your energy saving inspirational tips by responding to this e-mail. I will compile them for next month's report.

Energy saving tips from SMUD

Energy tips from Environmental Defense

Info on tax breaks for energy conservation

Info on weatherizing old windows

To calculate your personal carbon footprint

True Confessions and Some Inspiration (Hopefully)

I try to be a good role model, but ultimately I'm like a lot of people - a procrastinator at heart for unglamorous jobs like vacuuming my refrigerator coils. Even though it's one of our pledge items, I put off doing it for several months, thinking somehow my fridge was immune to dust. Nothing could be further from the truth. I have the photos to prove what a nasty, dusty mess it can be in the tiny space that holds the all important coils for your refrigerator operation.

So here's the upshot from my experience cleaning my refrigerator coils:

Procrastination time: 3 months

Actual vacuuming time: 45 seconds

Total time including lugging out the vacuum and returning it: 30 minutes.

It's not that bad a job - really. Especially if you have help. Special thanks to my husband Hal who made the whole project so much easier - and fun - watching him do the vacuuming from behind.

Energy Stars Makeover

While almost 50 households in Curtis Park have signed on to be Curtis Park Energy Stars, the most often heard response from those who haven't signed up is this: "I already do a lot to help save energy and I don't think I can lower my energy use much more, especially not by 20%"

What to do about a good problem - neighborhood residents who embrace energy conservation on the natch? Our answer: Slightly tilt the effort to capture those who are already saving energy so we can highlight Curtis Park as a model for energy conservation.

Our pledge form has been modified to capture those who already work toward energy conservation at home. Help spread the word and make our ranks grow. Click here to view our new Curtis Park Energy Stars pledge form or direct your neighbors to www.sierra2.org to sign the new pledge form.

Curtis Park Energy Stars in the News

We continue to attract attention for our noble but modest effort. On April 3, I was invited to speak at the Sacramento City Council's hearing on their proposed Sustainability Plan. The city aims to be one of the most sustainable cities in America with its plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from city operations by 25%, to reduce household vehicle miles traveled by 25%, and to reduce bad air quality days by 10%, to mention a few.

You will be interested to know that the city of Sacramento previously adopted the United Nations Environmental Accords, a set of 21 actions that the U.N. has asked city governments to adopt and implement over a seven-year period. The city's Sustainability Plan is the road map for achieving these.

Council was interested to hear of our neighborhood energy conservation project and I encouraged other neighborhoods to join us. I expect that SMUD and I will get some calls soon.

Keep up your good energy conservation work. Don't hesitate to get in touch me by responding to this e-mail or phoning me with your good ideas and tips for the Curtis Park Energy Stars.

Kathy Les

Curtis Park Energy Stars

736-3169

Sierra Curtis Neighborhood Association

Kathy Les

Curtis Park Energy Stars