| Curtis Park Energy Stars
SCNA/SMUD Energy Partnership |
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| Sierra Curtis Neighborhood Association |
July 2007 |
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"The climate crisis offers us the chance to experience what few generations in history have had the privilege of experiencing: a generational mission; a compelling moral purpose; a shared cause..."
Al Gore, NY Times, July 1, 2007
Dear Energy Stars:
We can be proud that the Curtis Park Energy Stars are rising to the climate challenge. For another month, we have reduced our electric usage, exceeding expectations.
In June, we used 10% less electricity than other nonparticipating Curtis Park households and 20% less than the average Sacramento household in the SMUD district!
To see our progress to date, look at the latest Energy Graph.
Sincerely,
Kathy Les |
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House of 68 CFLs Tour A Big Success! 
Special thanks to Marc Brown and Beverly Fretz-Brown for hosting our very successful tour of their CFL outfitted home last month. Their lovely Craftsman house is lighted almost entirely in CFLs.
We saw numerous CFL applications, including in historic Tiffany lamps, ceiling fans (photo at right), recessed lights and much more. Read a complete summary of the what we learned in Change A Light, Change the World.If any of you have 100% or nearly 100% or your lights converted to CFLs, please respond to this e-mail. We'd love to hear about your CFL-lit home. |
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Popular Mechanics says CFL bulbs
All CFLs should be properly disposed and recycled.
Hollywood Hardware on Freeport Blvd. accepts used CFLs. |
Energy Stars populate Curtis Park!
Curtis Park is full of Energy Stars. To date, we have 124 participating households throughout the neighborhood and our ranks are growing every month.
Which streets have the most Energy Stars? A big congratulations to Portola Way, having the most energy star members of any street in Curtis Park. With 16 participating households, they are leading the way in saving energy.
Other strong streets, with nine members each, are 3rd Ave and 6th Ave. Keeping active with seven members each are Marshall Way, 4th Ave. and 8th Ave.
On the opposite end, we'd like to commend the lone households on Franklin Blvd., Perkins, Fernando, and Florence Way, which have one Energy Star family each. You've started a trend - ask your 27th neighbors to join in! |
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How Low Can You Go?
Last month we asked Energy Stars to let us know if they were able to dip below the double digits on average daily kWh electric use. Here's our responses:
From Candy Anderson on 8th Ave:
Just wanted to let you know that last Sept. to Oct. billing from SMUD, Paul and I averaged 8.4 kWh /day of electricity. At that point we hadn't converted all our bulbs to CFLs. Now that we have changed most of them, and no longer use a clothes dryer, a hair dryer and rarely our air conditioner, it should be less. If you want proof, I could send it to you.
Another concern I have is that while we Energy Stars are conserving, businesses are not. The other day we left the Tower Theater with freezing joints and noses. I got up to ask them to turn the air conditioner off and they never did. he movie was very good and I didn't want to miss anything so I sat there freezing till the bitter end. You could of hung meat in there it was so cold! I shouldn't be writing to you, I should be writing the management. Tell other Energy Stars to let businesses know if they are wasting energy.
From Dave Brinkerhoff on Castro Way:
Our home averaged 7.9 kWh/day for the month of April. We didn't really do anything specific except be concious of energy use (turn off lights when leaving room, set thermostat to 80-85 in summer, etc.). Our house is fairly small at 1,100 sq.ft., and April was fairly mild (no need for AC or heater). I work primarily from home, and am sure to minimize energy use during the day. I've installed CFLs in my office, and have the computer set in 'energy star' mode which sets it to hibernate after a short period of inactivity. Ceiling fans and portable fans go a long way in the heat.
On average, we're probably usually closer to 11-12 kWh/day.
Have you had a SMUD bill where you averaged less than 10 kWh per day in a month? Let us know by responding to this e-mail and share your energy conservation measures.
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What To Know About Energy Conserving Appliances
Confused by the various "energy" rated appliances? This month's issue of Greentips issued by the Union of Concerned Scientists (www.ucsusa.org) has a good guide to the various energy ratings. Check it out her
e...
According to the Union of Concerned Scientists, energy efficient appliances have eliminated 53 million tons of heat-trapping gases from entering the atmosphere. New standards instituted in 2006 for air conditioners, which improve efficiency by 23%, will reduce the need for 150 medium sized power plants by 2020. Read more... |
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| Energy Star Success Story
Energy Stars Carol and Peter Blackman of Fourth Ave. were frustrated by their initial efforts to curb energy use. They contacted SMUD for help earlier this year and a technician was sent out to fully evaluate their home.
Having since taken several of the measures suggested by SMUD, the Blackmans in June saw energy conservation success. That month (32 days) they averaged 25.2 kWh/day in their 2,500 square foot home compared with the previous month when they averaged 28.5 kWh/day. Last year in June they averaged 37.9 kWh/day, representing at 34% drop as compared with last year!
How did they do it? The converted to programmable thermostats on their older HVAC system, changed out about 25 light bulbs to CFLs and got rid of an old fridge in the garage. In addition they make more of an effort to keep lights off if not in the room, open windows in the AM hours to cool the house, close windows for the remainder of the day, and then draw blinds on south facing windows in the afternoon to keep the sun and heat out.
"By making just a few changes, we are seeing a big difference," said Carol.
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| Changing to CFLs provides a 40% rate
of return, better than on the average
bank account or stock investment. Check out
by the Lawrence Berkeley Labs. | |
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Curtis Park Energy Stars Steering Committee:
Rosanna Herber, Arlene Krause, Gerre Buehler, Terri Tork, Dave Brinkerhoff,
Kathy Les
Sierra Curtis Neighborhood Association
2791 24th Street
Curtis Park!, California 95818
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