| Curtis Park Energy Stars
SCNA/SMUD Energy Partnership |
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| Sierra Curtis Neighborhood Association |
August 2007 |
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"Energy efficiency is the fifth fuel -- after coal, gas, renewables and nuclear." Jim Rogers, Duke Energy as reported by Thomas Friedman, NY Times
Dear Energy Stars:
July 07 wasn't nearly as hot as July of last year, but Energy Stars still consumed 20% less energy than the average SMUD household in July and 10% less than the rest of Curtis Park.
As one person aptly put it, "it was the same temperature everywhere in Sacramento, but it was the Curtis Park Energy Stars who used less energy."
To see our progress to date this year, look at the latest Energy Graph.
Sincerely,
Kathy Les |
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Energy Stars receive special recognition from SMUD
At their Aug. 16 meeting, SMUD directors recognized the work of the Curtis Park Energy Stars in reducing household energy consumption among the 125 participating households.
"The Curtis Park Energy Stars demonstrate how a grass roots effort can make a difference and how neighbors working together can change and inspire each other to save energy," said SMUD Director and Curtis Park resident Genevieve Shiroma in presenting the plaque to the Energy Stars Steering Committee.
Present to receive the award and pictured here are members of the Energy Stars Steering Committee, left to right, Terri Tork (Sixth Avenue), Gerre Buhler (Fourth Avenue), Rosanna Herber (Castro Avenue and also with SMUD), and Kathy Les (Portola Way). The Steering Committee is pictured with SMUD director Genevieve Shiroma (second from right) of Portola Way, who presented the award, and Bruce Gerth (Castro Way and also with SMUD), who was instrumental in assisting with the start-up of the Energy Stars program.
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Learn more about the Curtis Park
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The heat's still on - keep energy use (and costs!) down
SMUD energy expert Hugh Fowler shares his best tips for coping with the heat.
"Even if your AC is 15 years old and has seen better days," he says, it will be a lot easier and cheaper to take some simple measures that it will be to replace your central unit."
Follow these simple steps to beat back the heat:
- Change the filter on your AC system at least once a month.
- Have a professional inspect your AC every three years.
- Set the temp to 78 degrees or higher, and higher at night and when not home.
- Use a clock or programmable thermostat.
- Minimize the use of heat-producing appliances during the heat of the day.
- Block the sun from entering south- and west-facing windows.
- Use ceiling fans(counter-clockwise in summer) and turn of the central AC if you are in one room for an extended period of time.
- Pre-cool your house at night or early morning by opening windows.
- Turn of lights and appliances when not in use.
AND invest a bit more money to:
- Bring attic insulation up to R-30 or better.
- Maintain weather stripping around doors, windows, and plumbing.
Both of the above will also help defray heating costs in the winter. And even though cooler days seem off in the distance, start getting ready now:
- Have a professional check your heating system once a year.
- Change heating system filters monthly.
- Invest in portable space heaters for rooms where you spend extended time.
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Energy Star Gerre Buehler
You read about Gerre Buehler and how she added solar screens to her windows in the May issue of the Energy Stars e-newsletter. The screens, which she constructed herself, were added to her east and west facing windows and screen out 90% of the sun's rays.
This month we revisit Gerre for a closer look at her energy-saving practices over the years. A resident of Fourth Avenue, Gerre lives in the upstairs level of a duplex where she occupies 1.400 square feet. To reduce her energy consumption she:
- Added extra insulation in her attic and walls in 1992 to reduce AC and heating.
- Installed a tankless hot water heater in 1992.
- Cleans refrigerator coils and changes AC filter regularly.
- Turns off all electric devices when not in use, including microwave, toaster, TV, PC, printer and all lights.
- Converted all light bulbs in her house to CFLs.
- Last year started using only cold water to wash clothes and hangs them out to dry on a clothesline.
Just this year, she decided to go even farther to aid in energy reduction.
- In May of this year after she installed the solarized screens, she saw a 54% reduction in her electricity bill over the same month the previous year.
- In June she installed a whole house fan and saw a 52% reduction over the same month the previous year.
- In July, she added a solar dirven attic fan to pull hot air out of the attic and realized a 71% reduction in her July bill over the same time last year. (July '07 was considerably cooler than July '06 and a lot of us are seeing a sizable reduction for that month.).
- Every month for the last 12 months, Gerre's average daily kWh has been in the single digits; in eight of those months she averaged less than 6 KwH.
For the more than 25 years Gerre worked downtown, she rode the bus or took light rail to and from work. For other errands, even now that she's retired, she walks, bikes or uses public transit. As a result, she has never put more than 3,000 miles per year on her car in the last 20 years.
Gerre is definitely an energy role model. We are pleased to have her on the Energy Stars Steering Committee to share her energy-saving enthusiasm and knowledge.
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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Check out SMUD's revamped Web site
SMUD has a major effort underway to make their Web site more user friendly and to help customers better access energy saving information. Check out the new site at www.smud.org and see their new home page, which makes it easier to find SMUD energy tips and Smud rebate information.
Speaking of rebates, check in with SMUD to learn about the seasonal rebates available. Installing a whole house fan? Enjoy a $100 rebate. Sealing your ducts? Receive $300. Purchasing a new Energy Star clothes washer? You could be eligible for up to $175 back. Installing a new AC system? Rebates from $400 to $1,100 are available.
Visit the SMUD site for more details. Filling out the rebate application is easy and the check arrives in the mail sooner than you can say "Energy Conservation." |
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SMUD to hold Energy Conservation Workshop for Energy Stars
We're not an exclusive club, but we are a dedicated group of energy conservers. To recognize our interests and arm us with more good energy conservation information, SMUD has agreed to hold a special workshop just for Energy Stars on Saturday, Nov. 3 from 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. at the Sierra 2 Center.
The workshop will be free, will include a light lunch, and will offer everything you need to know about household energy conservation in just two hours. Mark your calendar and plan to attend. Please RSVP by responding to this e-mail.
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| Energy Star table at Curtis Fest
Join the Energy Stars at Curtis Park's newest event, Curtis Fest, to be held on Saturday, Sept. 29 from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Energy Star Terri Tork will organize ecological kids craft projects at our table and will recruit new Energy Star participants. Let us know if you would like to volunteer.
While at Curtis Fest you can enjoy art work by over 50 artists, dance performances and live music. Bring a picnic and talk energy conservation with fellow Energy Stars.
Join our Energy Star table at Curtis Fest. Sept. 29 from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. |
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Curtis Park Energy Stars Steering Committee:
Rosanna Herber, Arlene Krause, Gerre Buehler, Terri Tork,
Kathy Les
Sierra Curtis Neighborhood Association
2791 24th Street
Curtis Park, California 95818
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