Curtis Park Energy Stars continue to be
energy conservation leaders

By Kathy Les
Viewpoint Staff Writer

With over 100 households in Curtis Park signed on to be Curtis Park Energy Stars, Curtis Park is demonstrating that energy efficiency is the way to help reduce pollution from energy consumption. Assemblyman Dave Jones and SMUD board member Genevieve Shiroma, both Curtis Park residents, are so enthusiastic about efforts to conserve energy at home, that both have written a letter to encourage more neighbors to come on board.

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 percent."

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

In fact, preliminary studies done by SMUD show that on average Energy Star households use 7 percent less electricity than residents in the rest of Curtis Park and 15 percent less than households throughout the remainder of the SMUD district.

In order to capture more of the conscientious energy users in the neighborhood, the Curtis Park Energy Stars pledge form has been amended to include those already working on saving energy as well as those who would like to try and do better.

Curtis Park Energy Stars is a partnership between SCNA and SMUD to showcase Curtis Park as a model for energy conservation, especially in the face of increasing evidence that toxic green house gases from burning fossil fuels are causing global warming. Energy Stars receive a monthly e-mail newsletter with tips and information about the progress of participants.

Those in the program agree to follow (or are already following) a few simple energy conservation measures: Converting at least four light bulbs to compact fluorescents, turning lights off when not in a room, turning the thermostat up two degrees in summer and down two degrees in winter, cleaning refrigerator coils twice a year, and a few other easy measures.

A recent survey of Curtis Park Energy Star households shows that the most popular energy saving measure is replacing four traditional light bulbs with compact fluorescents, which use only 30% the energy of an incandescent bulb. This action alone is equivalent to removing two cars off the road for a month

In addition, 81 percent of Energy Star households said it was easy embarking on the energy-saving measures and 25 percent reported a noticeable reduction in the SMUD bill as a result.

Some Energy Star households are really taking energy conservation seriously, abandoning their clothes dryer to line dry their clothes, putting solar screens on their windows, weather stripping windows, or purchasing a whole house fan.

Click here to sign up as a Curtis Park Energy Star household or click here to view a copy of the new pledge form,

Energy Tip of the Month

"Use less energy to stay cool in hot weather with these SMUD tips"

The most important factor in cooling your home is not to let it heat up in the first place. Good insulation, caulking and weather stripping help keep the heat outside during the summer. So do shade trees, overhangs, awnings and shades. Limiting the use of household appliances that emit heat also helps.

• Keep windows closed during the heat of the day.
  
• Draw blinds and draperies during the day to keep the heat out.
  
• Set the thermostat at 78 degrees or higher in the summer. You will save about 5-10% on the
  operating cost of your air conditioner for every two degrees of cooling you're willing to give up.
  
• Give appliances a break during hot summer afternoons and evenings. Many appliances create added heat and moisture making your air conditioner work harder. Limit the use of ranges
  and stoves, dishwashers, dryers, washing machines and other heat-producing equipment during midday. Use them in the early mornings or late evenings when the temperature is cooler.
  
• Avoid keeping unnecessary lights turned on.
  
• Prepare cool meals such as salads and sandwiches. If you must cook a hot meal, wait until later in the evening when it's cooler.
  
• Use small fans, box fans or ceiling fans instead of the central air conditioning unit when you plan to stay in one room for an extended period of time. Individual fans cost about 90% less to operate than central cooling systems.
  
• Adjust ceiling fans to turn counter-clockwise in the summer, Usually this means that the switch on the fan should be in the "down" position.
  
• Change your air filter regularly. An air conditioning
  unit with dirty filters can use 5-10% more energy than necessary.
  Source: www.smud.org
  

Return to Viewpoint Index