Please Join Us in the Celebration of Lopez Energy Challenge Results

Islands Energy Coalition in collaboration with OPALCO and Lopez Island Library would like to invite community members to come hear inspiring energy stories and meet winners of prizes in different contest categories.

• Special highlight: There will be a BICYCLE GENERATOR for you to try out your muscle power! Burn calories and generate electricity. Compare power usage of different lighting technologies and appliances.

• Don't miss the fun educational opportunity for the entire family!
• Come and be part of the community conversation on energy!

5PM Thursday December 16, 2010 at Lopez Island Library

Refreshments will be served and free gifts from OPALCO given away 

How Many Lance Armstrongs would it take to power your home?

At Lopez Elementary School, students gained some good biking muscles trying to keep the lights on!

How? Thanks to a bicycle generator put together by Kent Schaefer, kids in Alex Nelli's science class and Dale Shreve's homeroom learned that they could power lights, a boombox, pencil sharpeners, fans, motors, an electric piano, or a combination of the above, with their own little legs.

Elementary students lined up in Lorri Swanson's garden class to power the fan used in the winnowing process to separate wheat berries from the chaff, which they helped grow and harvest.

Apart from having fun and getting a good workout, the kids also learned first hand the value of precious energy. Can you imagine how hard it would be to have to generate your own electricity? For these students, it's no longer a theoretical concept. They know how much work it is to light a bulb, and hopefully how important it is to use energy wisely and consciously.

One child pedaling as hard as possible generates enough to power one 60 Watt incandescent bulb. At that rate, most children last about five minutes. It would take 300 such hard-working children on generators for 10 minutes each to dry a load of laundry.

They also understand the huge difference in power consumption between efficient (LED or fluorescent bulbs) and inefficient incandescent lights, despite their equivalent brightness. Keeping only one incandescent lamp on is more difficult than powering 5 compact fluorescent and LED lights combined.

A fabulous educational tool, the bicycle generator has a fan (powered by the rider and positioned to cool the rider), a panel of three different types of lights, and ability to connect to DC (direct current) and AC (alternating current) appliances, with or without a battery.

A resident of Center Island, Kent Schaefer said it took two full days to put this ingenious set together, using mostly “stuff that was lying around” his house, plus a free exercise bike courtesy of Neil's Mall. One of his main inspirations is Ryan, his 10-year-old son, genius inventor-in-training, and forth grader at Lopez School.

Lopez school students are very lucky to have such a resource! The potential for education is unlimited. Some high school students are toying with the idea of using the bicycle generator to power the sound system for an energy-efficient dance party, or to make treats for an energy-efficient bake sale fund-raiser.

Fortunately the bike can be powered not only by volunteer child labor. Adult labor is welcome and encouraged. Community members, young or old, can come and try out the bike at the celebration of Lopez Energy Challenge results at the Lopez Island Library Thursday, 16 December, at 5PM. We will hear inspiring energy stories and engage in a community conversation on energy. And of course, you will get to find out how many Tour de France champions it will take to power your home!

Hope to see you there. Bring your own enthusiastic legs.

(Written by Chom Greacen, the article first appears in the Islands Weekly in Dec 2010.)

Home Performance

Home.  It’s a word heavy with connotation, a word containing a world of personal significance.  A home should be a place of comfort and a source of strength, rejuvenation and health.  While most of us have a strong emotional connection to our homes, we usually don’t consider the scientific system designed for our comfort. When a Home Performance evaluation is used for your home, the rigors of science optimize your home’s performance.

A high-performance sports car holds the road so well  because the weight to power ratio of the car, coupled with precision engineering, gives it stability. The secret lies in the system.  Home Performance focusses on your house as a “system” with the goal of supporting a more comfortable, healthy, durable and energy-efficient home.  Working with the laws of physics and the dynamics of heat, air and moisture movement, the system is balanced and finely tuned, like a sports-car, and the structure performs optimally.

While many homes are pleasing to the eye, they often neglect a whole world of comfort potential. Pack away the visual insistence of your eyes and consider your home from the reach of your other senses, the often neglected realm of smell, touch and feel.  Take a deep breath.  Does your house smell musty or stale?  Do you battle to keep your home warm in the winter?  Do you suffer the insult of cold feet from frigid floors?  A home should be free of drafts, easy on the heat and contain fresh air to breathe.  This will maximize your home’s potential.

The Home Performance process begins with an Energy Audit and utilizes diagnostic tools such as a blower door, infrared camera, gas sniffers and pressure gauges to test the home’s performance.  There is no guesswork. Home Performance makes sick houses healthy by ensuring an optimal flow of air.

After Home Performance testing the auditor will build a list of concerns to be addressed and prescribe the solutions.  Some of the common problems found in older homes are inadequate insulation values, far too many air leaks, single pane windows and propane appliances with flue gas concerns.  Newer housing stock may be without proper ventilation and suffer from poor indoor air quality; mold and mildew are concerns along with broken thermal boundaries.

Energy remodel measures offer exceptional returns on investment. The savings are quantifiable and paybacks arrive within a few years.  You will immediately notice a difference in your home following performance measures.  Your home shouldn’t be a place of cold feet.  It shouldn’t be a battle ground against the elements.  It should be a place for you to be comfortable and healthy.

After more than 20 years in the building industry, I have found Home Performance to offer the most bang for the buck in reducing heating and energy costs.  Full energy remodels generally range from $2,000-$9,000, depending on the depth of the measures.  There are several rebates and incentives offered by OPALCO and the federal government to assist in the weatherization costs.  Some of these expire at the new year, so now is a good time to sign on for for an energy remodel and start living in a more comfortable, healthy and energy-efficient home.

Email Energy Matters at islandenergymatters@googlegroups.com, call me at 468-4047, or call OPALCO at 376-3586 to sign-up for a Home Energy Snapshot that includes an in-depth home energy assessment for $25.  The Snapshot does not offer diagnostic testing, but it does include high efficiency specialty light bulbs and shower heads.


(Written by Doug Poole, this article was first published in the Islands Weekly in November 2010.) 

Energy Challenge Launch on Lopez

There will be a launch to unleash the First Lopez Energy Challenge, on Thur October 14 in the fireplace area of the Lopez Library.

Come join us and you will learn about the Energy Challenge and check out some of the prizes to be given away to winning contestants.

You'll also get to learn how to read meters and use Kill-A-Watt, an easy-to-use power monitoring tool, which is very useful in figuring out what consumes how much electricity in your household. And Kill-A-Watts are now available to be checked out at the Lopez Library.

Or just come and socialize with energy enthusiasts! :) Hope to see you there.

First Lopez Energy Challenge!

Fall 2010

First ever on Lopez!

Sponsored by: Islands Energy Coalition in collaboration with OPALCO and Lopez Library

Enter free to win fabulous prizes! Simply track your electricity usage (by reading your utility meter weekly), fill out the form provided, and you may be WINNERs in one or more of the following categories:

Category	Criteria
Best Energy Conservation Story	Creativity, originality and effectiveness of energy conservation tip/story
. Small Energy Footprints	Lowest electricity usage with consideration of family size and use of other fuel sources*
. Energy Usage Reduction	Largest percentage drop in electricity consumption compared to previous month and/or same month of previous year*
. This-house-can-use-professional-help!	Households that would benefit from a professional energy assessment

*For full-time residents only.

Prizes include

• Solar-powered reading lamps
• Smart power strip
• SNAPSHOTs (whole-house energy assessments)
• 1-Hour Professional Home Performance Consultation

• Gift certificates

Power monitoring tool available to help identify energy usage

To help you figure out ways to save energy, OPALCO has provided Kill-A-Watt meters for check out at the Lopez Library. Easy and safe to use, this meter enables you to monitor electricity consumption of any 120V appliance by simply plugging it into the device.

Want to take on the Challenge? Here is how:

Record OPALCO meter readings weekly for a month, fill out the form and turn it in by Nov 19, 2010 at a drop box at the library or by email. Questions? Call Chom Greacen (468-3189) or email lopezenergychallenge@gmail.com.

Prize

Sponsors: OPALCO, Sage Building Solutions, Small Steps Solar, Sunset Builders Supply, Blossom Grocery, Lopez Village Market, Turtle Energy, Lopez Island Electric

Typical wattage, electrical energy consumption and costs of different appliances

Ever wonder where your energy goes around the house? Which of your appliances use more energy that others? And how efficient my appliances compared to "typical" ones? The tables below are useful references (source: Clark Public Utilities in B.C. Canada). The energy cost used is quite comparable to OPALCO's ($0.0758/kWh plus tax).

(Click image to enlarge)

Calculating Your Energy Costs (how to convert Watts to kWh to $$$)

If you want to control how much you spend for electric energy, it's important to know how to compute the operating costs of your electrical appliances, electric furnace and your lights.

Knowing these costs will help you see where your electric energy dollars are going, how much one appliance costs to operate compared to others, and how to use energy wisely to control your energy costs.

Orcas Power & Light Cooperative (OPALCO) charges for the electricity you use by the kilowatt hour (kWh). To determine the kilowatt-hour usage of an appliance, you must first determine the
wattage of the appliance.

For example, a 60-watt light bulb has a wattage of 60; a 1500-watt heater has a wattage of 1500. Next, you need to determine how many hours you use the appliance.

The formula to determine kilowatt hours is:

(Wattage x Hours of use)÷1000 = Kilowatt hours (kWh)

To determine the operating cost of the appliance, you will multiply the kilowatt hours (kWh) by the current OPALCO rate. Currently the OPALCO rate per kWh is $.0758 for residential users.

kWh x OPALCO rate = Operating Cost

FOR EXAMPLE:

Your fan is rated at 600 watts and you use it for 40 hours during the month. To find the kilowatt hours:

(600 x 40) ÷ 1000 = 24 kWh for the month

The cost to operate this fan would be:

24 kWh x .0758 = $1.82 per month

So what’s my incentive?

The cast of characters here at Energy Matters suffer from a clear obsession for saving energy. We acknowledge, however, that our readers may not be quite as motivated by the stirrings of his or her inner geek. You might not experience the same sense of elation from capturing rays of the sun to power your world. There is, however, a universally motivating factor in the realm of saving energy.

Money.

Some of us have lots of it. Some of us wish we had more. All of us appreciate getting something for free. In the case of energy retrofit incentives, you have to spend a little to get a lot, but a variety of agencies are primed and ready to give you money to weatherize your home and invest in alternative energy. Why? Because it saves them money.

The federal government realizes that a reduction of fossil fuel consumption is a sound economic investment. Our power utility, OPALCO, realizes that an investment in weatherization reduces their electricity load, helping to stave off “Tier Two” price increases. And the cherry on top? Your investment will save you money too.

Take a look at a few of our favorite incentives and be inspired!

OPALCO has several great weatherization rebates. Among the sweetest is the prospect of free insulation. OPALCO will rebate up to $.85/sq ft on insulation. With local costs of $.40-.75/sq ft, the rebate may not only pay for your insulation but also help to cover the installation costs. Adding insulation can save you 10-20% on your utility bill and make your home more comfortable year round.

Are your windows feeling drafty or cold? OPALCO offers $6/ sq ft for replacing old aluminum framed or single pane windows. This should pay for about half the cost of the new replacement windows.

The “Home Snapshot Energy Assessment” is a comprehensive look into your home’s unique energy usage. For a nominal $25 fee you get individually-tailored recommendations to reduce your energy usage. And as a bonus you get unlimited high-efficiency light bulbs installed for you. One Snapshot home got 37 light bulbs! The owners stand to save $5 per month on lighting cost with bulbs that last 10 times as long.

OPALCO has several other rebates for duct sealing, heating systems, appliances, water heaters and more (www.opalco.com or 376-3500).

Washington State is offering a production incentive for solar electric and other renewables for the next ten years, and you don’t have to pay sales tax on solar PV.

On the Federal level, you may qualify for a 30% tax credit on weatherization (ends 12/10) and renewables (ends 12/16). The incentives are cumulative: you can use the OPALCO rebate and take tax deductions. Talk to your accountant for details.

When you weatherize your home by adding free insulation, half-price windows and a new furnace that you wrote off, guess what? You get to save money now, and on your energy bills for many years to come.

As a bonus, you get to feel good about doing your part. You will make a difference with your actions, whether it be for the planet, our natural resources or the air our children breathe. We thank you.

(This article was written by Doug Poole and first appeared in the Islands Weekly in September.)

My Energy Detective Hero

He is a man on a mission. He is obsessed. He is ruthless. He is my hero!

Meet Reuben Deumling, Energy Detective Extraordinaire, our good friend who recently visited Lopez.



He has hawk eyes, honed to detect energy leaks. He snoops out excesses and has a persistent knack for tweaking appliances and dwelling so they require the least energy input. When it comes to killing waste, he is ruthless.

And the results? A 90% reduction in his household electricity use!

After implementing waste-cutting measures, he and his wife consume an average of only 9 watts/person (that’s less than a single efficient lightbulb). At OPALCO rates (excluding the $25.50/month fixed charge) that’s a household electricity bill of just $12 for the whole year!

How did he do it? Two words: curiosity and meters.

To Reuben, conservation is a fun challenge to satisfy his curiosity—how much energy do we really need to have a comfortable life?

Some people change light bulbs or buy energy efficient appliances. But Reuben took a broader approach. He started by reading his electric utility meter daily to track consumption in relation to different use patterns. This allowed him to tinker with specific devices and inspired him to be more conscientious about turning off unnecessary lights and appliances.

His detective work also revealed his fridge consumed a whooping 3 kilowatt-hours a day (1,095 kWh a year). He replaced it with a small fridge with a 413 kWh/year rating.

Then he added additional 3” of insulation to the freezer compartment and positioned the refrigerator so that the coils in the back stayed as cool as possible. The best performance Reuben’s fridge achieved was 98 kWh/year, a quarter of the rating!

Next, he used a “Kill-A-Watt” meter (made to monitor power usage of individual appliances) to ferret out phantom loads – power consumption in off/standby mode. Phantom loads can be eliminated by using a switched plugstrip, or unplugging devices not in use.

“It is about empowerment,” says Reuben, “We don’t need to wait for an expert to tell us what to do. We can figure it out ourselves by reading meters and experimenting.”

You might wonder what it would be like to live with someone as passionate about energy as Reuben. Me too. So I asked Diana, Reuben’s wife and mother of their 5-year-old daughter Isabel.

In a gentle voice she said, “I have felt challenged to change my old habits and learn new ways of doing things. But I share the same vision so I fully support what he does.”

Diana and Isabel seem perfectly normal. If they can do it, maybe so can we!

So…let’s become Energy Detectives.

I believe we can learn a lot by sharing with each other tips and encouragements – not only about electricity but gasoline, propane and water too. Share your stories with us at islandenergymatters@googlegroups.com and check out Reuben’s slides on conservation below. Have fun and save $$$!

(Written by Chom Greacen, the article will appear in the Islands Weekly next week.)

"Reducing energy consumption by 50% - 90%" by Reuben Deumling

Reuben Deumling, Energy Detective Extraordinaire and our good friend has generously shared the work of his life passion with us. In his slides, he told the story of what he did to achieve 90% reduction in electricity consumption and similar for gas, and how we can do it too. Below are some previews.




To view the whole presentation, please go to: http://tinyurl.com/reuben-conservation

Enjoy!

Double Panes

Energy efficiency music video going viral on Youtube...

Small measures can make a big difference

Whether you find inspiration through altruism, pragmatism or economics, now is the time to develop a thriving and local energy economy.

As previously discussed in our Energy Matters column, our community needs to cut the islands’ electricity consumption growth to zero to avoid more expensive “tier 2” power prices. This month we’ll look at ways to conserve electricity with direct and simple measures that you can begin right away. Your efforts will be rewarded and really do add up.

In developing your energy conservation plan, use the following approach: 1) identify energy loss or inefficiencies, 2) prioritize according to potential energy savings and 3) systematically correct the prioritized problems according to your household energy improvement budget. OPALCO is now offering a $25 professional home energy assessment through its Energy Snapshot program that can help you develop a personalized plan. Sign up with Anne Bertino at 376-3571.

First, let’s discuss habits. You really will lower your energy consumption by using a clothesline or rack. Run the dishwasher with a full load and air dry. Set your freezer at 0 to 5 degrees (F). Turn off lights not in use. Unplug home electronics when not in use to reduce vampire (standby) loads.

Appliances and other electronics add up to about 40% of our energy bills. Big consumers are refrigerators, clothes washers and clothes dryers.

Refrigerators built before 1990 are great candidates for replacement. When shopping imagine two price tags: the “down payment” at checkout, then your utility bill for the next 10-20 years. Replacing a 1980s model will save you about $100 a year in electricity. Double that for a 1970s model! Look for the Energy Star logo, and read the yellow tags to compare annual energy usage. Avoid side-by-side design or a model larger than you need.

Heating represents 30-40% of a typical energy budget. Use a programmable thermostat, set back at night or while you are away. Maximize your furnace efficiency by keeping its filter clean and sealing your duct work. Leaks in your duct work are leaks on your pocketbook.

Lighting comprises about 10% of our energy use; change your incandescent bulbs to compact florescent bulbs (CFLs). CFLs are free with the OPALCO Snapshot.

Water heating represents approximately 12% of our energy budget. Insulate your tank, and set it to 120 degrees to save energy and protect from scalding. Wash your clothes in cold water. A low-flow shower head helps. Or, even better, heat your water via the sun by installing a solar water heater!

Retain the warm air in your home. Seal the air leaks, but have it done by a professional who will ensure healthy indoor air quality. Hot air rises; insulate your attic with loose-fill cellulose. Windows are inefficient when it comes to heat retention, so take advantage of OPALCO rebates and consider replacing any single-paned or aluminum-framed windows.

All of these efforts can add up to save you considerable money on your energy bills, while at the same time doing your part for our community and the environment.

Visit OPALCO or the Energy Star websites for additional specifics on energy savings and information on rebates and tax credits. Contact our group at 468-4047 or islandenergymatters@googlegroups.com.

(Written By Doug Poole and The Lopez Island Energy Taskforce, this article was first published in the Islands' Weekly.)

A Time of Crisis and Opportunity

It wasn't long ago that the business model that made sense for our cooperative power utility, OPALCO, was to sell as much electricity as possible. The wires and transformers that deliver the electricity cost about the same regardless of whether you're consuming 5 or 500 units (kWh) a month. Utilities like OPALCO have high fixed costs (wires, transformers, etc.) and the more electricity they sold, the more these fixed costs could be spread out, leading to lower rates.

Inexpensive electricity was made possible by an abundance of federally-funded hydropower dams, built mostly by the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) starting in the 1930s. Fortunately, (if you're a rate payer) or not (if you're a salmon), these dams aren't going away soon. But nobody is building any more big dams here either. The Columbia River is now a staircase of 14 dams. There just aren't any more big untapped rivers.

Over the years, electricity consumption has been growing and electricity surpluses the region once had are now gone. BPA's response has been to tell utilities like OPALCO something like, "Listen -- we've got a problem of limited supply here. Starting in 2011, if your power consumption grows, that additional power will have to be purchased on the open market." This new power is called "Tier 2". "Tier 1" is the inexpensive legacy hydropower.

There are few certainties in the electricity sector these days, but here's one: Tier 2 power is going to be more expensive. OPALCO currently buys Tier 1 BPA power for around 3 cents per kWh. No one knows for sure, but folks in the industry are saying that Tier 2 is likely to be at least twice as much.

Ouch. That turns the old business model on its head. More sales no longer means lower rates. On the contrary, the way to keep rates down now is to try to keep our power growth to zero so OPALCO won't have to buy any of that expensive Tier 2 stuff.

Crisis and Opportunity

It might seem like there's a crisis on the horizon. But there's a popular saying that the Chinese character for 'crisis' is composed of characters for 'danger' and 'opportunity'. Investing in energy efficiency (getting the same warm houses, cold beer for less energy input) is a lot cheaper than building new power plants and fueling them for 30 years. Here in the San Juans we use the bulk of our electricity for heat -- water and space heating, cooking, drying clothes. Heating takes a surprising amount of electricity -- an electric water heater takes over 100 times more electricity than a laptop. Heating a building takes even more. We can slash our electric bills by weatherizing our homes, using clothes lines, and investing in efficient appliances.

The good news is that saving energy saves money in two ways. If you implement energy conservation in your own home or business, your bills will be lower -- because you purchase less power. You also help keep the rates low for all OPALCO members.

Energy conservation is clearly a win-win for all -- AND there is money available through OPALCO and federal tax credits to help. To get started, contact OPALCO about an energy audit at 376-3571, or explore OPALCO's webpage: http://www.opalco.com/energy-efficiency. We'll investigate these and other ways we can shape our collective energy futures in upcoming Energy Matters articles. See you again next month!

(Written by Chris Greacen and Lopez Island Energy Taskforce, this article first appeared in Island Weekly in June.)

Energy Matters

We used to live in a simpler world. It was a world in which we were blessed by an abundance of cheap hydropower and fossil fuels. It was a world in which our pursuit of low-cost electricity and fuel was not complicated by our mounting impact on the environment, natural resources and habitat-- a world of seemingly endless economic growth and opportunities.

Now that world is not so simple.

What we face today is a world of unprecedented challenges and uncertainties. Our islands currently depend on hydroelectricity for 80% of our power. What will happen if climate change affects rainfall patterns and power generation from hydroelectric dams in the Pacific Northwest? Fuel prices are unpredictable and the environmental risks of extracting petroleum has never been more apparent than with the massive BP spill in the gulf. How can we prepare ourselves and our economy for the time when fossil fuels are no longer as affordable? Is there a way we can maintain and improve our quality of life without compromising the environment and natural resources that we leave our children and their children? And finally, can we move forward in a way that is creative, responsible, affordable and even fun?

We believe the answer to the last question is yes! Innovations in technology, policy, and collaboration open up opportunities that are more than sufficient to address our challenges. We want to explore energy questions and engage our community of readers in an important discussion of our county's energy future. In this space you will find exciting energy facts, ideas and initiatives from our neighbors and around the world. We will offer information on incentives, services, resources and technology that will save energy and money. As we explore our use of energy in the San Juan Islands, we will discuss where we are now, where we want to be in the future, and how to get there.

We envision a thriving local energy economy that is based upon the principals of ecology, peace, and social justice. This column will be a regular feature and because we believe the discussion of our energy future belong to the community, we welcome any questions, comments or inspirations our readers may have. Please write us at islandenergymatters@googlegroups.com.

Who are "we", you may ask? Spearheaded by Lopez Community Land Trust, the taskforce is a small group of energy enthusiasts and professionals as well as members of a group called "Islands Energy Coalition" whose interest is to promote community discussions, solutions and empowerment towards a happy, resilient energy future for the San Juan Islands. Specifically, this column is initiated by Chom Greacen (energy researcher), Chris Greacen (energy consultant), Doug Poole (building performance contractor) and Jeff Dyer (renewable energy contractor), all residents of Lopez Island. We and other IEC members will contribute to future articles. Doug is the groups contact at 468-4047.

(Written by Chom Greacen and Lopez Island Energy Taskforce, this article first appeared in Islands Weekly in May 2010)