Home Power article on "Site Analysis for Wind Generators"

Home Power has published and agreed to share this informative article, written by Mick Sagrillo, with us. It's a great read to inform ourselves about siting wind turbines.

To view the (two-part) article, please click on the links below:

http://homepower.com/article/?file=HP40_pg86_Sagrillo

http://homepower.com/article/?file=HP41_pg60_Sagrillo

Is small-scale wind power welcome in San Juan County?

Article from Islands Sounder by Meredith Griffith
(http://www.pnwlocalnews.com/sanjuans/isj/news/113094144.html)

This isn't your grandfather's long-bladed prairie windmill.

Almost whisper-quiet, the six-foot diameter Energy Ball V200 wind turbine looks like something out of the Howe art gallery: a gleaming silver orb of glass fiber polyester, composed of six blades fused at both ends. John Phillips recently applied for a permit to install an Energy Ball, anticipated to supply 9,000 kilowatt-hours of power annually to his Olga home, but the request was denied – based on a 25-foot height building restriction written into the 2006 Olga Hamlet Plan. The device is normally installed on a 35-foot pole or a rooftop...


Click here to read the full article.

A county-wide plan for San Juan County to be a leader in renewable energy

Islands Energy Coalition

IEC

PRESS RELEASE

Submitted by Islands Energy Coalition (IEC) Chair: Sandy Bishop, LCLT@rockisland.com

Date: January 6, 2011

BACKGROUND: The Islands Energy Coalition (IEC) is a countywide coalition whose

goal is to create a robust county-wide energy plan that is results-oriented and makes San Juan

County a leader in conservation, education and development of appropriate renewable

energy (RE) projects. Specifically the energy plan will include programs and projects that

produce economic, environmental and community benefits and incentives.

IEC members have been meeting for about a year. We started as a work group of the San Juan Community Foundation’s Critical Needs Task Force. These renewable energy installation types cover small wind energy systems (“SWES”), photovoltaic (“PV”) or “active solar” systems, and micro-hydro (stream-based) systems.

BENEFITS: By adopting and codifying a Renewable Energy Ordinance for small scale projects, San Juan County will be providing clear guidelines to its citizens on what is allowable and permissible.

Starting in 2011 our electric coop will be forced to purchase “Tier 2” power if our grid-tied power consumption grows. "Tier 1" is the inexpensive legacy hydropower, “Tier 2” will be bought on the open market and no one can say for sure what that price will be, but it will be more expensive than Tier 1. Hydro-power in this state is maxed out. We need to find kinder sources of energy such as locally produced wind and solar.

San Juan County gets about 85% of its power from hydro the other 15% is from nuclear, coal and other. After conservation, renewable energy production makes the most environmental and economic sense.

Renewable energy saves money by producing homegrown energy.

There are advantages to small-scale residential wind, solar and hydro. Some home sites are much better suited to one over the other. Depending on your site you may choose one sole source or a combination. Residential wind generation and hydro are especially helpful because they tend to generate more power during the dark and windy days and nights of winter, which coincides with San Juan County’s peak usage.

Renewable energy reduces local carbon emissions.

Renewable energy promotion helps create local jobs and fosters economic vitality.

Development of home-generated renewables can be economically viable to the homeowner if one takes advantage of federal tax incentives and local and state production incentives.

JOIN IN A COMMUNITY CONVERSATION: Go to: www.islandsenergymatters.blogspot.com. The Islands Energy Coalition invites community members to leave comments on our blog. We will do our best to represent citizens who engage in this conversation and help figure out a plan that serves the best interests of islanders and these islands. We do not have staff so if you leave comments we may not get back to you but we promise to read everything – but please no mean spirited comments.

WHAT’S NEXT: The San Juan County Council has included small-scale renewable energy installations on the Prioritized Planning Tasks list along with the updates to the Unified Development Code UDC section 18. In mid-to-late January county staff will begin looking at Section 18 and begin crafting language to update the code to include renewable energy.

The IEC goal is to help draft language that frames the development of a small-scale renewable energy into the UDC. This language will help facilitate small-scale renewable energy development that is consistent with the County’s Comprehensive Plan. Accordingly, we see the changes to code will refer only to residential systems not larger than 100 kW capacity.

We do not plan to work on language in support of large, industrial-scale applications.

METHODS: A member of IEC contacted all 39 County planning departments in the State to assess any renewable energy (RE) ordinances they might have. Fifteen responded. Six Counties in the eastern part of the State have some sort of small wind energy systems (SWES) ordinance. On the west side of the State, Whatcom County has the most complete renewable energy (RE) ordinance. We have taken the best ideas and will begin work with county staff to help frame language for changes to the land use-code.

REGULATORY FRAMEWORK: Washington State regulations encourage deployment of renewable energy. For example, the Revised Code of Washington (RCW) includes the following:

RCW 80.60.005: The legislature finds it is in the public interest to:

Encourage private investment in renewable energy resources; Stimulate the economic

growth of this state; and Enhance the continued diversification of the energy resources used

in this state. [1998 c 318 § 1.]

Other examples include the Washington state feed-in tariff (SSB 5101), the Washington State

Community solar act, the Washington State Net Metering Law (Chapter 80.60 RCW) RCW

82.16.110

Changes proposed would be in support of the intent and purpose of the San Juan County Unified Development Code and Comprehensive Plan and embody the very goals and policies of the Comprehensive Plan. Independence and self-reliance of islanders are terms used throughout the Vision Statement. The section Energy and Resources includes the

following: "Our community fosters resource and energy conservation. Energy independence is encouraged."

Energy independence is an important part of our future. Currently there is no language in the SJC Comprehensive Plan or Unified Development Code that deals with the specifics of renewable energy installations. However, certain sections of the Comprehensive Plan are relevant:

2.2.C Energy

Goal: To conserve energy and promote energy efficiency. Policies (2.2.C.1-2)

1. Promote education on site planning methods that make maximum use of energy-saving features of the natural environment.

2. Provide opportunities within land use designations for the development and use of alternative energy resources which are compatible with the natural environment.

Each area of the islands has its own unique opportunities for the use of renewable energy. Active systems that utilize these resources are very compatible with the natural environment. Wind power in particular has long been an integral part of the agricultural landscape of western North America.

CURRENT LANDSCAPE: As of this posting there is one legally permitted wind tower in the county. It is located on Lopez Island on the corner of Bakerview and Port Stanley. It belongs to Mr. Rick Strachan and is visible from the road. There are numerous solar photovoltaic systems through out the county that can also be viewed.

As fellow citizens we ask you to help us think through the issues so that we can design language changes to the code and help promote renewable energy production, energy independence, local jobs and a healthy vibrant environment.

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.)