When dealing with heated water, one has to remember that there are three costs associated with this commodity. (1) You pay for the water. (2) You pay to heat the water. (3) You pay a sewer fee to discard the waste water.

So, the next time you are standing in the shower thinking, remember the water and gas meter are clicking away. Want another energy and water saving solution? Use your bathing towel more than once. Hang it up to dry and use it again. If you shower every day and use your towel twice, you will cut back your laundry chores by 182 towels per year vs. the old method of new towel every shower! Your mom, wife or person in charge of washing all those towels, will thank you. The 5 minute shower, give it a try.

Jeff Williams

Greening Bakersfield

Did you know a common AA rechargeable battery can be recharged 1000 times? With today’s technologies both chargers and batteries have come a long way in extending battery life and capacity. Suppose that you find a great buy on good quality AA disposable batteries at $0.45 a battery. 1000 disposable batteries will cost $450.00 and you will be responsible for responsible disposal. High quality rechargeable AA batteries may cost $2.00 each and there is a chance you could leave them in your will.

Now more than ever, it is possible to buy rechargeable batteries and chargers in common places such as drug or hardware stores. So, do yourself a favor and make a small investment for your family and the planet. Make a change and pick up a charger and rechargeable batteries.

Jeff Williams
Greener Bakersfield

The kWh consumption is easy to figure out (Amps x Volts = Watts and remember 1000 watts = 1 kWh), but the cost can range from as cheap as $0.115 or as expensive as $0.410 per kWh depending on your overall home energy consumption and were you fall in PG&E’s 5 tier pricing schedule. Some Bakersfield residents, running a single speed pump, pay more than $350 per month for their swimming pool pump electricity while others frugally only pay $48 per month. I pay $11 per month.

A standard single speed 2hp pool pump motor running 6 hours a day drawing 19.4 amps at 120 volts will consume about 14 kWh. Here’s the math: 19.4 x 120 = 2328 watts. 6 hours x 2328 = 13,968 watts. Convert watts to kWh by dividing total watts by 1000 for a total of 13.96 kWh per day or 418 kWh per month. In the event you operate your pump 12 hours a day and your energy consumption is high enough to enter PG&E’s fifth tier, your cost could be near $342 per month. (Click Read More to Continue)

The Pentair Intelliflo variable frequency pool pump motor I installed at my home runs 20 hours a day and consumes 120 watts an hour for a total of 2.4 kWh a day or 72 kWh per month. My old single speed pump would consume 72 kWh in 5 days! The Intelliflo is an eco smart pool pump that knows the status of your filter and when it requires back washing. This unit is smart and realizes when there is blockage or priming issues and will take corrective actions to ensure optimal performance. The pump has four different modes; filter, vacuum, back wash and manual. Water features can be programmed as well. Here is a link for more info: http://www.pentairpool.com/intelliflo/pdf/IntelliFlo.pdf

With a price tag of $1400, the Pentair Variable frequency pool pump is not cheap, but in most cases will pay for itself in under a year. Over a five year period, you could see a $7000 savings on your electric bill vs. the old single speed model.

-Jeff Williams
www.greenerbakersfield.com

Green Bakersfield
Eco Bakersfield

A recent trip to Monterey really opened my eyes. I was extremely impressed with how actively green it is. I saw so many things that just “wowed” me. It seemed like the people of Monterey were working together as a team. One of the main things I noticed was that nearly everybody was walking around with reusable water bottles, all sizes, shapes, and colors. This is a fantastic concept.  People actually using refillable water bottles rather than plastic ones! I even saw a number of walking folks carrying ceramic coffee cups. I would have to say that I was most impressed by the shoppers.  It seemed like atleast 60% of the folks were using reusable shopping bags, and not plastic. A lot of the Monterey businesses were proud to show memberships to different green organizations by sporting stickers on their doors and plaques on their walls.  Beyond that, I have never seen so many Priuses in my life. It seemed like every other car was some sort of hybrid.  All in all Monterey just had a green feeling. It made me feel better inside. It gave me some hope that my hometown of Bakersfield can do it too. But then I had to return home and be reminded of just how far behind we are. (Click Read More to Continue)

How far behind are we? In my estimation I would say 5 years.  People always say “you know Bakersfield is 5 years behind the rest of the world” Well, it’s true. WE ARE, especially when it comes to caring for our community and environment. When I go shopping, it’s amazing that every person I see is carrying a plastic bag full of groceries. Reusable grocery bags in Bakersfield must be 2 percent of all bags. How about reusable water bottles? I rarely see them. After a visit to Monterey where everybody was walking around with them, my girlfriend and I went down to Fresh and Green and bought us a pair of Klean Kanteens. We absolutely love them, no more plastic bottles for us. Here is a small green rant: Very few people use the recycle blue cans, people constantly leave their porch lights on all day (see Tims post), the roads are packed with oversized 8 to 10MPG vehicles, a majority of households and businesses I go into are still using incandescent lighting, blah, blah, blah.

As citizens of Bakersfield, we need to pull together. We all need to start doing the little things that do make a difference. Let’s make people take notice of our efforts when they come to our city. Below I have made a small list of things we can do to show we care about our future and about our city:

• Call the county or city and request a blue recycle can. Its only $48.00 per year.
• Convert at least one round-trip commute (to school or work) a week to carpool or transit/bike/walk.
• Replace all incandescent and halogen bulbs with compact fluorescents and turn off unused lights.
• Turn down the thermostat 3 degrees during the heating season.
• Upgrade your showerhead to a water-saving one and keep showers below five minutes.
• Pick up some reusable shopping bags and use them everywhere!
• Use cold water when doing your laundry.
• Get a reusuable water bottle and a reusable coffee cup, no more plastic bottles.
• Plug all your electronics into power strips and turn them off when not in use.
• Keep your auto tires fully inflated.
• Replace your old refrigerator with an ENERGY STAR model

-Kynan Chambers
www.greenerbakersfield.com
www.savebakersfield.com

My grandfather Stan used to follow my brother and I around his house yelling, “Why are these lights on? These cost money!”  Well, needless to say, I learned that lesson early on in life and it drives me nuts to see people throwing money and resources down the toilet. If it’s yellow let it mellow!  Sorry I got side tracked.  The only redeeming factor in this energy wasting fiasco is that 8 out the 11 homes with their lights left on had CFL’s.  But, come on! Let’s do the math.  For arguments sake we will assume that the CFLs are 13 watt bulbs, and the incandescents are 40 watt bulbs. Lets also say each house has 2 lights on. (Click Read More to Continue)

40w Incandescent  x 2
24 hrs will use 1.920 KW = $.36
7 days will use 13.440 KW  = $2.55
1 month will use 57.600 KW = $10.94
1 year will use 691.200 KW = $131.32

13w Compact Flourescent x 2
24 hrs will use .624 KW = $.04
7 days will use 4.368 KW = $.83
1 month will use 18.720 KW = $3.56
1 year will use 224.640 KW = $42.68

1 KW @ $.19 average

So, these are the numbers for just two lamps left on, but, like cockroaches, for every one you see there are many more you don’t. Who knows how many lights are left on in the house! Energy conservation is not only good for our environment, but also our pocket books.  Even though the CFL’s use about a third of the energy of an incandescent lamp, it wouldn’t cost my neighbors nearly as much if they would turn off their lights during the day. If their too lazy to do that, then a solution would be to buy a fixture with a photocell.  A photocell is basically a switch that is activated by the sun (daylight-off / night-on). It’s just that simple.  So please, do yourselves a favor and go turn off that light, It’s costing YOU money.

Check back soon for my next articles- where to recycle your CFL’S here in Bakersfield and constructing a homemade solar hot water system.  Solar heated water-DUH!

-Tim  Douhan
Greener Bakersfield Contributor

It all started several months ago with an audit , a walk around the house with my clipboard and an agenda. The agenda you ask? Complete and utter bulbacide. Ok, seriously… my plan?? My plan was to replace every incandescent light bulb in my entire house. This turned out to be more of a task then I could have ever imagined. There were so many wattages, sizes, shapes, and colors of CFL’s. I mean there was warm white, soft white, full spectrum, full spectrum daylight, halogen white, and many more that I can’t remember! Then there was Kelvin, do I want 2700 Kelvin, 3500 Kelvin, maybe 4100 Kelvin, wait, wait perhaps 6500 Kelvin!?  I had no idea what kind of compact florescent to buy to replace what incandescent bulb. All I knew was I had almost 50 bulbs to replace. (Click Read More to Continue)

The easiest way for me to accomplish this was to write down the size, location, and wattage of the current halogen bulbs. I then took my list down to a local hardware store and starting sizing up compact fluorescents. I was a bit overwhelmed by the amount of choices I had. There were in fact different wattages, brands, shapes, and prices. After about an hour I finally figured out what I ones I needed. It just took some serious box reading and comparing, even a bit of price comparing. At this point I returned home and started the bulb replacement effort. I found some were too bright, some were too big for the ceiling fans, and some were way to sterile looking when turned on. After playing musical bulbs, I finally completed my task. So, what were the results?

Not so fancy mathematical results:

100 Watt X 1 = 100 Watts
75 Watt X 5 = 375 Watts
60 Watt X 12 = 720 Watts
40 Watt X 14 = 560 Watts
25 Watt X 15 = 375 Watts
Total incandescent bulb wattage = 2130 Watts

11 Watt X 13 = 143 Watts
13 Watt X 18 = 234 Watts
7 Watt X 16 = 112 Watts
Total compact florescent bulb wattage = 489

A 1641 Watt difference!

I ended up paying $70.48 for the CFL army including sales tax. I also had a few spares to store away incase needed in the future

So here is the incandescent vs. CFL payback figuring 2 hours of use a day.
 
CFL will save 3.28 kWh per day and 98.40 kWh per month and 1197 kWh per year.  At an average of $.18 per kWh the lights will pay for themselves in under 4 months!  That means after the first year I will have paid for the new cfl’s and have an extra $141.68.  Not a bad investment in a bleak economy!

Now it’s time for the CFL regime to take over your home…. however…. the LED army approaches silently.

-Kynan Chambers
www.greenerbakersfield.com
www.greenbakersfield.com

I knew of hot water pumps on timers, recirculation lines, and expensive plumbers, but never could justify the rumored $1000.00 cost or the thought of my water heater in a constant “running” state from 5am to 9am. And what about the occasional noon shower? (Click Read More to Continue)

Two months ago I purchased a Chilipepper CP6000 hot water pump and installed the unit under my master bathroom sink. It was super easy to install(15 minutes) and provides hot water when you need it. The Chilipepper appliance is not a heater, but a 1/3 horsepower demand pump that delivers hot water to my distance shower in under 90 seconds. No wasted water and three times faster than the old water down the drain method. This micro-processor controlled pump installs under any sink and as explained on the Chilipepper website:
“When you push the start button, the Chilipepper pumps the water in a big loop from the water heater through the hot water piping to the Chilipepper, and on through the cold water piping back to the water heater inlet, a big loop. When the electronic control circuitry detects an increase in the water temperature inside the pump of from 6 to 12 degrees, it shuts the pump off. The shut-off sensitivity is adjustable with a knob on the front of the Chilipepper. When the circuitry detects a temperature over 96 degrees it locks out the pump until the water in the pump cools back down to below 96.”
According to the Chilipepper folks, a family of four can save 15,000 gallons of water a year!

Most times it will probably be necessary to install an outlet under the sink. When the pump is operating the noise level is about the same as a small vacuum.

Price? To good to be true. See for yourself on their website: www.chilipepperapp.com or try my friends at buygreen: www.buygreen.com/chilipepperhotwaterpump.aspx

-Jeff Williams
www.greenerbakersfield.com
Green Bakersfield

The concept of the WHF is basic.  Fresh air is drawn from outside through open windows (usually at night) and is blown directly into the attic causing the hot air in your attic to vent outside. This brings down the heat load of the entire house and allows the house to stay cooler during the day.  This means you don’t have to run your AC as much to cool your house down to a comfortable level.  I’ve also used it to warm my house on those days when it is warmer outside than in.  I usually turn mine on at 2 or 3 in the morning.  I’ll get up, go to the bathroom (you probably didn’t need to know that) and check my remote thermometer outside.  More nights than not the temp outside is as cool or cooler than the inside of my house (I set my thermostat at 78), so I crack a couple of windows in my bedroom and turn it on.  Almost immediately I can feel the fan drawing cool air into the house.  I don’t know about you, but I sleep better breathing fresh air rather than recycled.

AirScape http://www.airscapefans.com has three models of fans depending on the square footage of your home. I have the smallest model.  On high it draws 70 watts at 1000 cfm, a lot less than an air conditioner (they average about 3kw an hour).  It was a very simple installation.  It fits into both 16” and 24″ stud bays.  The most technical part of the installation would be installing an outlet for the fan; it has a 6′ cord.  I’m an electrician, so that was not an obstacle for me. The unit is remote controlled, has a 3 yr warranty, and qualifies for a PG&E rebate.  This is just one step in lightening the load on your pocket book and mother earth’s shoulders.

-Tim Douhan

Greener Bakersfield Contributor

Last month I purchased “The Energy Detective” also known as TED.  TED is an energy monitor that allows my family to see our kWh consumption in real time!  TED can also keeps a running daily kWh total.  The TED unit was also super easy for my electrician friend Tim to install. Once the TED unit was installed and up and running, I was enthralled with turning different lights and appliances on and off to check their kWh draws. (Click Read More to Continue)

The Official TED Website explains how the unit works:
TED’s transmitting device, located in your circuit breaker panel, measures the amount of electricity coming into your home as you demand/use it and then transmits data every second over your receiving unit. The receiving display unit can be plugged into any A/C outlet in your home.  Check out more on the official TED website including pricing and installation instructions here: http://www.theenergydetective.com/index.html

For me one of the greatest benefits of the TED unit is benchmarking.  By benchmarking your current kWh usage for certain event times, one will gain efficiency knowledge for that event.  For example, say the event is leaving the house for work or school.  My kWh bench mark for this event is 90 watts. A quick glance at the TED unit, before leaving, will confirm that all lights, heating blankets, computers, printers, etc are powered off.  In the case where my watt usage is higher, I do a quick search to find the TV, closet light or heating blanket left on. For reference, my “Everyone is in bed or going to bed” benchmark is 120 watts.

Below, I have posted my most recent utility bill that shows this year and last years usage comparison for the same time period.  Note the drop from 20 kWh a day last year to 11 kWh this year.  Ohh, before I forget, here is a link to a video review of the TED. http://www.mavromatic.com/archives/000674.asp

One of my goals? a green Bakersfield, and a thicker wallet.

-Jeff Williams
www.greenerbakersfield.com
www.greenbakersfield.com
Green Bakersfield
Save Bakersfield

Six different flavors still available as of Friday the 6th of February:

ULA Mini Dimmable 23 Watt – replaces 100 Watt incandescent bulbs (2 bulbs per pack)
Greenlite 9 Watt Vanity – replaces 40 Watt incandescent bulbs (4 bulbs per pack)
Greenlite 7 Watt tradition bulb style – replaces 40 Watt incandescent bulbs (4 bulbs per pack)
Greenlite 23 Watt – replaces 100 Watt incandescent bulbs (4 bulbs per pack)
General Electric 15 Watt – replaces 60 Watt incandescent bulbs (3 bulbs per pack)
General Electric 26 Watt – replaces 100 Watt incandescent bulbs (3 bulbs per Pack)

I have also heard from fellow energy saver Jeff that you can find these great deals at various grocery stores every blue moon. Keep your eyes open. I will continue to post when I see the CFL rebates at different stores across Bakersfield. Perhaps we need a CFL rebate alert? At this point I’m buying them just to give out to friends and family. What a great gift!

–Kynan Chambers
www.greenerbakersfield.com
www.greenbakersfield.com

We are excited about the water savings as well as the prospect of not having to use a plunger.  There is nothing worse than plunging a urinal.  I don’t know if there is a special plunger for a urinal vs. a toilet, but the standard plunger always explodes the contents of the plugged urinal all over you and the walls.  Why does anyone feel the need to flush a toothpick, gum wrapper, bumper sticker, paper towel, blister pack, sharpie cap, or business card down the urinal, anyway?  Similar to the plunger vs. urinal fiasco, the overflowing urinal on a busy Friday night will not be missed.  We had our traditional “flushing” urinal in place for 6 years and as mentioned above, it was continually a battle. (Click Read More to Continue)

How does a waterless urinal work?  The secret, according to the manufacturer’s website: ( http://www.sloanvalve.com/182_aboutmain_ENU_HTML.htm ) is the cartridge. Sloan makes a cartridge that is good for 7,000 uses and aids in creating an odor liberated environment. There is a specific sealant that is added to the cartridge that floats above bladder recycled ale providing a barricade against the ordinary odors of a public lavatory. Urine passes around the sealant and travels down the drain.  Check out more info here: http://www.sloanvalve.com

Did I mention the $300.00 rebate for installing this unit?

Jeff Williams
www.greenerbakersfield.com
www.greenbakersfield.com
Eco Bakersfield

Lengthwise Brewing Company, my workplace, installed a small solar system that produces 1.2 kWh per hour for five hours a day.  After a quick investigation, I found that the system would not even provide enough energy to power the 25 track lights that provide ambiance lighting!  Each track light bulb was a 50 watt halogen bulb.  Therefore, the math goes like this:

Consumption Math (halogen bulbs)
25 bulbs x 50 watts = 1250 watts or 1.25 kWh
The lights are on for 12 hours a day
12 hours x 1.25 kWh = 15 kWh

Solar PV production Math
1.2 kWh x 5 hours = 6 kWh per day

(Click Read More to Continue)

According to the info above, the track lights consume 15 kWh per day and the solar PV system provides 6 kWh per day.  So, it appears that we need a larger solar array.  Wrong.  We need to install more efficient bulbs.  All halogen track lights were changed out to compact fluorescent spot lights that consume 7 watts per bulb per hour but provide approximately the same amount of light. New math:

New Consumption Math (compact florescent)
25 bulbs x 7 watts = 175 watts per hour
12 hours x 175 watts = 2.1 kWh per day

Bulb change out cost
25 compact fluorescent spots x $8.00each = $200

Solar PV system after rebates cost
1.2 kWh complete system = $7,000

The point is this, reducing your energy consumption through efficiencies will by far out weigh a hasty solar PV installation.  Our simple $200.00 bulb change will save us 12900 watts per day or 4,708,500 watts per annum! 

Jeff Williams
www.greenerbakersfield.com

www.greenbakersfield.com