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

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

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