California Consumers Avoid Getting Burned by High Energy Prices

Mar. 31, 2001

California Consumers Avoid Getting Burned by High Energy Prices

By Peggy Spear

The days are getting longer, the weather is getting warmer, leaves are gently rustling on tree branches, and for those of us blessed with living in Northern California, the forecast has never been bleaker.

Never has the idea of summer been greeted with more trepidation, the fear fueled by the worst energy crisis in the state's history. Dwindling electricity and natural gas supplies, a drier than usual winter and skyrocketing energy prices all add up to the possibility of an endless summer of sweltering days and rolling blackouts. It's like someone tossed ice water on a sizzling barbecue.

However, while utility companies and politicians are raining on our Memorial Day parades, energy-efficiency experts view this crisis as an opportunity to create effective and lasting solutions.

"In a way, this energy crisis is the best thing to happen to California," says George Matthews, a project manager at Community Energy Resources in Berkeley and a member of the Oakland Alliance for Community Energy, an ad-hoc group designed to help Oakland and other East Bay cities conserve energy. "In the long run, practicing good energy-saving habits will lead to a better economy overall."

A small investment in energy-efficient appliances and materials -- as well as a little knowledge about easy techniques for cooling communities -- will help homeowners cope with the energy crisis this summer, Matthews says.

The first thing homeowners should do is try to shut off the air conditioner.

"Air conditioners are the mothers of all energy hogs," says Matthews. "If it is absolutely impossible to live without an air conditioner -- like in Eastern Contra Costa County and the Central Valley -- it might be worth it for homeowners to replace old air conditioners with newer, more efficient ones. It will pay for itself within a decade, in the savings."

Make sure the unit is an Energy Star appliance, the distinction given by the federal government to appliances that are energy efficient, he says.

Another solution is to "embrace blackouts," Matthews says. "A dark room on a summer day will lower the temperature quite a bit. Also, never underestimate the power of window shades and curtains. They will keep the heat from the sun out in the summer and, during the winter, keep the warm air in."

Replacing drafty old windows with efficient ones will keep heat entry down, and replacing incandescent light bulbs with fluorescent ones will also save energy. Turning off the clothes dryer and stringing a clothesline across your yard will save quite a bit of power -- as well as keep your clothes smelling fresh.

Finally, simply unplugging a second refrigerator will have 9 percent monthly savings, according to Matthews and PG&E data.

Many East Bay residents are lucky enough to have pools, but the cost of filtering and heating them can be staggering. However, many pool experts are also poised and ready to offer some energy-saving alternatives.

"We have seen thermal pool blankets, or solar covers, soar in popularity over the last few years," says Dave Denize of Walnut Creek's Aquarius Pools. These blankets, commonly called "bubble covers" because of the thermal bubbles, are lightweight and relatively inexpensive -- starting as low as $60. They attract the sun's heat and can increase a pool's temperature by as much as 10 degrees.

Denize adds that there is a new liquid solar blanket that can be thrown in the pool to form a layer to attract heat.

Another solution is to invest in energy-efficient filters and pumps, such as those offered by StayRite and Pentair. These use less horsepower than the older pumps, but are just as effective, Denize says. "You need horsepower to get a car on a freeway, not to move water through a pump," he says.

Another major way to keep homes cooler this summer is by making sure your landscaping is working for you. According to the Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Network, planting trees, shrubs, vines, grasses and hedges can be one of the best long-term investments for reducing heating and cooling costs, while also bringing other improvements to your community.

According to EREN, a well-designed landscape will cut summer and winter energy costs dramatically; protect your home from winter wind and summer sun; reduce consumption of water, pesticides and fuel for landscaping and lawn maintenance; and help control noise and air pollution.

Who hasn't sat beneath a tree for shade in the summer? The reason it feels so good is that shading and "evapotranspiration" (the process by which plants actually move and release water vapor) from trees can reduce surrounding air temperatures by as much as nine degrees. Planting trees is a great way to shade parts of your home that are always hot in the summer, especially around rooms with windows facing west and south, says Matthews. Taller trees can cut heat loss through the roof -- the top reason for air conditioning use in warmer climates. In fact, a well-planned landscape can reduce an unshaded home's air conditioning costs by 15 to 50 percent, he says.

To block solar heat in the summer, but let in much of it in the winter, plant deciduous trees. Trees with high, spreading crowns -- leaves and branches -- can be planted south of a house to provide maximum roof shade in the summer. Trees with branches and leaves lower to the ground should be planted to the west, where shade is needed to block afternoon sun.

Trees, shrubs and groundcover can also shade the surrrounding ground and pavement, which not only helps keep the entry and driveway from blistering little bare feet, but also reduces the amount of heat that can creep into the house's walls and windows. A hedge alongside a sidewalk or a trellis with climbing vines over a patio can go a long way toward cooling your living area.

Putting in grass around a building instead of concrete will also cool down the space a bit, but trees are an even more effective alternative, Matthews says. "Lawns are great, but they take quite a bit of water to maintain," he says. "If water is an issue, opt instead for trees."

Speaking of living areas, who doesn't consider an outdoor patio an extra room in the house? Many energy experts say that now is the time to really take advantage of being outdoors, especially in the summer evenings when a home without air conditioning is most uncomfortable. "It might be time to consider eating more outdoors," says Matthews.

Other lifestyle tips include: eating sandwiches and cold salads for dinner rather than cooking; using solar-powered accent lights in gardens and walkways, rather than electric ones. Better yet, light up inexpensive tiki torches to create your own Tribal Council. And still better, make it fun for the whole family by sleeping outdoors. Taking advantage of public swimming pools and nearby lakes and rivers is another good way to keep cool.

"We really need to look at this energy crisis as an opportunity to change our way of thinking about power and energy use," says Matthews. "With a few simple investments in energy-efficient materials and a powerful imagination, we can beat this crisis."