History of Halloween?

http://link.history.com/services/link/bcpid1811456971/bclid1842765416/bctid1842866701 This is a video put on by the history channel, it's only like 3 minutes long but well worth it. Check it out!

Indoor Air Quality

The picture shows 10 EASY ways that ASHRAE (American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers, Inc.) suggests to improve the air quality in your home. We are spending up to 65% in our homes and less frequently opening windows. It is important to keep our air quality indoors as clean as possible. How hard is it to move a couple of cleaning supplies? This picture is a bit difficult to read due to size constraints. View it on it's orignial location: http://www.ashrae.org/publications/page/961

Doors and Windows

Some tips and suggestions for life without air conditioning - or this quasi-fall temperatures we're experiencing in southern California.

Sad but True...

Unfortunately there has been an increase in copper-tubing and steel parts stolen from air conditioning units. What can you do to protect yourself?

While copper prices aren't as high this year (compared to the relative spike last year) some of our customers who have had to replace their units due to theft.

For about $25 worth of copper, it can cost you around $3,000 to repair.

In cases where the copper has been stolen, we usually just recommend replacing the unit rather than paying for costly repairs of the old unit. Read more about this problem... The Air Conditioning, Heating and Refrigeration News put out this article where an entire rooftop was stolen from a business. Thankfully, most homeowners don't need to worry about this much damage. This story takes place in Oklahoma and shows how little success police are having in tracking down copper thieves. http://www.achrnews.com/Articles/Cover_Story/BNP_GUID_9-5-2006_A_10000000000000106822 One of the 'problem' locations experiencing high numbers of thefts is Oklahoma. http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?articleID=070504_1_A14_spanc47218 One online newspaper offers some simple solutions you can do at your own home to at least make it more difficult to steal your unit. These are pretty easy to do/find at a hardware store and cheaper than alternatives (of cages etc. that I will discuss below). Worth a try, especially in California if you're interested. Another option for protection is through cages - specially made for your air conditioning unit. There are a couple of companies offering cages (for one in your area contact your hvac contractor). The two mentioned below are just examples. http://www.accage.net/ operates out of Florida and creates a cage with a lock around the unit. If you are looking for a more - barred look try

http://www.mr-locks.com/products/147/Air_Conditioners_Cage_Gates/ Other companies just make a 'cage' out of wire fencing in the hopes that while it is not impossible to steal the copper that thieves will find an easier target.

Wonder How Much You Can Save?

Source: http://www.acdoctor.com/cooling_calculator.php last access 10/27/08. Information regarding resources and how much you can save if you upgrade to a newer model conditioner.

So you are thinking about upgrading to a newer air conditioning or heating system because you keep hearing things about green this and save energy that?

How about seeing actual savings in the form of: 1. Money 2. Trees/Carbon emissions saved and 3. Energy preserved. Their calculator will also tell you how many years it will take for you to recover the initial cost of installation/upgrade. With all of your options (even you kw/h rate) weighed out for you, the decision becomes much easier. Below is an example quote (using rough, estimates instead of actual numbers) for the air conditioning system that was installed in my home this last March. This bottom chart shows what I could recover over the lifetime of the unit. A pretty good way to make a decision if you ask me. Check it out.

2008 Energy Rankings! - dun dan dunnnnn

Source: The ACEEE Energy Report card for 2008. http://www.aceee.org/pubs/e086.htm last accessed 10/23/08 and also as part of the flex your power e-mail newsletter Oct. 22, 2008 / #631. The American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy is a non-profit that measures efficiency as related to commercial success and makes suggestions, policy recommendations for an ‘energy efficient economy.’ More information about the ACEEE can be found on their webpage at www.acee.org In their own description they say:

“ACEEE is a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing energy efficiency as a means of promoting economic prosperity, energy security, and environmental protection.”

In 2007, the ACEEE published a report on the energy efficiency of 2006. This year, with their 2008 report, they ranked every state (and the District of Columbia) based on

“The scorecard examines eight state energy efficiency policy areas: (1) utility-sector and public benefits programs and policies; (2) transportation polices; (3) building energy codes; (4) combined heat and power; (5) appliance efficiency standards; (6) Lead by Example in state facilities and fleets; (7) research, development, and deployment; and (8) financial and information incentives.”

On their scale, the maximum points that a state could get was 50. California ranked 1st at 40.5 points. That is still almost 10 points away from efficiency that is using the programs/services that are already in place. While I am happy that we are doing so well, I was still upset to find out that we had quite a large way to go. But alas, I was able to take heart that Wyoming, coming in last with a large ZERO. Are you kidding me? Wow. You never realize how much each state is different. Below is a map, included in their account which gives a color-depicted idea of where each state is at reaching energy efficiency goals. The Top ten for 2008 are:

1. California
2. Oregon
3. Connecticut
4. Vermont
5. New York
6. Washington
7. (tie) Massachusetts, Minnesota
8. 0
9. Wisconsin
10. New Jersey

”Outside of the top ten, there has been significant movement up the ladder since last year’s scorecard. Idaho was the “most improved” state, having moved up twelve spots compared to last year’s scorecard. Other states that climbed the rankings are Florida, which moved up ten spots, and Maryland and Ohio, which each ascended eight spots in the rankings, putting all of these states in the second tier in our scorecard and giving them the title of “most improved” states.”

Top Ten AC from ASHRAE

OK, so you just got central air conditioning and heating and you want to know what 10 things should I know about this contraption? Or...you've had air conditioning for years and you've never thought about it. Here's your answer. ASHRAE (the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers) handles this issue in 10 short sections on their web page http://www.ashrae.org/education/page/1455#3.

1. How AC works

   The first section shows how air conditioning works, with a small colored drawing to describe how the air flow works and the various parts. this is a topic I've gone over in the blog quite a bit, so if you're interested...click the archives on our page under "How air conditioning works."

2. What is a TON of cooling?

   Heating and cooling is usually measured in tons of output. These 'tons' also need to be 'sized' specifically to your home to ensure proper room temperature.

   "A ton of cooling is now defined as delivering 12,000 BTU/hour of cooling. BTU is short for British Thermal Unit "

   One BTU is about the amount of energy provided by a kitchen match. If you would like more information about definitions and sizing or even cooling specific terms please visit our glossary page at http://www.sinclairair.com/GlossaryPage/Glossary.html#B

3. What can go wrong

   This is a popular question, and as it turns out, there are many things that can go wrong with a unit.

   "They are sized to meet a certain “load” on the house. They are designed to have certain amount of refrigerant, known as the “charge”. They are designed to have a certain amount of air flow across the coils. When any of these things changes, the system will have problems. If you produce more heat indoors either from having more people or appliances or because of changes in the house, the air conditioning may not be able to keep up.

   As such, it is important to make sure your unit has the proper amount of refrigerant, is cleaned regularly, and that you change the filter often. If you practice good maintenance, your unit should work for a long time.

4. What filters do

   Filters are necessary because they keep the unit clean and also catch particles and prevent them from getting into the air in your home. This two-fold defense will keep your unit and your family healthy.

5. Maintain the System

   Like your car, or anything else, regular maintenance will make a huge difference in the life of your system. Your unit should be looked at about once a year, more if you use it all the time.

6. Ducts matter

   Ducts are the paths in which cold air gets into your rooms. These ducts need also to be cleaned and maintained. If they get loose, (or chewed through - it happens) you are loosing a lot of cold air to your attic. If your ducts have been in your house for a long time, it's probably a good idea to check them - if they are accessible, or have them checked out. You don't want to pay to heat the outside.

7. Increase your efficiency

   This is also a topic that I cover often in the blog, click "save energy" or "energy efficiency" to learn more.

8. Lighten your load

   This is also pretty common sense and I've written about this before too. If you have every appliance in the house on - appliances that get 'hot' (like the TV, computer and duh the oven or stove) your ac is going to work WAY over time. Turn some of that stuff off - and especially if it's 100 degrees outside, you really don't need the lights on.

9. Ventilate

   Make sure the air is flowing in your house - ceiling fans help or even just slightly cracking a back window can draw air through if your home doesn't have an open floor plan. However, DO NOT - I repeat - DO NOT only turn the fan on - that doesn't help ANYTHING at all and I can't even describe to you how many times we get service calls for an AC that isn't turned on because the homeowner is ONLY running the fan. The fan is not supposed to cool the house - only move air, and it wastes energy. So, the best thing to do is turn your thermostat on, leave the fan and ac on auto and let the energy star thermostat save you money and keep you comfy.

10. Humidity

    This is another reason not to use the fan by itself. The fan does NOT remove humidity in the air and it's the humidity that makes things unbearable. Now air conditioners do their part to keep the indoor humidity levels low, but only when used properly. If you live in an especially humid area, talk to your contractor about special humidity options.

So that's it. AC 101 in ten easy steps. And now you can impress your friends at parties...or on game shows? You know what a TON of air is.

More facts...

Source: http://www.eia.doe.gov/emeu/consumptionbriefs/recs/aircond_use.html Facts from the 2007 Energy Use survey There is nothing I love more than useless facts - like those snapple lids? Best thing ever. Yay! Okay, so truthfully, I guess I could love a couple things more, but here goes: Useless air conditioning "facts" from a survey.

• Nearly three-quarters (72 percent) of all American households had air-conditioners. 47 percent of all households had central air-conditioning systems and 25 percent had window/wall air-conditioners. 1 percent had both central and window/wall air-conditioners.

• In 1997, households in the South spent the most for air conditioning, an average of $201, while households in the Midwest spent the least, an average of $81. In the South, 57 percent of all households had electric air conditioners and used them all summer, compared to only 11 percent of the households in the Northeast and West.

They also direct the public to their website for more statistics and information. http://www.eia.doe.gov/emeu/consumption/index.html

High Energy Bills?

SCE can help. If you live in the southern California Area and are paying your huge chunk of electricity payments to Southern California Edison (www.sce.com) they have some tips to save some green. So their site "Top 10 Energy Guzzlers" http://www.sce.com/CustomerService/HighBillHelper/energyguzzler.htm under their "High Bill Helpers" section has an interactive picture of 10 appliances in your house that can be causing that high energy bill. 1 of the 10 (actually #9) is the central air conditioner. Edison averages about .17 per kilowatt hour and they used a 3 Ton unit for example. They guess that if you have an inefficient model, you can pay $80.46 running it for 4 hours a day. If however, you have a higher SEER you can save money without having to turn the thermostat up to 82. (things to remember) 1. The current government standard in SEER (seasonal energy efficiency ratings) is 13. A seer of 13 is saving you 30% over a 10 seer (a unit maybe 5-7 years old). 2. If you pay $100 for your energy bill and upgrade to a 13 SEER, you will be saving 38% and now paying $62 for that same bill (according to residential.carrier.com's calculator). 3. The agreed upon temperature for optimal savings and optimal comfort is 78 degrees and higher when you're away from home. 4. Your thermostat isn't saving you any money if you are using it as a manual model (turning it on and off when you want to). Okay, check out the suggestions, many of them are common sense, some of them are weird (like get flat bottomed pans to avoid using too much electrical stove time - who sells rounded pots? and how do they stand up?....weird). But worth a look anyhow. They also have more tips on how to lower your energy bill under their High Bill Helpers section.

Statistical Maps

So, it's Friday and I don't have a lot of time to update, but I thought something really quick and interesting would help me get through the weekend? haha.

Seriously, these pictures are pretty interesting. The first shows how much per state (in a range) each state in the United States pays for electricity costs (something to consider when running an air conditioning or heating unit). Please keep in mind that this is from 1993 and now the current government standard for SEER is 13, so people who have upgraded are actually paying for 30% less cooling than they would if they had a 10 SEER. Confusing...I know, I will tackle that Monday maybe - if you're concerned email me. The second, picture is a representation of how people thought the summer of 2008 was going to turn out. Having completed it, I thought that we would go over it and see if it was generally correct. Those sciency people hate being wrong.

Air Expo?

Did you catch the video-head expo on G-4 a while back? What about Mac's new unveiling of their single piece technology? Regardless, I am sure you are familiar with the use of a huge expo in industries to unveil all of the new products for the year. The Air Conditioning & Heating Industry has their expo in Chicago in January of 2009. Source: http://www.ahrexpo.com/ This year (last year too) the expo is focusing on green and sustainable techniques that can be implemented in Air Conditioning design. According to their press release,

As the largest and most comprehensive HVACR exposition, the AHR EXPO attracts tens of thousands of attendees from all facets of the industry, including contractors, engineers, dealers, distributors, wholesalers, OEMs, architects and builders, industrial plant operators, facility owners and managers, agents and reps.

Why is this good for homeowners or others looking to replace or add a system to their home? As the HVAC (heating, ventilation, air conditioning - the R gets added for Refrigeration) industry gets better at making products environmentally friendly you will pay less on your air conditioning bill. Specifically unique to the American industry, the companies are looking to keep the costs low for the actual buyer (like in Europe they can use more expensive units because the higher energy costs over there allow for a savings - which wouldn't translate in the US). This expo is also helpful to HVAC contractors/buyers...etc. because it brings together people in the industry from all over the world. That means that as different countries work to better their own energy needs/production, this information and technology can be shared. Air Conditioning and Heating is also regulated (heavily in California) by governmental agencies that are looking to save the environment or have energy customers pay a certain price. As such, the HVAC community needs to be kept abreast of these bills/laws and make changes to the products accordingly. Interesting. The papers/exhibitions that come out of it are helpful, but for Sinclair the trip to Chicago is not. We will be sitting this one out online.

Our Showroom

Have you ever been to our showroom? We are located at 721 E. San Bernardino Rd. in Covina California. That's in between Grand and Barranca and just below Cypress. We are right next to the Capri Deli. If you happen to be in the neighborhood, you can stop in and see various units of different brands around the showroom. Some of them are open so we can explain what the different parts are. This is also a good idea to help you understand the size of the unit before it is installed. The Condenser, depending on the tons can be quite large, and it's good to be able to see how much backyard you can lose. We also just had some new sign-age put up and if I may say it looks pretty spiffy, so I thought I'd share some of those pictures with you as well. It can be kind-of interesting to see all of the units in one place. They come in many different shapes and sizes. Plus, we're pretty cool - and would love it if you stopped by and said 'hi.'

Everything You Wanted To Know

Ever wanted a concise, all-inclusive, easy-to-read, everything you should know about choosing, installing etc. anything about an air conditioning system? Check out: http://www.pueblo.gsa.gov/cic_text/housing/aircond/aircond.htm Here they describe what a good contractor should do, how to choose a system 'right' for your individual needs and what other options or concerns one should be aware of.

DIY Air Conditioner Maintenance

Source: http://home.howstuffworks.com/how-to-maintain-an-air-conditioner.htm The first couple of paragraphs explain the different parts of an air conditioner and where they are located. It is essential that the homeowner understands these things before trying to make any changes to their unit. Also, many air conditioning companies will clean your unit - or at least recommend someone professional who can. Also, it is important to note that all suggestions should be followed at the homeowners own risk and following manufactures instructions (that come in the owner's manual of the unit). Next according to howstuffworks.com they explain how to clean your evaporator. They suggest doing this about every year and checking the condensation pan in especially humid weather. The evaporator is located in the furnace or air-handler, this is also called the 'coil.'This should be cleaned very carefully, without bending or in any other way moving the pipes. The outside condenser should be cleared of any grass or leaves that may have decided to grow near it (this may prevent air flow). It is also important to check to see that the unit is still level by using (guess what?) a level. I wouldn't recommend doing any more of this yourself...DO NOT HOSE THE CONDENSER DOWN! bad, very bad things will happen. Sometimes (and I know this is difficult to tell some handy homeowners (my father included)) it is simply better (and cheaper) to have a professional do the 'dirty' work for you.

Tips from the ACEEE!

Source: http://aceee.org/consumerguide/cooling.htm The ACEEE or American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy (Imagine embroidering that on your lapel...)provides a consumer guide to improving air conditioner efficiency, whether that's simply 'cool'-proofing your home, or starting with a brand new system they have suggestions for you. The part of their page that I am going to highlight with this post is the 3rd step or selecting a new system. They don't give calculations on what brand names are particularly better than others, but rather approach the issue as what types of things one should look for. The ACEEE looks at Air conditioners/heat pumps, evaporative coolers, room air conditioners and even duct-less mini-splits. (I only posted information about central ac/heat pumps here, but please check their website for more information.) Here's what they had to say about central air conditioning/heat pumps:

Central AC and Heat Pumps
Central air conditioners and air source heat pumps are both widely used in the U.S. and are the best option for maintaining comfort in areas that experience high humidity. Heat pumps are much more efficient than central air conditioners and can be used very effectively both for heating and cooling in southeastern states. Both central AC and air source heat pumps are rated according to seasonal energy efficiency ratio (SEER). This is the cooling output divided by the power input for a hypothetical average U.S. climate. The higher the SEER, the more efficient the air conditioner. To get the best performance and highest efficiency possible from your new system, consider the following:

• ACEEE recommends SEER of at least 14.5 In all climates, ACEEE recommends consumers purchase new cooling equipment at the ENERGY STAR level. If you live in a very hot-humid climate, consider the advanced efficiency levels as defined by the Consortium for Energy Efficiency (CEE). Your utility may offer incentives for equipment at these levels. Air conditioners and heat pumps meeting these performance criteria can be found by running a search in the ARI/CEE HVAC Directory.
• ACEEE recommends EER of at least 11.6 This ensures the unit is efficient throughout the year and when it is needed most (on the hottest days). If you live in a hot-dry climate, ACEEE recommends a high SEER (15) but a high EER is less important: 11.5 or 11.6 is adequate. Better yet, consider an evaporative cooler instead.

ACEEE reminds homeowners that with an upgrade, especially to a SEER of 14 or more, there are considerable energy savings that go with it. To fully calculate this number (you will need to know how much your electric company charges kilowatt per hour (or however your electricity is measured)). Energy price calculators can be found a couple different places: Energystar.gov has a calculator, many of the brand names (carrier, bryant, etc.) have calculators on their websites, and your electricity company may even have a calculator of their own (probably a more accurate count of your own electrical charges). Another important thing to remember is to make sure your indoor and outdoor units match - because if they don't the life of the 'younger' unit will be very short and the units will not be running at the appropriate SEER. This is important because if the condenser and the furnace don't match, you will not save money or energy and the units will not work like they are supposed to. The ACEEE has many other helpful homeowner tips, media links and other sources of information. Other sources for finding an air conditioner are posted on the website: http://www.consumersearch.com/www/house_and_home/air-conditioner-reviews/reviews.html

Under Floor AC

Source: http://www1.eere.energy.gov/femp/pdfs/ufad_tf.pdf "Alternative Air Conditioning Technologies: Underfloor Air Distribution (UFAD). in Technology Focus: A New Technical Publication According to the department of Energy last access 10/9/08. Is your mega-office building one of those ones that is either constantly growing icicles or sending no air whatsoever your direction? The little cubical - thank the Germans. They adopted that style of floor-planning and eventually it spread to the United States. However, with that new style of seating configurations, they also came up with a new and different way to do air conditioning and heating more conducive to individuals in an office setting. Due to "economic downturns" the United States didn't follow. The offices utilize air flow that comes from underneath a raised floor. This allows the heat from the electrical equipment (computers etc) to be better neutralized. It also allows for an individual worker to have more control over their cubical environment. While this isn't recommended for homes - for obvious reasons...it is a better idea for the heating and cooling of large shared spaces like office buildings. Check out the article though, it was very easy to read and interesting.

the Technical Stuff...

Source: Jaffe, Adam B., Newell, Richard G. and Stavins, Robert N.,Energy-Efficient Technologies and Climate Change Policies: Issues and Evidence(December 1999). Climate Issues Working Paper No. 19; KSG Working Paper. Available at SSRN: http://ssrn.com/abstract=198829 or DOI: 10.2139/ssrn.10.2139/ssrn.198829 So with all this talk about governmental energy policies, and energy star(R) products and 'green'-ness and what not, everything has gotten a bit confusing. Now all biases aside, balancing the question of energy conservation and energy output will provide us all a better future...the balance however....now that's a problem. I wanted to get a better idea of what's going on with the energy situation and what I think would be best for the future so that I can factor that understanding into voting one way or another. So, at the present time, many of our energy organizations are public-private. Some examples are Energy Star, Partnership for Advancing Technology in Housing. This means that there are private individuals actually 'owning' and operating the 'company' with government over site and regulation, sometimes funding dependant upon the way the partnership/organization was created. (By no means is this a comprehensive discussion, but an explanation in the most basic of terms). There are a couple of questions we can ask about energy efficiency: 1. can the market handle the extra expense in making energy efficient products - should it? 2. is energy efficiency a viable mechanism for change? and then 3. how do we best enact this legislation? governmental control? volunteerism? tax credits? the list goes on and on. The Jaffe paper brings up the idea of the "energy gap" this is the 'gap' between the highest technological energy efficient products available and those being used in households across the US. Because of this gap, opponents argue that there will be no environmental benefits and so the time and energy producing these products is wasted. The proponents argue that this is because of 'barriers' in the market (i would also add a lack of understanding or perhaps an attitudinal barrier especially with older generations)(p.6). Whichever you agree more with, it has to be concluded that it is some combination of the two. Subsequent pages discuss various variables that are also barriers or possible barriers to the market, such as price of production, availability etc. Then, the article discusses the ways that new technology ideas get 'diffused' into our daily life and the different factors there as well. On page 14 the possible solutions begin. These are all interesting. Basically it comes down to the government's policy and priorities on energy efficiency. Do they want to save money or provide clean energy this dichotomy determines the path of regulation. They also argue that there are market clues that can be taken into consideration to determine how best to add energy efficient products to the market so they will do best. It is perhaps not an answer to the questions above, but a manner in how one should go about answering them. It's a pretty good read.

R22 v. 410A

The Refrigerant in your central air conditioning unit is usually R-22 or Puron (410A). Due to the Montreal Protocol, R-22 is in the process of being phased out. Puron, is considerably more environmentally friendly, and air conditioning and other energy companies are coming up with more environmentally friendly ways to cool our cities every year. The EPA, has a lot of resources on their webpage and even animations to help explain what the problem is. One of the reasons we are switching to Puron is to help decrease the size of the holes in the Ozone. The Epa's animation below shows the probable improvements.

My Air Conditioner (Condenser) is UGLY!

Do you think that your home could use a little extra external decor? Do you think that ugly metal thing on the side of the house that the gardeners destroy could use some sprucing up? I mean it's an air condtioner...but IF you would like to make it 'more beautiful' here are some webpages to check out. The first comes from the online version of New York Design Magazine titled "Hide This Ugly Thing" http://nymag.com/homedesign/features/48311/ Here they feature creative ways to hide window air conditioning units - I didn't realize that it was such a problem, but I guess it looks pretty cool with the extras they've added. My favorite is the reminder to use fabric that is "meshlike" and "lets air through"...seriously? They have to remind you of that? However, central air conditioning companies have taken that idea like 12 steps further. If you want your gorgeous house to have a beautiful condenser (the outside unit of an air conditioning system) you can now have that arranged. York, even offers on their website a format where you can choose the color of the outside of your house and try different colors on your condenser to see which one looks the best. http://www.yorkupg.com/homeowners/index.asp They even offer college team covers! So, if you are in the market for a 'pretty' air conditioner...you NOW know where to look.

I Bet You Didn't Know...

Okay, I admit. I am partial to websites kid-related. Fun colors, not too wordy, generally with some kind of animation and easy to get to information. :) Forgiving me that, check out the department of energy's run down on the history (on top of that I'm a history buff? lol) from their kid's page - it has succinct information that I sure had no idea about. While all of the time lines of energy they offer are somewhat interesting, I thought the geothermal one was worth sharing. Why? Because geothermal energy can be a very efficient way to heat (or cool) a house and it never gets mentioned. Source: http://www.eia.doe.gov/kids/history/timelines/geothermal.html It's also interesting because California is 'all over' this thing, and I never would have thought. For example, the first commercial plant was opened in California in 1980. There are also other interesting facts (but some useless) like that they use geothermal energy to dry out onions (the kind that lazy people like me cook with). Weird? With energy in the gas sector getting ever more expensive, it is good to know that however undeveloped there are alternatives out there.

NEWS

What a time to be watching the news. There is much debate going on! Nation-wide, not just in California, so it was easy to miss the new energy plan on the table. Source: Flex Your Power's monthly email update. More information about Flex Your Power at www.fypower.com Policy California Approves Long-Term Energy Efficiency Strategic Plan The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) recently adopted California’s first Long Term Energy Efficiency Strategic Plan, creating a single roadmap to achieve maximum energy savings across all major sectors in California from 2009 to 2020. The plan, which we first wrote about in draft form last year (e-Newswire, 10/03/07), is the state’s first integrated framework of goals and strategies for saving energy in government, the utilities and the private sector, making energy efficiency its highest priority in meeting California’s energy needs. The plan was developed by a consensus, stakeholder-driven process with over 500 participating individuals and organizations across the country through more than 40 public meetings and workshops. The plan emphasizes four so-called “Big Bold” strategies: All new residential construction in California will be zero net energy by 2020; All new commercial construction in California will be zero net energy by 2030; The Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) industry will be reshaped to ensure optimal equipment performance; All eligible low-income homes will be energy efficient by 2020 In a statement, Commissioner John Bohn said, “Squeezing greater efficiency out of our current uses of electric power is our best and least costly source of additional supplies, allowing California to grow and prosper. These efforts have a very large payoff for all of us.” Read more from the CPUC: Full Plan (PDF, 1.3 MB), Press Release (PDF, 41 KB), FAQs (PDF, 92 KB) and One-Pager (PDF, 137 KB) Related: “ CPUC Releases Updated Energy Action Plan Focused on Climate Change” (e-Newswire, 3/5/08) Related: “ CPUC Proposal Would Require ‘Zero Net Energy’ Buildings, Urges Utilities to Develop Unified Statewide Efficiency Plan” (e-Newswire, 10/03/07) Read more about upgrading your home and upgrading your facility Posted by Stacey Meinzen on 10/01/08. Email story Filed under: Residential, Commercial, Industrial, Institutional, Agricultural, Policy

It's October...Apparently no one told the weather...

It's fall...officially, and now October - the time of pumpkins, leaves and horns of plenty. In California, also time for a bathing suit? We are experiencing a wave of heat before the weather turns fall like, and while we are a good 20 degrees over normal we're not shattering any records. According to the weather page on USA TODAY.com Covina's high for today is 98 degrees, with a humidity of 20%. According to the heat index that 20% humidity puts us in the "extreme caution" (yellow) category. While this may not seem like anything to get too alarmed about, the temperature does have a huge impact on older people, young children and animals. Like, it might not be the smartest idea one has ever had to take their dog out walking with them to pick up their child from school. In this heat, the dog and the child aren't going to do well. Just something to keep in mind...