Clothesline Week: June 1 - 8

Mrs. McNosh Hangs

Up Her Wash

Sarah Weeks

JP WEEKS

June 1 – 8: International Clothesline Week

To encourage people to hang their clothes to dry instead of using electricity or gas.  FYI: Hanging clothes outside May Not be allowed in your city.

Things to consider when hanging clothes to dry:

1. saves up to 10% of residential energy; Running a dryer 20 hours a month will cost you on average 100 kilowatt hours. A clothesline's operating costs are zero!!
2. less need for nuclear energy or coal energy
3. less emissions which saves our health, literally less deaths and saves the earth
4. using solar and wind power - free
5. clothes smell better (like sun and air)
6. clothes feel better
7. clothes will last much longer (less wear and tear from the heat of the dryer)
8. clothes don't wrinkle – no need to use electric iron, another savings
9. no need to wait for the dryer to finish
10. don't have to empty the lint tray
11. improve relationships; working together for the greater good builds friendships and love…
12. can be therapeutic – the time it takes to hang the clothes can be time of reflection of you, family, earth, etc.
13. burn calories - because you're exercising many muscles you burn about 45 calories every 15 minutes.
14. Go a step further and use cold water for your wash to save additional energy. Hot water does NOT clean clothes any better than cold. Hot water DOES deterioate clothes faster and fades colours quicker. If cold doesn't work for you, use warm instead of hot. This step alone will reduce massive amounts of pollution!

Project Laundry List
National Hanging Out Day: April 19
-has a “line-drying” Cost Calculator.

Burbank Library Green Blog

National Cut Your Energy Costs Day: Jan 10

National Cut Your Energy Costs Day: Jan 10

Get smart insights into your patterns of use. Sign in to find out when you use the most energy @ BWP

The Homeowner's Handbook to Energy Efficiency
John Krigger
Saturn Resource, 2008
644 2008 KRIGG

Helps homeowners set realistic personal goals for reducing their energy consumption. These methods for making homes more energy efficient will also improve comfort, safety, durability, and resale value. The book guides readers through the process of assessing current energy usage, and predicting the benefits and estimating the costs of remodeling options.

COB: Big Bill - Renewable Energy

Big bill for green power
Burbank will pay $17.8M next year for renewable energy it doesn't need.
Burbank Leader: 11.02.2012 by Alene Tchekmedyian

A state law that requires 20% of the city's average energy sales to come from renewable energy is projected to cost the city $17.8 million this fiscal year, officials reported on Tuesday.

The financial burden of complying with the state mandate — which ups the ante every few years — outraged Councilman David Gordon, particularly because Burbank was generating enough energy before the state bill was passed to meet its power needs. “Any renewables we bring in basically results in a situation where we back off our own generation in order to bring renewables in,” said Power Resources Manager Bruno Jeider.

The 20% average must be met for power output between 2011 and 2013.

This fiscal year, the city will pay $85 a megawatt for 303,579 megawatts of renewable energy, nearly three times as much as the $30 a megawatt it pays for its other energy resources, officials said.  READ MORE !

California Renewable Energy Overview and Programs
California Energy Commission

Made In The Shade
BWP

Shade your home or business with FREE trees to keep air conditioning costs lower! Trees are nature’s air conditioners with the ability to reduce air conditioning use from 10% to 50%.

Residents can select up to 3 shade trees for free. Businesses up to 20 shade trees all for free.

A certified arborist will help you select the best planting sites and the best trees for those sites. BWP will also provide stakes, ties and arbor guards, also for free!

Burbank renters can also participate if they receive written authorization from the owner. Call the BWP at 818-957-8196 to schedule a consultation at your property.

Losing our cool: uncomfortable truths about our air-conditioned world (and finding new ways to get through the summer)
Stan Cox
New Press, 2010
306.46 COX
Losing our Cool shows how indoor climate control is colliding with an out-of-control outdoor climate. In America, energy consumed by home air-conditioning, and the resulting greenhouse emissions, have doubled in just over a decade, and energy to cool retail stores has risen by two-thirds.

Weatherization Day: October 30

October 30
Weatherization Day

Burbank Water & Power
Green Home House Call

FREE
Now offering A/C Tune-up and Duct Sealing
Weatherization services for qualified homes*, including attic insulation
Water efficient showerheads & faucet aerators installed
Indoor & outdoor energy-saving light bulbs installed
Landscape sprinkler system check & irrigation controller programming
Personalized report to help you manage electricity, water and natural gas consumption in the future

*Single family homes with central air conditioning and heating will be assessed for possible insulation services.

Energy Awareness Month - October

Energy Awareness Month 2011
Federal Energy Management Program

Each year for Energy Awareness Month (October), FEMP provides materials and ideas to promote energy-saving practices:

Office Energy Checklist
~ energy conservation/efficiency measures to use at the office

Facility Energy Checklist
~ actions that conserve energy within facilities

Home Energy Checklist
~ energy conservation measures to use at home

Energy Savers Consumers Guide:
provides homeowners with tips for saving energy and money at home and on the road. By following just a few of the simple tips found on this Energy Savers Web site, you can make your home more comfortable and easier to heat and cool—while you save money. We bring you the latest information on energy-saving, efficient technologies. We even give tips for using clean, renewable energy to power your home.

June 21: Three Degrees of Preparation

Three Degrees of Preparation:
Turn Up the Thermostat on June 21
Mother Earth News: 6.16.2011 by Robyn Griggs Lawrence

June 21 is the longest day of the year, the first official day of summer—and an opportunity to start a new summer tradition. American Home Shield is spearheading an effort to get Americans to raise their home thermostats three degrees on this day, for Three Degrees of Preparation.

“Three degrees can make a significant impact; some utility companies report that every degree below 78 can add more than 6 percent to your home’s cooling costs,” says American Home Shield president Dave Crawford. “We’re asking homeowners to give the adjustment a test on the first day of summer, June 21, and participate in Three Degrees of Preparation. Your family will probably not notice the difference in temperature, but make the adjustment a daily routine and you should notice it on your next energy bill.”