By Eileen Majors

It was a windy northern Reno day when we visited Paul Phillipson and Tim Brown of Planet Safe Systems. Distributors of Windspire® wind turbines, they had a lot of great information on this effective way to produce power. It’s all about the wind and apparently it doesn’t take all that much of it to power an average home. In general, you will want average wind speeds of around 12 miles per hour, although in some locations, these wind turbines make sense with lesser wind conditions. (“Average wind speed” means the average for 24 hours per day, 365 days a year for an average year.)

One big factor homeowners now have to consider is the 30% tax credit being offered by the federal government and substantial rebates or incentives which may be available from local electric companies. This all adds up big time when you are considering how long a new system could take to pay for itself.

A Windspire® wind turbine costs around $6,500 and installation varies, running between $6,500 and $10,000 depending upon the site, according to Phillipson, Vice President of Operations at Planet Safe Systems. He said that with a PG&E offered credit of $3,000 on the equipment purchase and a 30% federal tax credit for the entire project cost, they have been seeing customers end up absorbing only about 50% of the total cost of their project. A simple call to you electric company will let you know what rebates or incentives they may currently be offering.

Each installed unit requires careful consideration with site wind surveys and an engineered foundation, so hiring a professional for installation is usually the way to go. We visited the home of Fred Howell, to take photos, who told us he has been considering the purchase for about 40 years. After seeing and article on a local company who produced them a few years back, he made a call to them. He was told there were over 1,000 back orders and they could only make a few a day, so his chances on a waiting list looked slim and slow. He didn’t bother.

Recently Howell was contacted by Planet Safe Systems where President Tim Brown told us much has changed in the industry. Their company has become distributors for Windspire who moved production of the turbines to Michigan. They went into mass production in a reconfigured automobile parts manufacturing building. Brown said that the story is quite inspiring. This company put displaced auto industry workers back to work, now making wind turbines. He also said that the Windspire® units were readily available and parts are easy to get from this company with local offices in Reno.

One reason for this company’s recent boom is the affordable, attractive and ultra quiet design of the Windspire® according to Brown. At only 30 feet tall and 4 feet wide, the unit is distinguished by its sleek propeller-free design. Independent tests confirm Windspire will produce approximately 2,000 kilowatt hours per year in 12-mile per hour average winds. The stronger the wind, the more power it generates.

Planet Safe Systems offers turn-key solutions in about 3 to 4 weeks from licensed contractors. They offer on-site surveys, on site-specific wind data and they can be reached at (775) 852-7735. We recently learned that Almanor Energy Plus of Lake Almanor is also a distributor of Windspire® wind turbines. Theycan be reached at (530) 596-3128. These professionals can detail for you the associated costs and calculate the savings you can expect to find blowing in the wind.

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When we implement new ways to save energy it means we also implement new ways to save money every day from then on. Hot water can represent a good portion of that monthly utility bill.

Demand water heaters heat water directly, avoiding standby heat losses associated with storage water heaters. When the hot water tap is turned on, cold water travels through a pipe into the unit. Either a gas burner or an electric element heats the water. Because of this, demand water heaters deliver a constant supply of hot water eliminating the need to wait for the storage tank to heat up.

For homes that use 41 gallons or less of hot water daily, demand water heaters can be 24%–34% more energy efficient than conventional storage tank water heaters. They can be 8%–14% more energy efficient for homes that use a lot of hot water—around 86 gallons per day. You can achieve even greater energy savings of 27%–50% if you install a demand water heater at each hot water outlet.

TAX CREDIT: To qualify, a new system must have Energy Factor >= 0.82 or a thermal efficiency of at least 90%.
Credit: 30% of cost (includes installation), up to $1,500. The credit is available for 2009 and 2010 only, on primary residence only and existing homes only.
Source: www.energysavers.gov

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Almanor Energy Plus Article 2010

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Solar Living CA mountains Quincy CA

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Now there are even more options than ever with Earth Advantage®. Earth Advantage® is a non profit corporation in the sustainable building industry which has the power to certify homes as Earth Advantage®, ENERGY STAR®, or LEED® for Homes. Earth Advantage homes incorporate energy efficiency, healthier indoor air, resource efficiency and environmental responsibility. The homes are designed to meet ENERGY STAR® savings guidelines and offer buyers several options like energy efficient windows, appliances and light fixtures. Locally, Sunnyside Homes of Janesville offers these homes made by Palm Harbor.

In addition to the energy savings you could enjoy for years to come, there are federal tax credits available. Sunnyside Homes in Janesville distributes the homes and can be reached at (530) 253-4100.

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In the winter this stored natural heat is collected by a series of underground pipes called a loop. Water or a mixture of eco-friendly antifreeze and water carries this heat back to the main geothermal heat pump where it is compressed and released to raise the inside temperature. Pretty cool, too, because during summer, the heat is drawn from indoors, carried underground by the same liquid in the loop and absorbed by the earth, leaving the indoors nice and cool. There are four different loop systems. The vertical loop for smaller land areas, the horizontal loop for larger land areas, the pond loop for when a body of water at least eight to ten feet deep is available and the open loop system that can be used when adequate well water or other aquifer is available. There is a system for everyone.

Because solar energy stored in the earth is free, constant and pollutant free, geothermal heating and cooling is the most efficient, economical and environmentally responsible system available on the market today. Monte Stelzriede of Almanor Energy Plus reminded us that many utility companies offer rebates when newly installed systems meet Energy Star requirements. The GeoComfort systems sold and installed by his company not only meet these efficiency requirements, he said they surpass them. There are several geothermal units to choose from and prices are comparable to old school central heat and cooling units. Installation costs are based on property size, soil type and individual loop system requirements so an estimate from a local certified installer is necessary to determine those fees.

In addition to utility company rebates, the federal government also offers a 30% tax credit on systems meeting Energy Star requirements and placed in service before December 31, 2016. These rebates and tax credits are also available for solar, wind and other renewable, green energy systems. You can learn more about the tax credits at www.energy.gov and inquire about the rebates with your local utility provider.

Our planet earth is demanding that we trade fossil fuels for renewable energies and reduce pollution. Perhaps it’s time we all learn more about geothermal heating and cooling, hot water heating and refrigeration and all the other earth friendly things we can do. If everyone does just a little we can reduce humanity’s carbon footprint a lot.

Source: Monte Stelzreide and Louis Benny at Almanor Energy Plus, Lake Almanor 530-596-3128

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•Windows and Doors
•Insulation
•Roofs (Metal and Asphalt)
•HVAC
•Water Heaters (non-solar)
•Biomass Stoves

Tax credits are available at 30% of the cost, with no upper limit through 2016 (for existing homes & new construction) for:
•Geothermal Heat Pumps
•Solar Panels
•Solar Water Heaters
•Small Wind Energy Systems
•Fuel Cells

To obtain specific information for each, you can visit www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=tax_credits.tx_index. Also, local utility companies and qualified contractors can assist you in the process.

**Please note, not all ENERGY STAR qualified homes and products qualify for a tax credit. These tax credits are available for a number of products at the highest efficiency levels, which typically cost much more than standard products. If, for whatever reason, you decide not to purchase a product covered by the tax credit, you may still consider purchasing an ENERGY STAR product. ENERGY STAR distinguishes energy efficient products which, although they may cost more to purchase than standard models, will pay you back in lower energy bills within a reasonable amount of time, even without a tax credit.

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Luckily, some things don’t cost anything to change. Some can be accomplished for little cost. Here are some ideas for getting started:

STEPS TO ENERGY SAVING-Pick as many as you can:

• Clean or Replace filters on furnaces, air conditioners and heat pumps.

• Begin replacing incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs (CDL’s), focusing first on 60 – 100 watt bulbs that are used several hours per day.

• Survey the age and condition of your major appliances and consider replacing them with more energy-efficient models.

• Turn down your hot water heater. Since the early 1990s, most dishwashers in the U.S. have been sold with built-in heaters that increase water temperature to 140–145°F, the temperature recommended by manufacturers for optimum dish washing performance. The advantage to a dishwasher with this feature is that you can turn down your water heater thermostat to 120°F (typically half-way between the “medium” and “low” settings).

• Begin using energy saving settings on washers and dryers, dishwashers and refrigerators if available.

• Visit your local hardware store to buy low-flow shower heads, faucet aerators, CDL’s and other items deemed worthy in your assessment of needs and budget.

• If your water heater is old enough that it has fiberglass insulation instead of the newer foam insulation, consider adding a water heater blanket.

• If you have old, leaky windows and can’t afford new ones, consider covering the windows with plastic. Window kits are available. With some you can use a hair dryer to stretch the plastic to a nearly invisible state and keep your beautiful, mountain valley views.

• Assess your heating and cooling systems. Determine if replacements are justified, or whether you should have them retrofit to make them work more efficiently to provide the same comfort (or better) for less energy. Poor ducts for example could be leaking heat away before it even gets inside your home. Local heating and air conditioning companies can help make assessments for those interested in upgrading equipment.

• Rope caulk very leaky windows.

• Collect your utility bills and identify the biggest costs. Discuss with your family ways to save energy. Shorter showers and turning off vent fans can make a big difference alone. A bathroom vent fan left on for hours is not only busy sucking up energy, it is also busy pulling that costly, warm air out of the house.

• Have someone crawl into your attic or crawlspace and assess if there is insulation and if so how much. Consider insulation as needed.

• Insulate hot water pipes and ducts in places where they run through unheated areas.

• Look for air leaks. On a cold winter night you can actually feel where the cold air comes in if you take the time to inspect every corner. Often under doors and around windows, air leaks are also found where cut-throughs have been made for pipes, gaps around chimneys and unfinished spaces behind closets and cupboards. Little invisible cracks all over the house can equal the heat loss of a wide open window. The local hardware store can suggest products such as window plastic kits, foam insulation, caulking, etc. Lucky for us, local hardware stores are happy to help you find the right products.

• Set your thermostat back when you can accept cooler conditions,like night time and when everyone leaves the home for several hours. A programmable thermostat will automatically adjust the thermostat based on your time-of-day instructions.

• Have your heating and cooling systems tuned up in the fall and spring.

• Consider buying a more efficient heating system. There are several major purchases you can consider including an energy producing system such as a wind or solar system. Perhaps new appliances are within your budget or a new hot water heater is in order. There are many things you can do. We hope this special feature will prompt you to do something now towards saving energy…. and saving money!

Sources: For more ideas on saving energy visit www.aceee.org/. Source: American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (www.aceee.org) Also find information specific to you such as local rebates available at your local power company website:

Plumas Sierra Rural Electric Cooperative: www.psrec.coop/

Lassen Municipal Utility District: /www.lmud.org/

Pacific Gas & Electric Company: www.pge.com/

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TAX CREDIT AVAILABLE:

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is offering a 30% consumer tax credit (up to $1500) for the purchase and installation of a 75-percent efficient biomass-burning stove.

• This consumer tax credit is 30% (up to $1500) for the purchase and installation of a 75% efficient stove, and is available in both 2009 and 2010.

The tax credit applies only to existing principle residences. The Pellet Fuels Institute lists other important points of the tax credit on their website at www.pelletheat.org/3/residential/taxCredit.html.

Since 1999, according to the data collected by HPBA, pellet appliance sales increased 669%, from 18,360 units shipped in 1999 to 141,211 units shipped during 2008. Overall, the pellet industry increased in seven out of the last eight years.

Source: Pellet Fuels Institute, www.pelletheat.org, Hearth Patio & Barbecue Association (HPBA)

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Usually the duct work will require at least some repairs on a retrofit, so price can vary but he told us that a typical cost for retrofitting is usually $7,500 to $8,500.

Wood stoves have also come a long way in efficiency ratings. New models with 82% efficiency can burn as long as 40 hours, on low.

Source: J & H Heating, Susanville

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STOP WOOD HEAT FROM GOING UP IN SMOKE!

There is nothing like snuggling by the fire on a chilly winter night in Nor Cal. That is probably why so many homes have existing fireplaces. The problem however, is that while the age old concept of open fire heating provides some warmth and definite ambiance, fuel burning technology has since come a long way. For those wishing to increase the efficiency of fireplace, adding an insert is a great option.

Inserts are available for operation with natural gas, propane, wood, pellet and coal. The insert is installed into an existing wood burning fireplace and is made from cast iron or steel. Many have self-cleaning glass doors that allow for the dancing flames of fire to also warm the ambiance of a room. Inserts are often used in main living areas where the family spends much of their time. This can allow for turning down the thermostat in the rest of the house.

Replacing an older wood burning fireplace with a new insert will save wood fuel and protect air quality indoors and out. Older fireplaces usually have efficiency ratings of just five to ten percent according to the HBPA. An open fire in an old fireplace allows an abundance of heated room air to be drawn into the fire, causing the fire to burn too fast, wasting energy.

A fireplace insert contrasts as a closed-door system that slows down the fire while increasing its temperature to facilitate more combustion. Generating efficiencies of above 65 percent in many cases, it simply equates to more heat output. More good news: a new EPA-certified wood burning fireplace insert can also reduce emissions from wood burning to almost zero!

Benefits of a Fireplace Insert:

• Increased fireplace efficiency.
• Clean, convenient and easy-to-use.
• Ideal secondary home heater helps
save money.
• Cost-effective fuel consumption and
multiple fuel options.
• Reduced fireplace emissions help
protect winter air quality.
• Provides heat when the power goes out.

Source: Hearth Patio & Barbecue Association (HBPA)

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Lassen Municipal Utility District offers a variety of energy efficient rebate options – from EnergyStar® appliance rebates to their complete SmartBuilt Home ™ program. The following rebates are offered by the local electric company.

EnergyStar® Appliance Rebate: LMUD customers who purchase and install an EnergyStar® compliant dishwasher, refrigerator or clothes washer can apply for rebates ranging from $50 to $35. Rebates are limited to one appliance per household or customer.

Residential Lighting Rebate: LMUD offers customers rebates for purchasing and installing energy efficient compact florescent light bulbs. By replacing your existing lights with cfl’s you’ll not only save money, you’ll reduce your households “carbon footprint.”

If every home in America replaced just one incandescent light bulb with an EnergyStar qualified compact florescent light we would save enough energy to light more then 3 million homes for a year and save over 600 million dollars in energy costs.

Look for the EnergyStar logo on lighting packages, purchase the lights, fill out the simple rebate form and return it to LMUD with the receipt and a copy of the packaging. Rebates vary from $7.00 to $25.00 depending on the type of light you purchase, however rebates do not exceed the cost of the measure.

Marathon Electric Water Heater Rebate: Next to the cost of heating your home, the cost of heating water can account for roughly 40% of your electric bill. That is why LMUD offers energy efficient Marathon Water Heaters to our customers. Customers may purchase a water heater at our office located at 65 S. Roop Street in Susanville. Once the water heater has been properly installed, the customer may receive a rebate ranging from $150 to $350 depending on the size and model of the water heater.

Heat Pump Rebates: With the constantly rising price of traditional heating fuel consumers are continually looking for ways to save energy and reduce costs. LMUD provides one way to achieve this goal with our heat pump rebate program.

Heat pumps can reduce your total energy bill and provide your home with heat in the winter and cooling in the summer. Depending on the size and efficiency of the system you choose, rebates range from $1125 per ton (for GeoExchange systems) to $200 a ton (for air-source heat pumps.)

Your local heating and cooling contractor can give you an estimate on what size system is appropriate for your home or business.

SmartBuilt and SmartBuilt Retrofit: SmartBuilt Energy Efficient Homes have been built throughout LMUD’s service territory. The “whole-house” approach to energy efficiency has become a standard for most Lassen County builders. The SmartBuilt Home Program provides incentives for builders, contractors or home owners who follow the SmartBuilt prescriptive path. SmartBuilt Homes are at least 30% more efficient than standard homes. LMUD provides rebate incentives starting at $1,875 per home. Customers who live in a SmartBuilt Home report energy savings of as much as $200 per month!

If you are not in the market to build or buy a new home but still want to make your existing home energy efficient, then SmartBuilt Retrofit is for you. SmartBuilt Retrofit offers LMUD customers a variety of rebates for improving insulation, windows, lighting and duct work. Keep in mind though, that only homes with permanently installed electric heat or air-conditioning will qualify for rebates.

ConvectAIR Electric Heaters: During the cold winter months, when the cost of heating a home can strain a household’s budget, many of LMUD’s customers turn to plug in electric heaters. Electric heaters can help heat cold spots in a home, however, they can add greatly to your electric bill.

This is why LMUD now offers energy efficient ConvectAIR electric heaters to our customers. ConvectAIRs offer a wide variety of products, all of which are available to LMUD customers at greatly discounted prices.

ConvectAIR’s are available at the LMUD office. The 1250 watt and 500 watt Apero models can be picked up the same day they are purchased. (Other products require 10 to 15 days to arrive.) You can view the entire ConvectAIR line at www.convectair.com.

For more information on LMUD’s energy saving rebate programs, please call 257-4174. Or log on to their website at www.lmud.org. If you are not a customer of LMUD, contact your electric company to see what rebates they are offering.

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Pacific Gas & Electric, in conjunction with JACO Environmental, is offering their customers $35 to recycle old refrigerators and freezers. Visit the PG&E Web site or contact JACO at 800-299-7573 for more information.

PEACE OF MIND with FreezeAlarm… FreezeAlarmTM will actually dial three phone numbers when it identifies a potentially dangerous home temperature according to Louis Benny of Almanor Energy Plus. Often times their local company is able to fix the problem before the homeowner ever knows there is a problem. Homeowners can also reset and change the thermostats themselves by phone .

Don’t forget to roll up those hoses before freezing temperatures come. Be sure to get all of the water out of the hose first so it doesn’t freeze and crack this winter, even in the shed. Also, that sprinkler system will have to be drained and all the water blown out for all those living in the cold mountain weather. Forgetting a little thing like one of these will cost you.

Mark where your water main shut off valve is by measuring its distance and angle from two permanent points on your property. Leave written details where you will find them. When deep snow comes and you have a frozen pipe, you will be glad you did.

A towel rolled up tightly the long way can do a lot for keeping the draft from coming under doors until you can weatherstrip. Sometimes at craft shows you can find the a ready made “door snake” which is nothing more than a long tube of fabric, filled with tiny Styrofoam balls or other insulating material. Lay it across the bottom of the door jam when door is not in use. Get those air leaks sealed up as soon as possible.

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Jan Cox

I recently sat down with my very own contractor (and husband), John Cox, and had an interview about the latest home he built with all its energy saving features. Having just finished this home for David Ehrke and Cheryl Erwin on the Peninsula of Lake Almanor, he had a lot of information about what could be done to save energy in new construction and where to find that information. And because there is little building taking place at the moment, due to the state of our economy, he also filled me in on what can be done during remodels of older homes.

Solar Energy

The most impressive part of the Ehrke home, energy wise, is its solar energy system. There are two types of solar installations for homes. The solar electric system, also known as Photovoltaics (PV), generates electricity for the household. Using solar panels to convert sunlight into clean DC electricity, an inverter then converts it into AC so that it can power household needs. A utility meter tracks the solar electricity produced and fed to the utility grid. This gives the homeowner credit toward his electric utility bill for the electricity generated

In the Ehrke house, this meter keeps track of electricity production on a monthly basis and at the end of the year, he will be credited the amount he generated against what he used.

The second type of solar energy is called Solar Thermal. This solar system includes either vacuum tubes or flat panels that produce enough energy to meet 70-80% of a household’s needs for hot water. A solar water heating collector uses heat from the sun to warm the water flowing through it and sends this heated water to the storage tank. Solar thermal is used not only to heat water, but can be used with radiant floor systems to provide space heating by running hot water through pipes under the floor boards, or as the most cost-effective way to heat an outdoor pool. There are both active systems, with pumps to regulate and move water, or passive systems without pumps.

Generous government incentives bring down the costs of the initial capital outlay by as much as 30%. The California Cash Rebate offered through the CA Solar Initiative, allows rebates of 25-30% off total installed solar systems. A Federal Tax Credit is offered to any homeowner who installs a solar system, which is applied to their tax liability–not just a tax deduction–for the year installed. Solar systems also add significant resale value to your house and in CA are exempt from state property reassessment tax.

Local companies can assist you in this process as well as help you determine the best way to utilize solar energy in your home.

Radiant Floor Systems

Mentioned above as a way to use solar thermal, radiant floor systems are generally more cost effective for new homes. These systems can be used to heat sections of a house while closing off the heat to other sections. The heat is even and creates comfortable rooms without drafts or cold spots. It allows for lower thermostat settings and warm floors in winter. If properly designed, the water temperature is kept at 125′ to prevent damage to wooden floors. The Ehrke’s system heats the water with both solar and an on-demand water heater.

Energy Saving Window Treatments

The Ehrkes chose Pella windows with wood trim for their home. These windows are top of the line for several reasons. Thirty percent of a home’s heating and cooling can be lost through its windows. As a result, windows deserve the most attention in the house.

Today’s windows are more technologically advanced. Instead of the single or double panes of old, set in their metal frames, the best, high efficiency windows may now have two, three or even four panes, have been coated to reflect heat, have inert gasses pumped between the panes, and have frames that resist heat loss. Today, wood, fiberglass, vinyl or aluminum-clad wood window frames are less conductive than aluminum and perform better with less heat loss.

Fenestration is a word meaning an opening in a building. These include windows, doors, and sky lights. The National Fenestration Rating Council is a non-profit, public and private organization that provides accurate, standardized information to consumers, making it possible to measure and compare the energy performance. Look for the NFRC label on the windows. This label gives ratings for the following: U-Factor, a measure of how well heat is transferred by the entire window–lower the number the better; SHGC (Solar Heat Gain Coefficient), a measure of the window’s ability to transmit warmth from sunlight–lower number means less heat getting through and lower air-conditioning costs during hot months; Visible Light Transmittance, a measure of how much light gets through–a higher number means more natural light in your home. These labels also have numbers for air leakage and condensation resistance. The California Energy Commission Website at www.consumerenergycenter.org is a valuable source for further information.

Tax Credit Available: Through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, homeowners who have installed replacement windows between Jan 1, 2009 and Dec. 31, 2010 can receive a tax credit of 30% of the window’s cost (not including installation), up to $1500. The windows must be installed in pre-existing homes and have a U-factor and SHGC rating of 0.30 or less. Keep all documentation on any remodeling or construction that improves the energy efficiency of your home such as insulation, heating, ventilation, or air-conditioning for further tax credits. Help can be found at www.replacement-windows.com/energy-star-tax-credit.php. Or at www.energystar.gov. Also see Rebates From LMUD (this issue of MVL) or check out your local Utility Company for other rebates and savings.

Additional information on solar energy courtesy of www.solardepot.com

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What if all of the oil in the world dried up? I know, it’s not going to dry up but what if for some reason, (natural disaster, political turmoil, plot by evil genius) the world was to see a massive shortage of petroleum? It wouldn’t be the first time and this is a scenario that we are certain to see again. (You know that sooner or later Mel Gibson will need money bad enough to do another Road Warrior sequel.)

If this were to happen in reality, the remaining operable public transit systems would instantly be overloaded and you could bet that it would be a good time to own either a bike shop or a store that sells comfortable shoes. How would people in rural and mountain communities, with no public transit and greater distances to travel, get around? For that answer, you only need to look back in history.

When fuel supplies were disrupted during World War II, Europeans sought any available alternative. Resourceful people thought back to the 1800s when it was common to use piped in coal-gas or town-gas to fuel streets lights, heat stoves and even to light some upscale homes.

These gases are made by processing coal or wood at high temperatures and extremely low oxygen levels; a chemical process that breaks them down to synthesis gas or syn-gas. It can then either be burned directly or made into liquid fuels. If you don’t count the first time early man braided up a vine and used it to lasso a wandering ox, one might argue that the move to fossil fuels was in fact, the first alternative fuel movement.

About the same time, someone figured out that town-gas could also be used to run an internal combustion engine. A quick Internet search will show a wealth of photos with vintage cars, trucks and tractors that have been converted to running on wood. How common was this? The biomass energy foundation says that during World War Two there were upwards of a million small gasifier powered trucks, cars, farm equipment and stationary generators. Coal/wood powered vehicles were even mass produced in Germany on assembly lines.

Thinking of turning your Suburban into a wood burner? Well, it’s not easy. First of all there are a lot of modifications that need to be made and the development alone of an efficient gasifier is something of a black art. You will also need to figure out a way to control the throttle, and don’t forget that most wood powered cars take about half-an-hour to “warm” up in the morning. One of the only vehicles that I’ve seen to solve those problems well enough to make this practical was built in the Netherlands by John Akkermans.

John’s bright red four cylinder Volvo sedan runs on wood chips and took him about 10 months (1000 hours) of develop time to perform the conversion to burn wood. This car looks clean enough that the kids might even let you use it to pick them up from school. If anyone asks what that thing is on the back, tell them that you had a giant espresso machine installed. John says it gets about 100 kilometers on 100 liters of loose wood chips. What’s that, you need me to convert? That’s about a mile to the pound. It’s no slug on the road either as it can achieve a top speed of around 120kph (75mph) making it one of the fastest wood burners in the world.

Time to convert the SUV? Not just yet. While I would like to see the look on the face of the smog technician when you roll up in your mini van/espresso machine, I doubt that it would pass and fortunately, at least in California, we can still buy gas at the pump.

Before you get the urge to send me a nasty letter, I’m not advocating converting all of the worlds Suburbans to burning wood and then cutting down all of the forests to keep them rolling. Eventually we will need to do something as an alternative and I’ll debate you for hours on the evils of converting food to energy. This is just an interesting look at an emergency alternative to fossil fuels that actually works. Look out Mel Gibson.

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If this were to happen in reality, the remaining operable public transit systems would instantly be overloaded and you could bet that it would be a good time to own either a bike shop or a store that sells comfortable shoes. How would people in rural and mountain communities, with no public transit and greater distances to travel, get around? For that answer, you only need to look back in history.

When fuel supplies were disrupted during World War II, Europeans sought any available alternative. Resourceful people thought back to the 1800s when it was common to use piped in coal-gas or town-gas to fuel streets lights, heat stoves and even to light some upscale homes.

These gases are made by processing coal or wood at high temperatures and extremely low oxygen levels; a chemical process that breaks them down to synthesis gas or syn-gas. It can then either be burned directly or made into liquid fuels. If you don’t count the first time early man braided up a vine and used it to lasso a wandering ox, one might argue that the move to fossil fuels was in fact, the first alternative fuel movement.

About the same time, someone figured out that town-gas could also be used to run an internal combustion engine. A quick Internet search will show a wealth of photos with vintage cars, trucks and tractors that have been converted to running on wood. How common was this? The biomass energy foundation says that during World War Two there were upwards of a million small gasifier powered trucks, cars, farm equipment and stationary generators. Coal/wood powered vehicles were even mass produced in Germany on assembly lines.

Thinking of turning your Suburban into a wood burner? Well, it’s not easy. First of all there are a lot of modifications that need to be made and the development alone of an efficient gasifier is something of a black art. You will also need to figure out a way to control the throttle, and don’t forget that most wood powered cars take about half-an-hour to “warm” up in the morning. One of the only vehicles that I’ve seen to solve those problems well enough to make this practical was built in the Netherlands by John Akkermans.

John’s bright red four cylinder Volvo sedan runs on wood chips and took him about 10 months (1000 hours) of develop time to perform the conversion to burn wood. This car looks clean enough that the kids might even let you use it to pick them up from school. If anyone asks what that thing is on the back, tell them that you had a giant espresso machine installed. John says it gets about 100 kilometers on 100 liters of loose wood chips. What’s that, you need me to convert? That’s about a mile to the pound. It’s no slug on the road either as it can achieve a top speed of around 120kph (75mph) making it one of the fastest wood burners in the world.

Time to convert the SUV? Not just yet. While I would like to see the look on the face of the smog technician when you roll up in your mini van/espresso machine, I doubt that it would pass and fortunately, at least in California, we can still buy gas at the pump.

Before you get the urge to send me a nasty letter, I’m not advocating converting all of the worlds Suburbans to burning wood and then cutting down all of the forests to keep them rolling. Eventually we will need to do something as an alternative and I’ll debate you for hours on the evils of converting food to energy. This is just an interesting look at an emergency alternative to fossil fuels that actually wor

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Driving to Reduce Fuel Usage

From the US Department of Energy

Car Maintenance Checklist:

• Use the right grade of motor oil for your car.

• Keep tires properly inflated and aligned.

• Get regular tune-ups and maintenance checks.

• Replace clogged air filters.

• Check out www.fueleconomy.gov.

Transportation accounts for 66% of U.S. oil use — mainly in the form of gasoline. Luckily, there are plenty of ways to improve gas mileage.

Driving Tips

• Idling gets you 0 miles per gallon. The best way to warm up a vehicle is to drive it. No more than 30 seconds of

idling on winter days is needed. Anything more simply wastes fuel and increases emissions.

• Aggressive driving (speeding, rapid acceleration, and hard braking) wastes gas. It can lower your highway gas

mileage 33% and city mileage 5%.

• Avoid high speeds. Above 60 mph, gas mileage drops rapidly. The fueleconomy.gov Web site shows how driving

speed affects gas mileage.

• When you use overdrive gearing, your car’s engine speed goes down. This saves gas and reduces wear.

• Using cruise control on the highway helps you maintain a constant speed and, in most cases, will save gas. (not

recommended for driving in ice and snow conditions)

• Use air conditioning only when necessary.

• Clear out your car; extra weight decreases gas mileage.

• Reduce drag by placing items inside the car or trunk rather than on roof racks. A roof rack or carrier provides

additional cargo space and may allow you to buy a smaller car. However, a loaded roof rack can decrease your

fuel economy by 5%.

* Check into telecommuting, carpooling and public transit where available to cut mileage and car maintenance

costs.

Car Maintenance Tips

* Use the grade of motor oil recommended by your car’s manufacturer. Using a different motor oil can lower your

gasoline mileage by 1%-2%.

* Keep tires properly inflated and aligned to improve your gasoline mileage by around 3.3%.

* Get regular engine tune-ups and car maintenance checks to avoid fuel economy problems due to worn spark

plugs, dragging brakes, low transmission fluid, or transmission problems.

* Replace clogged air filters to improve gas mileage by as much as 10% and protect your engine.

* Combine errands into one trip. Several short trips, each one taken from a cold start, can use twice as much fuel

as one trip covering the same distance when the engine is warm.

* $ Long-Term Savings Tip: Consider buying a highly fuel-efficient vehicle. A fuel-efficient vehicle, a hybrid vehicle,

or an alternative fuel vehicle could save you a lot at the gas pump and help the environment. See the Fuel

Economy Guide at fueleconomy.gov for more on buying a new fuel-efficient car or truck.

For all kinds of energy saving information, visit http://www1.eere.energy.gov/consumer/tips/

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It seems in this day and age, everyone’s cutting back to basics in one way or another. Whether it is those with ‘safe’ jobs out buying cars that run on less fuel or installing solar systems in their homes, or whether it’s the family cook in the grocery store who has learned to watch every price with extra care, it is obvious that America is cutting back. The changes in gas and heating oil prices over the past year or so have made us all realize that in some areas, we have absolutely no control. In the areas we do have control, it seems it is time to take it. Oprah put it perfectly, “You are the CEO of your family!”

In a world where prepared and partially prepared, package foods have become the norm, it must be especially hard for young families who do not possess their great grandma’s cooking abilities, to make ends meet. It may be time to get out the good old Betty Crocker Cook Book for some REAL, inexpensive recipes. In our civilization, teaching young girls to cook and boys to hunt and fish has taken a back seat to letting them play video games along with scheduled computer time. Is it just me, or does it seem like this may be the first time in the history of our country that perhaps the trend for parents has been to deliberately not teach kids much about hard work, the one ingredient required for success in any venture.

I have been one who has always considered in the back of my mind, that it was possible for our civilization to be ‘brought back to basics’, perhaps needing to go without, or use much less of the modern conveniences (such as gas and electricity) than we were used to. Now I really am feeling the need to cut back on such things. In no way do I consider my self a ‘doom and gloom”er, just practical, I think. I have been collecting oil lamps and other primitive, yet useful items at flea markets and yard sales for years.

While I hope I never become totally dependent on such items or my survival skills to make it, I am glad I have some, and like everyone else, I am moving towards becoming less dependent on the fuels I pay so dearly for. Lucky for me, I have a wood burning stove in my home, so two years ago, when I got my first $375 heating bill for the month, I switched to burning wood. Even if I had to pay for the firewood, it amounted to a big savings. I am also lucky that I have a great family who considers all that hard work of cutting firewood, just an annual tradition.

I have now converted all the light bulbs in my home to the energy efficient type, which evidently use about 1/4 of the power. I was also able to now turn off my hot water heater. That is a big one! My wood stove has a box installed inside which heats hot water, carried by copper pipes to and from the attic where a separate water tank is stored. Without visitors staying, this tank supplies plenty of hot water for all the household needs. When visitors come, it is a flip of a switch to regain use of the electrically heated hot water. This system had been installed years ago, and a few simple repairs put it back in use. It is important when setting up such a system to find a professional to install it, and have it inspected, to ensure safe use of a pressurized system.

I have also rolled up a towel and placed it across the thresholds of every door which felt drafty. There were a few. The real need here, I know, is weather-stripping, and I will eventually get down to a local hardware store for that too. I can’t wait to see how much I can save with all the new changes made so far though. I will keep you posted.

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If you are a transplant to mountain living, I’m sure that the crisp smell of clean mountain air with just a hint of pine made it worth leaving behind the 7-11 (where you can get a gallon of milk anytime of the night or day). Like everyone, everywhere, the high cost of oil is having a trickle down effect into every area of your life.

You want to sleep well at night so you’ve changed all of your light bulbs from the old wasteful incandescent to the new CFLs. Then you made sure that your home was well insulated and fixed that gap on the front door where the wind used to whistle in. Good move, but there’s more that you can do.

WHERE TO START”

1. Get out your bill and figure out what you are spending now. If you’re like me you might need some sort of utility bill Rosetta Stone to translate your bill into English. (Isn’t the Kilowatt Hour a variety show sponsored by PG & E?)

Make a worksheet. List of all of your appliances and if they have one of those yellow stickers with average yearly energy costs on it, write that down. Are they Energy Star rated or do you have a vintage 1952, June Cleaver model of a Lady Kenmore? Though it may still work fine, it’s time for an upgrade.

ALTERNATIVE ENERGY
Alternative energy is a pretty broad term and usually refers to something other than what Chevron pumps out of the ground. We are going to look at saving you some money but there are many other benefits, such as taking some control (over what we spend on oil) out of the hands of large corporate interests and preserving the earth for future generations.
The most common alternative energy options for most homeowners are solar, wind generation and geothermal. Solar entails installing photo voltaic cells on your property to generate power while the sun is shining and this will require a sunny piece of property. The cells don’t necessarily need to be installed on your roof, but do need a prolonged period of sun to be cost effective.
Wind power is generated from a wind turbine usually mounted on a pole and can generate power during night hours and stormy days when the solar is not a peak efficiency. This requires an appropriately windy piece of property to be effective.
I first learned about the principles of geothermal power from Stumpy, a black Labrador retriever. Every time the temperature exceeds 102 degrees, he digs a big hole next to the rosebushes to lay in and stay cool. When I arrive home, he’ll look up at me from his cool spot as if to say, “Hey, it’s hot and I’m wearing a black fur coat.”
Stumpy knows that the earth acts as a buffer, resisting drastic temperature changes. A geothermal system uses a network of pipes which run through your property to warm your home in the winter and cool it in the summer, kind of like Stumpy did but without a big pile of dirt on the patio.
Where can you find assistance with all of these options? You might be surprised. Try your local power company.
LMUD, serving most of Lassen County, is involved in a Smartbuilt Home program, offering substantial rebates for new construction and now, through the Smartbuilt Home Retrofit program, they are offering more rebates than ever for energy efficient upgrades to homes and businesses.. PG&E also has a wide array of incentives for upgrading to save energy. If you are even considering a new appliance purchase, check with your local electric company to find out which models carry the rebates. Each companies offers will vary.
If you are a PSREC member, they (in partnership with Cooperative Community Energy) can send someone to your home for a site inspection and help with a system recommendation, complete with a financial analysis. (Make sure that you have your worksheet ready.) There is a $150 fee but they will also help with the permitting process and point you towards the available rebates. There is money available to help replace that “June Cleaver Kenmore’! Membership in the cooperative also entitles you to discounts on home solar equipment.
When a member installs a solar power system, PSREC uses a “net-metering” process so during times when you generate more power than you use, the excess is made available to the grid so you can be credited back for the difference. You might even receive a check at the end of the year for your surplus. These programs are not only for home systems but the PSREC encourages business customers to participate as well.
Lastly the PSREC can assist in the installation and financing (30 years – interest free) of a Geothermal system as long as your lot property qualifies. They have assisted in over 400 systems to date. For details call 800-555-2207 or on the web, go to www.psrec.org.
There are many options for rural homeowners to not only feel good about your responsibility to future generations but to save a buck as well. When you look at the available rebates, tax incentives and the increase in value to your property, not to mention the ENERGY SAVINGS, it is a pretty easy decision to make.

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