Haines Borough Energy Sustainability Commission

Energy Talk

Weekly Radio Show on KHNS, FM - 91.9/102.3 - 8:45-9:00 AM - Every Monday

Did you miss the latest Energy Talk? How about that website mentioned? That telephone number? Or that key energy term, number, or calculation? For more information about each program, contact the Haines Borough Energy & Sustainability Coordinator.

Useful Numbers and formulas

1 kilowatt (KW) = 1000 watts

1,000 KW = 1 megawatt

Formula for Estimating Daily KWH Energy Consumption:

(watts x Hours Used Per Da)/1000 = Daily Kilowatt-hour (KWH) consumption. Wattage is usually stamped on the bottom or back of an appliance or on its name plate.

Watts = amps x volts

• Watts measure total electrical power based on the variables of volt, amperes (amps), and ohms.

Calculation of the daily/monthly/or annual cost to run an appliance:

Multiply daily KWH consumption by electricity rate per KWH = daily cost.

Multiply daily KWH consumption by number of days in a month by electricity rate = monthly cost.

Multiply daily KWH consumption by 365 by electricity rate = annual cost.

Rate per KWH, Haines, APT, residential as of 4/20/2009:

• $0.16050362 KWH (includes PCE credit)

Rate per KWH, Haines, APT, small commercial:

• $0.21130362

BTU = British Thermal Unit defined as the amount of energy needed to raise one pound of water from 60-degrees F to 61-degrees F at sea level.

BTU content of fuel source: (Please think of these numbers as estimates. There seems to be some slight variation depending on the source.)

• 1 gallon Delta Western #1 stove oil = 135,000 BTUs
• I gallon Delta Western #2 furnace oil = 138,690 BTUs
• 1 gallon home heating oil US DOE average = 139,000 BTUS
• 1 KWH electricity = 3413 BTUs
• 1 gallon propane = 91,600 BTUs
• 1 pound of propane = 21,600 BTUs
• 1 cord pine (20% moisture) = 18,000,000 BTUs

Foot-candle: A unit for measuring brightness of light A foot candle is the amount of light produced one foot away from the source.

Illuminance is the intensity or the degree to which something is illuminated and is therefore not the amount of light produced by the light source.It is measured in foot-candles too.

Lumen is equal to one foot candle falling on one square foot of area.

Lux is illuminance measured in metric units, not foot candles. A lux equals one lumen incidence per square meter of illuminated surface.

Looking for previous programs? Link to Programs 15 - 26: Bi-Pedalism, Sustainable Skagway, Electric Vehicle Conversion Class, Cold Climate Housing Research Center, Federal Tax Deductions for Energy Efficiency for Commercial Buildings, Federal Tax Credits for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy for Homeowners, Alaska Heating Assistance Program, Local Microhydro Installation, The Pickens Plan, Daylight Harvesting, Interview with AHFC's Cary Bolling, Hot Water Heating.

Energy Talk #38, August 17: Test Your Energy IQ!

The multiple choice format helps you know what the answer isn't (for sure cell phones do not account for nearly half of the nation's energy use!), but the right answer is usually only "right" by a hair! Study up with us and then go check your Energy IQ.

Energy Talk #37, August 10: Special session of state legislature convenes today to vote on whether to accept $28.6 million in federal energy stimulus money

According to the Renewable Energy Alaska Project, (REAP) the Alaska Housing Finance Corporation (AHFC) prepared a list of uses for the $28.6 million in March, but the $28.6 million was vetoed in May by former Governor Palin. According to the Anchorage Daily News,

The U.S. Department of Energy sent Alaska lawmakers a letter this week seeking to reassure them that the Legislature "does not need to adopt, impose and enforce a statewide building code in order to qualify" for the energy stimulus cash.

The letter said Alaska's governor or Legislature can qualify for the money by assuring "that the state will encourage, promote and assist municipalities that choose to adopt their own energy-efficiency codes to achieve the goals ... reduced energy consumption in public or private buildings."

Some legislatures are still worried that the federal government will impose requirements on the people of Alaska. Here is the correspondence between Governor Palin and the Department of Energy (DOE) over Section 410 of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) {Download}. Section 410 raises the question of implementation of state-wide energy codes. The DOE says that states are required only to "encourage and promote," not adopt and enforce , in order to qualify for the funds. What do you think? How would you like your representatives to vote? Let Representative Bill Thomas and Senator Albert Kookeesh know today. Your opinion matters!

Energy Talk #35, July 20: Checking in with the Haines Borough Energy & Sustainability Commission (ESC) - the Chair and the Coordinator discuss year-end recommendations

The ESC holds its 18th meeting Tuesday July 21. Melissa Aronson, Commission Chair will highlight draft recommendations {draft recommendations} before the Commission.

Energy Talk #34, July 13: Net Metering, Regulatory Commission of Alaska proposed net metering regulations

RCA Order issuing proposed language and opening the comment period {Order}. RCA proposed net metering language for Alaska {Language}

The proposed net metering standards will effect 9 Alaskan utilities, including Alaska Power & Telephone (APT), serving Haines and Skagway. A utility is included if it is economically regulated and if it has retail sales equal to or in excess of 5,000,000 kWh during the previous calendar year.

Comment period closes 4 PM, July 13.

Instructions for submitting commets:

• 1)Go to: https://rca.alaska.gov/RCAWeb/Dockets/DocketDetails.aspx?id=b4bea182-df89-4661-b74b-ee487d6875a5
• 2)Click on the light blue “Public Notices & Comments” tab – all the way to the right on the navigation bar; then click on the “Submit Comments” in the right-hand box in the chart.
• 3)Follow the steps as directed.

Copies of all filed comments and reply comments are posted at http://rca.alaska.gov/RCAWeb/home.aspx. Go to the right hand side of the page, select All Open Rule-Making Dockets. Under Top Searches, choose matter number R-09-001.

Currently net metering is offered in 35 states. Here is a table of state and utility net metering from the Interstate Renewable Energy Council.

Energy Talk #33, July 6: Michael Bartlett, Account Executive, Ameresco, an energy services company

What might be the benefit to the Haines Borough if the Borough were to contract with a team of energy management specialists to retrofi municipal buildings in such a way that savings from reduced energy expenditures could pay for the analysis and energy conservation and efficiency work? Michael Bartlett represents Ameresco, an energy services company (ESCO). Bartlett will be in Haines July 7 to speak with the Haines Energy & Sustainability Commission about ESCOs in general and Ameresco in particular.

Energy Talk #32, June 29: Chuck Renfro, Energy Efficiency Associates, geothermal installations in Alaska

Ground source heat pumps do work in Alaska! A residential system - of the trench type - is planned for installation in Haines this July.

Chuck Renfro has been involved with the technology since he set up the distribution system for an experimental system for the University of Alaska more than 10 years ago. Although a system might install for as much as $20,000, homeowners can get 30% of the total installation (there is no cap on the cost) back in Federal Tax Credits. For more information on Federal tax credits for residential renewable energy installations, go to Energy Talk #21. For more information about geothermal, go to GeoExchange, http://www.geoexchange.org. You can contact Chuck directly by email.

Energy Talk #31, June 22: Julie Estey, Business Director, Alaska Center for Energy and Power (ACEP)

In town for the Kluane bike race, Julie will stop by the KHNS studios and talk about the Alaska Center for Energy and Power (ACEP) located at the University of Alaska, Fairbanks. The Center's focus is on applied energy research and testing. Don't miss the interactive map at the bottom of the ACEP website, showing ACEP projects throughout the state. Most projects are in northern and western Alaska, but ACEP is involved in assessment of the geothermal potential of Tenakee Springs. ACEP has also recently launched a dynamic information source called the Alaska Energy Wiki. The Alaska Energy Wiki plans to become THE source of information about energy in Alaska!

Energy Talk #30, June 15: An Interview with Jack Flory, 2009 Haines High Graduate and Weatherization Technician

Jack completed a 40-hour Weatherization Technician Training conducted by Alaska Works Partnership, Inc. in Sitka, Alaska, May 11-15. He received an evaluation of "Excellent!" and will be presented with a $200.00 completion bonus by the Mayor and the Manager at Haines Borough Assembly meeting June 23. The bonus was recommended by the Haines Borough Energy & Sustainability Commission in recognition of the importance of training in building energy conservation and efficiency in order to remain competitive in Alaska's housing market and particularly in rural Alaska where energy costs can be prohibitive.

Energy Talk #29, June 8: Save Water, Save Energy

How much power is required to process and pump water to residents and businesses receiving municipal water? Plenty. Did you know that letting your faucet run for 5 minutes uses as much energy as letting a 60-watt light bulb run for 14 hours? See Benefits of Water Efficiency and make the Drops to Watts connection.

Mid-April to mid-May 2009, the Haines Water Treatment system (pumps and plant) used 6,878 KWH, costing $1055.68. The Barnett Road pump station used 72% of the power. The same period in 2008, the Barnett lift station used just half the power it used this May. Download KWH consumption records for the Haines Water Treatment system {Download}.

Why the variation in consumption? This time it was due to leaks - not in the municipal pipes carrying water to its destination, but in the customers' systems. Read these facts about leaks and take a look at this step-by-step leak fixing guide!

WaterSense is the US EPA's water savings version of Energy Star. Check out some of the water saving products and practices that are getting more attention - like high efficiency toilets. Toilets account for 30% of residential indoor water consumption. If you replace older toilets with WaterSense labeled models, you can save 4000 gallons of water per year! If you turn off the tap when you are brushing your teeth, you can save up to 3000 gallons a year, but you can save water too with WaterSense labeled bathroom faucets.

Instead of watering and washing cars with treated municipal water pumped in to your home, think about constructing a catchment system for uses where treated water is unnecessary. A good place to start your research is the American Rainwater Catchment Systems Association.

Energy Talk #28: Alaska Craftsman Home Program, Free Classes for Haines!

Alaska Craftsman Home Program (ACHP)is coming to Haines, Saturday and Sunday, June 27 and 28! These free classes are for anyone interested in improving the energy efficiency of the building they live in or use. The classes will also help you better understand how to implement those improvements suggested by your energy auditor. But you need to sign up. Call or email Stephanie (766-2718) right away! Space may be limited.

Saturday Classes, June 27

• Building Science Basics, 8 AM
• Air Tightness, 10 AM
• Ice Dams, 1 PM
• Lighting & Appliances, 3 PM

Sunday Classes, June 28

• Heating & Hot Water, 8 AM
• Doors & Windows, 10 AM
• Insulation, 1 PM
• Ventilation, 3 PM

Energy Talk #28: Business of Clean Energy in Alaska Conference, May 18

Haines Borough Energy & Sustainability Coordinator, Stephanie Scott, will call in live from the Dena'Ina Civic and Convention Center, Anchorage, where she is attending the Business of Clean Energy in Alaska conference organized by the Renewable Energy Alaska Project (REAP) and sponsored by the Alaska Energy Authority and the Alaska Center for Energy and Power.

Energy Talk #27: TV Cost Cutting Tips, May 11

Thinking about buying a new TV? Check out CNET.com's evaluation of 150 high-definition (HD) TVs. The annual power consumption is based on 5.2 hours "on," 365 days. To calculate local costs, multiply the annual cost on the chart by 1.41. Haines APT residential per KWH rate is about 41% higher than the national average. The national average is $0.1185 per KWH.

LCD TVs seem to be the least consumptive, BUT no matter what, the bigger the screen the more power it uses. The most expensive TV on the chart is a 65 inch LCD model that would cost about $261 per year here in Haines.

And the brighter your TV, the more power it takes. So go to CNET.com's TV power-saving tips to learn how undo the brightness level set by the manufacturer, not for home viewing, but to capture the attention of consumers in the showroom!