Q&A: Staying cool
                    A little energy here and there adds up to savings
                                               By: Bob Masullo
                                     Sacramento Bee Staff Writer
                                                June 12, 2004

Hugh Fowler, who holds a doctorate in political science from the University of California,
Davis, knows how to save energy. In fact, that's his job.
Political science might not seem the most appropriate course of study for his position as
residential services supervisor of the Sacramento Municipal Utility District, but Fowler, a
23-year SMUD employee, says it has worked out just fine.

"I liked political science mainly from a policy standpoint and was always interested in
energy conservation," the 59-year-old Davis resident says. "This, actually, is the
perfect job for me."

With summer just around the corner, we asked him about conserving energy while still
keeping cool.

Q: Does SMUD expect a major increase in energy demand this summer?

A: No. We've added about 9,000 homes this past year, but that's gradual growth and
we were prepared for it. Nothing dramatic has happened that might make demand
spike.

Q: How does Sacramento's summer energy use compare with other
cities?

A: We're about in the middle. We're typical of Central Valley towns in this regard,
nothing extreme.

Q: What appliances use the most energy?

A: The air conditioner is first. Second is the refrigerator.

Q: Are there any new ways of saving energy this summer?

A: No, not really. Just the same old, same old.

Q: What are some?

A: First, and most important, take steps to keep as much heat out of your house as
possible:

•  Insulate your ceiling and walls. Make sure the insulation is at least R-30 in     
the attic (or crawl space).

•  Have (or plant) shade trees strategically around the house.

•  Put up shade screens, awnings, drapes, curtains, etc., on windows,
especially those facing east, south and west.

•  Keep windows and shades closed during the day.

•  Weatherstrip doors and windows and caulk all other openings. If you took all
the small openings in the average home (where there is no weatherstripping
or caulking) and put them together, it would add up to a hole with a 2-foot
diameter. Just imagine how much heat that lets in.

Next, minimize the heat generated inside the house:

•  Turn off unnecessary lights.

•  Replace incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs, or CFLs. If you
replaced your five most-used bulbs with CFLs, you could save more than
$100 in energy costs in three years.

•  Don't run appliances unless absolutely necessary, and try to use them early
in the day or late at night when the demand for energy is lowest. And so is
the cost.

•  Use a clothesline instead of a dryer.

Also:

•  If you have an extra refrigerator in the garage, consider getting rid of it.
They waste a tremendous amount of energy. You could save $50 or $60 over
the summer by doing just this.

•  Most air conditioning ducts, especially older ones, lose 20 percent to the
attic or crawl space because of leaks. Have them checked and repaired if
necessary. You can find a list of approved contractors who do this work by
calling SMUD at (888) 742-7683 or online at www.smud.org.

•  Set the thermostat at 78 when you are home, 85 when you're out.

•  If you're going to spend a long time in just in one room, try turning off the
central air and using a fan or two in that room. A whole-house fan is good,
too, as an alternative to the AC, especially after the sun has gone down.

•  If you have a pool or spa, check how long the filtering and cleaning systems
run. Set them at the minimum amount of time necessary to keep the water
clear. Four hours, say, rather than 12. Experiment to find the right setting.

Q: What energy saving measures have you taken in your own home?

A: I've put in a whole-house fan and ceiling fans, use portable fans, installed a skylight
at the highest point of the house that opens to let built-up heat out, put shade
screens on the west side of my house and good shade trees all around, and I set the
thermostat at 78.

Q: What should someone do to save energy before going on vacation?

A: Turn off the air conditioner or, if you're just going to be gone a few days, set it at 85.
Pull the shades on the south and west side of the house. Lower or turn off your
water heater. Turn off all lights, but if you need some for security, make sure they're
on a timer. Put your pool and spa on their minimum maintenance cycle.

Q: Is the SMUD headquarters building at 6301 S St. setting a bad
example with an all-glass facade facing south?

A: Yes, a bit. But in our own defense, those windows are all dual-pane low-E glass, and
they have shades integrated into them. So it's not as bad as it seems.



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About the Writer
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The Bee's Bob Masullo can be reached at (916) 321-1118 or bmasullo@sacbee.com.

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