ENERGY EFFICIENCY / CONSERVATION
by Peter Bursztyn

Living off the grid demands a large up-front investment for equipment to convert sunlight and/or wind into electricity. For times when neither is available, you need battery storage, and unless you can find appliances and lighting to operate on low voltage DC, you will need an inverter to create 120 volt AC.

But first, you must calculate an energy budget, totaling the consumption of each appliance. Your generating equipment, battery and electronic controls must be sized to cope with this load. A basic fact of "off-grid" life is that generating equipment is far more costly than energy consuming appliances. Paying 3 times as much for a super-efficient refrigerator is far cheaper than the cost of more wind/solar generation to power a standard appliance.

Does this mean that energy efficient appliances only make sense for off-grid applications? Definitely not! Within limits, energy efficiency investment pays good dividends, even at the artificially cheap energy we have in much of Canada - now set to rise in Ontario.

My home is indistinguishable from my neighbours in Barrie Ontario - an ordinary 1986 Canadian house. When we arrived from England (in 1988), we worked on minimizing energy consumption by copying normal European practice! We brought our European (front-loading) washing machine, our gas stove, and some small appliances with us. I wired a 240-volt circuit into the kitchen and another into the laundry room to power these. The annual savings attributable to the Euro-washer is ~$65 - but North American front-loaders save you less! A gas stove saves money mainly because the contact between flame and pot is more efficient than between an electric element and a typically battered cooking pot!

Considerable advances in refrigerator design mean that a new refrigerator will save $60-70 per year over a 15 year old one. We chose a refrigerator with no freezer - the defrost cycle consumes more electricity than the cooling load! We have a freezer. It is a chest style, located in a cool basement where it doesn't work hard and picks up very little condensation. We defrost it manually, once a year!

A self-confessed energy-efficiency nut, I replaced all 40 incandescent lamps in my house with compact fluorescents (CFs)! You could achieve 80% of my lighting efficiency by replacing 10-12 of your most used lamps! Each 15watt CF replaces a 60-75 watt bulb. At 5 hours per day and $0.10 per kWh each save ~$9 per year. A dozen CFs - porch lights, entrance hall, etc. will save you ~$110/year (at current prices). Since CFs last 5-10 years and cost ~$8 each, they are a bargain.

We spent~$1900 for energy saving electric appliances. The result has been 14 years of $400 annual electric bills instead of the $1200 typical for a family of four in a large house. This saving of $800/year is a 43% annual return on investment! Ask your bank manager if they offer any investments guaranteed to return 43% - tax free! Then go to Home Depot or IKEA and buy some CFs. On your way home stop at an appliance dealer and get some brochures. When you get home, throw out the beer fridge. 33% of Canadian homes have one! That alone should save you $200 per year!

The "bottom line" is that investing in energy efficiency is modular - you can invest as little as $10 (one CF lamp), or as much as $4000 (high efficiency furnace). Investing in renewable energy is similar - grow your system as your budget permits.

- Peter Bursztyn, 705-734-1577, bursztyn@infinity.net

ASK THE EXPERT

Question: Do you have any members who have bought into hybrid technology cars (either Toyota Prius or Honda Accord?) If so, do you think they could do a write up for the newsletter? I am particularly interested in if these cars are simply good for single person commutes or can they handle 4 adults and a rack full of gear. Can they pull a small trailer (of gear or compost or drywall for instance..)?? - Sue

Answer: Thank you, Sue, for letting me reveal a long-kept secret. Yes, the coordinator has been the happy owner of a 2001 Prius for over a year. I was lucky, too, because I was able to buy this hybrid-electric car from an old friend, environmentalist, idealist. Sorry to say, he suffered a stroke and couldn't drive anymore, and I convinced him that the car should be on the road - not parked in his backyard.

Over the past year I have put almost 50,000 km on the car, mostly highway driving, so I guess I can call myself something like an expert on its performance.

I have had 5 adults in my Prius and there was hardly any noticeable power loss. Loading up the car with people and roof racks will increase your fuel consumption, no doubt, but I find it has sufficient 'guts' to let you keep up with other traffic.

Getting away from a stop light is a joy - I can leave the other cars behind, because stepping on the gas pedal puts two engines in motion! Both the gas and the electric engine lets you take off like a 'scared rabbit'! I don't know what that person was doing telling you the Prius is slow to take off, maybe he/she had the parking brake on?

Pulling a trailer is not recommended, according to my manual, but they probably mean a large RV, a small utility one would be okay. Best to talk to your Toyota dealer about that. The warranties are very generous, and the Ontario government rebates $2,000 of the sales tax! If you want to take the Prius on your summer vacation, better order it now. It's 6 month waiting time because of the backlog!

I have not driven the Honda Insight, also hybrid-electric. You might want to test drive their model before you make a decision.

SPOTLIGHT ON...Hans Albarda and Cathy Stanley

Hans Albarda and Cathy Stanley were the first Directors of CFRE when it was incorporated in January 1996. They lived in an off-grid house, built by them, on a road in Kemble, Ontario, with hydro wires running past their place. Having lost his job as instructor in visual arts they decided to move to Nova Scotia with their 2 school age girls. There they again built their highly energy efficient house powered only by 8-85 Watt photovoltaic panels placed vertically on the south wall of their home (as shown in photo). All their appliances are run on 12V DC except their computer which needs a small inverter to AC. While Cathy is teaching as Mathematics Professor at Acadia University, Hans is very busy as Renewable Energy Consultant. He has taught a couple of courses and is designing photovoltaic and hybrid systems for off-grid houses in the area. Another interesting project he is involved in is a "Fair Trade" coffee business where the owner decided to add a new wing, doubling the size of their building. The new wing will be powered by photovoltaics and will feature a large glass displaycase, housing all the electrical parts like controller, voltmeters, ammeters,etc. of the system as educational display. As mentioned in our survey report Hans has offered his help to any CFRE member who needs specific information on system design or problem solving. Thank you so much, Hans, for your generosity and dedication to the cause!

SPECIAL NOTICE

We just received the generous offer from Glen Estill, the founder and CEO of Sky Generation Inc., to lead a guided tour of their 1.8 MW Ferndale Windturbine on Saturday, February 7, weather permitting.

The windturbine is about 28 km north of Wiarton on Highway # 6. Interested members please call Ziggy (519-795-7725) or e-mail cfre@web.ca . We will meet at location at 1 p.m. Please wear warm clothing, as we might have to walk some distance. We will also try to arrange touring some off-grid residences in the area. Attendance will be restricted to 20 persons, so get in on it quick!

AGM AND WORKSHOP DATE SET

Our 2004 AGM and Special Workshop has been set for Sunday, May 16, 2004 at our favourite location: The YMCA Paradise Lake Environmental Learning Centre (just west of Waterloo).

NEWS RELEASE: 25 November 2003 -
Minister Dwight Duncan Announces Introduction of New Legislation, Sending a Strong Message on Conservation

• Starting April 1, 2004, the current price cap of 4.3 cents would be removed and an interim pricing structure would be implemented that better reflects the true price of electricity.
• Under the interim plan, the first 750 kilowatt hours (kWh) consumed in any month would be priced at 4.7 cents per kilowatt hour. Consumption above that level would be priced at a higher rate of 5.5 cents per kilowatt hour.
• This interim pricing plan would stay in place until the independent regulator, the Ontario Energy Board (OEB), develops a clear and transparent mechanism for setting prices in the future. The OEB's new pricing mechanism would be implemented as soon as possible and no later than May 1, 2005.
• If the revenue from the interim price plan exceeds the cost of the plan, all eligible consumers would receive a credit for the difference after the OEB implements its pricing mechanism .
• The legislation would be followed by a regulation providing direction to the OEB on the development of a price-setting mechanism.
• As price regulator, the OEB would protect and renew Ontario's electricity grid by ensuring reasonable charges for the delivery of electricity.
• Beginning March 1, 2004, local distribution companies (LDCs) would be allowed to recoup some of the costs that the previous government had put on hold, which has put a tremendous financial burden on the LDCs. The Ontario Energy Board would be asked to ensure that these recoveries to local distribution companies are spread over a four-year period. It is estimated that this would have a modest impact on the final price to consumers.
• As of March 1, 2005, LDCs would be allowed to achieve their full commercial return, which in many cases would result in an increase on average of approximately 0.3 cents per kilowatt-hour. This increase would be conditional on LDCs reinvesting the equivalent of one year of these monies in conservation and demand management initiatives.
• The proposed legislation would restore the normal regulatory regime for transmission rates immediately, which is not anticipated to increase rates.
• The 4.3 cent electricity price freeze implemented by the Tory government did not reflect the true cost of electricity, and has contributed to the $5.6 billion deficit threatening the province.
• The total cost of the price freeze to November 1, 2003, has been $1.74 billion. Part of this cost has been offset by a previously planned rebate from Ontario Power Generation (OPG). The net cost to date is estimated at over $800 million.
• The 4.7 cent and 5.5 cent pricing structure better reflects the true cost of electricity.
• Electricity prices, after the removal of the 4.3 cent price cap, are still expected to be competitive with adjacent U.S. jurisdictions.
• 4.7 cents per kilowatt hour (kWh) for the first 750 kWh of consumption reflects a relatively moderate increase in the cost of electricity for the average residential electricity consumer. Consumers who use 750 kWh per month would see less than a $5 increase on their monthly bill; users of 1,000 kWh per month would see less than a $10 increase; users of 2,000 kWh per month would see an increase of roughly $25.
• For most residential consumers, well over half of their monthly consumption would be covered by the 4.7 cent price per kWh.
• Approximately 60% of homes in Ontario use less than 1,000 kWh or less per month on average. By implementing simple conservation measures, this consumption can be reduced.
• Commercial users of 50,000 kWh to 250,000 kWh a year would see an increase in their monthly electricity bill of between 15-18%. For commercial users of 150,000 kWh, this translates into an increase of approximately $180 per month.
• Notice of implementation on April, 2004 gives consumers, small business and other low-volume consumers a chance from now until April to review their energy use, implement conservation measures, and as a result, limit the impact of the price change on their electricity bill when it occurs. It would also allow local distribution companies time to make required billing changes.
• The proposed legislation encourages conservation and demand management programs. Valuable energy saving tips are available from the Ministry of Energy web site at http://www.energy.gov.on.ca . For consumer information call 1-888-668-4636

FROM THE COORDINATOR...

Thank you, all you dedicated members, for taking time out to complete our membership survey in our September newsletter! And thanks so much for all your favorable comments and valuable suggestions!

Well, at least 10% of the over 120 replies received reported their residence being offgrid, one as recent as last month! Quite a number of others are planning to move toward this either by building new or waiting for grid-intertie possibilities. A few are looking for more technical information and as mentioned in another part of this newsletter we are offering several ways to access that. We realize that not everybody can get it from our webpage www.web.ca/ ~cfre, but our publication ‘CFRE: You Asked Us' is available in an updated version and also NRCan Buyer's Guides can be ordered by calling 1-800-387-2000 for Wind, PV, solar water and or/ pool heating,biomass etc. And, of course, there is our own Renewable Energy Consultant, Hans, with all his expertise, to handle specific cases!

It is just not possible to expand our newsletter with a technical section on our shoe-string budget! We are trying to attract as many people as possible with the lowest membership fee of any organization our size - and that negates the argument of one survey response that we are just preaching to the converted!

During the month of September I had welcome volunteer help from Nina, a 21-year old university student from Muenster, Germany. Her computer skills were great and she mastered the English language almost flawlessly. I took her with me to Ann Arbor, Michigan, to the International Joint Commission Biennial, where I was able to present a resolution on Nuclear Installation Sites Safety and Security, sponsored by CFRE and unanimously approved by the coalition members of Great Lakes United, to the Commissioners at the 1-hour public consultation session.

She also accompanied me to Ottawa and supported me during the 2 presentations I made on behalf of CFRE to the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission regarding the operating licence renewal for the Bruce Power reactors of the ‘A' and ‘B' sections.

In October I followed an invitation by a Guelph University student group to come and talk to them about energy conservation and renewable energy generation. They are working on a project to retrofit one of the campus buildings. Institutions like Universities and Colleges are large energy consumers much of it is wasted as I have experienced on many occasions. So I congratulated them on their initiative.

In mid-November I was invited to Mohawk College, Hamilton, to debate the President of the Canadian Nuclear Society on the issue of nuclear versus renewable energy before a class of students. And then the following week the Great Green Power Trade Show took place at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre. During the 2 days I had much appreciated help from Andrew and JP, dedicated CFRE members, at our display. We made many good connections and felt our presence there was a good investment.

Our next major display effort will be the last weekend in January at the Organic Conference at Guelph University. We'll be at the lower level this time. I am still looking for volunteers to help me out on Saturday, Jan. 24 and Sunday, Jan. 25 !!

Meantime I continue my work with the Boards of Great Lakes United and the Ontario Sustainable Energy Association to promote clean and safe renewable energy, both to governments and communities!

QUOTABLES...

Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Nov. 2003

RESPONSE TO MEMBERSHIP SURVEY REQUESTS

MORE TECHNICAL AND PRACTICAL INFORMATION

About 20% of responses from our Membership Survey were requests for more technical/practical information.

We can hardly be expected to go extensively into this field in a newsletter, that as the title says is about bringing news items.

We, at the same time, sure have neglected to advertise our publication "CFRE: You Asked Us", which has been available since June 2001 and carries a lot of advice on technical aspects of renewable energy components, as well as energy conservation. It also has a list of members who live completely or partially off-grid and would gladly show their residences to those seriously interested in following their example. Of course, it is expected that people call first to make an appointment.

An updated version of this publication is now available at $7 plus $3 postage and handling. Call or write our office.

Another offer we can make is through the generosity of our first Board member. If you have specific questions or need a problem with your system addressed, call Hans Albarda in Wolfville, Nova Scotia. 902-542-4029 or write him at 3099 Greenfield Rd., R.R. #3, Wolfville, NS, B4P 2R3 and enclose a self-addressed stamped envelope.
 

ADDITIONAL WAYS TO CUT POLLUTION

A number of members living in apartment buildings or condominiums expressed frustration that they couldn't do their part to help cut down on pollution and waste of natural resources.

But, apart from energy conservation in their homes, there are at least two ways to support Green Energy and help "clear the air".

The purchase of Green Tags at a price of $75 (can also be paid in monthly installments) supports the development of one megawatt-hour of clean, windgenerated electricity. That's about onetenth the amount of electricity an average Ontario household of four consumes in one year. Call toll-free 1-866-546-8414, or order online at http://www.greentagsontario.com .

The other option is a brand new one. The well-known Pembina Institute has teamed up with the wind energy producer Vision Quest to offer a Green Certificates Program for Canadians who want to offset the polluting effects of their own energy use. Each Green Certificate sold results in the generation of 1MW hour of Green Power from 100% new, eco-logo certified wind energy facilities. With Green Certificates, individuals can choose to offset 25%, 50% or 100% of their electricity generation - for less than 50 cents a day. Visit http://www.pembina.org/greencerts.aspx .

Of course, Metro Toronto residents can still buy shares for a new wind turbine at $100 each, $500 minimum investment.

WELCOME 2 NEW CFRE MEMBERS FOR LIFE!!

Thank you so much Edith and Michael for your generous support.

You are joining our first 3 members with your generous support of promoting clean and safe renewable energy.

QUOTABLES...

Albert Einstein