By Shauna Mecartea
Daily Bruin Contributor
CALPIRG announced the launch of SavePowerNow.com, a Web site
geared toward educating students about ways to conserve energy and
help solve the energy crisis, at a news conference in Ackerman
Union Friday.
Merriah Fairchild, campus organizer for CALPIRG, met with David
Johnson, director of Energy Services at UCLA and John Giese,
program manager for the Los Angeles Department of Water and
Power’s Green Power Program to discuss their efforts to
reduce energy consumption.
“If we start to learn now to modify our behavior, we will
have an orientation in the future that is different than what
exists today,” Giese said.
CALPIRG’s Web site suggests turning off unnecessary
lights, setting the furnace to 68 degrees, buying energy-efficient
lamps and light bulbs, and only washing and drying full loads of
laundry to save energy.
“Solving the energy crisis shouldn’t feel like
you’re on “˜Survivor.’ We’re here to tell
students to throw away their spears and adobe huts, log onto
www.SavePowerNow.com and find out things you, your landlord and the
state legislature can do to get us out of this mess and prevent it
from happening ever again,” Fairchild said.
UCLA has been conserving energy, not because they do not have a
reliable energy source, but because the price has increased
fivefold, Johnson said. The university has been lowering the
thermostats on campus, turning off computers when not in use, and
covering all light switches with stickers reminding staff and
students to turn off the lights when they leave.
Water fountains on campus, like the famous inverted water
fountain in front of Franz Hall, will not operate until the prices
have lowered to conserve money as well as energy, said Johnson. Air
is cooled at night for air conditioning during the day in a thermal
storage tank underneath the Bombshelter. At this time, the demand
is lower and so is the price.
According to Johnson, there has been an 8 percent reduction in
energy due to these measures alone.
The lighting retrofit project, replacing old bulbs and lighting
fixtures with energy efficient ones, has allowed for a 25 percent
reduction in energy over the last four years, Johnson said.
“We have been and will continue to do everything we can to
upgrade our current sources of energy production to be more
efficient as well as promoting energy conservation on
campus,” Johnson said.
LADWP’s Solar Rooftop Incentive Program offers a payment
that lowers the purchase price of solar photovoltaic systems for
all DWP customers, residential and commercial. A specific dollar
amount is awarded for each installed solar system Watt.
Reusable energy is a long-term solution Giese said, adding that
not being so reliant on natural gas is important. For example, he
said solar panels are definite options.
LADWP has adopted a tree planting project that plants trees on
school campuses.
According to Giese, trees yield cooler areas and therefore lower
air conditioning use and bills.
Targeting new construction is vital, both Giese and Johnson
agreed. By making buildings energy efficient from the start, future
energy crises can be avoided and the environment protected.
“Involvement and awareness of students in general, just
getting information out, is a huge (help),” Johnson said.