Sonoma County Continues PACE Program Despite the Fed's Objections

In March of last year we posted some information about a new program in Sonoma County that allows homeowners to borrow money for certain home improvements and pay the money back on their property tax bills. (see: Loans for Energy Efficiency Upgrades Available in Sonoma County)

The loans are available for energy-saving improvements such as solar and voltaic units, solar thermal devices, tankless water heaters, energy-efficient windows, and attic and wall insulation. Certain water-conserving upgrades - such as low-flow toilets - also qualify. The minimum loan amount is $2,500.

The program has been well-received and more than 1,000 households in the County have taken advantage of the program. These types of publicly financed loans have proved popular elsewhere as well. Other cities in California - as well as 21 other states - have similar programs.

The catch is federal regulators have taken issue with the loan programs, dubbed Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE), saying the special financing could interfere with mortgage payment and have advised banks not to issue loans on properties with public financing. You can read more about the controversy in yesterday's SF Chronicle article, Sonoma County resists feds on home energy loans.

The good news (for now) is that Sonoma County has decided to continue with the program despite the regulators' pronouncement. To find out more, call 521-6200 or visit www.sonomacountyenergy.org

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What to Ask When You Need a New Water Heater

Is your water heater getting up in years? Are you starting to wonder if it makes sense to replace it sooner rather than later - when it starts leaking? If you like to do your research ahead of time, you can start by asking a few basic questions about new water heaters.

How many years of use can I expect from a water heater?
It all depends on the type of water heater you have. Different water heaters have different life expectancies. Where you live, how often its used, water quality, and many other factors also play a role in the life of a water heater. Typically a tank water heater will last 10 to 15 years. Once your water heater gets towards the end of its expected life span, proactively replacing it can give you a lot of piece of mind - especially if your heater is located somewhere where a leak could really cause a problem in the house. Making the decision to go ahead and replace it also gives you time to consider options.

What are my water heater options?
Do any type of search for a new water heater and you’ll find you have two options: conventional storage tanks and tankless water heaters. The tank type of water heater is still an ideal choice for residential use in some circumstances, and can offer many benefits over tankless water heater options. You could also look at a third option – hybrid water heaters. We can explain the differences and help you decide which best matches your requirements and budget.

What is the best capacity to choose for a new water heater?
A typical tank-style water heater holds 40 to 80 gallons of hot water, ready for you when you need it. The size tank you choose depends on the amount of hot water your household requires - how many people live in the house and the number of appliances and fixtures you typically use on the day. Tankless water heaters promise to deliver hot water on demand, but how much hot water is available to you still depends on the size of the water heater and how much the heater is powered to deliver. Sometimes the capacity of the gas line needs to be increased to supply the amount of hot water desired - so make sure you check these things.

How much will it cost?
The answer to this question often helps you decide other things. While on-demand heaters promise energy savings over time, the cost of retrofitting an existing home to accommodate a different style heater could prove cost prohibitive. Tank-style heaters require little maintenance and most existing houses are set up for this type of heater, and there are more energy efficient models available now. So there are a few things to consider when determining cost. If it's been awhile sine you've had to replace a heater, it might help to simply ask for an estimate so you know what to plan for - and budget for those "greener" options if that's important to you.

We hope this information helps. Hot water is one of those really nice amenities of modern life that few people want to be without for too long. So check your water heater, consider your options, and give us a call if you have any questions.

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Getting the Lead Out of California's Plumbing

These days you might be noticing delays in sourcing and shipment of plumbing parts. And you might discover that some of those jazzy fixtures you find online are not available to customers in California.

There's a particular reason for all that. In January 2009, California enacted laws to increase protection of the public from exposure to lead in drinking water by reducing the amount of lead allowed in plumbing components. As you can imagine, that has had an impact on products available for the California market.

The bills were signed into law in 2009 and went into effect this past January. The concern was that lead from plumbing products can leach into drinking water - and that lead is harmful to humans. The amount of lead coming out of fixtures, pipes and solder depends on a number of factors, such as how much lead is in the materials, how large an area of a lead-containing part comes into contact with the water, how long the water is in contact with the lead-containing surface, and how corrosive the water is. As you can see, it's a little complicated. But while it may not be possible to specifically quantify the amount of lead coming from plumbing, the risk from lead poisoning is serious enough that California chose to take the extra step to protect drinking water.

Which is a good thing. But it's kind of a big deal when it comes to plumbing parts - and finding parts that satisfy the new California laws.

So be patient and flexible if you can when looking for new fixtures. The industry will adjust, and more and more choices will become available in time. It's also good to keep in mind that while supply is still limited, prices could be affected. But you know how that goes.

If you have any questions, call the office. The changes have been in effect for several months now, and we can let you know what to expect. Just ask.

For more information:

Visit the California Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) website for complete information on the new laws.

DTSC’s February 2009 fact sheet provides detailed information on this issue. The test protocols provided in DTSC's August 2009 fact sheet are designed for DTSC to test and evaluate lead content of individual product samples acquired from locations that are readily accessible to the public at either retail or wholesale sources.

Exposure to lead can cause serious adverse health effects, including delays in physical and mental development. See Lead poisoning on en.wikipedia.org for more information.

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