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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Mysterious Water Leak Problem Pinned on Unlikely Source

When is a plumbing problem not a plumbing problem? Well, you can't always be sure!

This is too funny not to share.

Before you watch the video, here's the background:

Jennifer and Jim kept getting huge water bills. They knew beyond a doubt that the bills weren't representative of their actual usage. But no matter how they tried to conserve, the high bills continued. Although they could see nothing wrong, they had everything checked for leaks or problems: first the water meter, then outdoor pipes, indoor pipes, underground pipes, faucets, toilets, washer, ice maker, etc. -- all to no avail!

One day Jim was sick and stayed home in bed, but kept hearing water running downstairs. He finally tore himself from his bed to investigate, and stumbled onto the cause of their high water bills. Apparently this was happening everyday and all day long when they were not at home. Knowing that few would believe him, he taped a segment of the 'problem' as evidence.

Positively Innovative Sink Reduces Water Use, Simplifies Greywater

Just when you thought people may have thought of everything, Environmental Designworks has come out with something that's pretty ingenious. They call it SinkPositive, and it's a retrofit to your existing toilet. It replaces the tank lid and uses the water coming in to fill the bowl after flushing for handwashing.

SinkPositive saves beaucoup gallons of water and ensures potable water isn't wasted on flushing. Yeah, pretty ingenious.

The faucet is motion activated and runs until the bowl has refilled. The small amount of soap used for hand washing doesn't interfere with toilet function - and may actually serve to freshen the bowl a bit. Check out the video below for more about how the new gizmo installs and operates.


YouTube video: SinkPostive and Maximized Water Use

We haven't seen a SinkPositive in action ourselves yet, but it is good to know people keep thinking outside the box when it comes to efficient use of water. That we know we can get behind.

A Few Green Plumbing Tips

As a plumbing service company committed to making sustainability integral to how we do business, we like to periodically share a few tips for making sustainable choices a habit in your life. There are lots of things we all can do every day to make small differences that add up big. The key is doing something and making it a part of your daily routine.

Bottled Water

Obviously it's convenient, but what price convenience? C'mon people. There are the plastic bottles that end up in landfills (or the ocean) for starters. Then there's all the energy involved in shipping water hither and yon. It's crazy. And don't even mention the privitization of water supplies by corporations that turn around and charge more for a liter of water than they'd get for a liter of gas. Plus, you know you can't be sure the water in that plastic bottle is any cleaner than the water available to you from your tap right?

Anyway, we're ranting. But this is important.

Get to know your own tap water and buy a reusable water bottle.

Have your water tested if you're just not sure. (For a list of laboratories certified for both chemical and biological testing of water, see the bottom of our post Clean Drinking Water a Major Concern). And then, if need be, install a point-of-use filter or whole-house system. Filtering your own water is so much less expensive in the long run than using bottled water.

And when shopping for that reusable water bottle, look for a good stainless steel bottle or a plastic bottle that is BPA and phthalate-free.

Want to read more about bottled water? See Bottlemania: How Water Went on Sale and Why We Bought It, by Elizabeth Royte (It's on our Bathroom Reading List.)

Toilet Cleaners

All kinds of cleaners are used in the name of keeping toilets and other bathroom fixtures clean and germ-free. Seems like a good idea - on the surface. The problem is most cleaners have chlorine, ammonia and hydrochloric acid as the main ingredients. While these may kill the bad bacteria, they kill beneficial bacteria that exist throughout the drain system. The chemicals can also shorten the lifespan of your pipes and fixtures and react with other substances in the system to form...well, we're really not sure what. (see Creature from the Black Lagoon)

We hear baking soda is a good alternative to the harsh chemical cleaners. It's a natural chemical compound that wipes out the breeding grounds for bad bacteria. Just sprinkle in the bowl and scrub. For stains, spray a little vinegar onto the baking soda and allow to sit for awhile before scrubbing.

Drain Cleaners

And while we're on the subject... We recommend BioOne for maintaining your drains. You can really damage the health of your septic system by using caustic drain cleaners and other disinfectants and antibacterials. Not a good thing. The 'good bacteria' help to keep your drains clear by digesting scum, goo and other gunk from the pipes. You want to keep them happy and healthy. BioOne helps to do that.

Ok, that's our green 2-cents for the day. If you have any questions, don't hesitate to call. We're here to help.

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Reminder About Free Toilets in Sonoma County

Sonoma County Sanitation District's Direct Install Program has been going on for quite some time now. It's been a great opportunity for public sewer customers with non low flow toilets to get those older-style fixtures exchanged for new high-efficiency toilets. What a good deal all around. Demand is reduced on the sewer system, customers save hundreds of dollars on fixtures, and everyone saves water.

We do want to remind everyone that all this good stuff won't continue indefinitely. When the funds have been depleted the program ends, and we suspect the money will run out sooner rather than later.

So if you haven't taken advantage of the Direct Install Program yet, give us a call. We have primarily been installing Vortens Tornado pressure assist toilets. (The County pays for the toilet and installation.) There's one installed here at the shop if you'd like to find out what they're like. And then the County also provides new low flow shower heads and faucet aerators.

Call with questions or to make an appointment. We're here to help.

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