Sneak a Peak!

Ever wonder if your sprinklers are up to no good while you’re away? This weekend, put “sneak a peak” on your to-do list.

Do a full test run of your irrigation system to see if it’s behaving. Do you spot any gushers, leakers or oversprayers? Is the run-time too long? Does the water pool in some areas or run off onto the pavement or, worse, into your home’s foundation or basement?

Don’t put off getting your sprinklers in line any longer. With little sign of improvement in Southern California’s water supply situation, mandatory restrictions and fines on water waste could very quickly become a reality for Pasadena. Be prepared early – and start saving money on your water bill while you’re at it.

Learn more at workshops held at the Eaton Canyon Nature Center, 1750 N. Altadena Drive. A certified landscape professional will teach you about the best equipment and how to calculate and schedule your watering needs, techniques for irrigating efficiently and effectively and other tips.

There are seven dates to choose from. Online reservations are required at www.cityofpasadena.net/savewater.

• Wednesday, Aug. 20, 6:30 to 9 p.m.

• Saturday, Aug. 23, 8:30 to 11 a.m.

• Wednesday, Sept. 10, 6:30 to 9 p.m.

• Saturday, Sept. 27, 8:30 to 11 a.m.

• Saturday, Oct. 25, 8:30 to 11 a.m.

• Wednesday, Oct. 29, 6:30 to 9 p.m.

• Wednesday, Nov. 12, 6:30 to 9 p.m.

When you see that someone’s sprinklers are broken or watering the sidewalk instead of their lawn, you shouldn’t hesitate to tell them: It’s the neighborly thing to do.

If you’re not comfortable contacting your neighbor or a business about their water waste, simply call 744-8888 and we’ll notify them for you. Be sure to note the date, time and address before you call so PWP can send out a friendly notice right away.

If you see problems with sprinklers in business districts and other areas while you’re out and about in Pasadena, call the hotline above so we can send a notice to them, too.  

Ode to a Utility Bill

Felicia Williams’ recent two-month utility bill totaled just 40 bucks. She was so excited that she wrote a letter of thanks to PWP.

“I wanted to share with you that with all the improvements I’ve made around my house, I’ve reduced my overall bill by 63%!”

It all started with the yard. Felicia used to set her sprinklers to go off every day, and her water bills were high. After attending one of PWP’s water-saving landscaping classes, she converted her front yard to a colorful water-smart garden. She put in a walkway that eliminated a third of her water-guzzling lawn and filled her flower beds with drought-tolerant flowering plants. She capped off excess sprinklers, then took out the parkway grass and replaced it with rosemary, society garlic and Mexican sage.

Felicia moved on to indoor improvements. She installed a dual-flush toilet that saves up to 2,250 gallons per year. Then came a high-efficiency combined washer/dryer that uses 40 percent less energy and 50 percent less water. To complete her improvements, she installed a solar turbine to expel heat from her attic and a 2.8 kilowatt solar photovoltaic system to supply 90 percent of her home’s electricity.

For all of her efficiency improvements, Felicia’s received $9,400 in rebates! “I don’t think people realize how many resources and dollars can be saved by just doing simple improvements around the house,” she says. “Plus it’s fun! My friends and neighbors are fascinated by my toilet and washer/dryer.”

For a complete list of PWP rebates, visit www.cityofpasadena.net/rebates. 

More Ways to Go Solar For Less

Thinking about getting solar panels but stumped by the upfront costs?

Some companies now offer leasing programs and solar financing options to homeowners, which means you can go solar for little or no money down.

A solar lease, sometimes called a power purchase agreement, enables a homeowner to lease, rather than buy, a system that is installed and maintained by a third-party solar electricity vendor. The monthly lease payment for solar power and the panels is calculated to be cheaper than what you would normally pay for equivalent power from the grid. Once the lease term is over, you can choose to upgrade to a newer technology or even do a buy-out.

If you prefer to own your panels outright, ask your financial institution about an energy improvement mortgage. A recent study in Appraisal Journal showed that for every $1 decrease in annual energy costs, the market value of the home increases by $20.

The Pasadena Solar Initiative gives you a big head-start with a $3.50 per watt rebate in addition to the $2000 federal tax credit. Both expire in 2009. Learn more at one of two solar workshops hosted by PWP at the Salvation Army Pasadena Tabernacle, 960 E. Walnut St., Saturday, Aug. 9, from 9:30 to 11 a.m. or Thursday, Sept. 25, from 6:30 to 9 p.m. Online registration is required: www.cityofpasadena.net/solar.

Flash Forward: Your 2028 Electric Bill

You’ll get a glimpse of what your Pasadena electric bill may look like in 2028 when you participate in the development of the Integrated Resource Plan.

The IRP is PWP’s plan for supplying reliable power to Pasadena for the next 20 years. It takes into account comments and concerns from the public on such issues as electric rates, environmental impacts and future power plant upgrades.

The Environmental Advisory Commission (EAC) and the City Council’s Municipal Services Committee will discuss the IRP at future meetings, which are open to the public. Agendas can be found at www.cityofpasadena.net/commissions.

An IRP presentation will be made to the EAC Tuesday, Aug. 19, at 6 p.m. at the Permit Center, 175 N. Garfield Ave.

To join the IRP mailing list or for news and updates, visit www.cityofpasadena.net/irp.