Francesca Vietor: Saving Energy is Always a Good Idea

On account of California's energy crunch ­ and the huge utility bills we're paying these days ­ most of us are thinking seriously about ways to use less energy.

Energy efficiency certainly makes good sense in these days of rolling blackouts and stage-three alerts, but even when electricity seemed to flow like water we should have been saving kilowatts. If there's a silver lining to the current energy shortage it's this: we might learn some good habits to take with us into better times.

The reasons to save energy go beyond our pocket book. Energy-use has a direct connection to public health issues right here in the City, and on the planetary scale, each time we turn on a light bulb we contribute to global warming.

Most of the energy PG&E delivers to city residents is generated by fossil fuel-burning power plants located in our Potrero Hill and Hunters Point neighborhoods. That means that whenever anybody in San Francisco uses electricity, the residents of Potrero Hill and Hunters Point pay the price in the form of toxic emissions. And that could lead to asthma, respiratory problems and even cancer.

So be a good neighbor. Use just what you need.

As for global warming, the U.S. Department of Energy tells us that energy-related activities account for roughly 87 percent of annual U.S. greenhouse gas emissions.

These emissions could spell disaster for San Francisco, because climate scientists predict that global warming could cause the sea to rise three feet ­ which would flood whole city districts and make City Hall into beachfront property. Say goodbye to the Airport, the Marina and to Pac Bell Park.

Every kilowatt-hour of electricity saved keeps two pounds of carbon dioxide, the most potent greenhouse gas, out of the atmosphere. When we reduce the amount of electricity we use, we help to reduce our overall contribution to global warming, breathe cleaner air and, yes, we save money.

Now, it's up to us to develop some better energy-use habits. By adopting an energy efficiency plan at home, the U.S. Department of Energy estimates you can reduce energy bills by 10 to 50 percent while reducing air pollution and preserving energy resources.

To begin with, turn off all non-essential lights. If no one's in the kitchen, there's no need to keep the light on. And turn off electrical equipment when it's not in use. If you've got a computer or printer, turn it off if you're going to be away for more than an hour.

Make sure your electric appliances are in good running order and your refrigerator door closes tightly. To avoid rolling blackouts use irons, dishwashers, clothes washers and dryers only in the early morning or in the evening, and only when you have a full load. When you need to replace your appliances, purchase energy-efficient models. Look for the EnergyStar label.

One very effective energy-saving strategy is to replace the incandescent light bulbs you use most frequently with compact fluorescent light bulbs.

Standard incandescent light bulbs are the gas-guzzlers of the lighting world. They're very inefficient because most of the energy they use becomes heat instead of light.

Compact fluorescent bulbs run cool and use about 75 percent less energy than a standard bulb. They produce the same amount of light with less wattage. and last up to 10 times as long. An individual compact fluorescent bulb costs more than an incandescent bulb, but makes up for the initial expense in bulb replacement costs and energy savings.

Since compact fluorescent light bulbs are designed to fit into standard light sockets, this energy-saving measure can be adopted easily in every home and office.

If we were to replace one million incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs in San Francisco, which is just three per household, we could save enough energy citywide to power 23,000 homes for a year and save a total of $14 million on electricity bills.

This savings also represents 165,000 tons of air pollution that might not get pumped into the air we breathe, ultimately to bring on the worst effects of global warming.

The science of ecology teaches us that everything is connected and that by taking care of the environment, the environment will take care of us. It's always a good idea to use just what we need, regardless of how abundant or scarce a resource appears, because in the environment every action has a consequence.

And so it is with energy efficiency. By taking care not to waste energy, we become a better neighbor and a more responsible citizen of the Earth.

Francesca Vietor is director of SF Environment, the Department of the Environment for the city and county of San Francisco. To learn more about SF Environment and the City's Resource Efficiency Program, visit: www.sfenvironment.com.