TULARE COUNTY, Calif. (KFSN) --

Parts of Farmersville, Terra Bella and east Porterville are some of the worst areas in Tulare County affected by the drought. Thursday, some people who've been without water for months-finally got a little relief.

After going four months without this precious resource, water is finally coming out of the kitchen faucet at the Lopez home in Farmersville.

No, their well doesn't magically have water in it again. The H2O is coming from this large 1,500 gallon tank parked in their driveway.

Paul Boyer with Self-Help Enterprises said, "This way you can have water in your home like normal would be and have your hot water heater working, too."

The pilot system is expensive, $1,100 to install. PVC pipes connect the tank to a pump, which links directly to the house. For a normal family of four, they could blow through all the water in about a week and it can cost more than $100 to refill but it's a temporary solution that's helping families feel a little bit back to normal.

"The communities have been good to us," said Kevin McPhail with the Bank of the Sierra. "We've been here since 1977 so this is a way for us to give back and help our community."

At the same time, Bank of the Sierra gave a surprise $50,000 donation to Self-Help Enterprises to aid in the nonprofit's helping of people suffering from the drought. The money will help install systems like this temporary water tank, and more.

Tom Collishaw with Self-Help Enterprises added, "Sometimes it may be drilling a new well or lowering the pumps in an existing well."

"It takes about two and a half gallons to barely flush a toilet," said Farmersville resident, Mary Shafer. "Three to really get it to flush."

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Drought-stricken communities slowly getting help

BOGOTA - Bogota Board of Education trustees approved a change order to its field house and board office projects after unforeseen circumstances arose, requiring additional work on the two buildings before they can be completed.

The board authorized a withdrawal of an additional $96,278 from its general capital fund account to be transferred to the capital projects fund account from which the money for its two current projects the board office and the field house at Fiegel Field. The majority of the money will go towards the installation of a new water line for the field house, which is approximately $88,000.

Some time during the summer, it was discovered that the existing water line at the field house was galvanized pipe and was 18 inches below grade. The excavation of a test pit revealed that the water line was too shallow and United Water subsequently required an upgrade to the service line before water would be provided.

Tara Dehoney, a construction administrator for USA Architects, made a presentation to the board at a special meeting on Sept. 2, in which she outlined the plan for bringing water to the field house.

A water heater inside a hot box would be installed adjacent to the baseball field and running two separate lines in case one freezes. The cost of the project includes 500 feet of piping, excavation, an electric line running to the hot box, concrete padding and the hot box itself.

The current water pit, which houses the water heater for nearby streets, was deemed unsafe in November of last year as it is located in the middle of the street. The new plan would move the water heater to a safe place, out of the street.

The need for a large amount of piping stems from the fact that homes on Feller Place, where Fiegel Field is located, do not have their own dedicated water line as most streets do. Instead, the water line from River Road has pipes that run underneath its houses and feed into the dwellings on Feller Place.

"This is a highly unusual circumstance," said Superintendent Dr. Letizia Pantoliano. "In almost any other situation, we would only have to install pipe running from the field house to the street and wed only be going about 30 feet."

A portion of the remaining $13,000 being moved to the capital projects fund will go towards the repair of the sidewalk in front of the board office on Henry Luthin Place.

Dehoney explained that the boroughs building department has requested that the asphalt and curb in front of the board office be ripped out and repaired. Approximately 50 linear feet of asphalt is needed to complete that segment of the project.

Read more:
Additional funds for Field House, office projects OKd

While almost everyone in California is talking about the drought, East Bay residents are doing something about it.

Sustainable Contra Costa co-founder and President Tina Neuhausel is using her Walnut Creek home as a proving ground for energy- and water-conservation. Clayton homeowner Linda Cruz recently installed a greywater system. And Oakland-based Greywater Action is leading workshops, presentations and community forums on sustainable water-use practices throughout Contra Costa and Alameda counties.

Greywater systems capture household water from sinks, washing machines, showers and baths and redirect the resource to irrigate ornamental plants and fruit trees instead of discharging it into storm sewers. Using simple plumbing materials, water that contains no toxic substances (like bleach, sodium, boron or shampoos) can also supply essential nutrients to vegetables, as long as it doesn't touch edible parts of the plants.

Laura Allen, Greywater Action co-founder, noted, "Water conservation and reusing greywater is critical this dry year: we must all find ways to use less water in our homes and communities so that we can live in balance with our water supply and restore and protect our natural water ecosystems."

Now living in Southern California, but still active in the East Bay organization, Allen has conducted a study of 83 residential greywater systems in the greater Bay Area and is finishing a book about drought-proofing landscapes, with expected publication by Storey Publishing in January.

For the simplest laundry-to-landscape systems, materials are about $200. Depending on how much digging a homeowner is willing to do to prepare mulch basins and trenches for burying pipes, labor for installation of low-tech systems is less than $500.

Or, it's entirely free, as it was for Cruz. The 34-year resident agreed to have her home be the site of a Sustainable Contra Costa workshop operated by GWA, after another home presented cement deck problems.

"I was signed up for the workshop, and they asked if we'd do it," Cruz recalls.

"My husband ... was impressed that there were people who really want to learn. We had people from Sacramento, Half Moon Bay, Salinas -- all over Northern California."

Cruz says she recycled household water during droughts in the '70s and '80s, but back then it was through a hose her husband hooked up to to the washing machine.

Continue reading here:
'Greywater' helps East Bay residents cope with parched landscape

BURLINGTON -- Efficiency Vermont is partnering with Sunward Systems and Sunnovations to launch a new effort to help Vermonters install affordable solar water heating systems in their homes. The average U.S. household spends up to $600 per year on water heating costs. Solar water heating technology can reduce those costs by up to 80 percent. This pilot offering from Efficiency Vermont will reduce the upfront cost of solar water heating systems by $1,600, for systems installed before November 30.

"Efficiency Vermont staff members are always looking for new ways to help Vermonters reduce their energy usage and costs," said Jim Merriam, Director of Efficiency Vermont. "We are really excited to partner with a Vermont-based company to make it easier for our customers to install clean, renewable solar technology that will dramatically reduce their water heating costs."

Manufactured by Canadian company Thermo Dynamics Ltd., the systems available through this pilot offering use rooftop or ground-mounted solar collectors to gather heat from the sun -- a free energy source, and transmit it to hot water storage tanks inside the home. In addition to the $1,600 instant discount, participating customers will receive a free energy data monitoring package made by Sunnovations. The monitoring systems allows users to remotely track the energy usage of their water heating system in real time, receive alerts about pending maintenance issues, and calculate the dollar value of their energy savings as they accumulate over time.

"This pilot offering is a great opportunity to partner with Efficiency Vermont in bringing the benefits of solar hot water to more Vermont homeowners," said Tom Hughes, CEO of Sunward Systems. "These systems are an excellent option for Vermonters who want to use clean, free, renewable energy rather than more expensive fuels."

Matt Carlson, CEO of Sunnovations, highlighted the innovative features of the data monitoring system included in the solar water heater offer. "Sunnovations Ohm Monitoring System gives homeowners the information they need to take control of their solar hot water systems and ensure that they are delivering as much value as possible," he said. "This limited time offer is a great deal -- and a great opportunity for Vermonters to start reducing their energy costs from day one."

Those interested in participating in this initiative should contact Sunward Systems toll-free at 877-803-2480 or visit http://www.gosunward.com to learn whether a solar water heating system is right for their home. Customers of Washington Electric Co-op and the Energy Co-op of Vermont may be able to take advantage of additional discounts and savings and should contact their co-op's main office for more details.

Note: This partnership discount is available to all Vermonters who use an energy source other than natural gas for hot water heating.

Efficiency Vermont was created by the Vermont Legislature and the Vermont Public Service Board to help all Vermonters reduce energy costs, strengthen the economy, and protect Vermont's environment. For more information, contact Efficiency Vermont at 888-921-5990 or visit http://www.efficiencyvermont.com.

Sunward makes solar hot water simple. Headquartered at 6221 Shelburne Road in Shelburne, Sunward is Vermont's leading supplier of solar hot water equipment. Its systems include Vermont-made components and are completely solar powered. For more information visit http://www.gosunward.com.

Sunnavations' mission is that "solar-powered hot water should be an obvious, affordable alternative for all American homes and businesses." The Ohm system and all of the Sunnovations' products are designed to further that mission by making solar water heating less expensive, easier to install and more reliable. Visit http://ohm.sunnovations.com.

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Efficiency Vermont, Sunward Systems, to launch new solar water heating initiative

The following building permits were issued between April 20-26 in Mundelein. They are presented as they appear in public records.

Permit: Single family Address: 700 Beach Pl, Mundelein Issue date: April 21 Permit covers: Replace siding Permit cost: $25 Improvement value: $2,600

Permit: Single family Address: 1312 Newport St, Mundelein Issue date: April 21 Permit covers: Tear off of roof. Illinois state roofing license #104.015042 105.005138 Permit cost: $25 Improvement value: $9,910

Permit: Single family Address: 1308 Newport St, Mundelein Issue date: April 21 Permit covers: Tear off of roof. Illinois state roofing license #104.015042 105.005138 Permit cost: $25 Improvement value: $4,955

Permit: Single family Address: 418 Lakeview Dr, Mundelein Issue date: April 21 Permit covers: Replace the 50 gallon gas water heater Permit cost: $45 Improvement value: $760

Permit: Single family Address: 245 N Lincoln Av, Mundelein Issue date: April 21 Application date: Jan. 1 Permit covers: Reroof & reside Permit cost: $50 Improvement value: $8,000

Permit: Single family Address: 12 Birch Ct, Mundelein Issue date: April 22 Permit covers: Tear off of roof. Illinois state roofing license #104.016522 105.006302. Permit cost: $25 Improvement value: $3,000

Permit: Single family Address: 829 Benridge Ct, Mundelein Issue date: April 22 Permit covers: Tear off of roof. Illinois state roofing license #104.016452 105.006198. Permit cost: $25 Improvement value: $4,213

Permit: Single family Address: 327 E Maple Av, Mundelein Issue date: April 23 Permit covers: Service upgrade from 100amps to 200amps. Permit cost: $100 Improvement value: $1,500

Permit: Single family Address: 752 Norton Av, Mundelein Issue date: April 23 Permit covers: Replace the furnace & air conditioner Permit cost: $70 Improvement value: $13,100

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Recent Mundelein building permits, April 20-26

EMERYVILLE -- When Jeff Silver decided to redo the heating and hot water systems in his Emeryville home, the $32,000 price tag seemed way out of reach.

But through CaliforniaFIRST, a new state-sponsored program for energy efficiency financing that went live Tuesday in 17 counties, Silver was able to buy and install the equipment he needed with no money down and tack the payments on to his yearly property taxes with payments spread out over 15 years.

In the Bay Area, the program is now available in Alameda, Marin, San Mateo, Santa Clara and Santa Cruz counties. Contra Costa County should join by the end of the year.

CaliforniaFIRST allowed him to buy and install two natural gas heaters, one for his upstairs tenants and one for his unit, and an on-demand water heater. Financing can be extended to 20 years.

"I couldn't have come up with $32,000," said Silver, who was part of an earlier pilot program, as officials announced the formal launch of CaliforniaFIRST at his home. "There was one heater for both units in this house and the temperature was controlled by the tenant upstairs, so now we each have our own heater. This is great. It allowed me to do all the upgrades at once."

The new program is overseen by a consortium of local governments and financed by Renewable Funding of Oakland, which has $300 million to lend to homeowners at rates slightly less than a home-equity loan, or about 7 percent a year, said Cisco DeVries, CEO and co-founder of Renewable Funding, the financing company that manages CaliforniaFIRST.

A homeowner needs a minimum of $5,000 in projects to get financing. There's a long list of allowable projects homeowners can finance through the program, but they include solar panels, electric car charging stations, drip irrigation systems, home insulation projects, fans, new doors and windows, skylights and heating and air conditioning.

DeVries came up with the idea while working as an aide to Berkeley Mayor Tom Bates in 2008. He said he told Bates he had a crazy idea for making green energy more affordable. Bates backed him all the way.

With DeVries' idea, Berkeley started a small program with 13 homes and got projects financed with the idea of taking the program statewide. But then the mortgage crisis hit and federal and state regulators put it on hold because they were wary of approving any kind of new home financing schemes, DeVries said.

Since then, DeVries continued working on it, convincing 17 counties in California to join the program and working with state and federal regulators to make it happen. Some other counties were already doing similar programs, he said.

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Energy efficiency financing now available through state-sponsored program

EMERYVILLE -- When Jeff Silver decided to redo the heating and hot water systems in his Emeryville home, the $32,000 price tag seemed way out of reach.

But through CaliforniaFIRST, a new state-sponsored program for energy efficiency financing that went live Tuesday in 17 counties, Silver was able to buy and install the equipment he needed with no money down and tack the payments on to his yearly property taxes with payments spread out over 15 years.

In the Bay Area, the program is now available in Alameda, Marin, San Mateo, Santa Clara and Santa Cruz counties. Contra Costa County should join by the end of the year.

CaliforniaFIRST allowed him to buy and install two natural gas heaters, one for his upstairs tenants and one for his unit, and an on-demand water heater. Financing can be extended to 20 years.

"I couldn't have come up with $32,000," said Silver, who was part of an earlier pilot program, as officials announced the formal launch of CaliforniaFIRST at his home. "There was one heater for both units in this house and the temperature was controlled by the tenant upstairs, so now we each have our own heater. This is great. It allowed me to do all the upgrades at once."

The new program is overseen by a consortium of local governments and financed by Renewable Funding of Oakland, which has $300 million to lend to homeowners at rates slightly less than a home-equity loan, or about 7 percent a year, said Cisco DeVries, CEO and co-founder of Renewable Funding, the financing company that manages CaliforniaFIRST.

A homeowner needs a minimum of $5,000 in projects to get financing. There's a long list of allowable projects homeowners can finance through the program, but they include solar panels, electric car charging stations, drip irrigation systems, home insulation projects, fans, new doors and windows, skylights and heating and air conditioning.

DeVries came up with the idea while working as an aide to Berkeley Mayor Tom Bates in 2008. He said he told Bates he had a crazy idea for making green energy more affordable. Bates backed him all the way.

With DeVries' idea, Berkeley started a small program with 13 homes and got projects financed with the idea of taking the program statewide. But then the mortgage crisis hit and federal and state regulators put it on hold because they were wary of approving any kind of new home financing schemes, DeVries said.

Since then, DeVries continued working on it, convincing 17 counties in California to join the program and working with state and federal regulators to make it happen. Some other counties were already doing similar programs, he said.

Read this article:
Bay Area: Energy efficiency financing now available through state-sponsored program

Proper Water Heater Install with Re-circulation Pump
Proper Water Heater installation with re-circulation pump includes spring loaded check valves and shutoff valves for post production service.

By: WhittonTraining

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Proper Water Heater Install with Re-circulation Pump - Video

BOSTON (CBS) For the last five summers AARP has produced an article in their in July Bulletin on 99 Ways to Save. Last year I reviewed about half the list. Many of them useful, just as many not so useful.

This year they have another crop with 17 experts giving advice. Some of it quite good and some of it you have heard before but just havent done anything with it.

Tips from Bob Vila, home improvement expert

Unplug it! Vampire electronics consume power even when turned off. A typical household can save $100 a year using smart power strips, which cut electricity to devices in standby mode.

Great to use at your desk for your computer and printer, but hard to use in your bathroom for your toothbrush. You could also unplug your chargers after using them.

Install a low-flow showerhead. A low-flow fixture reduces the volume of water but does not affect the water pressure in any way. Saves 2,900 gallons a year, according to the EPA.

In the winter, reverse your ceiling fan. Revolving clockwise, the fan will pull up cool air and send down the heated air thats settled near the ceiling.

I did not know this!

Seal drafty windows and doors. You can save 20% on energy to heat and cool a home that is well sealed and insulated.

Lower your water heater temperature setting. Manufacturers often configure the default to 140 degrees, when for the average home 120 degrees is sufficient. With each decrease of 10 degrees, you save an additional 3-5% in energy costs.

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99 Great Ways To Save, In Your Home, From The AARP Bulletin

SCE&G hopes to replicate a program that would make as many as 250 homes in northern Beaufort County more energy efficient -- at no cost to the homeowners.

The Neighborhood Energy Efficiency Program already is in place in other areas, such as Columbia, and program manager Gerald Freeman said he would like Beaufort's to be up and running by late August.

Working with planners in the city of Beaufort and town of Port Royal, SCE&G has identified lower-income neighborhoods where the improvements may be most useful to residents.

In Beaufort, that's a part of downtown that starts at the corner of Boundary and Charles streets and zig-zags to Ribaut Road and King Street.

In Port Royal, the Casablanca and the Fort Frederick areas are being considered.

"This is not random," said Brad Samuels of SCE&G. "This is very detailed and has to do with income."

Households that participate will be visited by a team that will evaluate a home's needs. The team will then install as many as 15 CFL lightbulbs, insulation for electric water heaters or hot-water pipes, HVAC air filters, smart-power electrical strips, and window winterization kit, Freeman said. The team will also check the water heater temperature and adjust it.

Residents will then be taught about energy usage and how to further decrease their monthly costs, he said.

Kick-off events will be planned for late August so residents can learn about the program, Freeman added. Direct mail, door hangers and door-to-door visits might also be used to get the word out.

"Tell your neighbors," he said. "Let them know we're coming and we want to install these measures in your home."

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SCE&G to provide free energy-efficiency improvements to as many as 250 homes