All-Electric Heat Pumps FAQs
By David Springer, Kristin Heinemeier, Bill Dakin, Nathan Breeding, and Dick Bourne, with contributions from Leslie Crenna The featured photo for this article is the work of Cool Davis volunteer Yvonne Hunter. Q. What is a heat pump? A. heat pump is a well-established and…
Goin’ All-In with an All-Electric Home
My wife Susan and I recently completed a transition to an all-electric home. Those old enough to remember the “Live Better Electrically” campaigns of the late 1950’s may think this is folly. The Westinghouse “total electric homes” promoted from that era promised a “home where…
Turn off the Carbon Pump and Turn on the Heat Pump! Heat Pumps Explained in Basic Terms
Most homes in our area use natural gas for heating. When natural gas is burned in your furnace, it can be pretty efficient — up to about 95% efficient if you have an advanced system. But even the best natural gas heaters have some losses,…
Greywater Design Training Opportunity from Greywater Action
Greywater Action is offereing an online training course this April for water-conscious homeowners and tradespeople who want to implement greywater irrigation systems. Greywater Design Mastery is a comprehensive greywater program to learn how to design professional, well-functioning greywater irrigation systems. Design a professional greywater system…
Clean Energy Home Workshop Follow Up Video FINALLY Here!
THE CLEAN ENERGY HOME WORKSHOP VIDEO IS READY FOR VIEWING, FINALLY! The video from the very popular event this past August 1, 2021, is a fabulous resource for anyone looking to make a plan to incoporate efficient, all-electric heating and cooling systems in their home…
Davis Media Access “10-Minutes on Topic” Series Features Cool Davis
Happy New Year from Davis Media Access (DMA)! A new series with Executive Director Autumn Labbe-Renault, 10-Minutes on Topic, included a segment with Cool Davis Community Engagement Campaign Manager Leslie Crenna, talking about the very beginnings of our re-envisioned Cool Davis communtiy engagement campaign. The household…
What Can You Do as a Renter to Live More Sustainably?
COOL SOLUTION: A Renters Guide to Sustainable Living Easy ideas for homeowners, too! Celebrate the steps you’ve already taken Work with your family or housemates Connect with your property manager Remember: Big actions have big impact and Little actions add up! Ride a Bike! Gas…
Keep on Charging! Electric Vehicles #1 Action for National Drive Electric Week 2021
The number one action needed to tackle the State of California’s greenhouse gas emissions is the electrification of transportation. Hands down, fossil fuel vehicles are the greatest source of emissions – and that number continues to grow. This is why electric vehicle (EV) adoption is…
Proposed NEM Regulations Make Rooftop Solar Less Financially Attractive
In a previous newsletter, we told you about a bill in the Legislature, AB 1139, that would have modified the Net Energy Metering (NEM) system in California to the detriment of rooftop solar owners. That Bill died in the Assembly. You would have thought that…
Bike Campaign Unveils the “Chat” and Cycling Without Age Program
The Bike Campaign’s mission to spread the joys of cycling began, helping riders with skills training, bikes, and repairs is rolling forward. This fall, we are introducing a new program, a new chapter in Davis of Cycling Without Age (CWA), an international organization with over 50…
Test Driving the New Chevy Bolt Electric Utility Vehicle (EUV)
Editor’s Note: These very fine, summarizing points about the new Chevy Bolt utility vehicle and what it’s like to drive were developed and presented by DEVA member Richard Bode at the August 2021 DEVA meeting. Richard has added up-to-date information about the recall situation with…
Gardening with Limited Water
Most of the water used at home is used outdoors, so even small steps to save water can yield big savings. Little things like fixing a broken sprinkler or making sure that you are running them in the cool of the early morning rather than…
Drought and Water Update from City of Davis
On May 10, 2021, Governor Newsom signed a drought declaration which included Yolo County, making it essential that we all continue the water conservation measures that have been in place since the last drought. With two dry years of precipitation and current forecasts predicting continued…
CAAP Workshop Launches Community Engagement
The first workshop for the Davis Climate Action and Adaptation Plan (CAAP) Update process was held online the evening of April 22, 2021, on the 51st Earth Day. As many as 94 participants, including the presenters, were in attendance that night, hoping to learn more…
Investor-Owned Utilities Propose Significant Rooftop Solar Cost Increase
California’s three investor-owned utilities, including PG&E, have just made a joint proposal to the CPUC that would significantly reduce the financial benefit of owning rooftop solar. The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) establishes the rate that electric utilities can charge for power, including those with…
‘The Story of Plastic’: Free Movie Screening for Earth Month!
Cool Davis is pleased to bring you this high quality documentary for Earth Month. Enjoy! The Story of Plastic (2020) THE STORY OF PLASTIC is presented by The Story of Stuff Project, a nonprofit dedicated to changing the way that we make, use, and throw…
California Clean Vehicle Incentives Shifting Soon
Per the Fiscal Year 2021-22 Funding Plan for Clean Transportation Incentives, Clean Vehicle Rebate Program rebates will soon be ending. If you recently purchased a vehicle that qualifies for CVRP and are below the income cap, submit your request ASAP! Rebates for low and moderate…
Tap into Your “Practical Prepper”
Being prepared for an energy and water disaster has never been more important We all witnessed a catastrophic fail of energy infrastructure in Texas over the past few weeks. Households went days without gas, electricity, or water in freezing temperatures and many of these households…
GM Recalls Chevy Bolt Due to Fires, Electric Vehicles Still Safer than Combustion Vehicles
General Motors has issued a recall of 2017, 2018, and some 2019 Chevrolet Bolts due to battery related fires, offering a short-term software fix and promising a longer-term fix in 2021. Owners are being asked to park their cars away from structures until the fixes…
Heating System Up to Snuff? Maintenance and Incentives Help You Get the Job Done
Winter is the time of year when we really test our home heating system. It’s a good idea to take notice. Is your system sufficient and efficient? You know your system is sufficient if it heats all parts of your house well. You know your…
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