Sitka RainPower Project

What is Rainpower?

2009-10-29T16:41:00.000-07:00

Sitka's ample rainfall gets turned into electricity at the City-run hydroelectric stations of Blue Lake and Green Lake. There's zero emissions, and it's getting renewed every time it rains. Just one more reason to love our weather!

The goal of the Sitka Rainpower Project is to help people who are still heating with oil transition into electric heat. You'll reduce both your heating bills and your greenhouse gasses. We provide (at no cost) info on savings, on choosing the right heater at the best price, and can even let you demo a few different models to see what works best in your home. SRP is a not-for-profit collective of volunteer community members with a passion for common sense solutions to global problems. Your input is encouraged. Call Brant at 747-0693, or email sitkarainpower@gmail.com.

Summer 08 Update

2008-07-25T15:57:00.000-07:00

Because of the success of the program, "fueled" by the high price of oil, there's been a wholesale switch in Sitka from oil to electric home heat. Until the expansion of Blue Lake Reservoir is completed, the most important thing we can do to reduce global warming and save money is to conserve on our use of both electric and oil.

To that end, we encourage you to go to www.ahfc.state.ak.us/energy/weatherization_rebates.cfm for information on how to upgrade your home's energy efficiency using money provided by the State. Chris Duguay at One Island Energy is the local State-authorized inspector, and you can line up a home energy audit with him by calling 747-4507.

We have always been advocates of a dual home heating system (see below), but new for this upcoming heating season we are researching the option of local wood heat (from 2nd growth thinning operations) as your backup heat source, thus further reducing our need for oil. Local wood, in the form of pellets or otherwise, burned in a highly efficient woodstove shows a lot of promise.

Although the general content of the info below is still relevant and important, the particular heaters that were on seasonal special last fall may not be available. We will research the sales again this fall prior to heating season and make recommendations, but will no longer be involved in the distribution, at least until our hydro capacity is increased.

These are the new directions for Rainpower.org. We'd like to hear your ideas and comments.

Clean, Cheap Homegrown Hydroelectricity

2007-10-29T16:40:00.000-07:00

Locally generated electricity has no emissions, no spills, and no wars. It's made from rain, it's cheaper than oil and the revenues go to support our City. For about 50 bucks you can plug in a radiator-style heater that's clean, quiet and will reduce your oil consumption dramatically. Put one in each room you heat, use your oil system as a backup, and know you're doing the right thing for your wallet and the earth.

Save Money

2006-03-20T17:00:00.000-08:00

The City of Sitka has calculated that if you're paying over
$2.75/gal for heating oil, it's cheaper to heat with electric.
At today's oil prices (over $4.30 at last check), you'll be
saving over 35% on your home heating with electric.
Oil prices are projected to keep on climbing, while the
cost of electric has stayed constant.

Reduce your CO2 emissions

2006-02-20T14:33:00.000-08:00

A major cause of global warming is burning fossil fuels. A Sitka home in winter could be spewing a ton of CO2 into the atmosphere every month. Each portable electric heater you plug in could reduce that monthly output by 800 lbs while it saves you money. Such a deal! What's not to love?

How To Choose a Heater

2006-01-20T15:45:00.000-08:00

All electric heaters are equally efficient, that is to say that for every unit of electricity you use, you get a fixed amount of heat. Avoid models with fans, they are loud and annoying, use electricity for the fan, and are good for heating what's in front of them, not a room. We recommend the radiator style, because the mass of the mineral oil sealed inside makes for a smooth, silent heat. The baseboard style with built in thermostat is another good, low cost option that takes up less floor space. Both are pictured above.

They are available at True Value and Spenards for around $50 for one with a simple thermostat dial that you can set to levels between "low" and "high". If you want the precision that you've become used to with the digital thermostat on your Monitor or Toyostove, it's probably worth spending a little more for a digitally controlled unit. Spenards has one "digital" model at $121 (an unfortunate choice, because it's really just like the "low to high" models, but with lights), or you can order the Honeywell/Kaz model 709 at Target.com at $60, which with shipping to Sitka comes out to about $83. It's a true digital with an accurate thermometer/thermostat, our #1 choice for most rooms. Our best find for a digital baseboard plug-in is the Lasco from Lowes.com, temporarily reduced to an incredible $19.98 plus shipping. We are working on getting digital models stocked in town, but until that happens we have a few of each of these models for you to try or buy. One benefit to the cheaper, in-stock dial models is that they come back on after a power interruption, and our tested digitals do not.

In some cases it is worth considering adding an electric boiler to your central system. Gary Smith at Schmolck Mechanical (747-3142) can give you a quote and do the work. Lon Garrison (747-5160) is rep for ConvectAir, who makes a line of attractive "attach to the wall" models, for a more upscale installation.

Please share your experiences with us on these and other models/vendors, to help others along in the purchase.

Keep the oil system for backup, and conserve electricity.

2005-12-20T15:51:00.000-08:00

This dream scenario of cheap, clean "rainpower" may not be here forever. Right now and for the near future, we are tapping in to excess hydroelectric capacity, especially in the winter heating season. But down the road, if our demands keep growing, we'll need to find new solutions. So conserve! Set your electric thermostat to the lowest comfortable temperature (most people are comfortable sleeping at 60, living at 68 or so). Put on a fleece or sweater before you turn up the heat. Tighten up the air leaks in your home. The City of Sitka and Sitka Conservation Society have cooperatively published conservation brochures, so pick one up or check out their website links at the top of the page.

A "dual" system of electric heat with oil backup is ideal for a few reasons. If you set your oil thermostat just a few degrees below your electric, then you know you're covered for any cold weather that the electric can't keep up with. And if there's ever an extended time that, due to maintenance or the lack of rain, the City's backup diesel generators need to be used, you'll be able to switch over to your oil.

Think Globally, Act Locally

2005-11-20T15:24:00.000-08:00

When doing the right thing for the earth saves you money, there's no excuses left. Plug in today and stop wasting your money and our planet. We are here to help you through the process. If you need advice, or want to borrow a unit to try it out, call us at 747-0693.

Electric Heater Safety

2005-10-20T15:35:00.000-07:00

As with all appliances, be sure to follow the manufacturers precautions. The mineral oil-filled models heat at a lower temperature and have tip-over protection, so are relatively safe, probably safer than your oil heater. Put only one on each circuit, don't use an extension cord, and turn it off if the wire, plug or socket ever get hot. For a list of precautions from the Consumer Product Safety Commission, click here.