Page 20 RAIN Nov 1975 Most of us recognize the common problems we share with others only when those ?ther people, wham we may disagree with in other areas, start saying, "Yes, I see the same problem you do." Only then do we usually begin thinking and working toward the solution together. We hope you'll notice·, as we did, the hopeful areas of agreement on answers,to our energy and material shortages as viewed by an electric utility executive and a university professor/utility board member. Reis Leming, general manager of customer and technical services at Pacific Power & I..;ight in Portland, is deeply involved not only in solar and energy conservation technologies (ECTs) but also· in getting across these ideas to other groups, such as the financial community, not as aware of the "common problem" and some solutions to it. Reis and his technical services staff (Bill Goldbach, Andy Schmitt) a_re not just talking about it; they are working on TERA ONE, the OMSI-SOMPP&L solar home, and on ECTs such as the snap-on retro-insulation _·module fo·r home water heaters which reduces energy ·use 200-500 KWH per year and which may soon be mass-produced and sold • locally. John Reynolds, professor·of architecture at the University of Oregon in Eugene arid member of the Eugene Water & Electric Board (EWEB) of Commissioners, has, along with such solar architects, builders and engineers as Bill Church, Henry Mathew and Eric Hoffman, done much to change the Pacific Northwest's "solar inferiority complex" to a practical visiori of solar power at work for us. When people working on the cutting edge of our nation's and the world's problems start saying the same thing, it is time to pay attention and deal with those problems, both as individuals and as institutions. It is not a time to hike our feet up on our desks and lean back to sleep. ·comments by Reis L. Leming to the Oregon Savings & Loan League, Thursday, October 2, 1975. We're headed for another depression ... an ·energy depression. "The region's future level of electric energy use must be brought in " line with the available resources•." That quote from Don Frisb~e, chairman of the board of Pacific Power & Light Company, was directed to a special meeting of all the managers of our six-state system on September 9. Somewhat of a departure for an industry whose function has historically been to provide all the energy our customers demand. The shortage of 1973, in the Pacific Nor~hwest, may be back ... with a different slant ... a different dimension ... and we must learn to live with it. This time it is not as easily definable as low water-affecting our , hydro base, nor as easily corrected. It is much more C(?mplicated. Basically evolving from construction delays caused by vacillating regulations, both federal and state, manufacturers' delays in meeting delivery dates on equipment; increased growth caused by conversions from oil and natural gas, unequaled growth in new construction applications of electric energy-and let me just highlight these for the state • of Oregon: Since January 1, in the Oregon system served by Pacific Power, 85% of all single-family construction has been total electric, 92% has had electric water heating, 97% of the apartments are total electric, 94% of the apartments have electric water heating, 81% of the mobile homes have electric heat, and 87% of the mobile homes have electric water heating. Our conversions from gas and oil in the state of Oregon is numbering some 75% at the present time-. These problems, plus the extreme anti-growth, anti-logic, antireason of many environmentalists, both confirmed and dedicated, and unaware and unassuming, have caused the delays in plant construction that will materialize in a shortage of energy for the Pacific Northwest in the near future. That is what Iwantto talk to you about today, particularly the area pf environmentalists. The confirmed and dedicated breed is irreproachable. He has his set of facts and opinions and there seems.to be no logical compromise or arbitration possible. It's the other brand that concerns me. We are all environmentalists to some extent, I hope. But the unaware, unassuming variety that ''just goes along" witho~t questioning, that's the guy we'd like to get to with our story and let him draw his own conclusion. Realizing that all progress requires trade-offs and no solution is perfect and not all technology is complete, we can, nevertheless, proceed safely and efficiently until technology arrives at a complete solution. "But that is your problem, Leming. I've got my own." "Let me tell you about the savings and loan business today," you say. No, it is not just my problem. It is our problem, yours and mine. The solution will come only from you and businessmen like you. If my problem is not solved, I will guarantee you that your problems will be multiplied: TERA ONE: The PP&L SOM solar home to be built at the Oregori Museum of Science & Industry, Portland. Let me see if we can' reason this out together. Managing a shortage requires help from every customer. It means buying the conservation ethic and using energy efficiently and eliminating waste. If the shortage develops into an energy depression, it will mean curtailment of energy to business, industry and ultimately residential customers. Part of the dilemma we face will be the decision as to who goes, first. What is more important, a paycheck or a warm and lighted house? (I would favor the paycheck, perhaps, because at least with it· you would be able to buy candles and sweaters!) Hopefully, it won't get that bad, but it doesn't look good. When, how much and how long are still unanswered questions, but one thing is for sure, the region' has lost its ability to provide unlimited quantities of electric power.to customers, and with the depletion of fossil fuels, there is no answer there either. (Someone suggested the other day that the first of the nation's natural resources to be depleted will be the American taxpayer, and I'll buy that!) So we are faced with the task of learning to manage a shortage, and that's where you come in. Recognizing that Oregon's a lumber-based economy, curtailment to that in9ustry will have a direct effect on that industry's ability to manufacture construction materials-and shortages of building materials means higher prices first and eventually curtailment of that industry's activity. ,··Now, we are getting to the point. At least we are closer to where you live in the savings and loan business, right? Let me say that I am not too encouraged either by pas(performance of your industry when we have asked for help. Let me be specific. In 1973, during the critical shortage, our industry presented evidence .early in the game that proved beyond a shadow of a doubt that insulation could effectively red~ce the residential consumption of energy 40 to SO% in the Pacific Northwest. We made contact with various savings and loan organizations around the state. We said, look, decisions on . insulation are rnade by builders, you fipance the builders and the ultimate customers ... you hold the key! If you require builders to insulate to a quality standard, you will get the job done. It.is that simple. _In reality, you can't afford not to because with escalating costs of energy, your mortgage holder who was barely qualified to support a mortgage may well .walk into your office in a few years and hand it back to you since he can't afford to live in the house. Let me give you an example. In New York city last winter, custqmers with a $250 mortgage payment on their residences were faced with energy bills equal to that amount-$250 a month! You say it won't happen in the Pacific Northwest? Well, how about an annual increase of 10% for as many years down the road as we can see? Now, ff the customer just barely qualified in the first place, how does he cope with this economic problem? We met with several savings and loan associations. They were cordial, attentive, polite and continued business as usual. So, we approached the state building codes, sold our concept and asked for the backing of' the savings and loan associations. We received none! Then there was TERA ONE. A unique experiment in residential const_ruction. A home designed to use a m_inimum amount of purchased energy. A home that could incorporate products and technology alcontinued on page 22
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