IT DIDN'T HOLD WATER BURBANK SINKS POOL-ENERGY PLAN.Byline: Jason Kandel Staff Writer BURBANK - In 2001, Burbank city officials introduced ``Splash into Savings'' as a way to cut pool-related energy use, increase conservation awareness and showcase ``green'' alternatives after the California California (kăl'ĭfôr`nyə), most populous state in the United States, located in the Far West; bordered by Oregon (N), Nevada and, across the Colorado River, Arizona (E), Mexico (S), and the Pacific Ocean (W). energy crisis. Pool owners would pledge to set their pumps between 10 p.m. and noon. In return, they'd get a $5 break on their utility bills. But four years later, about one-third of the 784 participating residents had their timers set during the hottest times of the day - thanks to the pool guy - disqualifying dis·qual·i·fy tr.v. dis·qual·i·fied, dis·qual·i·fy·ing, dis·qual·i·fies 1. a. To render unqualified or unfit. b. To declare unqualified or ineligible. 2. them from the program. ``Savings'' didn't save a whole lot of energy either. The program represented one-fifth of 1 percent of the city's peak demand for electricity. As a result, the City Council sank the program last week, voting unanimously to end it. ``It was expected that this program would marginally, yet positively, reduce peak requirements,'' Ron Davis, the head of Burbank Water and Power, wrote in his report to the council. ``It has failed to do so.'' Officials said many pool owners in the program hired cleaners to maintain their pools, and that the settings were frequently changed to coincide with the pool-cleaning schedules but weren't reset. Bill Thuesen, owner of Burbank Pool Supply, said most cleaners run the pumps during the hottest part of the day because ``you want your pump running when all the bad things are happening to your pool.'' ``Hot sun, a lot of swimmers, airborne airborne /air·borne/ (ar´born) suspended in, transported by, or spread by air. airborne, adj carried through the air. In health care settings, viruses or bacteria may become airborne, e.g. bacteria,'' he said. ``I don't think that it's worth the small refund TO REFUND. To pay back by the party who has received it, to the party who has paid it, money which ought not to have been paid. 2. On a deficiency of assets, executors and administrators cum testamento annexo, are entitled to have refunded to them legacies to take a chance on something bad happening to the pool. You have a much better chance of growing algae algae (ăl`jē) [plural of Lat. alga=seaweed], a large and diverse group of primarily aquatic plantlike organisms. These organisms were previously classified as a primitive subkingdom of the plant kingdom, the thallophytes (plants that or having unsanitary un·san·i·tar·y adj. Not sanitary. water when the pump isn't running.'' Councilman Dave Golonski, who was enrolled in the program, said he hopes the BWP BWP In currencies, this is the abbreviation for the Botswana Pula. Notes: The currency market, also known as the Foreign Exchange market, is the largest financial market in the world, with a daily average volume of over US $1 trillion. comes up with better alternatives to conserving con·serve v. con·served, con·serv·ing, con·serves v.tr. 1. a. To protect from loss or harm; preserve: power. ``It was a good idea going in ... but apparently it didn't work out,'' he said. ``I would have liked it to work. But I'm sure the BWP has a number of other ideas behind it.'' Officials found many residents out of compliance after several months of random inspections of pool pumps. After letters were issued to those residents informing them they were being cut from the program, City Hall felt the heat. ``Customers were literally incensed that, through no perceived fault of their own, they were being removed,'' Davis wrote in his report. City officials refused to provide a list of the participants, citing privacy issues. Jeanette Meyer, the BWP's marketing manager, said officials had a hard time contacting pool cleaners Pool cleaner may refer to:
``We don't want to do a lot of policing,'' she said. Jason Kandel, (818) 546-3306 jason.kandel(at)dailynews.com CAPTION(S): photo Photo: (ran in Glen/Bur edition only) Adam Hendershott of Burbank Pool Supply cleans a pool in Burbank on Monday. He explains that the best time to clean a pool is during the hottest part of the day, when bacteria is greatest, and not during cooler times as the city recommended. Gus Ruelas/Staff Photographer |
|
||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion