The California Cold Rush

IBD ^ | January 15, 2008

[Kaslin]

Energy Policy: Big Brother may soon be doing more than watching us. Regulators in the Golden State want to control the temperature inside your house. Now take your hands off that thermostat and back away slowly.

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The 1960s sci-fi series "Outer Limits" began with a "control voice" solemnly intoning: "There is nothing wrong with your television set. . . . Do not attempt to adjust the picture."

Well, there's nothing wrong with our thermostats either. Yet the state of California proposes taking control of them to save energy and the Earth.

The California Energy Commission has proposed requiring the use of what is called a Programmable Communicating Thermostat (PCT) that would allow government to control the temperature of homes and businesses in the event of high energy prices or shortages.

For what is called a "price event," customers would be allowed to override broadcast settings by up to four degrees. But on receiving an "emergency" signal, according to the proposed regulation, "the PCT shall respond to commands contained in the emergency signal, including changing the set point by any number of degrees or to a particular temperature set point. The PCT shall not allow customer changes to thermostat settings during emergency events."

"You realize," opined Arthur Rosenfeld, a member of the energy commission, "there are times — very rarely, once every few years — when you would be subject to a rotating outage and everything would crash, including your computer and your traffic lights, and you don't want to do that. If you can control rotating outages letting everyone in the state share the pain, there's a lot less pain to go around."

[stboz]

For some, odd reason, I'm thinking of a scene from Blazing Saddles where Slim Pickens offers to go do something untoward to the poor, miscreant Cleavon Little......

I wonder if someone at the Energy Ministry Commission rates similar.....

A good ass whoopin' would be a start.

[Clintonfatigued]

The government of California strikes again!

I’m sure glad I left that state.

[Pining_4_TX]

Somebody ought to dredge up that old Oliphant cartoon during the Carter era about the thermostat police.

[VOA]

bump

[rb22982]

Wow, the fact that this is even being something considered just shows how left wing nutty California has gotten.

[maine-iac7]

It's one more step to total control and the "One Size Fits All" =

They got away with deciding what kind of a toilet we will ALL have in our homes, regardless of whether we live on city water, in the desert or, like me, have our own water supply (well) on a ridge - between boggy areas, and have a very high water level in a state that has never, in my many decades, ever had a problem with lack of water.

And they have now passed a law that, by 2012, we will ALL have to use the CFL light bulbs.

Now this - and don't think it won't spread.

They will decide the temperature = with no regard to age, illness or young children - who's heat/cool needs are different.

There are many other ways to save energy - especially in Calif. For ex: Do you see anything about cutting back on heating the tens of thousands of swimming pools? Do you hear anything about shutting off a few of the rooms in the mega-houses in times of crisis?

Why not publish a booklet with the many ways energy can be saved - without Communist edicts?

I lived in California for 10 years. I often hung my laundry out. Mine was the ONLY wash I EVER saw hanging out in California, where it could be hung out year round. Indeed, most communities now FORBID laundry being hung out.

How about cutting down on laundry in the first place.? For ex: I assigned each family member their own towel (by color) and their own hook. We did not use a 'fresh' towel each and every time. I use the old time 1oo% cotton 'flour sack' towels for hand towels. They absorb just as well - but take a lot less electricity to dry (I do use the dryer in the north east winters!) - I turn the burner off under the cooking pans about a minute before the food is "done" - the residual heat finishes it. Do the math: if you do that with just 5 pots/pans a day x's 365 days = 1825 minutes a year divided by 60 (hours) = 30 hours of electricity saved a year. (How many millions of hours would that be throughout the state?) And the list goes on.

We need to get the gov't out of our homes and keep them out - or they will continue until they control every aspect of our lives - and we do it NOW, or it will be too late.

[QQQQ]

Speaking about the laundry hung out...you are not the only one:-))

[dalereed]

As long s I pay the bill I will use as much energy as I want.

To hell with conservation.

I use 3.5 gallon toilets and have a few spares on hand.

I keep the house @ 72 deg. , screw them.

I am alsoputting in a lifetime supply of incandescent light bulbs.

[fishhound]

I have a gas dryer and often wondered if a line would be a decent savings. I use one from time to time. Have you ever figured it out?

[mozarky2]

“They said you wuz hung”!

someone at the Energy Ministry Commission:
“And they wuz right”!

[SierraWasp]

When did you leave the Bray Area and where did you land? I thought you were still in KSFO and Melanie Morgan country... wassup???

[maine-iac7]

I have a gas dryer and often wondered if a line would be a decent savings. I use one from time to time. Have you ever figured it out?

Anything that draws heat, takes a lot of electricity - but refrigerators and freezers and stoves are the biggest hogs.

I outlined my way to save a lot with the stove...and as for refrigerators, mine is small compared to most - I see no reason for paying, for example, for a huge refrigerator with an ice maker and water dispenser.

The things I do to save power isn't to 'save the world' but to save money.

But another reason for hanging wash out - nothing smells better - and to climb into fresh, sun-kissed, wind whipped sheets is almost sensual...

[Oldexpat]

It is hard to imagine that remote control of a thermostat would keep you from keeping a house heated or cooled at you wanted. What are they going to do? Seal all the wiring to the furnace? It is real easy to have your own on-off switch.
It is amazing that they talk about this and Cafe standards..but then let people build whatever size house they want. With huge water heaters and 19 shower heads in their bathroom..hot top and heated pool.
So, I for one, will continue to heat cool and drive as I please.

[fishhound]

- and to climb into fresh, sun-kissed, wind whipped sheets is almost sensual...

That is poetic and sensual.

I might just use that line...LOL

[fishhound]

Oops, I forgot.

Thanks.

[maine-iac7]

and to climb into fresh, sun-kissed, wind whipped sheets is almost sensual...

I wrote it in one of my columns :O)

[maine-iac7]

but then let people build whatever size house they want. With huge water heaters and 19 shower heads in their bathroom..hot top and heated pool.

Exactly - I suspicion it my have more to do with making more inroads into controlling - and getting us used to their controlling - every aspect of our lives.

That, plus like Gore, they intend to be free of the restrictions themselves - they'll buy "energy credits"?

[upcountryhorseman]

I let them tell me what type of WC to use (even though I’m on a well) but beyond that I draw the line. I’m not hooked
up to the grid so they can’t touch me.

[dragnet2]

The California Cold Rush

It's never snowed where I live in Cal, and it's generally between 60 and 70 degrees during the winter so I don't worry about heat...

That being said, this elite government sucks, almost as bad as the Feds, and the governor is competing with Bush in the race to see who can provide the very worst leadership at the highest cost.