And the Winner is...

During the grand-prize raffle at Pasadena's Greening the Earth Day Festival, long-time resident Barbara Racki was thrilled to win something sleek and shiny. No, not a new sports car, but a high-efficiency (HE) clothes washer. "I never win anything," she laughs. "My luck must be turning!"

And soon, so will the drum of her new front-loader, which she plans to install in the garage of her 1920s home near Victory Park. Always concerned for the environment, Racki has grown "more so all the time." Her concern brought her to the April 21 Earth Day event, where she picked up conservation tips, turned in her fateful raffle ticket and learned more about Pasadena Water and Power's rebate programs. "My goodness," she said, "you can really save a whole lot of dough!" Inspired, she now has plans to install energy-efficient lights and replace her old toilets with water-saving models.

For her interest, Racki will be rewarded with a Kenmore HE2 Plus washer, which uses
40 percent less energy and 50 percent less water than typical models, saving up to 7,000 gallons per year. HE washers also use less detergent, are gentler on clothes and spin clothes better for shorter drying time.

Buy your own HE washer and you'll be a winner, too! PWP offers rebates of $200 for residents who buy HE washers with water factors (gallons per cycle) of 6.0 or less.

.

Historic Power Substation Gets a Boost for Better Service

It has been a workhorse on Altadena Drive for more than 70 years and now Pasadena's historic Santa Anita power substation is getting a lift! Pasadena Water and Power is adding three new
34-kilovolt capacitor banks at the landmark facility.

The project was a top priority in PWP's Power Distribution Master Plan, a document adopted in 2005 that targets more than $100 million worth of vital improvements to enhance service and reliability for generations to come. Priorities include improving system capacity, installing new equipment and replacing aging infrastructure.

Capacitor banks help counterbalance reactive power, a current required by large commercial customers that takes up space on our generators and distribution lines. The capacitors create an opposite kind of reactive power, saving room on the system for real electrical power - the kind our customers use and pay for. The project, set
to be completed this summer, also includes a brand new control building and security fencing.

Save Precious H2O

Federal climatologists are predicting the driest summer since 1878! Southern California's rainfall totals - usually 15 inches - have barely squeaked by the three-inch mark. The City of Pasadena is asking all residents to reduce water use by 10 percent – an average of 20 gallons per person per day. Do your part to conserve by following these tips:

• Turn off the faucet while brushing your teeth or shaving to save six gallons per minute.

• Fix that leak! A steady drip wastes up to 20 gallons per day.

• Use a pool cover to minimize evaporation, saving up to 30 gallons per day.

• Mow your grass less frequently for lower evaporation and less frequent watering.

• Better yet, replace your lawn with drought-tolerant California Friendly plants and
ground cover.

• If you have an automatic sprinkler system, check www.bewaterwise.com for a watering calculator. Most of us over-water by 50 percent!

• Water in the early morning - never in the middle of the day.

• Take advantage of PWP rebates to replace old toilets and clothes washers.

• Use a broom instead of a hose on driveways and patios to save up to 150 gallons.

• Only run full loads in your washer and dishwasher.

Don’t Dump Old CFLs

Compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) use 75 percent less energy, save $30 in power costs and last up to 10 times longer than typical bulbs. They're a great solution for any home and PWP is pleased to offer generous rebates.

When it comes time to replace a CFL, never throw it in the trash! The bulbs contain mercury and should be taken to a hazardous materials drop-off site. For the next Household Hazardous Waste Roundup in our area, visit www.lacsd.org or take old CFLs to the Los Angeles-Glendale S.A.F.E. Collection Center at 4600 Colorado Blvd. in Los Angeles any Saturday or Sunday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Going Green

PWP's getting a lot of mileage out of its latest campaign to promote conservation and rebates! Watch for all-electric, emission-free Toyota RAV-4s driven by PWP staff and wrapped with eye-catching messages.

You can go green, too! Just click on Residential Green Power Program on the PWP website or call the AnswerLine.