CONSERVATION

AT THE OPEN BOD MEETING THERE WAS A COMMENT ABOUT EXTERIOR LIGHTING AND THAT SOME PEOPLE EXCEED THE COMMUNITY RULES -- WELL FIRST OF ALL THE COMMUNITY RULE IS NOT REALISTIC. THE LIGHTING STANDARDS TODAY TAKE INTO ACCOUNT SAFETY AND SECURITY AS WELL AS CONVENIENCE. THESE ISSUES ARE LEGITIMATE AND CAN VARY FROM ONE PERSON TO THE NEXT. THIS COULD ACCOUNT FOR VARIATIONS IN LIGHTING REQUIREMENTS BETWEEN COMMUNITY MEMBERS. ===

--- BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY IS THAT EVERYONE COULD SAVE ENERGY AND REDUCE USAGE BY USING THE NEW CFI BULBS. FEW IF ANY DO BECAUSE OF THE PRICE INVOLVED. CFI BULBS ARE AT LEAST 10 TIMES MORE EXPENSIVE THAN INCANDESCENT BULBS. MANY JUST REFUSE TO SPEND THE MONEY FOR CFI. I HAVE 9 INTERIOR LIGHTS IN MY TRAILER AND THEY ARE ALL CFI BULBS. THE ONLY INTERIOR LIGHTS THAT AREN'T CFI ARE THE REFRIGERATOR LIGHT, STOVE HOOD LIGHT WHICH HAVE INCANDESCENT BULBS AND AND THE SINK COUNTER LIGHTS WHICH ARE HALOGEN LIGHTING. EXTERIOR LIGHTING IS HALOGEN LIGHTS.

ANOTHER PLACE TO REDUCE USAGE IS TO STOP WATER LEAKS AND CONSERVE WATER. I INSTALLED A LOW VOLUMNE FLUSH HOPPER. THESE GREATLY REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF WATER THAT IS USED FOR TOILETS, THE PRICE IS NOW DOWN TO LESS THAN A HUNDRED DOLLARS FOR A NEW TOILET AND ARE AVAILABLE EVERYWHERE. WATER SUPPLY HOSES THAT LEAK AT THE CONNECTIONS USUALLY NEED A NEW WASHER WHICH COSTS PENNIES. MAYBE A NEW HOSE IS REQUIRED. A LITTLE MORE EXPENSIVE BUT SHOULD LAST FOR YEARS IF YOU MAINTAIN IT PROPERLY. LEAKING WATER SUPPLY LINES AND LEAKING FAUCETS SHOULD BE REPAIRED. THE WATER USAGE COST LA COMMUNITY BIG BUCKS IN THAT WE PAY FOR THE SYSTEM TO SUPPLY WATER AND THE SYSTEM TO TREAT SEWAGE. THE MORE WE PUMP OUT AND THE MORE WE HAVE TO TREAT ADDS UP TO A LARGE COST TO THE MEMBERSHIP.

SO CONSERVATION IN ELECTRIC USAGE AND WATER CONSERVATION PRACTICES WILL GO A LONG WAY TO KEEP THESE COSTS UNDER CONTROL AND THEN YOU WON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT A MEMBER HAVING AN EXTRA BULB THE ONE OR TWO WEEKS OF THE YEAR THAT HE'S HERE AT LA.

I'VE NOTICED THAT MOST OF THESE COMPLAINTS COME FROM THE NESTERS WHO ARE HERE MOST OF THE YEAR ( WINK -- WINK) AND USE MORE SERVICES THAN ANYONE ELSE. THEY SURELY SHOULD BE THE LAST TO COMPLAIN!