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Wolf Creek Lodge Newsletter
Adult Cohousing in Grass Valley, CA
June, 2017
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This newsletter is a little different. We discuss the work of the Wolf Creek Lodge Solar Team. They have been investigating the potential for Solar Voltaic panels to complement our existing Solar Thermal Panels. We provide information about electric utility regulations, technology and climate change science.
For those looking for our more traditional content we have a a report from the Cohousing Conference,
a thank you to Flor, our recent visitor from Argentina, a report about a "A Place to Call Home" and a
"Digging in the Dirt" update.
Currently only a two bedroom home is available at Wolf Creek Lodge. There is every expectation that this will soon be sold but we anticipate another home becoming available soon. See "Available Homes" below.
Contact us if you are interested so we can be more specific.
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The original construction of Wolf Creek Lodge included solar thermal panels on the roof of one of the two wings as shown above. Water in these panels is heated by the sun and returned to a large tank in a mechanical room before supplying hot water to homes in the lodge. A central gas furnace provides additional heat as required. Solar thermal should always be the first step. It offers a greater return on investment than solar voltaic. In contrast solar voltaic panels generate electricity by exposing photo-voltaic cells to the sun's rays. Photons from the sun knock electrons out of the atoms in the cells so generating electricity.
Some time ago two members sought permission from the community to install solar panels on the roof to generate electricity for their homes and cars. The community decided to explore a community wide system. A Solar Team formed and has undertaken a detailed investigation.
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Why invest in Solar Voltaic
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There are two motivations:
- save money on utility bills
- "save the planet"
We discovered that members of Wolf Creek Lodge are motivated by both factors. Some might be prepared to install panels even if the cost of electricity were to exceed that available from the utility. However, it is clear that we have to demonstrate cost savings to achieve consensus.
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Solar - Saving the Planet
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Why are CO2 emissions of concern? Increasing amounts of CO2 in the atmosphere contribute to global warming.
The sun is very hot. Radiation from the sun is high energy (high frequencies). CO2 is not a barrier to these rays. The earth is much cooler. Radiation from the earth and from layers in the atmosphere is lower energy (lower frequencies). CO2 gas absorbs the low frequency energy from the earth. The atmosphere becomes warmer and so does the planet.
If we generate electricity from solar panels we hope to reduce the amount of electricity generated by fossil fuel plants and thus the CO2 emitted to the atmosphere.
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Solar - Saving Money
Electricity Billing
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To work out savings on electricity purchase we need to understand how we are billed by the utility. All of this is subject to state regulation. The state is trying to encourage the use of solar.
We first learned that the common areas of Wolf Creek Lodge are on a commercial tariff and the individual homes are on a domestic tariff. The commercial tariff is higher than the domestic one. We decided to focus on the common areas meter - HVAC, laundry, lighting, pumps, electric car charging, etc.
We then discovered that electricity can be billed at different rates at different times of the day. It's more expensive at peak times than at off peak times. Thus electric cars should be charged at night using cheaper off peak electricity. Paradoxically, this is the time when there is no output from the solar panels. There are choices of different tariff structures.
Another wrinkle is Net Energy Metering. If the panels are generating more electricity than we are using the excess is fed back into the grid where it is used by our neighbors down the street. We receive a credit for this electricity which is applied to times when we draw electricity from the grid. There will certainly be an overall excess in the summer and a deficit in the winter.
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Solar - Saving Money - Incentives
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The government offers incentives to encourage use of renewable energy. The state regulates the utilities to enable use of solar power. There is a 30% federal tax credit available for the costs of installing solar panels. Unfortunately although individuals qualify, an HOA (i.e. Wolf Creek Lodge) does not. There are 3rd party financing schemes designed to capture this credit.
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The solar team has received proposals from three vendors. We will need something like $80K to pay for the installation. To assure savings, even in the early years, we hope that a number of members will offer interest free 10 year loans to finance the purchase.
There are certainly savings over the 25 to 30 year expected life of the panels. We are a little concerned about our own life expectancies. Some of us may miss out on some of the savings!
The team presented the plan to small groups of members. Then a proposal was made at a General Meeting to solicit pledges for the member loans and to request final proposals from the vendors.
After lengthy discussion the proposal was approved by consensus. The solar team will continue their work.
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National Cohousing Conference - A Report
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Three Wolf Creek Lodge members attended the National Cohousing Conference in Nashville - Mary Eve, Nancy and Joyce. Nancy was amazed how many people knew about Wolf Creek Lodge. Here are some ideas that resonated with her:
- Because some people need time to consider ideas in order to make contributions, it is important to provide materials for meetings ahead but also to be a little flexible if someone comes up with great ideas after a group discussion. Ideas coming after a group decision are more problematic!
- It is important to remember that some decisions can be “good enough for now” or “safe enough to try”; on re-evaluation we can modify them as necessary.
- In cohousing: as a group matures over time, competition becomes cooperation. Individuals learn to listen carefully with compassion, empathy, and curiosity. (in an ideal world!)
- Cohousing communities can provide physical and emotional assets to the wider community - lending out the Common House; working cooperatively with other organizations; becoming a vehicle for dealing with vulnerable populations such as foster kids, adults with disabilities, or homeless people.
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Flor Fredes Lauret is from Argentina. She is on a mission to introduce cohousing into Latin America. She has established a website. See
www.vivamosjuntos.com
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She attended the National Cohousing Conference and is now visiting cohousing communities. At Wolf Creek Lodge she volunteered to unload mulch and spread it on our gardens.
She joined a cook team and prepared alfajores - a real treat. Jim has been trained so we expect to enjoy these regularly.
After dinner on Memorial Day we cleared the common room and Flor gave us all tango lesson one. Even your editor gave it his best shot.
We will be following
Vivamos Juntos with curiosity and hope for its success..
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Our own Betty Louise has created an inspiring project to bring compassion and awareness to the plight of homeless persons in Nevada County. Through a grant from the California Humanities and, hopefully, an additional grant from California Arts Council, Betty and collaborator Susan Davis are documenting stories by and about the homeless through audio, video, photographs, essays, and music to inspire respect, empathy, and compassion. Their goals are to raise awareness of the depth of the issue and to put out a call for compassionate action and civic participation.
On May 17, Betty and Susan held a successful kick-off event at the Golden Era Lounge in Nevada City to raise more money for the project. Several of us attended, and I can attest that it was a lot of fun and had a great turnout.
Coming up, A-Place-To-Call-Home Project is holding a Community Forum on Concerns About Homeless People that will be presented at our Wolf Creek Lodge Common House on June 16th from 4:00 to 5:00 p.m. Janice O'Brien, Founder and Executive Board Chair of Sierra Roots, will answer questions about how to handle encounters with homeless people.
For more information, including a rousing video, please check out the following links:
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Digging in the Dirt
Richard Carter
Richard recently sent an email to the community that is appropriate for this column so we give Claire, our regular columnist, a vacation this month.
Richard wrote:
"As you might expect but might not have not noticed, our rose bushes, fruit trees, and berry bushes are coming on strong.
The trellis roses climbing up the wall of the underground garage above the cutting garden are blooming. There are probably a couple hundred buds visible, and many have already opened. They are inviting you to stop and smell them and encourage them to keep climbing.
You don't have to drive up or down the mountain to see our specimens, and they are every bit as interesting and beautiful as the offsite wild flowers that are attracting so many admirers. The Landscape Team invites you to check out the flowers and fruit and nut trees right here. Look for roses, azaleas, dogwood, iris, lilac, yarrow, California poppies, carnations, primrose, foxglove, gladioli, alyssum, stargazer lilly, gazania, daisies, artichoke, peony, cherries, grapes, apples, persimmons, pomegranates, strawberries, blackberries, almonds, goji berries, blueberries, and gooseberries.
If you need help identifying something, ask one is us (Claire, Gayle, Richard, Pam, Mary Eve, and Judith). If we don't know, we can find out.
The Landscape Team"
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A two bedroom home is now available but may soon be in escrow..
We try to keep the latest status on our website. By checking on these links to the website during the month you will get the latest updates. Here are the links:
Contact us: phone: (800) 558-3775
For details of Open Houses and much more visit our website at:
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Grass Valley and Nevada City
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Want to know more about
Grass Valley and Nevada City?
Here are some links we have found useful:
Down Town Grass Valley -
Bear Yuba Land Trust
GIS Receational Viewer -
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