environMENTAL

[jude23]

Has your department changed any of it's practices based on trying to please or not offend the "environmental conscience" of the general public? For example: have you had to curtail engineer training or hoseline training because it is a "waste of water" in the eyes of the public? Have you begun reclaiming the water used to wash the rigs? Please don't misunderstand me...I love blue skies and fresh, clean air and water; but does it seem like some of the precautions have gotten a little extreme?

[firemedic301]

I say if that is the case, not wanting to offend people with water consumption, just do like I do when I clean my back yard and house, just burn it on none windy nights at 3:30 in the morning you know like mattresses, old storage sheds, fences, railroad ties:eek:. Train the same way 3:30 in the morning!!!! There ya have it.......

OK on a serious note it think Dept's should get with SCE and a Solar Company and make Stations Solar powered. If a Dept could recure the costs in 5-7 years and then have 10-15 years of SAVING BIG money. I think that would be SMART finacially and the POSITIVE PR we would get out of it would be cool.

[Ash702]

We aren't allowed to wash or trucks anymore on duty. But it has been like that for a couple of years now. We are also in a drought and in the desert, so it kinda makes sense.
We also have recycle bins for office paper and ink cartridges. For the most part, I think it is a good idea. It's not like sh!t is getting cheaper!!

[chainsaw5vent]

OK on a serious note it think Dept's should get with SCE and a Solar Company and make Stations Solar powered. If a Dept could recure the costs in 5-7 years and then have 10-15 years of SAVING BIG money. I think that would be SMART finacially and the POSITIVE PR we would get out of it would be cool.[/QUOTE]


Did the study, and a powerpoint presentation that was submitted to staff and city hall. SBFD could save over $100 grand and pay off the systems in as little as 4 years if they chose to install and take the PBI (performance based initiative) money to pay for and add their current payment to payoff as fast as possible.
the long side of loans would pay off in less than 10 years. after the systems are paid off, all energy produced is free. heck, if we all paid attention to the f/d electric bills like we do our personal houses, the f/d would be able to save alot of money. turn off those lights when you leave the workroom, pantry, bedroom, app floor, etc.
the sce rep did a energy study at st.221 and his report stated that 221 could save almost $5,000 a year (06 billing of $30,000)if the lighting type was changed from flourescent (T-12)to high output flourescent. (T-8) savings would be greater if 'occupancy/motion' sensors were installed.
for fire stations, the rebate amounts are higher than home owners and businesses. there are also grants available that your f/d can apply for to help in reducing $$$ outlay. in order for the grants to receive greatest attention, they need to have battery backup that would need to operate your stations basic needs. computers, app floor doors, fuel pumps, things that are truly necessary during the operational periods of the electrical grid going down.

on the other side of it all, i found a vendor in socal that has great pricing. their pricing for the same size system that was recommended to me was $25,000 less than the contractor that came out to my house. that is why the 'return on investment' is an insane 25 years. it's actually alot less.
if you want the names of the vendors, send me a private message.

[jude23]

Saving the energy and resources is great. What I was wondering was: has your department or employees done things that don't seem to make sense or are just ludicrous. My example was not being able to flow water for training. Another example is one captain I used to work for...the station was on a residential street, and during the summer, he wouldn't let us run the A/C during the peak hours...he said that some of the neighbors couldn't afford to run their A/C (or even have an A/C) during the day and so we should do the same. I've got to applaud his intent but it seemed like an unreal expectation.

[chainsaw5vent]

Saving the energy and resources is great. What I was wondering was: has your department or employees done things that don't seem to make sense or are just ludicrous. My example was not being able to flow water for training. Another example is one captain I used to work for...the station was on a residential street, and during the summer, he wouldn't let us run the A/C during the peak hours...he said that some of the neighbors couldn't afford to run their A/C (or even have an A/C) during the day and so we should do the same. I've got to applaud his intent but it seemed like an unreal expectation.



DANG! Missed your original idea. what would really be silly if admin came in and said we need to conserve water, we can only flush all the crappers once a day. WHERE'S THE ROOK??!

[Johnny on the spot]

Jude, I read what you said about one of your captains and the A/C during the middle of the day...

All I can say is wow!! Talk about being clueless!! I bet he would kill a person to save a tree too, huh?

Those citizens on the street with the Fire Station do not HAVE TO go out into the heat. They do not have to put on 50+ lbs of gear and tools and fight fire. They do not have to work on a freeway in turnouts. They do not have to fight a brush fire for hours on end. They do not have to do anything. Firemen do. We all know that pre-heating (due to hot firestations that the captains choose to not run the air conditioning) is very detremental to fire personnel and their work cycles. Pre-heating also increases when you get dehydrated... and most of us walk around dehydrated.

In a water shortage, will this captain tell his crew not to drink water unless it is after a fire?

If a neighbor down the street is sick and cant eat dinner, should your whole crew go without dinner too? If after lunch a pregnant neighbor vomits up her meal, should your crew go back to the station and do the same? If a neighbors car gets towed and they have to walk to work the next day, should your crew leave the engine in the bay and walk to the next EMS call or Fire? If one of the neighbors does not have a cell phone to call their family, should you not use yours to call your family either? :D

My point is your captain is Lame, and he should tell the citizens that can't afford to run their a/c during the middle of the day to "get a job, it is the middle of the day, why are you not at work?".

[xREDLANDSx]

My company has saved money and the environment by not putting freon in any of the ambulance's air conditioners... Maybe county could adopt a similar policy :)

[deceptacon]

My engineer eats the hearts of watermelons so that no one else can eat them.:mad:

[chainsaw5vent]

Jude, I read what you said about one of your captains and the A/C during the middle of the day...

All I can say is wow!! Talk about being clueless!! I bet he would kill a person to save a tree too, huh?

Those citizens on the street with the Fire Station do not HAVE TO go out into the heat. They do not have to put on 50+ lbs of gear and tools and fight fire. They do not have to work on a freeway in turnouts. They do not have to fight a brush fire for hours on end. They do not have to do anything. Firemen do. We all know that pre-heating (due to hot firestations that the captains choose to not run the air conditioning) is very detremental to fire personnel and their work cycles. Pre-heating also increases when you get dehydrated... and most of us walk around dehydrated.

In a water shortage, will this captain tell his crew not to drink water unless it is after a fire?

If a neighbor down the street is sick and cant eat dinner, should your whole crew go without dinner too? If after lunch a pregnant neighbor vomits up her meal, should your crew go back to the station and do the same?I THINK WE SHOULD http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=STB4s7Qhf40 If a neighbors car gets towed and they have to walk to work the next day, should your crew leave the engine in the bay and walk to the next EMS call or Fire? If one of the neighbors does not have a cell phone to call their family, should you not use yours to call your family either? :D

My point is your captain is Lame, and he should tell the citizens that can't afford to run their a/c during the middle of the day to "get a job, it is the middle of the day, why are you not at work?".
I THINK WE SHOULD BARF ON THE PEOPLES....http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=STB4s7Qhf40

[jude23]

My engineer eats the hearts of watermelons so that no one else can eat them.:mad:

...and the early bird gets the worm, too...but what does watermelon have to do with environmental wackiness? I guess it's cooler then (early) anyway and you don't need to run the A/C in the station.