1. INTEROFFICE MEMORAND UM
TO: CITY OF ARCATA
FROM: PAUL JOHNSTON
SUBJECT: ENERGY SAVINGS RECCOMENDATION
DATE: 10/15/2010
PURPOSE
The purpose of this memo is to describe my recommendation of how to spend Arcata’s
energy plan.
SUMMERY
This memo outlines my recommendation for the City of Arcata’s energy plan. The
budget should be used to buy PV panels.
DISSCUSION
The City of Arcata would benefit greatly if the energy budget of $10,000 were spent on
PV panels. PV panels would be the better choice because they will lessen energy demand
from the grid, and in the process, lower energy costs. Another benefit is that the PV panels
will last around 25 years, giving Arcata 25 years of renewable energy. PV panels are ideal also
because replacing light bulbs around Arcata would be wasteful. The bulbs would have to be
replaced before every year’s end, since CFLs only last about 340 days of use. PV panels last
25 years. Even though CFLs would reduce energy consumption up to 50%, each bulb costs
around $4. Over a period of 25 years (the same amount of time the PV panels would last)
using CFLs would cost the City of Arcata around $25,000 dollars, while the PV panels would
only cost $10,000.
RECCOMENDATION
My recommendation for the City of Arcata is to spend the $10,000 energy budget on PV
panels to benefit the entire city.