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Thursday, June 9, 2016 - June 15, 2016
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COMPLIMENTARY COPY VOLUME 20, NO. 23
Pasadena Commits $1.9 Million to Alternative Form of Energy Conservation
Energy Feedback Program Channels Human Psychology to Motivate Energy-Efficient Behavior BY GUS HERRERA
Mayor Terry Tornek admitted that he too, at first, challenged the notion that this form of “peer pressure” could have such a dramatic impact. – Photo by Terry Miller
Pasadena Man Gets Five Years in State Prison
A Pasadena man who led police on two separate high-speed chases within 30 days last year was sentenced to five years in state prison Monday, June 6, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office announced. Deputy District Attorney Ryan Erlich said Karnik Kendirian, 48, entered no contest pleas today to two
felony counts of fleeing a pursuing peace officer’s motor vehicle while driving recklessly and one felony count of arson in cases GA097403 and GA097569. Kendirian also pleaded no contest to one misdemeanor count of vandalism under $400. On Oct. 24, 2015, SEE PAGE 16
On Monday, June 6, the Pasadena City Council renewed a feedback program that has seen recent success in promoting energy-efficient behavior amongst residents. Item 6 on the evening’s agenda, authorized the city manager to enter into a fiveyear contract with Opower Inc. for the “provision of behavioral energy efficiency and customer engagement program services.” Since 2011, Pasadena’s Home Energy Report program (HER) has become an effective city tool in increasing energy efficiency. According to city staff’s report, the HER program has engaged “approximately 40,000 residential customers and encourage[s] them to become more energy efficient by providing specific energy usage and efficiency information.” The item was approved without opposition, after a brief presentation by Wendy de Leon, customer relations manager for Pasadena Department of Water and Power
(PWP). Those registered under the HER program receive detailed energy feedback reports four times per year. The reports not only break down the resident’s energy usage, they also compare their usage to 100 similar sized homes and provide them with specific energy-saving tips (i.e. upgrade appliances or reduce air conditioner use). According to de Leon’s report, the program is based on the theory that individuals are motivated by seeing what their neighbors do. Staff’s report claims that research done by both independent third parties and Opower supports the effectiveness of these normative comparisons in motivating and reinforcing responsible energy usage. In other words, people are more likely to change their habits if presented with visual details of their use, especially when those details are compared to their peers. According to a 2010 study done by the American SEE PAGE 17
Assistance Dogs Donated to Two Local Residents Two San Gabriel Valley residents recently received assistance dogs, free of charge, from Canine Companions for Independence. Canine Companions is a non-profit organization that enhances the lives of people with disabilities by providing highly-trained assistance dogs and ongoing support to ensure quality partnerships. Devin, 27, a resident
Chance and Neelia.
- Courtesy photo
of Altadena, has cerebral palsy. Chance, of Pasadena, is 9-years-old and was born with hydrocephalus. Both Devin and Chance are benefitting from unconditional love and increased social opportunities thanks to their new assistance dogs. Devin is unable to walk or talk but assistance dog Kingston III does not care. SEE PAGE 16