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Measures To Curb High Heating Bills
After Hurricanes Rita and Katrina damaged Gulf Coast gas drilling platforms, natural gas price spikes were predicted to increase heating bills as much as 70 percent this winter. To ease our dependence on expensive fossil fuels, CALPIRG testified in October before the California Energy Commission in support of increased energy-efficiency and greater reliance on clean, renewable sources like wind and solar power.
To address the immediate strain on consumers, CALPIRG put together 10 actions that Californians can take to lower high heating bills this winter, including caulking windows, using a water heater blanket and installing energy saving shower heads. The full list of energy saving tips can be found at www.calpirg.org.
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Safe Toys For Kids
 Trouble in toyland—Concerned Sacramento area parent Deniz Tuncer and her daughter Sylvie spoke at CALPIRG’s 20th annual toy safety report release. The report identifies dangerous toys on store shelves. The survey offers safety guidelines for purchasing toys for small children and provides examples of toys currently on store shelves that pose potential safety hazards.
CALPIRG’s research focused on four categories: toys that contain toxic chemicals, toys that pose choking hazards, toys that are dangerously loud and toys that pose strangulation hazards.
CALPIRG is calling on the Federal Trade Commission to take action against manufacturers that are falsely labeling toys that are made with harmful toxic chemicals as “phthalate-free.”
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Fighting Home Insurance Schemes
Insurers are increasingly canceling or failing to renew the policies of homeowners who file legitimate insurance claims.
For example, Kim Stoddard filed a claim when a car backed into an iron gate in front of her house. She filed a second claim the next year when a neighbor’s shingles fell into her gutter, leading to water damage. Following the two claims, her insurance company refused to renew her policy.
“Californians pay good money for insurance policies, but if they use them, they lose them,” said Steve Blackledge, CALPIRG’s legislative director. “It undermines the very concept of insurance.”
CALPIRG will work with Insurance Commissioner John Garamendi and others to remedy the problem. Garamendi’s office issued rules that the insurance companies challenged in court. Revised rules are pending.
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Law Reduces Risk Of Fires From Cigarettes
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed the Fire Safe Cigarette Act, (AB 178) written by Asm. Paul Koretz (W. Hollywood). California is now the largest state requiring cigarette makers to produce cigarettes that meet national fire safe standards.
CALPIRG supported the bill, and testified in favor of it at several hearings.
Smoldering cigarettes are the leading cause of fire deaths in the United States. During the past decade in California, more than 25,000 cigarette related fires occurred, killing 100 people and injuring 194 firefighters and 543 civilians. These fires are also linked to $85 million in property damage and loss of personal belongings.
“New York was the first state to pass a fire safe cigarette law and it’s already working there,” said Blackledge. “Now in California there will be fewer fires and deaths from smoldering cigarettes.”
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