Don Jordan

My involvement in home design and construction for over 30 years gives me familiarity with all aspects of residential energy use and conservation. Our homes require more energy than any other single thing in our lives - around 39% of our total energy use is in the home. We can reduce this energy use without sacrificing our quality of life. We can give up drafty homes and high utility bills...  the costs for the improvements are an investment, both for us as homeowners and for the utility companies

I have been fascinated with electrical generation since years ago when I worked for the Corps of Engineers as a Park Ranger at and around hydropower projects in Oregon. My genuine interest in power generation inspired me to learn as much as possible from the engineers and controllers. We are fortunate to have available hydropower in the North West - but it is not an unlimited commodity.

During late summer, we are using nearly all the power that can be generated from the seasonally low river flows. That is the bottle neck that limits hydropower in the near future. 

Our population continues to rise and electrical use will further increase with electric cars and other worthwhile uses of electricity ... we will need more generation capability each summer. Within 20 years we could be looking at serious shortages.  

Where can we get more electricity?  Solar and wind are currently not economical, but their prices are coming down ... and fossil fuel-generated power costs are going up. At some point solar and wind will compete directly with coal and natural gas, but neither will be as cheap as existing hydropower.

I suppose we could put more dams on the Snake, Selway, Rogue and a few other rivers - but I hope a crisis does not push us to that.  We could also build nuclear generators and deal with those issues ... not a first choice for most of us.

None of these options is cheap or will produce cheap electricity - but improving energy conservation in our homes can be cheap, and does not require new generators. Let’s do what we can to save energy while we figure the best way to generate more.

Northern Lights has an energy efficiency incentive program - but I think the program can be better promoted - and they can do more. Northern Lights is motivated to do more - they understand there is a looming shortage and there will be many discussions of how to deal with future energy needs.

I think I can be a worthwhile contributor to those discussions. I have a good idea of what will work for residential energy conservation and can help promote it.

I have lived in Boundary and Bonner Counties since 1979. I know that makes me a "new comer" - but I have tried to be an active participant in the community.

I have been an active member of the Boundary County Airport Board for 20 years, a number of years as chairman. I am an active member of the Kootenai Valley Rifle and Pistol Club and have helped coach the Junior Rifle Club for years. I routinely volunteer for worthwhile civic projects and have been quick to lend a hand, hammer or blueprints - and occasionally even offer an opinion ... !

I feel that the person is more important than the credential - but I did receive a Bachelor of Science degree from Kansas State University, where I studied Architecture and Conservation Biology. 

I look forward to the opportunity to help Northern Lights (OUR member owned cooperative) prepare for the electrical demands of the future. If you’d like to know more about me, I invited you to the Earth Day Fair this Saturday, when I’ll be giving a presentation on energy efficient home design. I’d love to have the opportunity to chat with you and answer any questions you may have.