Rotary Club of Simi Sunrise "Simi Smiles" Peace Project Rock Exchange at Corriganville Park

Rotary Club of Simi Sunrise recently installed a community peace themed rock exchange at Corriganville Park, 7001 Smith Road, Simi Valley.

Through the efforts of Simi Sunrise, the city of Simi Valley has been established as an International City of Peace, one of 375 Cities of Peace in 70 countries.

To encourage the community to promote peace, students were invited to design hand-painted rocks to spread peace, love and friendship. Over 500 rocks with these themes were created and were placed in a large peace sign formation adjacent to the Corriganville Park parking lot.

Learn more about the Rotary Club of Simi Sunrise at rotaryclubofsimisunrise.org.

More on the International Cities of Peace movement at www.internationalcitiesofpeace.org. Other local Cities of Peace include Ojai, Santa Barbara and Los Angeles.

State of California Smog Check Program Requirements

I was about to renew my auto registration online as I’ve done mindlessly for many years, until I looked more carefully at the notice and I read the dreaded “STOP: SMOG Certification Required” imprinted near the top of the notice. I’ve owned the minivan for eight years and wondered, why NOW!?

The California Smog Check Program has been in place since 1984.and is administered by the Bureau of Automotive Repair, or BAR. BAR licenses independently owned smog check stations throughout the state.

THE BASICS

The BAR indicates a smog check is required EVERY OTHER YEAR as part of the vehicle registration process. It is also required when a vehicle changes ownership or when it is registered for the first time in California.

Every other year? That can’t be, because this was the first time I’ve been asked to do a smog check in the eight years since I owned the car, right?

The BAR goes on to explain that gasoline-powered vehicles, hybrid vehicles and alternative-fuel vehicles that are model year 1976 and newer require a smog check, with the following exceptions:

• Eight model years and newer do not require a biennial smog check.

• Four model years and newer do not require a change-of-ownership check.

In English, this means you need to add 8 to the model year of your vehicle to determine when you need to start doing biennial, or every other year, smog checks. For example, my 2014 minivan needs a smog test starting in 2022. And if I purchase a used 2018 vehicle in 2022, it would be subject to a smog check.

SMOG CHECKS ARE NOT REQUIRED FOR:

• 1975 or older vehicles

• Eight model years or newer vehicles

• Four model years or newer vehicles changing ownership

• Electric vehicles

• Motorcycles

• Tricycles (OK, I decided to throw this in to make sure you were paying attention.)

• Diesel vehicles model year 1997 and older

• Diesel vehicles with a gross weight of over 14,000 pounds

OTHER

Wait a second, my 2014 minivan is eight years old. Why this year, not next year, for the first smog check? Because the state assumes that model years are released in the calendar year prior to a vehicle’s model year. So regardless whether I purchased my brand new 2014 minivan in 2013 or 2014, it is assumed to be one model year old in 2014. That means, it is theoretically turning nine model years old in 2022. Hence, the need for a smog check for the first time in 2022.

If your smog check passes, hurray! The smog “certificate” is electronically submitted to the DMV and you are on your way to renew your vehicle registration. If it fails the test, you need to get it fixed, or you can visit a “smog check referee” for a second opinion.

“But I don’t want to get a smog check!” Well, then buy an electric car or a model 1975 or older car. Or buy a new car before your car turns eight model years old. Or move to a state like Alabama that doesn’t require emissions testing.

All About the New Energy Efficient Home Improvement Credit for Tax Years Beginning in 2023

Prior to 2022, the federal “Nonbusiness Energy Credit” allowed for a lifetime tax credit of a maximum of $500 for installation of certain energy-efficient exterior doors, windows, skylights, certain roofs and insulation. It also could be used for the purchase of certain central air conditioners, electric heat pumps, gas water heaters and certain other appliances.

The property must be installed in your personal residence and the credit was based on 10% of the cost of the purchases. There were additional credit limits of $200 for exterior windows and skylights, $300 for heat pumps, central AC and water heaters, $150 for furnaces and boilers and $50 for qualified main air-circulating fans. This credit was extended through 2022 and is claimed on Form 5695, filed with your federal tax return.

The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 brought dramatic changes to this tax credit and renamed it the Energy Efficient Home Improvement Credit (let’s call it EEHIC). Instead of a $500 lifetime cap, there’s a $1200 ANNUAL cap, and the credit is based on 30% of the purchase price, increased from 10%. Additionally, there is a separate $2,000 per year cap allowed for qualified heat pumps and heat pump water heaters, biomass stoves and boilers.

EEHIC covers two main categories of purchases - Energy Efficient Home Improvements and Residential Energy Property.

Energy Efficient Home Improvements include insulation materials, exterior windows, including skylights, and exterior doors that meet certain Energy Star requirements.

Residential Energy Property covered by EEHIC must meet or exceed certain high-efficiency standards and includes the following:

• Electric or natural gas heat pumps and heat pump water heaters

• Central air conditioners

• Natural gas, propane or oil water heaters, furnaces and hot water heaters

• Biomass stoves or boilers, oil furnaces and hot water boilers

• Improvements to or replacements of panelboards, sub-panelboards, branch circuits or feeders with a load capacity of 200 amps or more

What efficiency standards must be met? Here are some examples:

• Natural gas water heaters: ENERGY STAR certified models > 0.81 UEF (Uniform Energy Factor) for tanks less than 55 gallons and > 0.86 UEF for tanks greater than or equal to 55 gallons.

• Tankless gas water heaters: ENERGY STAR models with > 0.95 UEF are eligible. 

• Exterior windows and skylights: Must meet ENERGY STAR “Most Efficient” criteria. See www.energystar.gov/products/most_efficient

Home Energy Audits are another new category included in the EEHIC. This is an inspection and written report by a certified auditor that identifies energy efficiency improvements, including an estimate of energy and cost savings.

In addition to the annual $1200 and $2000 tax credit caps mentioned above, there are additional annual caps as follows:

• $250 cap on each exterior door, up to a total of $500 per year

• $600 annual cap on exterior windows and skylights

• $150 annual cap on home energy audits

• $600 annual cap on each Residential Energy Property item

How is the cost determined? Does it include installation? The cost of Energy Efficient Home Improvements (e.g. insulation, windows, doors) DO NOT include labor. Residential Energy Property (e.g. water heaters, central air, heat pumps), DO include the cost of labor. See IRS FAQs at THIS LINK posted 12/22/22 for more details.

How long is EEHIC in place? From 2023 through 2032 (at the current time).

Does EEHIC apply only to my primary residence? Yes for Energy Efficient Home Improvements (again - insulation, windows and doors). For Residential Energy Property, it can be in any U.S. home owned by the taxpayer.

Is the EEHIC carried to future years if I can’t use it? No. If your taxes are lower than the credit, lucky you! But no, any unused credit is not carried forward to future year tax returns.

How do you claim the EEHIC? Form 5695, filed with your federal tax return. Starting in the 2024 tax return, taxpayers will need to provide the qualified product identification number for any items purchased

Confused? Yes, so am I. But with this summary, your own research, dealers/retailers and your CPA, you’ll get this nailed down and take advantage of these new tax credits.

For a nine page IRS Fact Sheet about the Energy Efficient Home Improvement Credit as well as the Residential Clean Energy Property Credit (e.g. solar credit, which is back to 30% from 2022 through 2032, then 26% in 2033 and 22% in 2034), visit www.irs.gov/pub/taxpros/fs-2022-40.pdf.

Learn more about Energy Star qualified products at www.energystar.gov/about/federal_tax_credits/non_business_energy_property_tax_credits.

One example of how to maximize the credit. Let’s say you’d like to replace 20 exterior windows on your home. The windows cost $400 apiece, excluding labor. If you install them all in one year, the cost would be $8,000 plus installation. $8,000 times 30% equals $2400, but your EEHIC is limited to $600, for a net cost of $7,400 plus installation. If you want to maximize the credit, you could buy 5 windows a year for 4 years at a cost of $2,000 per year, plus installation (ignoring inflation). By stretching the purchase over 4 years, you increase the tax credit from $600 to $2,400, for a net cost of $5,400 plus installation. Something to think about.

My Practical Experience

So I went to Home Depot to look for windows and water heaters that are qualified for EEHIC. I found a couple water heaters that met the requirements but the windows I had no clue which one did. So I thought, maybe I could figure it out by going back to the IRS Q&As at THIS LINK, which had a link to the ENERGY STAR website. So I entered my local zip code, which took me to a list of tax credits by product type at THIS PAGE. So I clicked Windows & Skylights Tax Credit at THIS PAGE. Then I clicked “Find Eligible Products” at THIS PAGE. Under Building Products I found the Windows, Door & Skylights category, which had a link to a “NFRC Directory” at THIS PAGE, where there are links to searches by region for the National Fenestration Rating Council. There’s no definition of what is in each region. So I guessed the Southern region, which I searched by product type, like Single and Double Hung Windows. From there, I saw a list of “Energy Star Partner” names. I picked Milgard, which then gave me a list of Milgard product lines that I’m going to assume meet the ENERGY STAR “most efficient” requirement (though it doesn’t clearly state that anywhere). So where do I buy these theoretically qualifying products? The site didn’t tell me. Bottom line: You’re probably going to have to just ask the retailer which products meet the IRS requirements as the IRS has not made this process easy.

Chinese Year of the Water Rabbit Starts Today, January 22, 2023

Lunar year 2023, starting today, January 22nd, through February 9, 2024, is the Chinese Year of the Rabbit.

The Rabbit is the 4th animal on the Chinese zodiac, which also includes the Rat, Ox, Tiger, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog and Pig. Twelve animals in all, on a 12 year rotation. The Rabbit is a symbol of longevity, peace and prosperity in Chinese culture.

2023 is the year of the Water Rabbit. There are five elements associated with the Zodiac signs - Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal and Water. Combined with the 12 zodiac animals, each combination of animal and element rotates in on a sixty year cycle. Those born in Water years are agile, easygoing, approachable, and adaptable.

Celebrity Water Rabbits include Michael Jordan, Johnny Depp, Quentin Tarantino, Brad Pitt, Jennifer Beals, Phoebe Cates, Mike Myers, Helen Hunt and Lisa Kudrow.

Rabbits are, of course, the namesake of the Conejo Valley, and we are so close to the Pacific Ocean that the Year of the Water Rabbit is particularly special for residents of this beautiful area.

Arroyo Conejo Creek is the Longest Creek in the Conejo Valley

The Arroyo Conejo is the longest creek in the Conejo Valley, covering 57 square miles, including 43 in the Conejo Valley and 14 in the Santa Rosa Valley. It flows through Thousand Oaks and Camarillo, including the communities of Newbury Park, Casa Conejo and the Santa Rosa Valley.

Historically the Arroyo Conejo was a seasonal creek. Today it is a perennial creek fueled by urban runoff. The north folk carved Wildwood Canyon over thousands of years. Paradise Falls in Wildwood Park is a well known feature of the Arroyo Conejo. The south fork originates in the Conejo Hills above Newbury Park.

The south fork of the Arroyo Conejo can be seen from the Arroyo Conejo Trail in the 302 acre Arroyo Conejo Open Space, accessible from the Rancho Conejo Playfield in Newbury Park.

Arroyo Creek seen from the Arroyo Conejo Trail in Thousand Oaks.

The Arroyo Conejo is part of the Ventura County Watershed. Watersheds are defined by the natural boundaries of a surface runoff area. Ventura County has four watershed zones named for the major tributary in each zone - Ventura River (Zone 1), Santa Clara River (Zone 2), Calleguas (Zone 3), and Cuyama River (Zone 4 North) and Malibu Creek (Zone 4 South). The Arroyo Conejo is in the Calleguas Creek Zone.

The Calleguas Creek zone has a watershed area of about 341 square miles. All stream flows in Zone 3 eventually end up in Mugu Lagoon before entering the Pacific Ocean. Major tributaries to Calleguas Creek include Revolon Slough, Conejo Creek, Arroyo Santa Rosa, Arroyo Conejo, Arroyo Las Posas/Arroyo Simi, Happy Camp Canyon, Lang Creek, and Tapo Canyon.

The Calleguas Creek watershed contains the man-made Lake Bard (aka Bard Reservoir – main imported water supply for about 60% of Ventura County population), along with several Ventura County Watershed Protection District constructed debris basins of varying sizes and depths designed to capture runoff sediment before it can cause damage to the Calleguas Creek drainage system. Some of the largest District basins include Sycamore Canyon, Las Llajas, and Runkle Canyon basins.

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Bard Reservoir seen from the Sunset Hills Trail in Thousand Oaks.

More on Ventura County Watersheds at www.vcpublicworks.org/wpd/watersheds.

A Murder of Crows Above Thousand Oaks Boulevard

On a recent Sunday afternoon, we witnessed this large congregation of crows flying this way and that above Thousand Oaks Boulevard. Yes, this is next to the Thousand Oaks Auto Mall. We believe they were plotting an air bombardment over the new cars on display.

The Thousand Oaks Auto Mall consists of Rusnak BMW, Rusnak Westlake Audi, Rusnak Westlake Porche, Anderson Autos Acura of Thousand Oaks, DCH Ford of Thousand Oaks, DCH Suburu of Thousand Oaks, Anderson Autos Honda of Thousand Oaks, Infiniti of Thousand Oaks, Anderson Autos Jaguar of Thousand Oaks, Anderson Autos Land Rover of Thousand Oaks, Anderson Autos Lexus of Thousand Oaks, Neftin Westlake Mazda, Neftin Westlake Volkswagen, Alfa Romeo of Westlake, Bentley Westlake, Genesis of Westlake, Westlake Hyundai, Lamborghini Westlake, Maserati Westlake Village, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Westlake, Shaver Chrysler/Dodge/Jeep/Ram, Anderson Autos Mercedes-Benz Thousand Oaks, Anderson Autos Buick GMC Thousand Oaks, Anderson Autos Cadillac of Thousand Oaks and Anderson Autos Chevrolet of Thousand Oaks.

Dramatic Sunset Ends a Perfect Thanksgiving 2022 Weekend in Ventura County

Beautiful skies tonight, Sunday, November 27, 2022, at the end of the first weekend of holiday season shopping in Ventura County. Though it was such a beautiful weekend, many of us spent time outdoors, away from the hustle and bustle.

View from the camarillo Premium Outlets

View from near Thornhill Broome Beach in Point Mugu State Park (Photo Credit @bradli.mp3 Instagram)