I remember when I was a little kid, we received a yellow glow-in-the-dark sticker in the mail of a cute little Light bulb Guy that was the size of a switchplate. It had a small rectangular hole in the middle of it so that when stuck onto the switchplate, the flipswitch was the nose in the face. I said, the flipswitch was the nose in the face! Lightbulb Guy lived on the switch for the basement stairs and said something to the effect of "turn off the lights and conserve energy." I loved that thing for three reasons:
*
1) It was a sticker.
2) It was glow-in-the-dark.
3) The flipswitch was the nose!
*
But most importantly, Light Bulb Guy did what he was supposed to do: He reminded me to turn off the lights and that saving energy was important. I do remember feeling good coming up those stairs --after I'd reluctantly scooped out the cat box-- by turning off the light because of that sticker.
Over the years, Lightbulb Guy would slowly disappear until you couldn't see anything but a faded shredded sticker, and my Dad most likely killed him completely by scraping him off with a razor blade. I don't know why the message itself also faded away over the years but apparently it's cool again to conserve, so let's do our part a little bit here and there, shall we? Of course, this is easy for me to say, as I'm broke as a joke on coke and can't afford this thing called electricity, live in a small apartment, and I don't have a car. But you folks who rip your A/C while you're at work, and you, you fat lazy double parked dude who is catching some Zzzzzs in your truck on the job with the engine idling are cancelling most of this shit out, but...whatevs. I can't save you from being a-holes.
That said, my friend DeeAnne sent me some green info on how she's saving energy and doing good for the earf and its inhabitants. She has:
* selected an alternative ESCO (energy supply company) through ConEd to supply my power, & chose "green power" as well: www.poweryourway.com
* started unplugging unused appliances at home (even products not in use can drain electricity) & using the new lightbulbs. (See list at end of this message for other helpful energy tips.)
* adopted Rudy the pig by making a donation for him @ The Farm Sanctuary: www.farmsanctuary.org. (Rudy fell off a transport truck, was rescued on Sept. 5, 2005, & now lives a happy life loving apples & bagels at a shelter in upstate New York. I may actually try to visit him this summer.)
Deeanne, like I, is also crazy about animals and their welfare. Here are some links and some ways you can save energy:
www.AskPSC.com (Public Service Commission Consumer Guide – household electricity use & energy saving tips)
www.environmentaldefense.org (nat'l non-profit org. working on the most urgent environmental problems – most interesting exhibit Sat. was "Sustainable Seafood: Making smart choices when we eat/buy seafood"
www.greenpeace.org/usa/
www.informinc.org (strategies for a better environment including "Cleaning for Health")
www.nyc.gov/sanitation
www.nyc.gov/wasteless
www.nyc.gov/stuffexchange
www.therainforestsite.com (also linked to other 'click' sites, where 1 click a day makes a difference)
www.tapintothecity.com
www.ThinkOutsideTheBottle.org (rethinking bottled water)
20 Ways You Can Save Energy:
If we reduce energy consumption, we can avoid construction of new power plants & other negative energy impacts. The savings below are expressed primarily as reduced Carbon Dioxide emissions (a prime cause of Climate Change), but many other environmental damages will also be equally reduced. CO2 savings are averages, but your savings may be even higher. Keep in mind that as you save energy, you also save money!
1. Efficient Transportation - Transportation is a leading energy consumer. In the U.S., vehicles use more gasoline each year than the entire U.S. oil industry produces. Try to live near your work or school, & use public transportation, carpool, walk, or bike when you can. Replace your SUV with one of the new hybrid gas & electric cars & you could save as much as $11,000 on gas & produce 107 fewer tons of CO2. The new efficient hybrids are reliable & drive (& refuel) just like a standard car, with no need to recharge batteries.
2. Better Appliances -- Purchase energy efficient household appliances. This can make an enormous difference. For example: if you replace your 1972 refrigerator with a 2001 model, you may cut your CO2 emissions by 1,100 lbs. a year & save $80 a year on your energy bill. (Install the dishwasher away from your refrigerator: the dishwasher's heat & moisture make the fridge work harder.) Replace your top-loading washing machine with a front-loader, & you may save $100 a year in energy, water & detergent. A new Energy Star refrigerator uses about 20% less energy than a standard new refrigerator & 46% less than one made before 1980. A new Energy Star washing machine uses nearly 50% less energy than a standard washer. (For details, visit: Energy Star http://www.energystar.gov)
3. Cold Water Wash & Line Dry -- Washing clothes in cold water reduces your washer's energy use by 75% & saves almost 500 lbs. of CO2 per year. Drying clothes outside in the fresh air & sunlight not only lengthens the life of your clothes but also saves energy & 1,386 lbs. of CO2 emissions. When you need to use the clothes dryer, run full loads & use the moisture-sensing setting. Clean the lint trap after each use & clear the outdoor dryer vent frequently to eliminate blockage & reduce resistance.
The same techniques apply to dish washing: Always do full loads when using your dishwasher & washing machine. Conserve energy by turning off the dry cycle on your dishwasher & air-dry the dishes instead.
4. Refrigeration Tips -- Maintain your refrigerator & freezer at the right temperature. If they're only 10°F colder than necessary, your energy consumption will jump 25 percent. The refrigerator should be between 38 - 42°F & the freezer between 0 - 5°F. Make sure the door is sealed tightly. Check the gasket (rubber seal) for cracks & dried-on food. Choose a refrigerator with a freezer on top rather than a side-by-side unit. On average, the savings amount to 20%.
5. Air Conditioning -- In our part of the country, air conditioning is seldom necessary in a well-insulated home. If you increase your air conditioning thermostat by only 3°F you can save an average of 470 lbs. of CO2 per year. You can save up to 3% of energy consumed for each degree the thermostat is set above 72°. Ceiling or room fans can also be used to cool rooms significantly while using less energy than air conditioning. An attic "whole house" fan is an effective way of cooling your home without using the air conditioner. It forces hot air out of your home & draws cooler air in through attic vents.
6. Unplug Unnecessary Appliances -- Unplug the extra refrigerator in your basement or garage, & save 448 lbs. of CO2 per year. Unplug appliances like microwaves, stereos, VCRs & printers that do not have to be on all the time, but use energy when plugged in. Simply unplugging these appliances can save a lot of energy. If possible, unplug electronic devices & chargers that have a block-shaped transformer on the plug when they are not in use.
7. Lighting -- For every 75-watt incandescent light bulb which you replace with a 20-watt compact fluorescent, you’ll get the same amount of light but save 1,300 lbs. of CO2 & $55. (Compact fluorescents screw into regular sockets.) Fluorescents save 75% of the energy, yet they last much longer. Turn off unneeded lights, & save 376 lbs. of CO2 per year. Also, keep bulbs dust-free. Dust on a light bulb or dirt on a glass fixture can reduce the light it emits by 10 percent & make it seem that you need a higher-wattage light. When building a new home, include natural lighting features (skylights, suntubes, larger south-facing windows, etc.) to reduce the need for artificial lights. Adjust your schedule when possible to be active in daylight & sleep during the dark.
8. Home Heating -- Lower your thermostat in winter by 2°F & save 353 lbs. of CO2 per year. Change furnace filters often because dirty filters restrict airflow & waste energy. Keep your furnace clean & properly adjusted. Switch from an oil or electric heating system to natural gas, which is more efficient. Replace simple dial-type thermostats with smart programmable thermostats. These units allow you to set the heating & cooling system to take a break while you're asleep or out, then come on at preset times to keep you comfortable when you wake up or come home. In an average house this can reduce emissions by 1,000 lbs. per year—not to mention producing significant savings on your energy bill, with a quick payback of the $50–100 cost. Dress warmly to stay comfortable without turning up the heat. Lower the thermostat to 55°F or off at night or when leaving the house/office for an extended period of time. For every degree you lower your heat in the 60-70° range, you'll save up to 5% on heating costs.
9. Oven Smarts -- Minimize the number of times you open an oven door during cooking. Each time, you lose 25-50° or more. Do not preheat longer than necessary. Ten minutes should be sufficient. Preheating is not necessary when broiling.
10. Reduce Your Home Size -- If you’re about to build or buy a new home, aim for something smaller. Many new homes are much larger per person than in the past, which increases home energy consumption dramatically for construction, heating, dehumidifying & cooling. The median size of a newly built U.S. home in 1970 was 1,500 square feet. By 2000, it had increased to 2,300 square feet, even though the median family's income hasn't changed much & family sizes are smaller now.
11. Seal Air Leaks -- One of the least expensive & most effective ways to reduce energy consumption in the home is to seal air leaks. A simple effort to weatherize your home—especially to seal any large air gaps in the attic & basement—can reduce a typical home's greenhouse gas emissions by 1,300 lbs. per year. Keep your fireplace damper closed unless a fire is burning to prevent heated air from escaping through the chimney. Avoid using kitchen, bathroom & other ventilating fans in excess, as these can eject a significant amount of heated or cooled air in a very short period of time.
12. Add Insulation -- Adding attic insulation is also highly effective & can save an additional 1,300 lbs. of CO2. Adding wall, attic, & basement insulation costs more per unit of energy saved, but can trim a home's CO2 emissions by 2,000 lbs. per year. Pool blankets -- insulating sheets that float on the surface -- cut the energy consumption of pool heaters up to 70%.
13. Window Efficiency -- Adding air-gap window films or low-e films to existing windows, while not always cost-effective, can reduce your home's emissions by 1,000 lbs. per year. When possible, replace old windows with new high performance, energy efficient (double-paned) windows or install storm windows. Curtains & shades can also help prevent hot or cold air from escaping.
14. Smart Landscaping -- Shading your east & west windows with overhangs or trellises or by planting shade trees are also effective ways to reduce unwanted heat gain on hot, sunny days. They also act as windbreaks in winter. Also, plant trees or shrubs to shade air-conditioning units (but not to block the airflow.) A unit operating in the shade uses as much as 10% less electricity than the same one operating in the sun.
15. Duct Work -- Sealing & insulating heating & cooling ducts is a more expensive job, but saves more energy & therefore can reduce your emissions by an average of 1,300 lbs. of CO2 per year. Upgrading your heating or cooling equipment with new technology & making sure these units are regularly tuned (typically every year) will also reduce emissions by several hundred lbs.
16. Hot Water Efficiency -- Turn down your water heater to 120°F (from the usual 145°F), & you may save 163 lbs. of CO2 per year. Reduce hot water consumption by installing efficient showerheads, faucets & other fixtures (see Water Conservation Tips). You can insulate the water heater with an insulating blanket. This is especially valuable for older water heaters with little internal insulation. (Be sure to leave the air intake vent uncovered when insulating a gas water heater.) When buying a new water heater, look for the most efficient & properly sized type with the lowest life-cycle cost. Better yet, install a solar hot water heater.
17. Save Energy at Work -- Turn off office equipment when not in use. Reduce energy consumption & equipment wear by setting computers, monitors, & copiers to sleep-mode. Better yet, turn them all the way off if you are not going to use them for an extended period of time, particularly when you go home at the end of the workday. To keep it simple, just plug your computer, scanner & printer into one power strip that can be switched off after shutting down your computer. Do the same with the microwave in the office lunchroom, & other office appliances which are always on otherwise. Over your lunch break, turn off your computer monitor. This will save energy without losing your work or having to reboot. Encourage your co-workers to do the same.
18. Limit Your "Stuff" Consumption -- Virtually every physical object you buy in a store requires energy for its production &/or operation. This includes clothing, accessories, household furnishings, office supplies, appliances, sporting goods, decorative objects, & toys - which all consume energy. We could easily have happy, fulfilled lives while reducing this consumption, & save tremendous energy (& $$) in the process. Unclutter your life & live more simply. When you do buy, try to purchase locally made goods & avoid energy costs due to long-distance transportation.
19. Eat a Vegetarian Diet -- The production of meat, dairy, & eggs is energy intensive. We can all reduce our food energy consumption by eating plant proteins directly, converting at least some of our daily meals to vegetarian dishes. This will also be healthier for you & your family, save money, reduce water consumption, reduce water pollution, reduce land use impacts of livestock production, & reduce the potential for animal cruelty. For more information, visit:
• The Vegetarian Resource Group: www.vrg.org
• Vegetarian Times: www.vegetariantimes.com
• In a Vegetarian Kitchen: www.vegkitchen.com
20. Get Involved & Talk to Your Legislators -- Many of our current governmental regulations are not helpful for conserving energy, & some policies actually reward large energy users with lower bulk rates. Citizens need to contact their legislators & ask for better policies.
If we reduce energy consumption, we can avoid construction of new power plants & other negative energy impacts. The savings below are expressed primarily as reduced Carbon Dioxide emissions (a prime cause of Climate Change), but many other environmental damages will also be equally reduced. CO2 savings are averages, but your savings may be even higher. Keep in mind that as you save energy, you also save money!
1. Efficient Transportation - Transportation is a leading energy consumer. In the U.S., vehicles use more gasoline each year than the entire U.S. oil industry produces. Try to live near your work or school, & use public transportation, carpool, walk, or bike when you can. Replace your SUV with one of the new hybrid gas & electric cars & you could save as much as $11,000 on gas & produce 107 fewer tons of CO2. The new efficient hybrids are reliable & drive (& refuel) just like a standard car, with no need to recharge batteries.
2. Better Appliances -- Purchase energy efficient household appliances. This can make an enormous difference. For example: if you replace your 1972 refrigerator with a 2001 model, you may cut your CO2 emissions by 1,100 lbs. a year & save $80 a year on your energy bill. (Install the dishwasher away from your refrigerator: the dishwasher's heat & moisture make the fridge work harder.) Replace your top-loading washing machine with a front-loader, & you may save $100 a year in energy, water & detergent. A new Energy Star refrigerator uses about 20% less energy than a standard new refrigerator & 46% less than one made before 1980. A new Energy Star washing machine uses nearly 50% less energy than a standard washer. (For details, visit: Energy Star http://www.energystar.gov)
3. Cold Water Wash & Line Dry -- Washing clothes in cold water reduces your washer's energy use by 75% & saves almost 500 lbs. of CO2 per year. Drying clothes outside in the fresh air & sunlight not only lengthens the life of your clothes but also saves energy & 1,386 lbs. of CO2 emissions. When you need to use the clothes dryer, run full loads & use the moisture-sensing setting. Clean the lint trap after each use & clear the outdoor dryer vent frequently to eliminate blockage & reduce resistance.
The same techniques apply to dish washing: Always do full loads when using your dishwasher & washing machine. Conserve energy by turning off the dry cycle on your dishwasher & air-dry the dishes instead.
4. Refrigeration Tips -- Maintain your refrigerator & freezer at the right temperature. If they're only 10°F colder than necessary, your energy consumption will jump 25 percent. The refrigerator should be between 38 - 42°F & the freezer between 0 - 5°F. Make sure the door is sealed tightly. Check the gasket (rubber seal) for cracks & dried-on food. Choose a refrigerator with a freezer on top rather than a side-by-side unit. On average, the savings amount to 20%.
5. Air Conditioning -- In our part of the country, air conditioning is seldom necessary in a well-insulated home. If you increase your air conditioning thermostat by only 3°F you can save an average of 470 lbs. of CO2 per year. You can save up to 3% of energy consumed for each degree the thermostat is set above 72°. Ceiling or room fans can also be used to cool rooms significantly while using less energy than air conditioning. An attic "whole house" fan is an effective way of cooling your home without using the air conditioner. It forces hot air out of your home & draws cooler air in through attic vents.
6. Unplug Unnecessary Appliances -- Unplug the extra refrigerator in your basement or garage, & save 448 lbs. of CO2 per year. Unplug appliances like microwaves, stereos, VCRs & printers that do not have to be on all the time, but use energy when plugged in. Simply unplugging these appliances can save a lot of energy. If possible, unplug electronic devices & chargers that have a block-shaped transformer on the plug when they are not in use.
7. Lighting -- For every 75-watt incandescent light bulb which you replace with a 20-watt compact fluorescent, you’ll get the same amount of light but save 1,300 lbs. of CO2 & $55. (Compact fluorescents screw into regular sockets.) Fluorescents save 75% of the energy, yet they last much longer. Turn off unneeded lights, & save 376 lbs. of CO2 per year. Also, keep bulbs dust-free. Dust on a light bulb or dirt on a glass fixture can reduce the light it emits by 10 percent & make it seem that you need a higher-wattage light. When building a new home, include natural lighting features (skylights, suntubes, larger south-facing windows, etc.) to reduce the need for artificial lights. Adjust your schedule when possible to be active in daylight & sleep during the dark.
8. Home Heating -- Lower your thermostat in winter by 2°F & save 353 lbs. of CO2 per year. Change furnace filters often because dirty filters restrict airflow & waste energy. Keep your furnace clean & properly adjusted. Switch from an oil or electric heating system to natural gas, which is more efficient. Replace simple dial-type thermostats with smart programmable thermostats. These units allow you to set the heating & cooling system to take a break while you're asleep or out, then come on at preset times to keep you comfortable when you wake up or come home. In an average house this can reduce emissions by 1,000 lbs. per year—not to mention producing significant savings on your energy bill, with a quick payback of the $50–100 cost. Dress warmly to stay comfortable without turning up the heat. Lower the thermostat to 55°F or off at night or when leaving the house/office for an extended period of time. For every degree you lower your heat in the 60-70° range, you'll save up to 5% on heating costs.
9. Oven Smarts -- Minimize the number of times you open an oven door during cooking. Each time, you lose 25-50° or more. Do not preheat longer than necessary. Ten minutes should be sufficient. Preheating is not necessary when broiling.
10. Reduce Your Home Size -- If you’re about to build or buy a new home, aim for something smaller. Many new homes are much larger per person than in the past, which increases home energy consumption dramatically for construction, heating, dehumidifying & cooling. The median size of a newly built U.S. home in 1970 was 1,500 square feet. By 2000, it had increased to 2,300 square feet, even though the median family's income hasn't changed much & family sizes are smaller now.
11. Seal Air Leaks -- One of the least expensive & most effective ways to reduce energy consumption in the home is to seal air leaks. A simple effort to weatherize your home—especially to seal any large air gaps in the attic & basement—can reduce a typical home's greenhouse gas emissions by 1,300 lbs. per year. Keep your fireplace damper closed unless a fire is burning to prevent heated air from escaping through the chimney. Avoid using kitchen, bathroom & other ventilating fans in excess, as these can eject a significant amount of heated or cooled air in a very short period of time.
12. Add Insulation -- Adding attic insulation is also highly effective & can save an additional 1,300 lbs. of CO2. Adding wall, attic, & basement insulation costs more per unit of energy saved, but can trim a home's CO2 emissions by 2,000 lbs. per year. Pool blankets -- insulating sheets that float on the surface -- cut the energy consumption of pool heaters up to 70%.
13. Window Efficiency -- Adding air-gap window films or low-e films to existing windows, while not always cost-effective, can reduce your home's emissions by 1,000 lbs. per year. When possible, replace old windows with new high performance, energy efficient (double-paned) windows or install storm windows. Curtains & shades can also help prevent hot or cold air from escaping.
14. Smart Landscaping -- Shading your east & west windows with overhangs or trellises or by planting shade trees are also effective ways to reduce unwanted heat gain on hot, sunny days. They also act as windbreaks in winter. Also, plant trees or shrubs to shade air-conditioning units (but not to block the airflow.) A unit operating in the shade uses as much as 10% less electricity than the same one operating in the sun.
15. Duct Work -- Sealing & insulating heating & cooling ducts is a more expensive job, but saves more energy & therefore can reduce your emissions by an average of 1,300 lbs. of CO2 per year. Upgrading your heating or cooling equipment with new technology & making sure these units are regularly tuned (typically every year) will also reduce emissions by several hundred lbs.
16. Hot Water Efficiency -- Turn down your water heater to 120°F (from the usual 145°F), & you may save 163 lbs. of CO2 per year. Reduce hot water consumption by installing efficient showerheads, faucets & other fixtures (see Water Conservation Tips). You can insulate the water heater with an insulating blanket. This is especially valuable for older water heaters with little internal insulation. (Be sure to leave the air intake vent uncovered when insulating a gas water heater.) When buying a new water heater, look for the most efficient & properly sized type with the lowest life-cycle cost. Better yet, install a solar hot water heater.
17. Save Energy at Work -- Turn off office equipment when not in use. Reduce energy consumption & equipment wear by setting computers, monitors, & copiers to sleep-mode. Better yet, turn them all the way off if you are not going to use them for an extended period of time, particularly when you go home at the end of the workday. To keep it simple, just plug your computer, scanner & printer into one power strip that can be switched off after shutting down your computer. Do the same with the microwave in the office lunchroom, & other office appliances which are always on otherwise. Over your lunch break, turn off your computer monitor. This will save energy without losing your work or having to reboot. Encourage your co-workers to do the same.
18. Limit Your "Stuff" Consumption -- Virtually every physical object you buy in a store requires energy for its production &/or operation. This includes clothing, accessories, household furnishings, office supplies, appliances, sporting goods, decorative objects, & toys - which all consume energy. We could easily have happy, fulfilled lives while reducing this consumption, & save tremendous energy (& $$) in the process. Unclutter your life & live more simply. When you do buy, try to purchase locally made goods & avoid energy costs due to long-distance transportation.
19. Eat a Vegetarian Diet -- The production of meat, dairy, & eggs is energy intensive. We can all reduce our food energy consumption by eating plant proteins directly, converting at least some of our daily meals to vegetarian dishes. This will also be healthier for you & your family, save money, reduce water consumption, reduce water pollution, reduce land use impacts of livestock production, & reduce the potential for animal cruelty. For more information, visit:
• The Vegetarian Resource Group: www.vrg.org
• Vegetarian Times: www.vegetariantimes.com
• In a Vegetarian Kitchen: www.vegkitchen.com
20. Get Involved & Talk to Your Legislators -- Many of our current governmental regulations are not helpful for conserving energy, & some policies actually reward large energy users with lower bulk rates. Citizens need to contact their legislators & ask for better policies.
4 comments:
I believe that little guy was called "Reddy Kilowatt"
my guy didn't have a name. perhaps reddy kilowatt was my guy's predecessor
Rock on for the ERF Anne! Thanks for re-posting the info. (& in honor of Earth Day, Doodle & your blog-o-licious self, I'm finally joining in the comment fun after so many years of holding back...)
Everything but #19 sounds like something I can do.
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