Paul
Belle Plain, KS
I have been changing my light bulbs with day light fluorescent. we have at least 40 light in house and garage. The garage lights are 200 watt. So I should be seeing a lower power bill next month.
Walter
Dalton, GA
My 2004 Taurus reads out the average miles per gallon on the instrument panel. By holding my speed between 55 to 60 mph my average go as high as 29.9 on interstates. Running the speed limit of 70 up to 80 in passing it was around 23 avg.
Marilyn
Arroyo Grande, CA
I am proud to announce the formation of lightsoff.org. I was speaking with an energy expert who told me that a significant percentage of electricity useage is from the lights and appliances we use in our household. My 4 year old daughter Alexandra inspired me to come up with a simple method for our children to lead the way to energy conservation.
Historically, children have been the drivers of significant and positive change. The ubiquitous adoption of seat belts and recycling have been driven in great part by out children. Knowing that children can be a very powerful force led us to form lightsoff.org. If families practice the three simple tenets of lightoff.org, they can reduce their energy costs, while reducing pollution caused by coal-powered energy plants.
Here are the three simple daily activities of the lightsoff.org program:
1. Turn off the lights - every time you leave a room, turn off the lights behind you. At the end of the evening, be sure every light is turned off. My daughter and I make a game of it. Every time we are leaving a room we say "lights off". She usually races to the light switch to be the first to turn it off.
2. Switch to Fluorescent light bulbs - the new "CFL" fluorescent light bulbs use approximatley 75% less energy than conventional light bulbs. Not only will they save you energy, but they will save you time because you don't have to change them as often.
3. Turn Off and Unplug Appliances - another simple way to save energy is to turn off and unplug appliances. Appliancees use almost 40% of the total energy useage when they are off, but still plugged in. At the end of the day, turn off the computer, printer, coffee maker, and other appliance which is not in use. To make it easy to turn off an entertainment center filled with electronics, add a power strip and then turn off the strip instead of all of the appliances inside.
When we employed these three simple steps we saved 20% off our energy bill in just one month. As soon as your child can talk and reach the light switch they can participate in this program. All they need to do is say "lights off" and turn off the switch and you are on your way to energy savings.
If everyone has other suggestions about ways to get your children involved in energy conservation feel free to send them my way.
Elizabeth
Dallas, TX
I don't use a clothes dryer, ever, at all. Clothes will dry all by themselves on a line; there's no need to spend money or energy on the process.
Phyllis
Pittsburgh, PA
I am what I call a Natural Environmentalist. I firmly believe that if we do not stop creating 'problems' with all other creatures and non living things we and they will not be on this earth At All. So, we must take Two Steps Backward to go One Step Forward. That means using less unnatural energy and using more natural energy. I have two energy-star furnaces in a duplex I own. I will be putting storm windows on the inside of the windows of the duplex.I do not own a car (gave that up about 12 years ago). I walk or take the bus. Why are drivers so anxious to get to the next red light? Don't they realize that they are pedestrians too? A pedestrians cannot walk or even run as fast as a car!
Thank you for the Challange. It was very enlightening.
Cheryl
Brookline, MA
We bought a hybrid car last year, and every time the gas motor shuts off while I'm sitting in traffic, I smile, thinking of all the emmissions I'm not releasing into the air. It makes sitting in traffic something to smile about!
Also, as our old light bulbs go out, we are replacing most of them with energy efficient bulbs. There is a slight delay when you turn them on, but the light is pleasing, and the delay reminds me (like the hybrid engine) that I'm doing something good for the world.
Finally - we recently replaced our 10 year old fridge with a new, very energy efficient model. Plus, it's bigger and looks really great!
Helping the world doesn't need to be painful!
Dave
Minneapolis, MN
Whilst I remain hopeful that our country is waking up to the destruction we are doing, including global climate change, I am frustrated about how much waste many people in this country create with their cars.
It is frustrating to see Expeditions, Suburbans, Escalades, Hummers, etc sitting in driveways running, waiting outside schools running, and being driven on freeways "empty" and like the driver needed to be somewhere ten minutes ago.
As a driver of a 40 mpg car in the 80s & 90s (Honda Civic CRX) and now a Hybrid Civic, it is disappointing to see how many people think they deserve whatever they want...
I hope people remember we are living on one planet which we need to care for responsibly if we are going to leave it for our children and future generations to enjoy how we have.
Don
Frewsburg, NY
Last Jan, I bought an '06 Honda Civic Hybrid. I wanted to save some $$ on gas. I didn't realize HOW MUCH BETTER it was at not polluting. I have attained 51.7 MPG for the life of the car. The car does much better than Consumer Reports would tell you (37 mpg). I have since changed 80% of my incandescent light bulbs to CFBs. I also bought two new energy star windows to replace single pane ones. I highly reccommend "An Inconvenient Truth" by Al Gore. See the movie, but get the book. It has tons of great web sites to visit to really learn and make a difference for the planet.
Ann
Davis, CA
I couldn't find another place to make this comment. I took your quiz and got 5 right, but I can't take the challenge because I have already done all those things and have been doing them for 5-10 years depending on which. I have run into this before. If one is already enrgy conscious then there is no place for them in these improve your energy efficiency programs. Surely there are many other environmentally progressive people who are in this category. Perhaps it would be worthwhile to include us.
Duke
Rockville, MD
We have only one hot filament lamp in the living quarters. One more in the shed, but we use portable fluorescent trouble light there to save ergs.
A year ago we put in programmable thermostat. It cut our oil consumption significantly. When we bought house it had a kerosene pot burner (el cheapo by a defunct business -- it was to keep house cost down for GI purchasers in 1950). Two replacement furnaces of high pressure burners have cut oil use from four tanks a year to one! Admitted last January was warmest in recent history. But, keeping the temperature at 68F during day and after midnight at64F helped too.
We also monitor fuel use by reading the furnace on time and calculating fuel use. It can be done for piped in natural gas with a bit math and reading the Btu rating of burners.
By cooling setback in summer we reject house heat at lowest outside temperature between midnight and 0630. Usually the AC will not start until after lunch. I am tempted to hook up a power meter in the AC to keep track of its energy use.
Because we are retired we do not use daytime setbacks unless we are out for significant periods. If we worked the energy use would be lessened.
We also drive a Prius which will help next years tax bill. It is now 10 months old and is primary transportation for us EXCEPT for trips to DC from suburb. Metro beats parking, etc., headaches.
We have just over 5500 miles and consumed about 120 gallons of gas. One trip found road mileage over fifty MPG. It also has the best speed control I have ever seen. Zero fuel when stopped in traffic. Only pedal power beats it. Yes, we bike locally and not so locally as well.
Just a few thoughts.
Lynne
San Diego, CA
My own experience tells me the best way to save is to simplify my life and get back to the basics. Setting my priorities as to what we need most, I got married instead of living in a big house all alone. Rather than turn on the furnace, we bundle up with more warm clothing; we replaced our lightbulbs with energy saving fluorescents and natural lighting; and we are relandscaping our yard with xeriscape to save on water.
Russell
Lakewood, IL
In the past 10 years, my wife and I have replaced all of our windows and doors to be more energy efficent. We have replaced our water heater, furnace, air conditioner and thermostat. All lamp or lighting fixtures that can be equipped with the CFL bulbs have been changed even before the big push. My 10 year old Buick Lesaber still gets 36 miles to the gallon at 60 mph on the open road. A newer model that I leased could not get that kind of MPG.
Bruce
Barrington, IL
18 years ago we built our own home, using 6" studs in the exterior walls (with extra wall thickness in the upstairs bedrooms), plenty of insulation, and double-glazed, argon-filled windows. Yes, it cost more, but the savings continue, especially in recent years, as gas and electricity have risen in price.
We try to heat the room or space we are using, rather than the whole house. That means pre-warming the bed with an electric blanket before getting in, and using a bathroom wall-heater just before, during, and just after taking a shower. We are able to set the whole-house thermostat at a daytime temp of 62 (we wear sweaters in the winter) and lower at night. In the summer, we hardly ever use the A/C but when we do, it can run just a couple of hours in the morning and hold the coolness and dryness for the rest of the day. That's another bonus of our extra insulation.
L. Garcia
Costa Mesa, CA
The way I save energy is to decrease my consumption on usage of electricity, natural gas, and petro. I drive about the same distance, however I run more errands in one trip decreaseing the usage of my vehicle. Some days I don't use my vehicle.
I cook and eat at home more often, this means I do not have to jump in my car and run to the local fast food place for a meal. During the winter time I bake more often so that the heat and the aroma stay indoors and who does not like the smell of fresh apple pie baking in the oven. Since I live in CA I usually open the windows during the day. This help air out the house with fresh air that is about 70 degrees F. Just before evening I close the windows and I do not turn on the heater. You can always buy a pair of thermal underwear with your PJ's and double up on your blankets before bed time to keep you warm.
During summer time I BBQ outside more often than in the winter and use the microwave this will help your house stay cool.
On my entertainment center and computer center I bought a surge protector $20 each with a master power swithch. This protects my expensive electrial products from spikes and electrical leakage, but I can also turn power off to all components with one switch. One draw back, if you connect your TV, VCR, DVD or DVR to a surge protector with a master power swithch it may not store the the time in the memory. However some surge protectors come with an outlet that has continous power. I also do dont like florecent lighting so the next best thing is to get a dimmer swithch and dim your lighting.
Gary
Victorville, CA
i changed every lightbulb in the house to compact flourescent that were actually true light in color, no flourescent glare or harsh tones, programmed my thermostat and utilze my double paned windows as best as possible without creating a dungeon. it's bright cheery and my level pay on my electric bill went down.
Chris
Utica, MI
I've always been energy concious because I was in college during the '70's energy crunch. I've always been health concious because I was a Registered Nurse for 25 years. I keep the temperature in my home between 62-68 degrees in the winter. Not only does it save energy and money, but it's healthier, too. Cooler air isn't as dry and bacteria and viruses don't reproduce as quickly in cooler environments. Getting used to cooler temperatures in the house makes the change from indoors to outdoors less of a shock to the body systems, too! So, dial down the thermometer and add a warmer shirt or sweater to your wardrobe, and stay healthier this winter while you save money!
Maria
Columbus, GA
Hey, anybody home in this overheated house? I took the quiz and got all the answers right but the program told me I only got three right. Can you fix that?
Meryl
Weaverville, NC
Well, we built an energy star rated home with solar panels, well insulated, flourescent light bulbs, eco sustainable bamboo floors,energy star appliances etc. We feel that it is well worth the investment. Also have a hybrid car. So we are trying to do our part to be energy efficient. We have saved some money in bills which is a start and feel good about it. Also have socially responsible investments. We are living in an environmment that brings us closer to what nature provides us. Doing some organic gardening as well. If everyone does just a little of their part there is hope.
Urban
Covina, CA
if silicon wafers were made specifically for the PVC solar conversion industry the price of this clean energy source would drop by 50%. further savings come from the fact that solar power plants operate at peak efficiency for ten years longer than fossil fuel power plants and they are 100% recyclable, including that silicon wafer, which only needs to be refurbished, and then will provide another 45 years of power generating service.
Bob
Midland, MI
When natural gas went "through the roof" in 2005, we installed a corn stove and saved almost $1000 in energy use last heating season. Late in October 2006, we installed another corn burner as a fireplace insert in a different part of our home and expect it to save us even more.
Hemant
Manlius, NY
I have fully developed energy-efficient gas water heater, but the industry is not responding to make it commercial. Please visit www.thermorise.com.
thank you!
Ralph
Wichita, KS
Ecomotors is a simple efficient ROTARY ENGINE that is available on http://hometown.aol.com/ecomotors. It saves considerable energy in production as well as performance.
Rich
Miami Beach, FL
I am currently approaching retirement and am planning to recycle used (de-toxed) 20' and 40' cargo container into a housing unit if I can cut thru the governmental red tape regarding zoning, building codes, etc..The GREEN part of it is recycling these containers (they are stackable), wind generators, solar panels, rainwater reclamation. I percieve these abodes to be more substantial than trailers or mobile homes and should allow me to be less impacted by the hurricane season here in Florida. Any input from readers who may have gone down this path would be greatly appreciated. Currently am studying trailer/mobile home building requirements as my guide to hopefully getting them off the ground with the governmental agencies. Tied to a concrete slab and keeping external openings to a minimum I believe they will withstand wind and rain (storm surge and flood zones are another story). Got the bug from Discovery channel and Treehugger.com. Replies please!!! Floor plans available.
Nick
Urbandale, IA
In the past three years I have installed a geothermal heating and cooling system (with a high-tech thermostat), relpaced all of my indoor and outdoor incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs and bought a hybrid car. My total energy consumption has decreased by more than 50% so far, and my house is now 100% electric. In the near future I plan to 1) better insulate my house, 2) replace old windows and doors, 3) buy more energy-efficient appliances and 4) install solar panels. My ultimate goal is to get my net usage "from the grid" down to zero.
Tia, Gregory, and Jernise
Washington, DC
Four children, Jernise, Gregory and Tia Fauntroy and their older sister Ebonie Taylor, grew up in the row house at 58 Channing Street in Northwest Washington, D.C. Three generations of their family lived in the turn-of-the-century row home, and their extended family fills three more houses on the same block. After their mother passed away suddenly in 2004, Tia, Gregory, and Jernise, now 18, 20, and 22 years old, moved next door to their grandmother's house before she, too, died. That home, also in the family for three generations, is now owned by their aunt, and her siblings.
Even as they struggle to get their young lives in order, the Fauntroy children juggle the utilities for the aunt's house, where they currently live, while scraping together money to also cover utilities, taxes, and building supplies to restore their childhood home.
Since money is tight, they are doing all their own work on the home where they grew up. They hope to have the majority of the work done in time for the arrival of Gregory's baby daughter – so that she can be the fourth generation to live at 58 Channing Street. But while they take on the enormous task of restoring the home where they grew up, they still face the daily challenge of paying the bills at 56 Channing Street.
So that they won't be hit with sky-high heating bills this winter for two homes, the Alliance to Save Energy and 29 other Power Is in Your Hands campaign partners and product donors are giving their current home an energy-efficiency makeover to launch the "6 degrees of Energy-efficiency Challenge." They are also helping them to take the first energy- and money-saving steps to prevent energy waste in their family home as they repair it.
As part of the launch, the Fauntroy's challenged the speakers at the launch event to go online to www.sixdegreeschallenge.org and take the Challenge themselves.