Green at 50

The car of the future

Here is the car of the future. The GM Hy-Wire is an hydrogen powered car with nothing but water as emissions. The car is powered by a computer. Now, if I just had 5 million. GM says 10-20 years for this car. Fantastic.

 

Smart cars get smarter

Check out the new integration with the iPhone and the electric smart car (coming to the US this fall.) Then newest smart car has an iPhone app that will provide GPS directions, play music from your on-board collections, check your battery charge, let you know where the closest recharging station is and if you forget where you parked your car, your iPhone can find it for you (I could really use that one.)

Check out the video!

Clothes lines and rain...

It takes 3 loads of laundry to fill up my umbrella style clothesline...that and a little planning and finesse. Proper spacing is required for good air ventilation and the teenager's underwear have to be hung on the inside. We wouldn't want to alarm the neighbors or embarrass ourselves. At least not anymore than hanging everything you wear out on the line. So, today I hung a full 3 loads on the line...all the while thinking about how much more in touch with nature I was. How the early settlers of the plains must of had to live by the weather and how lucky I was to have PinPoint doppler radar and high speed internet access to 24 hour weather. I checked the radar and it was clear...no showers until afternoon. I was so clever...I'd have the clothes dry and off the line before the showers hit. Never mind that mother nature has a mind of her own...completely independent of KCRG news or the weather channel. Not 1/2 hour after I hung up the clothes the thunder began. Then came buckets of rain...for an hour now. I got a dose of settler reality today...whatever...

Weird green cars

I get a lot of grief and stares because I drive a smartcar. People in Iowa are used to monster pick-ups and farm machinery so I suppose it is a little different. Still, it's not THAT different. They have cars like mine all over Europe and have for years. If you really want to see some weird green cars, check out this link to Ecofriend. I get stopped and asked questions nearly everywhere I go now. I'd never get anything done if I drove one of these!

I have to report after our latest foot-deep snowfall, the smartcar gets around town GREAT! I am so pleased. It is very sure footed and I had no problem navigating snow-packed streets or getting up my long and very steep driveway. Thank goodness I won't have to sit around the house all winter! It is also toasty warm (even though it's a convertible) and I have had no condensation on the windows at all. I am so happy with my purchase, especially when I can fill the tank for under $20. Wohoo!

I'm so smart...car that is

I finally took the plunge and decided to trade my tired Chrysler for a new smart car. Sounds easy, trading in a car, but the closest smartcar dealerships are in Chicago and Minneapolis so to the North land I went. The smart car didn't make it across the pond until 2008 and there aren't many of them around. Thankfully, I found a used one in happy shade of tomato in a northern suburb of Minneapolis and came home with half a car that is taller than it is long.

The smart fortwo (for two people) passion  (love that name) cabriolet (convertible) gets about 33 mpg city/41 mpg highway. I'm already feeling pretty eco-friendly. Add to that the green processes that are used in the production of the car and I feel that I've done well for the environment...at least as well as I can do with my budget and the manufacturing processes that are currently available.

According the the smart Web site: "The smart fortwo is produced at "smartville" in Hambach, France. System partners on site deliver the prefabricated modules directly to the production line. Protecting the environment, energy efficiency and preservation of natural resources are hallmarks of smart brand. It starts with smart development through to the production of the cars in smartville. For example, only water-soluble paints are used for the smart's three basic colors – black, white and red. Painting the tridion safety cell is done by the powder-coating process. This removes the need for solvents. The body panels with molded-in color are fully recyclable.

The smart fortwo is also classified as an Ultra-Low Emission Vehicle (ULEV) due to its extremely low exhaust emissions. The catalytic converter is positioned close to the engine for a quick response. An electric pump blows fresh air into the exhaust port when the engine is cold to almost completely oxidize the carbon monoxide (CO) and hydrocarbons (HC) and render them harmless." Isn't that awesome?

Other nice features include an auto feature for my lights and windshield wipers. The heated seats have already gotten a work out with our latest cold snap and and have not failed to please. There is plenty of room in the back for groceries and trips to Goodwill and ReStore. The ride is fine on smooth streets, but can be pretty bumpy on many of Cedar Rapids roads. And I love all the room I now have in my garage. All in all, it's working great for what it is intended, inexpensive and eco-friendly alternative to in-town transportation. So far I'm getting over 36 mpg in town...wahoo! Honk and wave next time you see me and the tomato whizzing by!

A little sun and a gentle breeze

As part of my plan to reduce energy consumption this year, I purchased a clothesline to dry my clothes. Now, personally, I hate the look of a clothesline. I like to keep a neat garden and prefer flower trellises to the huge steel pools that my parent's still have in their backyard. But let's face it, I now have 4 chickens (yes, one died...but that's another story) being hauled around my yard in a chicken tractor so I guess I can compromise some of my views of aesthetics for the sake of the environment and my pocketbook. I purchased an umbrella-style clothesline that sets into a sleeve in the ground. It folds up when not in use and I can pull it out of the sleeve and put it in the shed when company comes.

U.S. Clothes Dryer Usage and Energy Consumption
Did you know that other countries don't rely on the automatic clothes dryer like most of us in the U.S.? In Australia (of course they have a ton of sun there) a 2002 survey by the Australian Ministerial Council on Energy said that only 20% of clothes dryers in Australia were reported as being used at least once a week. In the U.S., 90% of households have a clothes dryer and use it an average of 400 times a year. According to a 2001 report by the Department of Energy, electric dryers account for 5.8 percent of the total electricity usage in U.S. homes – that's more than I thought when you consider that 8.8 percent goes to indoor and outdoor lighting. Cost to you:  $1,500 over the lifetime of the dryer or I've also seen calculations of $252/year.

Effects on the Environment on Clothes Dryers
Environmentally speaking, the energy consumed by a clothes dryer can be anywhere from 1800 to 5000 watts per hour, or 1.8 to 5KwHr. If we assume that 1.5 pounds of carbon emissions per kilowatt hour are generated in the production of electricity by a coal fired power station over a year's time, then a clothes dryer contributes significantly to CO2 emissions.

Benefits of Using the Sun
Believe it or not, hanging your clothes outside has other benefits besides reducing your energy consumption.

• It gets you outside and keeps you moving...get your daily Vitamin D and lose a few pounds
• The sun not only drys your clothes, it also destroys any bacteria that remain after the washing
• The sun gently bleaches your clothes without the use of chemicals
• The outlay for a clothesline is much less than for a clothes dryer. My little umbrella-style clothesline was $45.
• It's easier on your clothes. Clothes dryers create lint and accelerate the deterioration of your clothes. So not only do you save money on electricity, you save money on new clothes!
• And last, but certainly not least, your clothes smell soooo good. No bottle can reproduce that freshness, no matter how hard they try.

Dialing down the electric bill

We've had our share of natural disasters lately in Eastern Iowa. The winter of 2008 was brutal and ice storms caused massive power outages and damage to power lines and poles. The next spring, record floods invaded the local power plant in Cedar Rapids causing severe damage. It was nasty. To recover their losses, Alliant energy has proposed an 18.1% rate hike...adding insult to injury to consumers trying to recover from these disasters and on top of a struggling economy. I understand it but it still stinks. But take heart, there are still things we can do to lower our energy bills. My family and I have been reducing our energy consumption for nearly a year, now, and the savings are really beginning to show on our electric bill...here's a few things that have helped us:

1. Reduce usage: Use fluorescent bulbs, air dry dishes in your dishwasher, install (and use) power strips on your computers/TVs and radios, turn down your hot water heater, purchase energy efficient appliances, use battery operated clocks, hang out your clothes, unplug chargers when not in use (see more ideas in my Energy Leeches post.)
2. Insulate, insulate, insulate: Stop air leaks and insulate walls, floors and ceilings. Check in your local area for rebates for the purchase of energy efficient window, appliances and insulation for your home.
3. Try "Time of Day" program with your local utility company: Electric companies produce energy to meet their maximum need 24 hours a day...so a lot of that energy is wasted in off-peak times such as nights and weekends. Alliant energy offers a "Time of Day" program that allows customers to purchase night time and weekend electricity for 50% of the regular rate. Of course, the rate during the weekday is 140% of the regular rate - so it does take a little thought. When we went on the program, we monitored our usage for a week to see if the program would work for us. We decided that if we used 70% of our power off-peak that we would save money. So far, we use 82% of our power off-peak and save about 17% a month...and that's with me working from home.
4. Cycle your air conditioning:  Alliant also has an "Appliance Cycling Program." When the demand for energy reaches a critical point for the electric provider, they can activate a cycling of your air conditioner (usually 15 minutes on/15 minutes off) while your fan still runs to circulate the air. They guarantee this will only happen during the week and never on weekends or holidays. The savings is around $7 a month.
5. Results:  We've been very pleased with our electric usage and bill. Electricity usage seems to be easier to impact than natural gas. We have gas heat, hot water heater and stove and an electric dryer. Since last year, we have reduced our usage by 42%. With the Time of Day program, we have further reduced our bill by 17% per month. The end result is we have reduced our total electric bill (including standard monthly fees) in February from $90 per month last year to $50 this last February. We also plan to sign up for the Appliance Cycling Program this summer. We aren't looking forward to the 18% increase, but 18% of $50 is a whole lot less than 18% of $90!

Energy leeches: drain on your electric bill

I remember wading through my uncle's creek as a kid and coming out with my legs covered in black, slimy leeches...yuck! My grandmother used to use them for bass bait (little tidbit for those of you that fish) but I can definitely live the rest of my life without seeing anymore leeches. Energy leeches are just as unwelcome in my house. We have reduced our electric bill by about a third from this time last year by picking some low-hanging-fruit. I feel really good about that. But, I'd like to get it down by half if I could, so I've taken a good look around to see what else I can do. I found more little suckers than I thought possible. Here's a few ideas to help you rid your home of as many pests as possible:

• Lurking incandescent bulbs:  I found incandescent bulbs in places that I hadn't thought about before. Places like the garage door opener, closets, nightlights and the bathroom exhaust. I'll be replacing those this weekend with fluorescent bulbs for sure!
• Heat generators:  Anything that generates heat sucks a ton of energy and its usage can usually be reduced by putting a little extra thought into how and when you use it. To help you figure out what to reduce the most, you can  purchase an inexpensive device called a Kill-A-Watt that measures how many volts, amps, watts, volt-amps, power factor, and kilowatt-hours of anything plugged into it.
• Appliances with clocks:  Yes, that includes the extra clock in the guest bedroom. Add to that extra phones, coffee makers and microwaves and there's a lot of energy sapping going on.
• Excessive opening and closing:  Refrigerators require more energy to cool the more that they are opened and closed. Try taking the eggs, milk, cheese and tomato out of the fridge at the same time next time you make an omelet (and them put them back at the same time, too!) The same thing goes for garage doors. I decided to leave my car out after my first trip of the day and pull it into the garage after my last trip. I figure it will extend the life of my garage door opener and reduce the amount of winter grunge that I track into my house...and save a little electricity, too.
• Dirty filters:  It's amazing how many things would work more efficiently if we just were diligent about cleaning. Furnaces, clothes dryers, sweepers and vacuums all have filters that need to be regularly cleaned to maintain efficiency and ensure long life (both green things.) Don't forget to clean the coils of your refrigerator regularly...that's another project for me this weekend.

Are compact fluorescent bulbs really safe?

I know that I've advocated using fluorescent bulbs (CFLs) for sometime because they are so much more energy efficient than incandescent bulbs. And still, in the back of my mind, I worry about the effects on the environment of their mercury content. Mercury is quite toxic causing problems with the central nervous system, the intestinal tract and kidneys. It can be inhaled as a vapor, absorbed through the skin or ingested. Therefore, it's important to consider the amount of mercury generated by the production of CFLs as opposed to incandescent lights, and how to protect ourselves if we break a bulb and properly dispose of them.

According to the EPA, the coal-fired factories that generate electricity contribute to 40 percent of the mercury that gets released into the environment, so using a less efficient incandescent bulb causes 2X the mercury to be released into the atmosphere that  is contained in the CFL. And as long as the bulb is properly disposed of, no mercury is released at all. 
IMPORTANT NOTE:  Home Depot, Ikea and True Value recycle CFLs for free.

Well, they didn't teach me how to properly handle mercury back when I was taking Chemistry classes in 1980 so I looked it up. The EPA website has a very detailed and easy to understand description. I'll reprint it here as it is on their website:

Before Clean-up: Air Out the Room

• Have people and pets leave the room, and don't let anyone walk through the breakage area on their way out.
• Open a window and leave the room for 15 minutes or more.
• Shut off the central forced-air heating/air conditioning system, if you have one.

Clean-Up Steps for Hard Surfaces

• Carefully scoop up glass pieces and powder using stiff paper or cardboard and place them in a glass jar with metal lid (such as a canning jar) or in a sealed plastic bag.
• Use sticky tape, such as duct tape, to pick up any remaining small glass fragments and powder.
• Wipe the area clean with damp paper towels or disposable wet wipes. Place towels in the glass jar or plastic bag.
• Do not use a vacuum or broom to clean up the broken bulb on hard surfaces.

Clean-up Steps for Carpeting or Rug

• Carefully pick up glass fragments and place them in a glass jar with metal lid (such as a canning jar) or in a sealed plastic bag.
• Use sticky tape, such as duct tape, to pick up any remaining small glass fragments and powder.
• If vacuuming is needed after all visible materials are removed, vacuum the area where the bulb was broken.
• Remove the vacuum bag (or empty and wipe the canister), and put the bag or vacuum debris in a sealed plastic bag.

"Clean-up Steps for Clothing, Bedding and Other Soft Materials

• If clothing or bedding materials come in direct contact with broken glass or mercury-containing powder from inside the bulb that may stick to the fabric, the clothing or bedding should be thrown away. Do not wash such clothing or bedding because mercury fragments in the clothing may contaminate the machine and/or pollute sewage.
• You can, however, wash clothing or other materials that have been exposed to the mercury vapor from a broken CFL, such as the clothing you are wearing when you cleaned up the broken CFL, as long as that clothing has not come into direct contact with the materials from the broken bulb.
• If shoes come into direct contact with broken glass or mercury-containing powder from the bulb, wipe them off with damp paper towels or disposable wet wipes. Place the towels or wipes in a glass jar or plastic bag for disposal.

Disposal of Clean-up Materials

• Immediately place all clean-up materials outdoors in a trash container or protected area for the next normal trash pickup.
• Wash your hands after disposing of the jars or plastic bags containing clean-up materials.
• Check with your local or state government about disposal requirements in your specific area. Some states do not allow such trash disposal. Instead, they require that broken and unbroken mercury-containing bulbs be taken to a local recycling center.

Future Cleaning of Carpeting or Rug: Air Out the Room During and After Vacuuming

The next several times you vacuum, shut off the central forced-air heating/air conditioning system and open a window before vacuuming.
Keep the central heating/air conditioning system shut off and the window open for at least 15 minutes after vacuuming is completed."

I think that CFLs are one of the interim solutions that we have to our energy crisis. I believe that more efficient and safe alternatives are yet to be developed. But, if we are smart and aware with CFLs, we can begin to make a difference and safely reduce our energy consumption now.

For more information: "The Lighting Lowdown:  Everything you need to know about Lighting"

Eco-resolutions for a New Year

2008 is finally over (some of us here in the flood zone rightfully feel that way) and alas, a new year with all of the hopes and potential of our baby cardinal friend here is upon us. Ready for each of us to write a new chapter by building on what we have learned and continuing to stretch outside our usual sphere of complacency and make a difference in the world around us.

I think that it helps to take a little time at the first of each year to look back on our accomplishments before we beat ourselves up over the resolutions that we didn't keep in the previous year. Last year, I recorded my resolutions for the year in my calendar and I found that I actually reached many of my goals and made good headway on the rest. Way cool. I also discovered after reviewing the contents of my blog that I've also made some real changes in my lifestyle that have moved me further toward a more healthy and earth-friendly existence. I didn't expect to make as much progress this quickly when I started my journey... The more that I research and learn about the condition of our planet and how my everyday life contributes to the pollution that is causing climate change and species extinction, the more urgency I have to continue to make changes and educate others to do the same. So, I'm making my green resolutions for 2009 and you'll read about them in the coming months as I work to reduce my impact on this neck of the woods. Happiest of New Years to you!

Green clothing...can I really get into this?

I'm not sure that I can really get into the "green clothing" thing. I just feel like there are too many unknowns. How can I know from where I sit in Cedar Rapids, Iowa how the fibers are grown and harvested (that is if they are natural fibers) and then how the fabric is treated in order to give it the color and character that I am looking for? How can I know if the manufacturer's claims of organically grown fibers and environmentally friendly dyes are true? So, I've taken my pragmatic, mid-western stab at this topic that I believe will help make a difference until I can get more information to make better choices. Below is my "Green Clothing Clause":

• The clothes that I already own are the greenest clothes around. They already exist, they don't require harvesting, chemicals, dyes or manufacturing. So I've committed to keeping (and wearing!) clothing that is still in good shape and fit me...

• I will keep my creative juices flowing and try to stay in fashion by re-purposing clothing that is out of style for other uses. This can include other household cloth items as well. I've made shopping bags out of pillow shams, purses out of old coats and reused buttons and other accessories. If you are stumped for ideas, try inviting friends over and have them bring the clothes they want to recycle (this works best if your friends are also strapped for cash and a little crafty.) Then you'll have a lot of heads for brainstorming and more fabrics and accessories to work with.

• When it is time to get rid of clothing, I will recycle it...either to a consignment store (if I think I can make a couple of bucks) or a store like Goodwill or Salvation Army. If the clothing is beyond wearing, then I'll recycle it into rags for cleaning in the garage and washing up after gardening.

• I've stopped buying items that need to be dry cleaned. The chemicals are bad for the people at the cleaners, the environment and me...there is simply no upside. The good thing is that many items that require dry cleaning can be hand-washed and laid flat to dry...which leads me to one of my favorite topics, laundry (ugh...not really!)

• The way that we launder has a huge impact on the environment...I try to use only maximum loads and earth-friendly soaps (see my post on green laundry.) The soap that I made to wash my clothes works great, by the way, and the vinegar used in the rinse not only makes the clothes fluffy and soft, but also keeps the inside of my washer a whole lot cleaner than store-purchased fabric softeners.

For more information about greening up your closet, Planet Green has put together a list of website references to help you. Enjoy!

Learning from our neighbors

I was privileged to spend a few days in Europe on vacation last week. In addition to the fabulous architecture, culture and food, I also had the opportunity to observe some of the energy and resource conserving tactics of our European neighbors. The vacation took my husband and I to Vienna, Austria and Prague, Czech Republic. We found some surprising and innovative ways that could easily be adapted in this country to help save both resources and money.

Push-button hair dryers: In addition to being hardwired into the wall (to prevent theft) the hair dryers in the hotels all had buttons that had to be pressed in order to work which prevented the appliance being left on accidentally - and saves electricity.
 
Two-button toilets: The smaller button used less water for those lesser messes (I'm not saying any more about it....)

Guest controlled electricity: In Prague, we had to insert our key card into a reader in order to activate the electricity in the room. It was pretty disconcerting (the lights didn't work!) until it was explained to us, but it prevents the guests from leaving lights on while they are out for the day.

Reusing towels...whether you want to or not:  In Prague we reused our towels for the three days we were there. It didn't matter if they ended up on the floor - they were hung-up by the cleaning staff and we used them again. In Vienna, they were a little more congenial and they gave us the option of getting clean towels.

Fabulous public transportation:  By far the shining star in green living in Europe was the fabulous public transit. It is not only clean and affordable, it is within easy walking distance to most destinations and requires a minimal wait. We were able to experience the subway (U-Bahn) and trams in Austria and the tram system in Czech Republic. The subway is very easy to understand and the stops are displayed on LED signs. On the trams, it's a little trickier because you have to be able to understand the announcer so you get off at the right stop. If you're lucky, you'll get a newer tram with LED signs like the U-Bahn.

Governor Culver's follow-up

As you may remember, a couple of weeks ago I sent an email to Governor Chet Culver to consider joining the EcoDrivingUSA campaign here in Iowa. In response, I received a letter in the mail from the Governor and Lt. Governor Patty Judge. The letter graciously thanked me for "taking the time to write us about the rising cost of fuel" and reassured me that "we will keep the EcoDrivingUSA ideas in mind as we consider all possibilities to make transportation more affordable to Iowans."  I thought that the letter was nice enough...but why did the office of the Governor of Iowa respond to my email inquiry by U.S. Mail? An email response would have been quicker, less expensive (it's my tax dollars after all paying for a stamp and someone to print and mail the thing) and it would have helped to save valuable tree resources. I've heard that Governor Culver is "deeply committed to environmental stewardship", but I don't think that his office has any idea the level of commitment  that we all need to have to modifying our life-styles and business practices in order to significantly reduce our impact on the environment.  Really, an email would have been good enough for me..and much better for the State of Iowa.

A little inspiration...for the ladies

And now for a little midweek inspiration...what? you fresh out? Well, let me introduce you to the Inspiration Lounge. This is a gem of a website jam-packed with links to information targeted to women about how to reach their potential in an eco-friendly way. The site was created by Mitsy Gibbs who has been in online advertising and new media marketing for over 10 years. She is an expert in online entrepreneurship (two start-ups, both to IPOs - wow! - and one acquisition.) She is now committed to helping busy women collaborate, connect and be agents of change. Mitsy has categorized and organized links to websites with valuable information for women that includes everything from Go Green, Get Money Savvy, Be an Eco-Shopper and Parent's Corner. Add this little gem to your to your Favorites list and be inspired!

Join the Ecodrivers

In response to high gas prices and concerns about global warming, the governors of California and Colorado have kicked off a nationwide initiative called Ecodriving. The purpose of Ecodriving is to empower people by educating them on what they can do immediately, no matter what kind of vehicle they drive, to reduce gasoline consumption, the country's dependence on foreign oil and CO2 emissions. The web site is very interactive (including conversations with Arnold Schwarzenegger and Bill Ritter) with news clips, instructional videos and calculators to help you figure out how much gas you can save and how much of an impact that your state can have in reducing CO2 emissions. In Iowa, if everyone were an Ecodriver, we could save enough energy to power an entire city like Cedar Rapids....wow. All with the same vehicles that we are driving right now, just by driving them in a way that conserves gasoline. The web site also provides tools to help you spread the word about Ecodriving, including posters, banner ads and the ability to participate in an email campaign to the Governor of your state. I'd like to see Iowa be the next state highlighted on the "Is your community participating in Ecodriving?" map. Please join me in emailing Governor Culver. Together we can make a difference.

This smart car isn't so smart

I've been wanting a smart car since I visited Vienna and saw how wonderful they are. But wouldn't ya know it, just when we finally get the technology to get good gas mileage in a safe vehicle, someone comes along and takes even the Smart Car back 100 years. Check out the video for the monster smart car or as it is named, the Smart forfun2. This car was developed over three years ago by Greek Rally champion Stefan Attart. It's a nasty little gas guzzler because the original 41 HP engine has been replaced with a six-cylinder diesel powerhouse that cranks out 84 HP. I wonder what the people created the smart car think about this souped-up version. Doesn't exactly fit with their brand of "open your mind to the car that challenges the status quo." Augh!

Chicken poo for you

I happen to be a big fan of chickens. I visited the Iowa State Fair a couple of weeks ago and my favorite exhibit was in the chicken house…a little noisy with all those roosters in one place (not much different from a bunch of guys in a bar during a big game) but a fascinating assortment of perfect protein producing machines, nonetheless. In fact, I am giving serious consideration to getting my own mini-urban flock for fun and free eggs. It’s been all the rage in Europe now for a while and I’ve been surprised to find out how many Americans are also enjoying raising a few chickens in the city. On a bigger scale, a Bejing chicken farm operation has begun recycling the chicken poo for electricity and using the heat generated by the process to heat the chickens during the winter…pretty cool, huh?

     “Manure is handy for helping out with alternative energy and fuels, and this plant will be pretty significant in terms of getting power from poo. The revamped plant is the Dequingyuan Chicken Farm Waste Utilization Plant, and will reduce CO2 emissions by 95,000 tons a year while producing 14,600 MWh of electricity annually.”  EcoGeek.org

I’m hoping to get eggs, yard fertilizer and bug control from any future chicken stock…it’s nice to know that the huge factory farms are beginning to try and reverse some of the damage that they are inflicting on the environment.

It’s blowin’ in the Wind

It seems that the scientists in the Netherlands have found another innovative way to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels…by flying kites! It seems that the pull that the wind creates on the kite string can generate electricity when attached to a generator. The scientists believe that the kites can generate even more electricity than turbines because they can go much higher in the sky where the wind speeds are greater. Way cool! Such an elegant and simple solution. It’s low on resources and reduces visual pollution that many complain about with the windmills and it’s QUIET. Ben Franklin would be so pleased. Maybe I’ll be able to get a job flying a kite. I can be green and have fun, too.

Check out the way-cool video at the greendaily.com.

Low hanging fruit: changing the lightbulbs

I’m all for going for the low hanging fruit when I’m starting something new…especially when I know that it’s going to be a whopping big project. That way, I feel like I’ve made some serious progress and it bolsters my confidence when it’s time to tackle the bigger and more challenging tasks. That’s why I decided to tackle my home energy consumption first….did you know that (according to Good Housekeeping) 15% of the average American electric bill is lighting?

U.S. Government thinks so, too:

"If every American home replaced just one light bulb with an ENERGY STAR qualified bulb, we would save enough energy to light more than 3 million homes for a year, more than and prevent greenhouse gases equivalent to the emissions of more than 800,000 cars.”

That’s cool, but how much will it save me? After all, I’m doing this green thing to save money, too. I found a nifty calculator online that quickly showed me that if I replace 10-60W and 5-100W   bulbs that I use 2-5 hours/day that I would save $112.86 in replacement bulb and electrical costs per year…that sounded worthwhile to me…check out the calculator provided by sdearthtimes.com.

Of course, replacing incandescent bulbs with fluorescent ones is not always an easy swap. Here are some things to watch out for:

• In lamps and smaller fixtures, I had to lower the wattage from 100W to 60W replacements because the more wattage, the larger the bulb.
• Most fluorescents don’t work with dimmers…be sure to buy ones that specifically say that they are dimmable.
• I really hate the blue light that most fluorescents give off. It makes me feel like I’m living underground in a science experiment. To avoid buying bulbs that will make you look like death, go to a store that has the bulbs plugged in and lit in their display so that you’ll know what the light is like before you get it home. I found that the FEIT brand bulbs at my local Menard’s store provide the best light for the best price.
  
• I have several ceiling can lights that are really ugly with the spiral bulbs. Never fear…manufacturers are now making bulbs with a glass covering that mimic the flood lights of old so that you don’t have to look at the curlicues. I haven’t seen decorative chandelier lights, yet…but you never know.

My confession:  I still use incandescent bulbs in the bathroom. I still have a need to know how I’m really going to look to the world when I walk out the door.