Earth Hour 2009

Earth Hour 2009 is tonight, from 8:30-9:30 local time. At this point I'm planning to participate in some ways... like I'll turn down more lights than I would normally.

I have a 6 yr old who is not fully comfortable falling asleep in the dark, so out of respect for her I'll more than likely leave the hall light on by her room. Chances are, DH will be on the couch watching TV, so I can easily turn lights off around him. We don't usually watch TV in the dark because it bothers my eyes, but one hour certainly will be fine.

To learn more about Earth Hour, have a look at the video that Amber at Strocel.com included in her Earth Hour post (thanks for that, Amber :) This video explains how Earth Hour originated, and how it has become a global event.

In my opinion, it's not that one hour that makes any difference - it's the awareness gained by the exercise that does.

Return to Fine Grind

Re-using My Fax Cartridge

We have the Brother Intellifax 770 fax machine. One day, in the midst of receiving a multiple page fax, I inadvertently stumbled upon another green/savings trick.

Dang, the cartridge ran out, and oops I had no replacements left. Desperate and willing to try anything, I simply rewound the film back from one side of the cartridge to the other and re-inserted it into the fax machine.

It worked like a charm. Yowza! Since then (not that I receive billions of faxes by any means), I've been using each cartridge 2 or 3 times. It takes awhile to rewind the film, but if you do it while you're sitting in front of the TV, it's no big deal at all :)

This is the fax machine:


Here's the replacement thermal roll:


This is the cartridge that the roll attaches to:





Return to Fine Grind

The End Of The Age Of Oil

Here's an eye opening article published in the Vancouver Sun yesterday, about the impending end to the "age of oil". The experts believe that if we're lucky, we may have only about 40 years worth left.

Here's the link - it's definitely worth the read:

http://www.vancouversun.com/Technology/ending/1189119/story.html

Interesting, to say the least...
____________________
Return to Blog Scene By Jeanne

TV Off

I noticed it today - the absence of background noise from the television set.

Something was missing... an element of underlying chaos. It nagged at me ("why is everything so still today?") until I figured out what it was... ahhh!! The TV is off!!

Don't get me wrong - I'm not ready to cancel the cable and sell the set on Craigslist, but as I type this the kids are eating their dinner, and instead of watching the TV, A is teaching J some French words that she's learned in school.

Works for me!

Two Tiered Triumph

Wow... nickle and diming really does add up. I've been obsessive about conserving electricity, and this month's hydro bill shows our consumption at roughly half of what it was last time I checked, putting us within the low rate category for BC Hydro's proposed two tier rate system.

Now if only we were on the brink of warm and bright summer, instead of cold dark winter...

(sigh!!!)

Two Tiered Panic

Yikes!!! Just checked our hydro bill, and our consumption is about TWICE the upper limit for tier one. How on earth can I cut our electricity use in HALF? Sheesh.

I already hang most of the clothes to dry, and I'm the "turn the furnace down" drill sergeant. Hmmm. I guess it's going to be a nickel and dime adventure...

I hereby accept the challenge!!!

(wish me luck!! eeek!!)

Two-Tiers, Anyone?

My ability to make lemonade out of lemons with this one will be tested: BC Hydro is about to implement a new billing system whereby they charge for services on two different levels based on the customer's energy consumption.

Tier-one power could be priced at about 6.15 cents per kilowatt hour, as opposed to tier two power, at 7.21 cents per kwh in October, increasing to 8.27 cents per kwh in April. The BC Utilities Commission has proposed that tier one have a maximum usage limit of 1,350 kilowatt hours per two month billing period, down from Hydro's original suggestion of 1,600.

I like a challenge.

It is a good idea in that it encourages people to use less electricity, although according to the the survey they've done of average consumption levels, as a detached home owner I'm sunk and destined to pay the higher rate of tier two.

To be honest, I have no idea how many kilowatt hours we consume every two months, but I'm going to pull out the bills and have a look. It's going to be tough because we're heading into shorter days and I'm a bit of a light junkie, but I'm willing to give it a try.

Pet Peeve Of The Day

I'm the only person in the house to turns off the TV when I leave the room. It's not rocket science - it's just one button. Even my four year old can handle one button.

I've tried and tried and tried to get the others to follow my lead, but nope!! The TV yammers on and on to and empty room. I've pretty much given up on training the others - I just wait until they leave and then turn it off myself.

At the moment it's on, but my daughter is actually watching it. Hey maybe I can find something for her to watch about energy conservation...