I've just been browsing through old posts on this blog, and found this one: Three New Green Habits. I'm happy to report that I've kept them long term.
1) I'm more consistent with keeping the kitchen lights off both when it's sunny out and there's enough natural light coming in the window, and if I'm going to be away from the room for more than 15 minutes or so.
2) I always unplug phone chargers when not in use now. It's completely automatic to the point where a charger plugged in with no phone attached looks weird to me.
3) I'm almost fanatical now about turning things off when not in use, and the DVD player and VCR are no exception.
So far so good!
Energy Job
Official energy jobs site of the Energy Institute.
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Showing posts with label electricity. Show all posts
Showing posts with label electricity. Show all posts
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
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
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!
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!
Turn Off The TV
Ahhh... peace and quiet!!! For how long I have no idea - I'm home with a four year old!
He is playing with Play-Doh, and I've turned the TV off while he's doing it. So far he has not noticed, and hopefully will continue to enjoy the Play-Doh.
I've been more and more proactive about turning off the TV unless it's specifically being watched. We no longer have it as background noise, and personally I prefer the quiet...
He is playing with Play-Doh, and I've turned the TV off while he's doing it. So far he has not noticed, and hopefully will continue to enjoy the Play-Doh.
I've been more and more proactive about turning off the TV unless it's specifically being watched. We no longer have it as background noise, and personally I prefer the quiet...
Dim Some (Lights!)
Ha! I was right. (kind of).
My hubby and I were trying to figure out whether or not the new dimmer switches we'd installed would actually save $$$.
My concern was that the current (and therefor the cost) would stay constant and just the resistance would be altered. Hubby didn't seem to know either way. Neither one of us are electricians.
Turns out that the old technology (called variable resistance) did indeed convert some of the resistance to heat instead of light, which kept your power consumption the same. Now, however, new dimmers are wired to interrupt the current to reduce the light, rather than converting the resistance to something else.
So yes - new dimmers do save you money!
My hubby and I were trying to figure out whether or not the new dimmer switches we'd installed would actually save $$$.
My concern was that the current (and therefor the cost) would stay constant and just the resistance would be altered. Hubby didn't seem to know either way. Neither one of us are electricians.
Turns out that the old technology (called variable resistance) did indeed convert some of the resistance to heat instead of light, which kept your power consumption the same. Now, however, new dimmers are wired to interrupt the current to reduce the light, rather than converting the resistance to something else.
So yes - new dimmers do save you money!
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!!!)
Now if only we were on the brink of warm and bright summer, instead of cold dark winter...
(sigh!!!)
Windows Windows!!
The first day of autumn is here with a vengeance!!
Ok not quite, but boy is it cooling down. I may have to plug in the electric oil heater in the bedroom to deter Hubby from turning on the furnace ;-)
He's not totally "ungreen" though, in spite of his trigger happy ways with utilities. He's the one who wants to replace our windows. If we did that, then we wouldn't have to turn our furnace on as often, or up as high. I'm just cringing at the cost.
Replace them we will, however; hopefully by Christmas we'll have new, energy efficient, double paned glass throughout the house. Hopefully the savings in our hydro and gas bills will make the new debt more bearable (plus I'll be able to blog about how green we are!!) lol
Ok, Jeanne... get on with it!! You have enough quotes already - just hire someone...
Ok not quite, but boy is it cooling down. I may have to plug in the electric oil heater in the bedroom to deter Hubby from turning on the furnace ;-)
He's not totally "ungreen" though, in spite of his trigger happy ways with utilities. He's the one who wants to replace our windows. If we did that, then we wouldn't have to turn our furnace on as often, or up as high. I'm just cringing at the cost.
Replace them we will, however; hopefully by Christmas we'll have new, energy efficient, double paned glass throughout the house. Hopefully the savings in our hydro and gas bills will make the new debt more bearable (plus I'll be able to blog about how green we are!!) lol
Ok, Jeanne... get on with it!! You have enough quotes already - just hire someone...
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...
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...
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