Conservation Noobs

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Comment by Wanda Giesick on July 19, 2008 at 6:01pm

I live in Arizona and the biggest challenge here is staying cool in the summertime with our temps of 110 or more. Luckily I live alone in a small condo so when I go to work I leave my air conditioning off. It's hot and stuffy inside when I get home but it doesn't take long for the air conditioner to cool it down. I changed all my light bulbs a couple of months ago. I try to minimize the use of my cars air conditioner as to run it eats up gas. I do okay there but you can't go without air conditioning in your car in this state, could be dangerous. I use a front windshield shade to keep the heat down within my car when it's parked in the sun. I was told last year that it really helps to crack open the windows a bit while parked. I wasn't willing to crack them then for fear of car break ins but I'm doing it this summer and it defenitely makes a difference. I welcome other suggestions on conserving air conditioning use in my home and my car if anyone has them. Thanks

Comment by Mike McCarthy on July 15, 2008 at 9:23am

Join us at Carbon Neutral as we move forward with our plans to Flip a City.

Vacant Buildings - Holyoke

Download the pdf (4 MB) and get a sense of where we have to start.

Then watch us grow and implement a plan to install grid tied solar pv systems on all rooftops, and most importantly, bring an entire City back to life as Carbon Free as possible.

Comment by Jeff Thornhill on July 14, 2008 at 4:20pm

Hello All;

Conservation or efficiency

I like to talk about the benefits from being more efficient. Turning down the heat in the winter… that’s conservation. Fixing the leaks in the HVAC ducts (30% leakage nationally) that’s efficiency. Get more and pay less.

Nine out of ten homes I do energy audits on have duct leakage. You can have your ducts tested for leakage. It will be the best money you spend. Maybe I need to start a group for HVAC ducts. Now don’t get the idea I love ducts. Or that they are my passion, quite the opposite. It’s hot in the attic.

-- thanks, jeff thornnhill

Comment by tallenough on July 14, 2008 at 9:56am

Yes, a lot of people can trick themselves into thinking that conservation only means giant windfarms and hybrid cars, but the little things do add up. I'm a conservation supporter mainly because I don't like waste, which sometimes leaves me a little conflicted. I want to switch my lightbulbs, but what do I do with all the old ones? Do I simply throw them away?

Comment by Roberta on July 13, 2008 at 6:21pm

This is a great idea. I have gotten alot of great ideas form watching Living with ed. But in our area we don't have alot of recycling programs that I am use to from living in California. Some of the things that I have done after watching something on HDTV was unplug everything that we are not using. OMG!!!! my children had so much stuff and chargers pluged in the walls I never noticed before. I keep all the kitchen appliances unpluged now even the coffee pot and the hair dryer I kept in the wall. I have changed allmost every light bulb in the house. That was a little spendy. It has been two months now and my first full 30 day electric bill with the small changes. My home is only 4 years old and is 2196 sq ft. last year for the month of July KWH was 2,460 and this July was 1,827. That is 633 less usage.. Wow, I was so excited when I saw the bill on friday even thought the bill was $195.76...lol. It makes me think I can do more to save.

Comment by Bill Mollring on July 8, 2008 at 3:34pm

I look forward to watching your group's progress and updates. For more information on Mariah Power's Windspire please contact me at mrbillmaui@yahoo.com or 831 402-2037
http://www.emsystems.net
Our group site at Pickins Plan is listed as: Mariah Power.
Thank you and Aloha. Bill Mollring