Look to the future but start now!
I think that we all agree that something needs to be done. I see many posts from people who can't find anything to invest in (yet) and can not find a direction or what they can do to help.
I would like to offer to those people actions they can take today that wll reduce energy consumption. Please help me with practical ideas.
I woull like to start with things that can be done in any household.
1. Turn up your thermostat a couple of degrees. OK I know that no one wants to be uncomfortable but if you use fans in those places in your house that need extra comfort, you will not really notice a difference.
2. Rethink your uses of appliances. Install an old fashioned clothes line. You can put it in the backyard, or in the house (they still make those pull out things) that can be put in a garage or extra space. Another way is to install a rod across your laundry room, bathroom, closet or any out of the way space. Four feet of rod will hold a load of clothes (use plastic hangers on the rod). Not only will your save the energy to run the dryer but the energy it takes to cool the house, caused by the use of the dryer. Some things will still need the dryer but another bonus is that your clothes will not fade and will need less ironing.
3. Our parents and grandparents planted "Victory Gardens". If you don't want a garden plowed in your yard, plant tomatos among the marigolds to keep down bugs. Use a hill of cucumber (you only need one) to cover an unsightly spot with bright green folage. Plant peppers as ornamentals. Invest in and learn how to safely store your home grown goodies.
4. I hope we all are doing this already, Replace all your light bulbs with low energy ones. They now make these bulbs in shapes that are attractive in places that the bulbs show.
5. It is cooler in the shade! If you can't put solar on your roof, check with your local garden shop and find a variety of tree that will shade the house and drive. Try to find ones that are sturdy and fast growing. In my part of the country, Sycamores will get to around 30 feet high in only five years. Yes you will have to rake the leaves which will make a nice addition to #6
6. Begin a compost pile. These can be simple or complicated, your choice. do a search of gardening sites to find one right for you. Use your compost to fertilize your veggies and flowers.
7. Install rain barrels and chains. Most of us can find barrels from salvage for $5 -$15. Place these at the points around your house that will collect the most water. Use rain chains (internet search for options and directions for homemade ones) to maximize your water collection. Use water from the barrels to water garden plants and save tap water.
Now look over these few things and mentally add up what your cost and energy savings would be from reduced air conditioning, reduces appliance use, produce costs, reduced lighting costs, reduced need for energy to cool a shaded home, free fertilizer and mulch, and reduced water bills.
These are only a start. You can start today. Come up with your own ideas and post them to the list.
Lets get started!
I would like to offer to those people actions they can take today that wll reduce energy consumption. Please help me with practical ideas.
I woull like to start with things that can be done in any household.
1. Turn up your thermostat a couple of degrees. OK I know that no one wants to be uncomfortable but if you use fans in those places in your house that need extra comfort, you will not really notice a difference.
2. Rethink your uses of appliances. Install an old fashioned clothes line. You can put it in the backyard, or in the house (they still make those pull out things) that can be put in a garage or extra space. Another way is to install a rod across your laundry room, bathroom, closet or any out of the way space. Four feet of rod will hold a load of clothes (use plastic hangers on the rod). Not only will your save the energy to run the dryer but the energy it takes to cool the house, caused by the use of the dryer. Some things will still need the dryer but another bonus is that your clothes will not fade and will need less ironing.
3. Our parents and grandparents planted "Victory Gardens". If you don't want a garden plowed in your yard, plant tomatos among the marigolds to keep down bugs. Use a hill of cucumber (you only need one) to cover an unsightly spot with bright green folage. Plant peppers as ornamentals. Invest in and learn how to safely store your home grown goodies.
4. I hope we all are doing this already, Replace all your light bulbs with low energy ones. They now make these bulbs in shapes that are attractive in places that the bulbs show.
5. It is cooler in the shade! If you can't put solar on your roof, check with your local garden shop and find a variety of tree that will shade the house and drive. Try to find ones that are sturdy and fast growing. In my part of the country, Sycamores will get to around 30 feet high in only five years. Yes you will have to rake the leaves which will make a nice addition to #6
6. Begin a compost pile. These can be simple or complicated, your choice. do a search of gardening sites to find one right for you. Use your compost to fertilize your veggies and flowers.
7. Install rain barrels and chains. Most of us can find barrels from salvage for $5 -$15. Place these at the points around your house that will collect the most water. Use rain chains (internet search for options and directions for homemade ones) to maximize your water collection. Use water from the barrels to water garden plants and save tap water.
Now look over these few things and mentally add up what your cost and energy savings would be from reduced air conditioning, reduces appliance use, produce costs, reduced lighting costs, reduced need for energy to cool a shaded home, free fertilizer and mulch, and reduced water bills.
These are only a start. You can start today. Come up with your own ideas and post them to the list.
Lets get started!
Tags: conservation
Add a Comment
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Comment by Dee RN on July 25, 2008 at 6:35am -
At 12:04pm on July 24th, 2008, Marty Grossman said…
Hello Dee,
I live in an apartment, (solar panels and a tankless water heater arent possible) and cant yet afford a new, more efficient car (note: YET... as soon as I can, I will) and play drums for a living (so public transportation is rough)... however, I've been trying to do my part.
I believe there are tons of little things we can all do on a daily basis that will reduce our energy use (and therefore lower our consumption of foreign oil).
Without sacrificing any major part of my lifestyle, I've raised my gas mileage by roughly 15% and lowered my electric bill by roughly 10%. I started a forum on the subject here http://push.pickensplan.com/forum/topic/show?id=2187034%3ATopic%3A193424 . Check it out when you have a minute, I'm always looking for new ideas.
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Comment by Wayne Alderman on July 24, 2008 at 12:25pm -
Hi Dee RN,
We are definately on the same page. You are welcome to park your blog with us.
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Comment by Mary on July 23, 2008 at 10:56am -
These are some great ideas
Here is another I used for saving water.
Recycle your washing machines rinse water to use for the next wash. I know I often have more than one load to do when I wash. I got a large barrel a plastic garbage can would work, and just moved the drain hose to empty into this when the washer drained when on rinse. Then I used a cheap swamp cooler pump to pump the water back into the washer for the next wash. I don’t see why you couldn't do this with bath water as well. The Wash drain water you could use for you garden or lawn. It's what they call "gray water" I didn't want the barrels of rinse water in my laundry room so I set a platform up out side the window. Water is getting expensive and even the local water department made a comment about how little water we were using and I even had a green lawn!
You might want to check if you city allows you to use "gray water'.
Another thing many people might not know is that soapy water is an old fashion cure for some types of bugs on their plants and flowers. I would not recommend water with bleach, but the water with bleach didn't seem to hurt the lawn in anyway. But I sure did have to mow it more often.
I solved that problem of mowing too. Just like the old days I did what they did at the White House. I got some sheep. They don't over graze or pull the lawn up by its roots. The chomp away is an even level and even fertilized it at the same time. LOL
Our small town allowed us to have the sheep. We later added two turkeys and a few chickens. These were penned up of course and had fresh eggs everyday. The extra eggs we sold to a local company that sold them to the stores.
Incase no one has heard, in England they are advising people to cut back on food because of the food shortage. The government there says the high costs for food is because there is a food shortage and suggests people go back to practices done during World War 2.
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