I have written that the only thing that will
make gas and oil prices go lower is conservation - in other words, if we use less then the
demand goes down
and the price will drop. The recent drop in gas prices below $4.00
a gallon in many
parts of the United States
shows that we are using less. This is a good thing, for more than saving
money. But now, with prices moving lower, will we
go back to not caring
how much we use. That
is the worst thing
we could do. Using more
energy than we need
hurts our planet, teaches
us to be irresponsible
and destroys cultures
as we have seen in
Amazonia (and other parts of the world). Below are three short articles on being more
responsible from
our content supplier,
ARA.
I hope you will take
a moment and study
them
to see how you can
help do the right
thing
every day. In addition, i really hope everyone takes
a moment and reads
the Pickens Energy Plan, which I think has wonderful ideas to help
us be better caretakers
of our Planet. Seize the Day, Help Save the Planet
(ARA) - We’ve all
heard the saying,
“What
a difference a day
makes.” Today could
be
your opportunity
to make a difference
by
reducing your home’s
impact on the environment.
Surprisingly, one
of the most beneficial
ways is to use less
energy to heat and
cool
your home … and it
starts with adding
insulation.
Insulation is the single most cost-effective
way to reduce greenhouse
gas emissions, according to a study by the McKinsey Global
Institute. Because
saving energy helps
reduce
greenhouse gas emissions,
using less has
a payback that is
both personal and
global:
you’ll save money
and shrink your personal
carbon footprint.
“Most people don't realize that the energy
used in homes and
buildings, much of
it for
heating and cooling,
is the single greatest
source of energy
consumption in the
country,
more than industry,
more than transportation,”
said Gale Tedhams,
director of sustainability
for Owens Corning,
makers of PINK fiberglass
insulation. “Conservation
should be thought
of as your first
fuel because energy
you
don’t have to use
is the cheapest energy
you can buy.” The following tips, each of which takes just
a few moments to
complete, have a
measurable
impact on reducing
your home energy
usage
this summer and year
round. Best of all,
they can be accomplished
in just one day. 6:30 a.m. -- Before heading to the shower,
check the temperature
of your water heater.
Some manufacturers
set thermostats at
140
degrees, but according
to the U.S. Department
of Energy, most households
need only a setting
of 120 degrees. The
DOE notes that water
heating accounts
for 14 to 25 percent
of
home energy used
and each 10-degree
reduction
in water temperature
can save between
three
and five percent
in annual energy
costs. 8:00 a.m. -- Close the curtains against the summer
sun before you head
out the door for
the
day. The easiest
way to save energy
on cooling
is to reduce your
air conditioning
needs
in the first place.
Heating and cooling
accounts
for more than half
of a typical home’s
annual
energy usage, so
you can make a big
impact
while also making
your home more comfortable. 10:00 a.m. -- Visit the Web site of your local home
improvement center
and order a programmable
thermostat. You can
save as much as 10
percent
per year on your
cooling bills by
automatically
adjusting the temperature
of your home while
you are sleeping
or away. Noon -- Take a home energy audit. Understanding
how much energy a
home uses helps homeowners
determine what changes
will save them the
most energy and money.
For an easy home
energy
audit, The Home Report
Card quiz found at
www.OwensCorning.com/HomeReportCard
provides
tailored recommendations
for improving home
energy efficiency. 6:00 p.m. -- While dinner is in the oven, take a
moment to peek into
your attic. If you
can
see the wood beams
of your attic floor,
chances
are your house is
one of 60 million
under-insulated
American homes. The
DOE recommends an
average
of R-49 in the attic
for maximum energy
efficiency.
If you have less
than 15 1/2 inches
of insulation
in your attic, you
don’t have enough.
Visit
www.InsulateYourAtticNow.com
to determine
the recommended amount
of insulation for
your region of the
country and find
a local
retailer. 8:00 p.m. -- Before you sit down to read a bedtime
story to your kids,
replace the bulb
in your
lamp with a compact
fluorescent. Compared
to standard incandescent
bulbs, compact fluorescents
use about one-fourth
the energy, produce
90 percent less heat
and last up to ten
times
longer. With warm summer temperatures just around
the corner, today
is a great day to
make
a difference. A few
simple steps to save
energy will have
lasting benefits
for your
budget and for the
planet, and all can
be
accomplished in just
one day. You’ll be
surprised
what a difference
a day can make.
Five Ways to Keep Your Family Green (ARA) - It seems everything is going “green”
these days. The good
news is that it’s
also
easier than ever
before for your family
to
reduce its eco-footprint
to help the environment
both inside and outside
of your home. Let “earth friendly” be your family’s new
mantra by adopting
a few simple, yet
effective
tips from Hannah
Keeley, founder of
TotalMom.com.
Watch Your Waste
The supermarket checkout
line is one place
where the battle
for the environment
is often
lost. Next time you’re
at the grocery store,
keep a close eye
on the amount of
wasteful
packaging that’s
going into your shopping
cart and try to choose
eco-friendlier options.
For example, instead
of individually-packaged
single servings,
look for larger quantities
that can be divided
into smaller, reusable
containers once you
get home. Make your
own
lunch instead of
purchasing packaged
meals.
Bring a reusable
bag to carry your
purchases.
A good rule of thumb:
the less packaging,
the better. Save Your Energy
Conventional energy
use goes hand-in-hand
with carbon emissions,
so do the earth and
your wallet a favor
by cutting the amount
of energy consumed
at your home. Simply
turning
the thermostat a
few degrees lower
in the
winter and a few
degrees higher in
the summer
can save energy.
You can cut cooling
costs
up to six percent
for every degree
you raise
your thermostat in
the summer. Another
option
is installing a programmable
thermostat like
the American Standard
Heating & Air
Conditioning
Comfort Control that
will automatically
adjust
temperatures throughout
the day, ensuring
greater energy efficiency
in your home, even
when you’re not there. Go Easy on the Gas
Consider setting
up a carpool for
school
or work to save on
gas. Consolidate
your
errands to one day
during the week and
map
out a route that
is as fuel efficient
as
possible. If you
feel like you are
constantly
on the road, you
may want to think
about
dropping a few activities
and cultivating
the fine art of hanging
out at home. Be sure
to check out public
transportation --
a more
fuel efficient and
inexpensive ride
may be
right around the
corner. Clean Smart
Chemicals are used
all over your home
--
they make the sink
shine, the air smell
fresh
and the floor practically
glow. The majority
of these chemicals
are not only dangerous
to your health but
also harmful to the
environment.
Reduce the amount
of chemicals entering
in
to the water supply
by making your own
cleaners:
simple baking soda
is a great scouring
powder;
vinegar works wonders
on glass and mirrors;
and plain old Castile
soap cleans practically
everything. Don’t Overlook the Little Things
No matter how small
you may think it
is,
any action to help
the earth is a big
step
on the road to being
greener. Replace
incandescent
bulbs with fluorescent
blubs. Cut your showers
by a few minutes.
Wash your clothes
in cold
water. Cut down on
trash by composting
your
vegetable scraps.
Most importantly,
make it a family
affair.
Teach your children
how to care for the
earth
while they are still
young. There are
many
simple things you
can do to go green
(not
to mention save money),
so make it a family
adventure and start
today.
Green Your Home and
Lower Your Cooling
Bills
(ARA) - According
to the EPA, the average
house contributes
twice as much to
global
warming as the average
car. With hot summer
weather just around
the corner, now is
the
time to give your
home a “check-up.”
Here are seven tips from the Comfort Institute
to cut your air conditioning
(AC) bills,
improve comfort and
help the environment.
1. Have your duct system tested for air leaks.
Many assume that
windows and doors
are the
major cause of a
home’s energy wasting
air
leaks. But according
to research by the
Department
of Energy (DOE),
gaps in the typical
home’s
duct system are much
more significant.
The
DOE states that the
typical duct system
wastes
25 to 40 percent
of the energy put
out by
the central heat
pump or air conditioner.
Authorities recommend
having an AC contractor
test for leaks and
then seal them with
a
brushed on fiber-reinforced
elastomeric sealant.
Duct tape usually
dries out and fails.
It
turns out duct tape
is great for many
things,
but sealing ducts
isn’t one of them!
2. Ask your AC contractor to perform an Infiltrometer
“blower door” test.
This is a computerized
instrument originally
invented by the DOE.
It pinpoints where
your home’s worst
air
leaks are, such as
duct leaks, and also
measures
how leaky the overall
house is. Many homes
have significant
air leaks into the
attic:
hot dusty air often
gets drawn in through
recessed can lights
and pulled down stairs.
New sealing products
are available to
fix
these significant
leaks. Many AC contractors
offer the test as
part of a “Home and
Duct
Performance Checkup”
that also checks
insulation
levels and overall
duct performance.
3. Close your fireplace damper. Did you remember
to close it last
time you used the
fireplace?
Shut it now or waste
precious cool air
all
summer long! 4. Replace your air conditioner or heat pump
air filter. Most
systems need this
done every
month to ensure safe
and efficient operation.
Keep forgetting to
do it? Ask your AC
contractor
for an extended surface
area whole-house
air filter that only
needs to be replaced
once a year. It also
does a far better
job
of keeping your equipment
and the air in
your home clean.
5. Have your air conditioner cleaned and
tuned. A pre-season
tune-up is a great
investment.
It reduces the chances
of breakdowns in
the
middle of summer
and more than pays
for itself
through more energy
efficient operation.
Make sure the AC
contractor cleans
both the
indoor and outdoor
coils, and checks
refrigerant
gas charge by measuring
“superheat” or “subcooling.”
6. Attics often get up to 140 degrees hot,
so consider adding
attic insulation.
In most
areas, the DOE now
recommends R49 insulation,
which is typically
18-inches or more.
However,
it is essential that
air leaks in the
attic
floor first be sealed.
If you have HVAC
equipment
or ducts up in the
attic, a radiant
barrier
foil or paint also
makes sense. 7. Consider replacing your old air conditioner
or heat pump. Just
like a car, central
cooling
equipment doesn’t
last forever. Is
your system
more than 12 years
old? Planning to
stay
in your home more
than a few years?
Many
authorities recommend
replacing it before
it fails permanently.
A new system improves
comfort, is more
dependable and creates
less
air pollution. New
units are up to twice
as energy efficient,
which saves money
on
your monthly electric
bills. However, government and utility research
has found that more
than 90 percent of
newly
installed high efficiency
systems have energy
wasting mistakes.
Do some homework
before
talking to contractors.
For more information,
visit www.energystar.gov
and www.comfortinstitute.org.
Print out the free
Comfort Institute
reports,
“Tips and Secrets
To Buying A New Heating
and Cooling System”
and “How To Identify
a Good Heating and
Cooling Contractor.”
I have written that the only thing that will
make 
according to a study by the McKinsey Global
Institute. Because
saving energy helps
reduce
greenhouse gas emissions,
using less has
a payback that is
both personal and
global:
you’ll save money
and shrink your personal
carbon footprint.
