Our Community
This page will contain inspiring stories about local people, institutions and businesses and how they have reduced their energy consumption, reduced their carbon footprint and helped save our planet.
Cool Stories:
Margo reports:
Something I do in addition to changing all lightbulbs, using a programable thermostat and having as much stuff as possible plugged into power strips that I keep off when not in use, I also keep my tv's and io DVR boxes on power strips and turn them off when I'm at work and over night except when I'm planning to tape something. Those cable boxes get downright hot when they're on --so even though they take quite a long while to boot up I just deal with it.
Jerry reports that he has done many of the same steps that others have already reported on:
- changed almost all my light bulbs to CFL
- added power strips for all electronic devices and turn them off when not actually using them
- installed a storm door on my front entrance. I got a 10% tax credit. It stops the draft I had and creates a greenhouse effect to heat the front doors instead of them being cold so it creates insulation in the winter. In the summer, I plan to put the screens in and keep the door open to create a draft in the house.
- checked my other windows and doors for leaks and caulked where needed
- turned down my hot water heater to 115 degrees and added insulation on the hot water pipe until it reached my first floor (stopped heating the basement)
- had my heating oil burner serviced and adjusted to be most efficient. I was able to turn down the flow rate to burn less fuel per hour as well.
- only run the dishwasher and washing machine when they are full and use the cold water or energymiser setting
- carry canvas bags in our cars and no longer have any plastic bags (other than the newspaper ones) to recycle
- use a timer on certain lights (CFL) for convenience such as a house light in the evenings but no longer use our carriage light or outdoor lights unless expecting guests
- put up a motion detector outdoor light on the driveway to welcome us home and not require us to leave lights on to await us
- checked my insulation in the attic (my house is not very old and was reasonably well insulated) but I had to add a blanket over our house attic fan for the winter to stop heat escaping
- turn off all lights when not in use
- installed set back thermostats with variable time settings to briefly heat the house in the morning and then again in the late afternoon. We turn the thermostat down to 60 at night.
- bought a 2 slice toaster to use instead of a toaster oven - it uses half the power and toasts more quickly as well.
- change the filter in my furnace monthly to both keep the air cleaner but also to not strain the blower
- I originally added a humidifier to my furnace with a sensor to keep the air moist in the winter. This allows you to turn the thermostat down a few degrees and still be comfortable. Dry force air heat has no mass to make you feel warm
- compost what I can by simply keeping a pile behind my house and turning it over now and then. Not a real compost pile but it keeps most of the organic matter from going out with the trash.
- Drive slower and more patiently (pretend that your brakes don't work!). I have increased my MPG, saved money and emitted less pollution.
- cancelled all catalogs and mail that I don't read. Most stuff that I do want is now emailed to me and I file it electronically instead of in a paper file.
And more stuff I'm sure but most of these are small items but have a powerful result. I have tracked my electric and have been able to reduce my usage and my bill significantly. I have reduced my heating oil consumption as well. And, it has made very little difference in my creature comforts.
Dan reports:
A lot of it is stuff that we've done bit by bit over the years riginally for the purpose of saving money...
Good windows, insulation, programable thermostat, cfl bulbs everywhere that we don't have a dimmer switch. The kids are now gone so we closed off a room this last winter.
Both of us drive cars that get over 30 mpg city (Honda Fit and Civic).
A few years ago I started to look into solar. The first thing I realized was that I needed to cut my usage first so that I could buy
the smallest system necessary. We had already gotten a front loading washer, an energy star dishwasher, and low flow toilets, so I got a low flow shower head and rigged up a rainwater catch barrel for my garden. I then looked at my electric usage and by buying a couple of power strips and reconfiguring my computer setup and stereo system I was able to eliminate most parasitic draws (phantom loads, some call it). My electric bill dropped to below 300 kwh per month.
We use propane for hot water, stove and dryer and at that time it was $3.50 per gallon. We decided to installed a solar hot water system and start using a clothes line when we could. The system we put in was $5,800 installed and we got $3,100 back as a tax credit. Our usage dropped from 55 gallons every 3 months to 16 during the sunnier months March thru October). Propane is now $5.75 a gallon.
This last winter we used about 400 galllons of heating oil and our electric usage averages under 500 kwh a month during the heating
season.
I would love to install a PV (solar electric) system, but the price is still a bit much for me and I have been told that I don't have enough
roof space facing the right way without chopping down a bunch of trees.
There's all kinds of little thing too that I'm sure most people are doing...reusable shopping bags, recycling every darn thing,
composting, etc.
I have several more windows to do and the ceiling could use another layer of insulation. Those are a couple of things on my to-do list.
I hope this doesn't sound like bragging or a lecture. Most of this stuff was based on wanting to spend money on things other than fossil
fuel. And of course it's not perfect. I would love to live in an entirely renewable energy house off grid and spend my days in the
garden, but that isn't the reality. (yet)
Patty reports:
My farm has recaptured it’s storm runoff water from the indoor ring roof (80’ by 200’- a lot of water!)to underground cisterns from which we will irrigate our outdoor riding ring. We have upgraded the drainage around the buildings. We have replaced our incandescent light bulbs with CFL bulbs in the barns and staff apartments, caulking the windows. Our manure is sent to a composting area as mandated by Westchester County. We recycle everything possible. We started using biofuel this winter in our tractor and my customers and employees are delighted with the air quality in the indoor ring-no diesel fumes!
My house has been closed for the winter with the thermostat set at 58’, plastic on the windows and doors as well as resealing and caulking as necessary. All my light bulbs are CFL, we recycle everything we can. We run the dishwasher only when full, we wash our clothes in cold water and use these appliances after 9:00 pm. We drive a hybrid, but live on the farm so the commute is moot. I have canvas bags for the grocery store and recycle the plastic ones when I forget my canvas. I do not have air conditioning down stairs, but my house stays cooler in the summer if I leave the windows open at night and closed in the day with shades down.
Plans are to replace the washer/dryer with EnergyStar systems when necessary and we are investigating both solar hot water and PV systems for the barns.
I was able to negotiate recycling here in Florida between the town and the horse show grounds which hosts over 4,000 horses and 15,000 people. Compliance was very good and everyone was pleased to have the recycling conveniently located. Between the heat and the sport, thousands of water bottles were used and recycled.
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