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Ways to save energy, carbon, or pollution - NOW!
Ways to save energy, carbon, or pollution - NOW!:
1. Replace incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs - especially those you leave on for an extended period. LEDs may be even better. Fluorescent bulbs may contain mercury, so dispose of them properly. 2. Use a clothesline whenever possible to dry clothes. 3. Walk, bicycle, or use public transit instead of driving a motor vehicle. 4. Put a solar water heater or photovoltaic array on your roof. Besides saving electricity, it helps keep the house cool. Lobby to get photovoltaics installed over all of our roads, where they won't shade any wildlife habitat. Rumor has it that Israel has invented a new, cheaper, more efficient form of PV that uses a metal instead of silicon. 5. Grow your own food. Not only will you save energy, but you will be able to eat fresh, organic fruit, vegetables, and maybe even a few chickens, if you are so inclined. In general, eat food that is grown locally. 6. Paint your house white (in southern climates, to absorb less heat from the sun) or dark (in northern climates, to absorb more heat from the sun). Plant deciduous trees on the south side of the house to provide shade in the summer. 7. Turn off the pilot light on your heater during the months (March-November?) when you don't need it. 8. Insulate your house in the attic, below the floor, and in the walls, preferably with recycled cotton denim insulation. 9. Share your energy-saving ideas as widely as possible. I welcome other suggestions. I will update this document as I get new ideas. -- I am working on creating wildlife habitat that is off-limits to humans ("pure habitat"). Want to help? (I spent the previous 8 years fighting auto dependence and road construction.) Please don't put a cell phone next to any part of your body that you are fond of! http://home.pacbell.net/mjvande |
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#2
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Ways to save energy, carbon, or pollution - NOW!
On May 7, 8:08 am, Mike Vandeman wrote:
Ways to save energy, carbon, or pollution - NOW!: 1. Replace incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs - especially those you leave on for an extended period. LEDs may be even better. Fluorescent bulbs may contain mercury, so dispose of them properly. Note that some believe that the mercury associated with these bulbs presents a bigger risk than the incandescent use of energy. Also, these do not work with dimmers, which can save as much and provide a convenience that many desire. 2. Use a clothesline whenever possible to dry clothes. 3. Walk, bicycle, or use public transit instead of driving a motor vehicle. 4. Put a solar water heater or photovoltaic array on your roof. Besides saving electricity, it helps keep the house cool. Lobby to get photovoltaics installed over all of our roads, where they won't shade any wildlife habitat. Rumor has it that Israel has invented a new, cheaper, more efficient form of PV that uses a metal instead of silicon. Routine PVs and solar have a little way to go yet. They are not yet really mass-produced, thereby providing the economy of scale (in terms of energy, resources and $$$); and Solar panels also contain small amounts of heavy metals that will need to use energy to be either disposed or reused. I don't know about the metal PV, but there is in development a sheet that uses no heavy metals that may be inexpensive and easy to replace when necessary - perfect for covering a rooftop. About 8-10 years away. 5. Grow your own food. Not only will you save energy, but you will be able to eat fresh, organic fruit, vegetables, and maybe even a few chickens, if you are so inclined. In general, eat food that is grown locally. 6. Paint your house white (in southern climates, to absorb less heat from the sun) or dark (in northern climates, to absorb more heat from the sun). Plant deciduous trees on the south side of the house to provide shade in the summer. 7. Turn off the pilot light on your heater during the months (March-November?) when you don't need it. 8. Insulate your house in the attic, below the floor, and in the walls, preferably with recycled cotton denim insulation. Pretty flammable stuff, just like the fairly common cellulose shreds. Bruce Jensen |
#3
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Ways to save energy, carbon, or pollution - NOW!
On 7 May 2007 09:09:54 -0700, Bruce Jensen
wrote: On May 7, 8:08 am, Mike Vandeman wrote: Ways to save energy, carbon, or pollution - NOW!: 1. Replace incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs - especially those you leave on for an extended period. LEDs may be even better. Fluorescent bulbs may contain mercury, so dispose of them properly. Note that some believe that the mercury associated with these bulbs presents a bigger risk than the incandescent use of energy. Not if disposed of properly. It's better to have the mercury controlled, than loose in the environment. Also, these do not work with dimmers, which can save as much and provide a convenience that many desire. Dimmers don't save energy. 2. Use a clothesline whenever possible to dry clothes. 3. Walk, bicycle, or use public transit instead of driving a motor vehicle. 4. Put a solar water heater or photovoltaic array on your roof. Besides saving electricity, it helps keep the house cool. Lobby to get photovoltaics installed over all of our roads, where they won't shade any wildlife habitat. Rumor has it that Israel has invented a new, cheaper, more efficient form of PV that uses a metal instead of silicon. Routine PVs and solar have a little way to go yet. They are not yet really mass-produced, thereby providing the economy of scale (in terms of energy, resources and $$$); and Solar panels also contain small amounts of heavy metals that will need to use energy to be either disposed or reused. I don't know about the metal PV, but there is in development a sheet that uses no heavy metals that may be inexpensive and easy to replace when necessary - perfect for covering a rooftop. About 8-10 years away. 5. Grow your own food. Not only will you save energy, but you will be able to eat fresh, organic fruit, vegetables, and maybe even a few chickens, if you are so inclined. In general, eat food that is grown locally. 6. Paint your house white (in southern climates, to absorb less heat from the sun) or dark (in northern climates, to absorb more heat from the sun). Plant deciduous trees on the south side of the house to provide shade in the summer. 7. Turn off the pilot light on your heater during the months (March-November?) when you don't need it. 8. Insulate your house in the attic, below the floor, and in the walls, preferably with recycled cotton denim insulation. Pretty flammable stuff, just like the fairly common cellulose shreds. Good point. Can it be fireproofed? Bruce Jensen -- I am working on creating wildlife habitat that is off-limits to humans ("pure habitat"). Want to help? (I spent the previous 8 years fighting auto dependence and road construction.) Please don't put a cell phone next to any part of your body that you are fond of! http://home.pacbell.net/mjvande |
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Ways to save energy, carbon, or pollution - NOW!
Mike Vandeman wrote in
: On 7 May 2007 09:09:54 -0700, Bruce Jensen wrote: On May 7, 8:08 am, Mike Vandeman wrote: Ways to save energy, carbon, or pollution - NOW!: 1. Replace incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs - especially those you leave on for an extended period. LEDs may be even better. Fluorescent bulbs may contain mercury, so dispose of them properly. Note that some believe that the mercury associated with these bulbs presents a bigger risk than the incandescent use of energy. Not if disposed of properly. It's better to have the mercury controlled, than loose in the environment. Also, these do not work with dimmers, which can save as much and provide a convenience that many desire. Dimmers don't save energy. Actually they do. Dimmers circuits are constructed from SCR's and triacs. Both of these semiconductor devises are switched on for a portion of the 60Hz cycle. Thus saving energy. 2. Use a clothesline whenever possible to dry clothes. 3. Walk, bicycle, or use public transit instead of driving a motor vehicle. 4. Put a solar water heater or photovoltaic array on your roof. Besides saving electricity, it helps keep the house cool. Lobby to get photovoltaics installed over all of our roads, where they won't shade any wildlife habitat. Rumor has it that Israel has invented a new, cheaper, more efficient form of PV that uses a metal instead of silicon. Routine PVs and solar have a little way to go yet. They are not yet really mass-produced, thereby providing the economy of scale (in terms of energy, resources and $$$); and Solar panels also contain small amounts of heavy metals that will need to use energy to be either disposed or reused. I don't know about the metal PV, but there is in development a sheet that uses no heavy metals that may be inexpensive and easy to replace when necessary - perfect for covering a rooftop. About 8-10 years away. The German and the Japanese Governments are providing their citizens huge tax incentives to install PV. Lobby our government to do the same. The price will fall once mass production begins 5. Grow your own food. Not only will you save energy, but you will be able to eat fresh, organic fruit, vegetables, and maybe even a few chickens, if you are so inclined. In general, eat food that is grown locally. 6. Paint your house white (in southern climates, to absorb less heat from the sun) or dark (in northern climates, to absorb more heat from the sun). Plant deciduous trees on the south side of the house to provide shade in the summer. 7. Turn off the pilot light on your heater during the months (March-November?) when you don't need it. 8. Insulate your house in the attic, below the floor, and in the walls, preferably with recycled cotton denim insulation. Pretty flammable stuff, just like the fairly common cellulose shreds. Good point. Can it be fireproofed? Yeah, but many of the chemicals used in fireproofing (fire retardants actually) can in themselves be quite nasty. Bruce Jensen -- Posted via a free Usenet account from http://www.teranews.com |
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Ways to save energy, carbon, or pollution - NOW!
On May 8, 5:32 am, Chris wrote:
On May 7, 8:08 am, Mike Vandeman wrote: Ways to save energy, carbon, or pollution - NOW!: 1. Replace incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs - especially those you leave on for an extended period. LEDs may be even better. Fluorescent bulbs may contain mercury, so dispose of them properly. Note that some believe that the mercury associated with these bulbs presents a bigger risk than the incandescent use of energy. Not if disposed of properly. It's better to have the mercury controlled, than loose in the environment. I absolutely agree, but you have to get around that other way of thinking. Also, these do not work with dimmers, which can save as much and provide a convenience that many desire. Dimmers don't save energy. Actually they do. Dimmers circuits are constructed from SCR's and triacs. Both of these semiconductor devises are switched on for a portion of the 60Hz cycle. Thus saving energy. That is what I had understood as well, although you described it better than I could :-) 4. Put a solar water heater or photovoltaic array on your roof. Besides saving electricity, it helps keep the house cool. Lobby to get photovoltaics installed over all of our roads, where they won't shade any wildlife habitat. Rumor has it that Israel has invented a new, cheaper, more efficient form of PV that uses a metal instead of silicon. Routine PVs and solar have a little way to go yet. They are not yet really mass-produced, thereby providing the economy of scale (in terms of energy, resources and $$$); and Solar panels also contain small amounts of heavy metals that will need to use energy to be either disposed or reused. I don't know about the metal PV, but there is in development a sheet that uses no heavy metals that may be inexpensive and easy to replace when necessary - perfect for covering a rooftop. About 8-10 years away. The German and the Japanese Governments are providing their citizens huge tax incentives to install PV. Lobby our government to do the same. The price will fall once mass production begins Again, I agree. I intended to watch the NOVA program on PBS about this very topic last night, but only was able to record it - I hope to get to it this week. Here at Alameda County offices, we have quite an array over the parking lot - I understand that the meter turns backwards now pretty quickly. I am curious how long, if ever, this system will take to "break even" financially. I've seen some very good articles lately about geothermal heat pumps as well - another technology that is ripe for the exploitation but hasn't quite caught fire yet. 8. Insulate your house in the attic, below the floor, and in the walls, preferably with recycled cotton denim insulation. Pretty flammable stuff, just like the fairly common cellulose shreds. Good point. Can it be fireproofed? Yeah, but many of the chemicals used in fireproofing (fire retardants actually) can in themselves be quite nasty. OTOH, new/good wiring in new homes according to code is unlikely to create much of a fire hazard - and until we learn to build with fire resisitant materials, houses will be mostly tinder anyway. Might be worthwhile to just live with it and be reasonably careful (I haven't burnt down my house yet with those Christmas Eve bonfires!). Bruce Jensen |
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Ways to save energy, carbon, or pollution - NOW!
On 08 May 2007 12:32:56 GMT, Chris wrote:
Mike Vandeman wrote in : On 7 May 2007 09:09:54 -0700, Bruce Jensen wrote: On May 7, 8:08 am, Mike Vandeman wrote: Ways to save energy, carbon, or pollution - NOW!: 1. Replace incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs - especially those you leave on for an extended period. LEDs may be even better. Fluorescent bulbs may contain mercury, so dispose of them properly. Note that some believe that the mercury associated with these bulbs presents a bigger risk than the incandescent use of energy. Not if disposed of properly. It's better to have the mercury controlled, than loose in the environment. Also, these do not work with dimmers, which can save as much and provide a convenience that many desire. Dimmers don't save energy. Actually they do. Dimmers circuits are constructed from SCR's and triacs. Both of these semiconductor devises are switched on for a portion of the 60Hz cycle. Thus saving energy. That depends on when they were made. Also, compared to fluorescents, they DON'T save energy. 2. Use a clothesline whenever possible to dry clothes. 3. Walk, bicycle, or use public transit instead of driving a motor vehicle. 4. Put a solar water heater or photovoltaic array on your roof. Besides saving electricity, it helps keep the house cool. Lobby to get photovoltaics installed over all of our roads, where they won't shade any wildlife habitat. Rumor has it that Israel has invented a new, cheaper, more efficient form of PV that uses a metal instead of silicon. Routine PVs and solar have a little way to go yet. They are not yet really mass-produced, thereby providing the economy of scale (in terms of energy, resources and $$$); and Solar panels also contain small amounts of heavy metals that will need to use energy to be either disposed or reused. I don't know about the metal PV, but there is in development a sheet that uses no heavy metals that may be inexpensive and easy to replace when necessary - perfect for covering a rooftop. About 8-10 years away. The German and the Japanese Governments are providing their citizens huge tax incentives to install PV. Lobby our government to do the same. The price will fall once mass production begins 5. Grow your own food. Not only will you save energy, but you will be able to eat fresh, organic fruit, vegetables, and maybe even a few chickens, if you are so inclined. In general, eat food that is grown locally. 6. Paint your house white (in southern climates, to absorb less heat from the sun) or dark (in northern climates, to absorb more heat from the sun). Plant deciduous trees on the south side of the house to provide shade in the summer. 7. Turn off the pilot light on your heater during the months (March-November?) when you don't need it. 8. Insulate your house in the attic, below the floor, and in the walls, preferably with recycled cotton denim insulation. Pretty flammable stuff, just like the fairly common cellulose shreds. Good point. Can it be fireproofed? Yeah, but many of the chemicals used in fireproofing (fire retardants actually) can in themselves be quite nasty. That's what I thought. I added " (unless being flammable is a problem)". -- I am working on creating wildlife habitat that is off-limits to humans ("pure habitat"). Want to help? (I spent the previous 8 years fighting auto dependence and road construction.) Please don't put a cell phone next to any part of your body that you are fond of! http://home.pacbell.net/mjvande |
#7
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Ways to save energy, carbon, or pollution - NOW!
"Mike Vandeman" wrote in message ... Ways to save energy, carbon, or pollution - NOW!: 1. Replace incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs - especially those you leave on for an extended period. LEDs may be even better. Fluorescent bulbs may contain mercury, so dispose of them properly. 2. Use a clothesline whenever possible to dry clothes. 3. Walk, bicycle, or use public transit instead of driving a motor vehicle. 4. Put a solar water heater or photovoltaic array on your roof. Besides saving electricity, it helps keep the house cool. DO NOT do this because it might help keep the house cool. I have solar panels on my roof to heat the pool water, and there is no benefit from the perspective of keeping the house cool. At least, there is no discernable benefit. Another thing to think about, solar panels for the pool demand the pool pump be running during the day, but the utility company wants the pool pump to be off during the day. I'm not disputing that solar panels for the pool are good, I really enjoy mine and I get several additional swimming days -- I estimate I get about 120 extra swim days -- per year and I can keep my pool heated to 86+ for a very long time with solar while my neighbors get less than 80 unless they turn on the heater. On the hottest days of summer, I actually have to shut the solar panels off because the pool water can easily get to 90+. Lobby to get photovoltaics installed over all of our roads, where they won't shade any wildlife habitat. Rumor has it that Israel has invented a new, cheaper, more efficient form of PV that uses a metal instead of silicon. 5. Grow your own food. Not only will you save energy, but you will be able to eat fresh, organic fruit, vegetables, and maybe even a few chickens, if you are so inclined. In general, eat food that is grown locally. 6. Paint your house white (in southern climates, to absorb less heat from the sun) or dark (in northern climates, to absorb more heat from the sun). Plant deciduous trees on the south side of the house to provide shade in the summer. 7. Turn off the pilot light on your heater during the months (March-November?) when you don't need it. 8. Insulate your house in the attic, below the floor, and in the walls, preferably with recycled cotton denim insulation. 9. Share your energy-saving ideas as widely as possible. I welcome other suggestions. I will update this document as I get new ideas. Assuming YOU came up with this list, you have finally made a suggestion that has environmental merit. Maybe there's hope for you after all. |
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Ways to save energy, carbon, or pollution - NOW!
"Bruce Jensen" wrote in message oups.com... On May 7, 8:08 am, Mike Vandeman wrote: Ways to save energy, carbon, or pollution - NOW!: 1. Replace incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs - especially those you leave on for an extended period. LEDs may be even better. Fluorescent bulbs may contain mercury, so dispose of them properly. Note that some believe that the mercury associated with these bulbs presents a bigger risk than the incandescent use of energy. Also, these do not work with dimmers, which can save as much and provide a convenience that many desire. I use dimmers an nearly every light bulb in my house -- with the obvious exception of the fluorescents. I find the dimmers especially useful in the bathrooms because we can set the light output to that of a night light if we get up in the middle of the night to use the toilet. There's nothing worse than waking up in the middle of the night and burning holes in your retnas, except that peeing on the floor could be worse. We also set the light in the television room to "theater lighting" when we watch TV. Instead of having full lighting, we have about 25 watts or less from the overhead. The effect is nice and the energy consumption is very low. I have been doing this for about 20 years ... |
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Ways to save energy, carbon, or pollution - NOW!
On May 8, 8:45 am, "Jeff Strickland" wrote:
4. Put a solar water heater or photovoltaic array on your roof. Besides saving electricity, it helps keep the house cool. DO NOT do this because it might help keep the house cool. I have solar panels on my roof to heat the pool water, and there is no benefit from the perspective of keeping the house cool. At least, there is no discernable benefit. Jeff - So absorption of the solar radiation, conversion to water heat and transfer of this heat to the pool does not *noticeably* siphon away any of the heat that would otherwise conduct through the roof? It sounded like such a good idea! BJ |
#10
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Ways to save energy, carbon, or pollution - NOW!
"Bruce Jensen" wrote in message ups.com... On May 8, 8:45 am, "Jeff Strickland" wrote: 4. Put a solar water heater or photovoltaic array on your roof. Besides saving electricity, it helps keep the house cool. DO NOT do this because it might help keep the house cool. I have solar panels on my roof to heat the pool water, and there is no benefit from the perspective of keeping the house cool. At least, there is no discernable benefit. Jeff - So absorption of the solar radiation, conversion to water heat and transfer of this heat to the pool does not *noticeably* siphon away any of the heat that would otherwise conduct through the roof? It sounded like such a good idea! BJ I suppose that when there is enough solar heat to warm the pool water, there is so much OTHER surface area of the house that is being soaked in sunlight, that a relative small square footage of roof top covered in black panels doesn't have much of an overall effect. |
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