Reducing My Utilities Bills

Carbon Offseting: People are starting to question

CNN: Carbon Offsetting: 4 Questions to Ask

Here is an article talking about my same concerns about the accuracy and problems with carbon offsetting.

Worse we are thing about a cap and trade systems based on these not so accurate measures. Doesn't this bother you.

Do something at home and at work before you buy a single offset. Though I believe the intention are good from most of these organizations. I would rather see people invest in savings at home and work for a faster impact.

On my version of offsetting I am at about 100 CFLs of my 307 I plan on giving away this year.

Aaron

Thank goodness 80's not 90's

The temperatures have dropped about 10 degrees over the last week. Last week and the week before was mostly in the mid 90's and this week it is supposed to be the mid 80's. Last month was warmer then the year before even even with the increase in tempature we cut the utilization and the electric bill significantly. I want to cut it more and I need to get into the attic when it is light outside but, not quite so hot. The fans do a lot up there but, they can only drop the temperature as low as the outside temp.

I am still looking for ideas on further home improvements. Please help.

Thanks,

Aaron

55% reduction in water usage over last year

Plugging the drips, improving the sprinker system, replacing one low flow shower head has cut usage by 55% over last year.

Saving of $60 per month.

Aaron

Less expensive solar cells

If found this link in my e-mail. Cool maybe eventually I can get solar panels cheep enough to all the power I need at home.

Plastic Solar Cells Get a Boost by Doubling Up

I have a lot of roof so a bit less efficiency if the price per watt is cheaper works for me. The only question for me is how much for me to product enough power where I have zero electric bill.

Aaron

50% less power and 65% less money

Great progress, $731 saving over July last year but, I wish we could have done more.  That is 50% less power and 65% less money then last year and it is the lowest utilization in July by a large margin since we moved into the house.

Meter Read              Average Daily         Charges
Date                         Usage (KWH)        this period

07/24/2007               61.94                   $ 395.35

07/24/2006              122.84                  $ 1,131.40

I was hoping for less then $250 and less then 35 KWH per day. In the last two weeks the AC has been turning on more then I would like. But, it is at 78 degrees.

Give me more ideas my family can use to saving money and power while helping the environment. What is working for you?

Aaron

Biofuels vs OPEC

Here are two interesting CNN articles...

How ethanol bites you in the wallet - talks about some of the problems of the growing use of ethanol.

OPEC is threatening to cut investment in production and drive up the price of oil if industrialized economies don't stop investing in biofuels

This shows why we need to invest more in biofuels not just corn based ethanol. OPEC is scared of the world moving from their oil. But, they will not do anything since if they did they would accelerate the move away from oil.

OPEC realizes the end is eventually coming. Hopefully sooner rather then later.

Much better for the world and the US...

• Better environment
• No money for terrorists
• Reduced trade deficit
• Better power system
• ... and more

Aaron

Stay at home dad for the day

With my 3 year old daughter supervising I changed the air filter on the car. Changed it to a better quality one as well as clean one. Hopefully the better air flow will translate to more fuel economy.

We also did a very minor tweek down on the water heater again. My hope is to bring my natural gas utilization another 3-5% lower during the summer months.

Fixed a toilet to stop water dips between flushes which helps to save water but probably not enough to impact the bill.

Aaron

     

The blog has gone through a face lift

I have cleaned things up a bit and added the ability to click on any word and get info also any URL will show you an image of where you are going.

In addition I have hooked to have switched from Adsense to Auctionads which will hopefully give a more useful products to help you save energy and help the environment.  If you like them go via my sight to help underwrite the cost of the site and help me do more work at my home for the environment and my family.

Aaron

Switching from paper to electronic magazines save dollars and the enviroment

One of my more recent challenges has been starting to switch my magazine subscriptions from paper to electronic (at least for those that support it).

The good news it that I have save money on most of them. Saving me money as well as helping the environment luckily over the next few months more of my magazine will be available in electronic form. Some of my engineering magazines were not available in electron for now but, will be by the end of the year.

I already don't get a newspaper (except a free one that we never asked for). Any papers we get get almost prompting go into the recycle can.

Aaron

Environmentalists need to choose their priorities

Environmentalists need to choose their priorities just like the country.

The bird versus wind power issue is slowing the roll out of wind power. See, the above video also in other parts of the country. If CO2 and greenhouse gases are so critical on the global scale some times trade offs will need to be made on the local and regional level. Also, since wind is the most cost effective greenhouse gas free energy source it needs to get a bit more priority since the impacts of the delay on global warming are more significant then the impacts to bird populations.

Presently my opinion is the bias needs to be towards wind power (and solar) with the intend to use best practices (latest technologies, higher towers). As a individual home owner or a community member I should not have to risk lawsuits to erect a wind generator. I am not saying to seek out to hurt birds but, to avoid where possible but, limit the lawsuits and the studies so wind can make further progress.

They should have been allowed to expand but to coordinate the placement of new towers with the groups not be under threat of lawsuits for towers that we erected years ago.   

What do you think?

Aaron