Learning Green Lessons the Hard Way

My family has long been watching our energy usage at home, even in the area of air conditioning, which can be a touchy subject here in the deep south! It gets pretty darned hot around here in the summertime and people typically keep the air set somewhere between 70 and 72 degrees to keep things cool and comfy indoors. 

My family learned that if we kicked that thermostat up to 76 during the hottest part of the day and 74 at night when the a/c unit wouldn't have to work quite so hard, we could indeed bear it. In fact, we got used to the temperature change fairly quickly, in a week or two, so that we didn't feel hot or icky at all when the house was 76 degrees!

Then one of our two air conditioner units went kaput! Uh oh! Not in June, just when the summer is really gearing up and the humidity is through the roof! 

Well we quickly learned that by closing off the part of the house that has air conditioning during the day, we could limit ourselves to that part of the house for the most part and still stay cool. All it took was a curtain rod hung over a doorway and pretty red curtain hanging from it. In the early evening, we pull back the curtain and open the bedroom doors to allow more air flow. Ceiling fans in the bedrooms help pull the air so that by bedtime our rooms are about 78 degrees. Though it's a bit warmer than we were used to, again it only took us about a week to acclimate ourselves to the new temperature. 

image courtesy of freedigitalphotos.net

Then the power bill arrived. We are using half the energy we were using this time last year! And we are perfectly comfortable! 

There are several lessons we've learned here and will carry with us into the future:

1. Our bodies can be comfortable at temperatures above 72 degrees.
2. Air conditioning accounts for a HUGE percentage of a home's energy usage.
3. A small amount of effort can net a large amount of savings on your power bill.
4. Ceiling fans are wonderful things and don't use nearly as much energy as air conditioners.
5. Curtains are cute in a doorway!

(Note: Don't fill all 8 of those light bulb spots on a ceiling fan! Who needs 8 lightbulbs in one room? Besides, lightbulbs create heat! Use energy saving bulbs and fill every 2nd or 3rd spot.)

Have you ever discovered a greener way of living by accident? 

Global Warming Is Not A Priority For the US Government

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Many nations around the world have made significant changes and have drawn up specific guidelines to limit their impact on global warming. The United States is not one of them. Known for many years as a world leader, the U.S. cannot seem to grasp the urgency of climate change. This is happening now! And for those that would shrug your shoulders and say "not in my lifetime so I'm not worried about it," that has now changed according to a disturbing article published by the New York Times over the weekend. 

In the meantime, don't wait on the government to tell you how to limit carbon emissions. Get to work on this issue yourself. Many small actions add up to a significant difference and that's what is needed to really make an impact on the rate of global warming. 

• Open the blinds and turn off the electric lights during the day. 
• Use cold water instead of hot whenever possible. 
• Buy products with less packaging. 
• Drive or bike when you are going a short distance, and carpool when possible if you need to go further. 
• Consider living closer to work or school.
• Be sure televisions and other electronics are turned off and unplugged when not in use.
• Plant a tree or some shrubbery...anything with leaves.
• Plant a vegetable garden or buy locally grown produce only.

These are just a few suggestions and all are easy. Don't think you can't make a difference because you can. Set an example for those around you. Explain to them your reasoning when they ask why you do it. 

Click here to read the New York Times article about global warming. I'd love to hear your reaction in the comments section below. Have some simple suggestions for limiting carbon emissions at home? Post those below also. I want to know!

C is for Climate

Click here for a full list of my posts and a list of participating blogs in the 2013 A to Z Challenge!

Climate change is a very real and serious concern. The world is warming and that could eventually come with catastrophic consequences for humankind. We know how to slow it down, but many individuals and companies choose instead to ignore the warnings. After all, ignorance is bliss. 

Recently I found a great website called climatecounts.org that rates companies on their reaction to climate change. The site allows you to search a company name or browse businesses by company, sector, brand, or product type. Having grown up in the Carolinas drinking, I typed in PepsiCo first. A window opened that gave me a numerical score for the company out of 100 possible points, a description of what they are doing well or could do better, and whether they are "stuck", "starting", "striding",  or "soaring" in their efforts to reduce global warming.

On the Climate Counts website, individuals can also use a tool to rate their "shopping cart" to see how their purchasing power contributes to climate change. When we buy products from companies that are refusing to make changes, we are telling those companies that it doesn't matter. As consumers, we do have the power to influence their decisions!

Another feature I love on climatecounts.org is the clickable link that allows you to send an email to a company of your choosing to let them know you are watching their Climate Counts score. What a great way to remind these corporations that we are on to them and that environmentally conscious consumers will not support companies that ignore climate change!

You can also download their i-Phone app, follow them on Twitter, like their Facebook page, watch videos about the climate crisis, and more. They even have their own blog that you can follow that has some great articles (maybe leave a comment to thank them for what they are doing and/or that MMC sent you. Head on over to check them out by clicking here.