Walking More Lightly on the Earth
(or little things we can do without much fuss to reduce our energy consumption and carbon footprint)
by Erika Harding
There is a quiet little revolution taking place in Albuquerque. In fact, I suspect this grass-roots movement is creeping across the United States, drawing very little attention. In homes, churches and meeting halls people are gathering to learn more about what they can do as individuals and families to hold back the tide of bad environmental news, to take back a little of the control of energy resources from the massive coal, petroleum and nuclear power industries that dominate us.
I went to a “solar house party” a few weeks ago, and came away so motivated and inspired that I haven’t been able to talk about much else since. In fact, I think this method of education is so powerful that we’ve decided to use our resources at Body, Mind & Spirit to reach other young families looking to make some positive (but not too painful) changes. The house party I attended is the brainchild of Andrea Plaza and Angela Sylvestre, a single mother and friend of mine who lives in a modest Albuquerque house, and made the decision to go solar. She found that the education she received in the process was so powerful it had to be shared, and now she has hosted three such house parties, packing 20 or so people into her small living room to hear how and why she did what she did and short presentations from a few other speakers. These parties, though small, have sent a ripple through Albuquerque, and organizations and groups are taking notice. Sierra Club has begun to attend, handing out compact flurescent light bulbs to attendees. These parties are getting people talking, and more importantly, they are getting people to ACT.
If this sounds like something you’re interested in, come to the next free solar party (really, we should call these energy independence parties, as solar is only one - the last one, actually - of many possible steps), hosted by Body, Mind & Spirit at The Source on June 28th. We are requesting that, if you are married or partnered, both partners attend. This was a critical part of the house party I attended: couples were told to come together and childcare was provided free. If either my husband or I had gone alone (as we usually do, to try to maximize time efficiency during busy weekends…), only one of us would have been informed and motivated, and the project would have died there. As it happened, both John and I had lots of misinformation and incorrect assumptions that we carried to the houseparty. To counter that, we had to hear the same information at the same time.
Here is a summary of the information I received:
*Solar energy is much more affordable than I ever thought. Come find out how and why. Angela only needed a small system for her two-person 1,300 square foot house. She took out a 15-year loan, costing her $50 per month. In return, her monthly electricity bill averages $0, and the energy she consumes emits no carbon dioxide or toxic particulates into the air. This takes into account the income tax credits equaling thirty percent of the total cost of your solar system and any purchases, fixes or renovations (such as a new roof) required to make a house “solar-ready. For information on the state’s efforts to promote sustainable energy, go to www.cleanenergynm.org. On average, no matter the size of the system you install (which is based on your consumption), the net monthly cost is close to $50. Amazing!
*Even if you are convinced that solar energy (either photo-voltaic, to produce electricity, or thermal, to produce heat) is the way to go, it is not the first
step: conservation comes first and foremost. In fact, Positive Energy, a Santa Fe-based solar installation company, and their terrific website www.positiveenergysolar.com will try to convince you that investing in solar should only be done once you have done the easier steps to reduce your energy consumption as low as it can go.
Presenter Alan Zelicoff called these steps “picking the low-hanging fruit” - things that you and I can do inexpensively, but which make a big impact on your family’s energy consumption. These steps can reduce your family’s electricity use by 20-30%, sometimes more:
1. unplug your vampires: use power strips (and then turn them off when not in
use!) for your computer/modem/monitor combo, your TVs and other devices which are silently consuming electricity. Unplug your phone charger when not charging. Your doorbell and electric-powered garage door opener (not the dinker, the one in the garage) are two other significant vampires which you may not need.
2. clean your refrigerator coils. I didn’t know what or where these were - they are the heat releasing coils under your fridge, usually protected by a small grill. Pop the grill off and peek inside: these are often insulated with a heavy coat of dust and animal hair, making the unit require much extra energy to dump its excess heat and stay cool. Simply vacuum these once every six months or so.
3. hang your laundry out to dry. I did this often when the weather is nice, but now have renewed my commitment to let my dryer stagnate.
4. turn your water heater down bit by bit (target of 110 degrees Fahrenheit), so that a shower requires only hot water and not the addition of cold.
Otherwise you are heating, constantly, a lot of water to a temperature you don’t need (and neither does your dishwasher or clothes washer).
5. put lids on your pots when you cook. Without a lid, you use three times the required energy to cook.
6. change out your traditional light bulbs for compact fluorescents.
7. reduce energy loss by insulating where possible. A hole in your wall has an R-value (insulation level) of zero. My single-pane, leaky windows have an R-value of one. By using inexpensive air-trapping cellular shades, you increase the R-value to five! These work summer and winter, but the old stand-by of sticky plastic sheeting also helps during cold months.
8. use a thermometer to set your refrigerator to 38 degrees, and your freezer to 4. Anything colder is a waste of energy.
9. turn your thermostat as low as possible at night and when you’re away.
Keeping your house at 68 degrees when you are home makes sense, when you’re away you’re heating empty space.
If you happen to be building or renovating a home, consider these (from the US Green Builders Council) benefits of “Green Building”
*Jumpstarts the green building industry, resulting in a professional infrastructure with increased expertise in energy efficiency and sustainable building practices. Green building is a major force in the US and the SBTC positions NM as a leader in the movement.
*Reduces energy consumption, helping to offset the impact of rising energy prices. Energy efficient homes particularly benefit lower-income New Mexicans by keeping the cost of quality homes within reach, while lowering ongoing utility bills.
*Conserves precious water resources both in buildings and in power generation.
*Reduces greenhouse gas emissions and delays the need to build costly new electric power plants.
*Provides healthy and comfortable buildings, improving the quality of life for NM citizens.
We hope to see you at the June 28th energy independence party and family potluck. It is free, and childcare will be provided (registration is required, so we can plan for food and childcare). We hope to host other similar information gatherings in the future, focusing not just on energy issues but also incorporating other ways we can “green” our homes and lives. Young people and families are paying attention, and are clearly invested in the environment, no matter what their political affiliations or beliefs. I’ve bought two hybrid cars in the past year, and we are planning to put photovoltaic panels, insulation, and energy-efficient windows on our house soon. Planting a garden and buying local food, paying attention to the toxicity and impact of the products we buy, and shopping at thrift stores for used clothing all help.
Let’s get started!