Back when I was in college, when being "green" was something you thought about around Earth Day, and gas was 98 cents a gallon, I did a few papers on building an earth friendly house. I found one of those papers while cleaning my file cabinet a few weeks ago, and sadly, much of what I had predicted would be coming to the masses is still out of reach for most of us--unavailable, unaccepted, and overpriced.
(Thanks to ME for making me think of this!)
If you all will allow me to ramble a bit, Id like to use this topic to bring together ideas for how we can be more "green" in our building and remodeling projects.
10 Tips for an Energy-efficient Kitchen
Save energy -- and money -- with these ideas for your major appliances
Look closely. Your kitchen may be leaking nickels and dimes.
1. Check the manual that came with your dishwasher; many models have internal heating elements that allow you to set the water heater to a lower temperature.
2. Let your dishes air dry. If you don't have an automatic air-dry switch, turn off the control knob after the final rinse and prop the door open a little so the dishes will dry faster.
3. Make sure your refrigerator door seals are airtight. Test them by closing the door over a piece of paper or a dollar bill so it is half in and half out of the refrigerator. If you can pull the paper or bill out easily, the latch may need adjustment or the seal may need replacing.
4. Cover liquids and wrap foods stored in the refrigerator. Uncovered foods release moisture and make the compressor work harder.
5. Move your refrigerator out from the wall and vacuum its condenser coils once a year (unless you have a no-clean condenser model). Your refrigerator will run for shorter periods with clean coils.
6. Wash your clothes in cold water using cold-water detergents whenever possible.
7. Use the cool-down cycle to allow the clothes to finish drying with the residual heat in the dryer.
8. Be sure to place the faucet lever on the kitchen sink in the cold position when using small amounts of water. Placing the lever in the hot position uses energy to heat the water, even though it never reaches the faucet.
9. If you purchase a gas oven or range, look for one with an automatic, electric ignition system. An electric ignition saves gas because a pilot light is not burning continuously.
10. Use small electric pans or toaster ovens for small meals rather than your large stove or oven. A toaster oven uses a third to half as much energy as a full-sized oven.
Source: U.S. Department of Energy, Energy Efficiency, and Renewable Energy Clearinghouse (EREC)
We just had new central heat and air installed. It replaced a 1954 vintage floor furnace and 4 window air conditioners. The new furnace is a 95% effecient gas unit, that is suppose to heat the house better while using less gas. With the old floor furnace, we had to supplement with electric space heaters, so our winter gas and electric usage was pretty high. Our last light bill was $350, so I am interested in seeing what the bill for August will be. By then we will be ready to start using the heat, so we can compare gas bills shortly after that.
Our intent was to get better (more effecient) heating and cooling to save some money and help the house sell better next spring, but I am sure it will be a little more green as a result.
*Waves*
My shutters are green.........does that count?.............
I am looking into electric radiant heaters..to offset my propane furnace.....the way my house is positioned...it is on a hill with 7 really old and big trees all around it....I am able to open my windows, and have a very cool breeze blow through my home, most of the summer...I have ran my AC only on a few, days when it was in the 90's......
Last year we replaced our heating and a/c unit with a new ultra-high efficiency unit. This year we replaced all our windows with triple glazed ones. We also had new siding installed. They installed fanfold insulation over the entire house and on top of that they used that housewrap stuff.
We have an all-electric house and I swear our electric bill is half what it was.
http://www.lewrockwell.com/blog/lewrw/archives/013117.html (http://www.lewrockwell.com/blog/lewrw/archives/013117.html)
an interesting look at..the sheep...
I agree Henry. That is stupid. But how is it any more stupid than denying that we are harming our planet with our wasteful, destructive lifestyles?
Quote from: Bo D on August 18, 2008, 09:50:39 AM
I agree Henry. That is stupid. But how is it any more stupid than denying that we are harming our planet with our wasteful, destructive lifestyles?
I really don't think most people WANT to harm this planet......and I think MOST people are willing to be good stewards of this planent....In many ways...I give Gore and company props for making people aware of POTENTIAL problems..........but, I think Gore and company is more along the description of this video..........a way to profit form something that is NOT the problem they claim......
Did I say anything about Gore? What is this obsession some people with Al Gore. He, like T. Boone Pickens and many, many others are nothing more than charlatans out to make a quick buck on a bad situation.
I agree that most people probably don't WANT to harm the planet, but I think most don't care enough or are to busy to be bothered (i.e. - lazy) to be "good stewards of this planent"
Quote from: Bo D on August 18, 2008, 10:04:38 AM
Did I say anything about Gore? What is this obsession some people with Al Gore. He, like T. Boone Pickens and many, many others are nothing more than charlatans out to make a quick buck on a bad situation.
I agree that most people probably don't WANT to harm the planet, but I think most don't care enough or are to busy to be bothered (i.e. - lazy) to be "good stewards of this planent"
I know you did not mention gore....but, he is the one that has made this whole thing a fiasco...........I think we are getting better as a grooup as compared to a few years ago...........better education, and better awareness.........my kids are being taught about the advantages of being green...this next generation will show vast differences in the way things are being done....imo...
Quote from: Henry Hawk on August 18, 2008, 10:08:13 AM
I know you did not mention gore....but, he is the one that has made this whole thing a fiasco
Yes, Gore has "made this whole thing a fiasco" but as you pointed out, "I give Gore and company props for making people aware of POTENTIAL problems"
And maybe that after all has more value than the naysayers.
Quote from: Henry Hawk on August 18, 2008, 10:08:13 AM
...........I think we are getting better as a grooup as compared to a few years ago...........better education, and better awareness.........my kids are being taught about the advantages of being green...this next generation will show vast differences in the way things are being done....imo...
Let's hope so, Henry!
Quote from: Henry Hawk on August 18, 2008, 08:35:07 AM
http://www.lewrockwell.com/blog/lewrw/archives/013117.html (http://www.lewrockwell.com/blog/lewrw/archives/013117.html)
an interesting look at..the sheep...
LOL! thats an old old trick....
I cant believe anyone still falls for it.
Quote from: Gryphon on August 18, 2008, 01:18:10 PM
Quote from: Henry Hawk on August 18, 2008, 08:35:07 AM
http://www.lewrockwell.com/blog/lewrw/archives/013117.html (http://www.lewrockwell.com/blog/lewrw/archives/013117.html)
an interesting look at..the sheep...
LOL! thats an old old trick....
I cant believe anyone still falls for it.
I'm not surprised. Look at all the ones who voted Republican thinking they were voting for the "moral majority."
:rolleyes:
Quote from: Bo D on August 19, 2008, 09:34:47 AM
Quote from: Gryphon on August 18, 2008, 01:18:10 PM
Quote from: Henry Hawk on August 18, 2008, 08:35:07 AM
http://www.lewrockwell.com/blog/lewrw/archives/013117.html (http://www.lewrockwell.com/blog/lewrw/archives/013117.html)
an interesting look at..the sheep...
LOL! thats an old old trick....
I cant believe anyone still falls for it.
I'm not surprised. Look at all the ones who voted Republican thinking they were voting for the "moral majority."
:rolleyes:
as opposed to the democrats voting for the immoral minority?.... ;) :rolleyes:
Boy, this thread got high jacked real good. :rolleyes:
i didn't start it.... :spooked:
man, your right though....wow...how does that happen... :confused:
Quote from: Henry Hawk on August 19, 2008, 10:36:33 AM
i didn't start it.... :spooked:
man, your right though....wow...how does that happen... :confused:
You didn't start it?????
My goodness Henry, you have a selective memory. Just go back and read Page 1 and you will see the first post that got us off track.
Quote from: Henry Hawk on August 18, 2008, 08:35:07 AM
http://www.lewrockwell.com/blog/lewrw/archives/013117.html (http://www.lewrockwell.com/blog/lewrw/archives/013117.html)
an interesting look at..the sheep...
Did you expect that to go unanswered? Then you did what all good conservatives do when you can't come up with an intelligent answer. You invoked the name of AL GORE!!!!!!!
Quote from: Henry Hawk on August 18, 2008, 09:53:39 AM
Quote from: Bo D on August 18, 2008, 09:50:39 AM
I agree Henry. That is stupid. But how is it any more stupid than denying that we are harming our planet with our wasteful, destructive lifestyles?
I really don't think most people WANT to harm this planet......and I think MOST people are willing to be good stewards of this planent....In many ways...I give Gore and company props for making people aware of POTENTIAL problems..........but, I think Gore and company is more along the description of this video..........a way to profit form something that is NOT the problem they claim......
Quote from: Henry Hawk on August 19, 2008, 10:11:41 AM
as opposed to the democrats voting for the immoral minority?.... ;) :rolleyes:
The difference here is that those same Republicans who were masquerading as the "moral majority" were doing exactly the opposite of what they were preaching.
Sorry, Mr442. But I just couldn't let that get by.
As you were....
:biggrin:
you made the republican remark about moral majority.......what did THAT have to with ANYTHING....my comment about Gore was not a democrat thing it was an Idiot thing about his screaming the sky is falling and the sheep who followed him...which was STILL on topic....
you made it personal, by attacking the repulican party.....(which by the way, I'm NOT a member of)...
AAARRRRGHHHHH!!!!!! HENRY!!!!!!!
Let's review and then I am through with this....
Page 1 Post 1
Gryphon
Id like to use this topic to bring together ideas for how we can be more "green" in our building and remodeling projects.
Page 1 Post 2
Gryphon
10 Tips for an Energy-efficient Kitchen
Page 1 Post 3
Mr442
We just had new central heat and air installed
Page 1 Post 4
American Woman (waves)
Page 1 Post 5
Henry Hawk
I am looking into electric radiant heaters..to offset my propane furnace....
Page 1 Post 6
Bo D
Last year we replaced our heating and a/c unit
PRETTY GOOD SO FAR, THEN........
Page 1 Post 7
Henry Hawk
"an interesting look at..the sheep..."
I'll leave the rest to those who actually read this stuff....
Bo....you just like to be controvesial.........that is all i can say..........I posted a video about water being bad for the planent.....made a comment about Gore...and I actually gave him SOME props...........then you fire back about republican and the moral majority....it is your usuall "gotta get a shot in"...response......
so.......I am through with this thread........it WAS hi-jacked............and....sorry....i could not let THIS one get by...
Quote from: Henry Hawk on August 19, 2008, 01:17:46 PM
I posted a video about water being bad for the planent.....made a comment about Gore...
I'm done.
Quote from: Bo D on August 19, 2008, 01:53:34 PM
Quote from: Henry Hawk on August 19, 2008, 01:17:46 PM
I posted a video about water being bad for the planent.....made a comment about Gore...
I'm done.
i was done first..(you gotta get the last word, don't ya... :razz: )
we could heat a house or two with all the hot air blowin round.
;)
anything to help out.....incidently...I AM weaing GREEN today.... :razz:
I painted my living room green...seriously. :biggrin:
Our new heating system has really knocked the electric bill in the head. Before we used small electric space heaters to suplement the old gas furnace. We don't need them now, and the electric bill is down to about half of waht it was last year. I've go to do some digging for past gas bills and compare those next.
At this rrate, the new HVAC may pay for itself in short order. ;D
Quote from: Mr442 on December 02, 2008, 09:20:30 AM
Our new heating system has really knocked the electric bill in the head. Before we used small electric space heaters to suplement the old gas furnace. We don't need them now, and the electric bill is down to about half of waht it was last year. I've go to do some digging for past gas bills and compare those next.
At this rrate, the new HVAC may pay for itself in short order. ;D
I just finished a job turning a circa-1982 3000 square foot house into a circa-2008 5000 s.f. house. Its a sprawling one story with TONS more glass than it had, and tons more high ceilings. But, all the new insulation and windows have meant the owners are now paying a lot less to heat five thousand s.f. than they were to heat 3000.