How GREEN is your house? How Green could it be?

[Gryphon]

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.

[Gryphon]

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)

[Mr442]

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.

[American_Woman]

*Waves*

[Henry Hawk]

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......

[Bo D]

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.

[Henry Hawk]

http://www.lewrockwell.com/blog/lewrw/archives/013117.html

an interesting look at..the sheep...

[Bo D]

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?

[Henry Hawk]

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......

[Bo D]

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"

[Henry Hawk]

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...

[Bo D]

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.

...........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!

[Gryphon]

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.

[Bo D]

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."

[Henry Hawk]

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."

as opposed to the democrats voting for the immoral minority?....