Friday, March 9, 2012

Gas Prices Rising? Take Preemptive Action.


Gas prices are on the rise again. The national average gasoline price rose to $3.79 per gallon last Sunday, just over $0.25 below its record price of $4.05 per gallon, set in 2008. Repeated price rises are beginning to confirm what many industry experts have known for decades, that global oil production will not increase forever. When global oil production reaches its maximum capacity, high energy prices will routinely afflict U.S. citizens.
     Rising gas prices don’t just impact politics and the national economy - they also affect the day-to day lives of consumers, who must dig deeper into their wallets to fill up the tank. Many consumers react by driving less or by replacing gas-guzzlers with fuel-efficient hybrids. Reactionary measures soften the financial blow of high gas prices, but you might be interested in preemptive actions you can take to make yourself less vulnerable to energy price fluctuations and at the same time help our nation prepare for a future in which energy is more expensive.
     Here are some suggestions to make your household and the nation more sustainable and protect against high energy prices.

Install photovoltaic solar panels
     PV solar panels will allow you to be a net contributor to the grid, meaning that you won’t have to pay your utility company for electricity. Some utilities will even pay you for the extra electricity you produce. Monthly payments under a $0 down solar system lease will probably be similar to your current monthly electricity bill but will probably be much lower than your electricity bill ten years from now.

Install a thermal system to complement your PV panels
     If you are considering having PV solar installed, take the next step and go for hybrid PV/thermal panels. Hybrid panels increase the efficiency of PV panels by cooling them and use extra thermal energy (that would normally be lost) to heat your home and water. Taking a hot shower will no longer increase your gas bill!

Support efforts to develop renewable energy resources
     Contact your legislators and ask them to support a sustainable long-term national energy strategy. Support local and state initiatives to develop renewables. This will develop long-term economic stability by weaning our energy infrastructure from fossil fuels. It will save money ten years from now for you and for your neighbors who didn’t read this blog!

Buy renewable energy certificates
     Renewable energy certificates represent the environmental benefits of the production of one megawatt of renewable energy generation. When you buy a renewable energy certificate, your money directly supports the development and expansion of renewable energy facilities. You can get your electricity from solar panels without putting them on your roof!

Take the subway
     Using public transit in place of personal vehicles whenever possible will support growth of public transit systems. In ten years it will be even more expensive to drive and an established, extensive public transit system will be essential to reducing local economic stress. Relax and watch a movie, read the paper, or listen to music during your commute.

Install energy efficient appliances
     Whenever you replace a lightbulb, replace it with a CFL bulb or better yet, an LED bulb - they last longer and use less energy. If you need to buy a new washing machine, buy an energy efficient one- they use less water and less energy. Ten years from now, renewable energy sources will account for a much greater proportion of energy production and all your household energy savings will help your utility company meet your needs without having to burn fossil fuels. And reducing demand will, once again, also help your neighbors who didn’t read this article!

Monday, February 6, 2012

There's a Reason It's Called JUNK MAIL

Last week when I was taking out the recycling, (which seems to be way more often than I would like... but at least it's not trash!) I noticed just how much Junk Mail I get. And seriously it is all JUNK! Why do I need flyers about weekly specials from every local pharmacy & grocery store? Is it really necessary to solicit me for the same credit card I already have?
Not only is this phenomenon of junk mail annoying, but it is a serious waste of natural resources. Energy is wasted in the creation of these products and then wasted in the responsible destruction of them as well. Not to mention the trees and habitats being destroyed, all so I can glimpse at the weekly deals for a millisecond and toss it in my recycling container. Is it worth it? Absolutely not.

So what did I find when I looked more into this situation at hand (literally!).

On average, an American household receives 1 personal correspondence a week and 18 pieces of junk mail.

You will waste 8 months of your life dealing with junk mail.

44% of junk mail goes in the landfill unopened!

Direct mail creates 10 billion pounds of solid waste. That's equivalent to 151,000 full cement trucks!

So how can we address this issue?

1.) Figure out the culprit. Who is sending you this junk mail?
2.) Go to www.catalogchoice.org and sign up for FREE to say no to junk mail!
3.) Create an account, search out the company and add them to your list.
4.) Voila! No more junk mail!!!

Make your actions count! By saying no to junk mail you are saving trees and ecosystems, making squirrels happy and helping to stop energy waste. Nicely done!  :0)   

Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Mission Viejo's pledge to use reusable bags

The launch with the City of Mission Viejo was a success and they are off to a great start! Going along with their monthly commitment use reusable bags, the Mission Viejo group distributed over 800 reusable bags during the city's Farmer's Market. Pretty amazing, right? Market shoppers were able to pick up a bag for free from the group's stand and continue with their shopping in a more sustainable fashion. The bags even had a catchy phrase stating, "Do Something Drastic, Say No to Plastic. Reuse this Bag and Live GREEN, for Those Downstream".


The members of this group were determined to connect with people about the importance of reducing their dependence on plastic bags and showing them how easy and fun it can be to carry around a functional tote. 
It seems almost obvious that having ONE larger tote over many little bags can free up your hands to peruse more stands, be less overwhelming and increase your level of enjoyment while shopping. We have all experience carrying a plastic bag that is too heavy and having it dig at our hands. Avoid this feeling all together and join Mission Viejo in pledging to use reusable bags while shopping. Oh, and it doesn't JUST have to be when you're at the grocery store!

Happy Shopping!