At our last family party we started talking about recycling. My bro-in-law said it uses more energy to recycle than to throw stuff out. Something about a carbon footprint? OK, so I’m not as well versed in all this stuff as alot of people - but I still think recycling is a step in the right direction. As is composting. Along with adding another SFG box to my garden next year, I really really really want to start composting.
In our last house it had something called “passive solar energy” - the house was a bit strange and supposedly built by local college students. It had great paper panels to cover or uncover the massive skylights everywhere, a fan in the attic to shoot the heat accumulating there (from skylights) to the rest of the house in winter, a wood burning stove that easily heated the whole house in winter, some type of “boiler” with pipes that ran around and heated things. As for air conditioning? Ceiling fans and opening the windows. Was a bit over the top to say the least - and in the long run, way more expensive than just installing a regular furnace, central air and a vent system. Sad but true.
But with regular solar energy light hitting the solar panels is converted into electricity & saves potentially hundreds of dollars. Kind of a simpler option don’t ya think? Last month we spent $400.00 on electricity. True, it’s a huge house - and part of it has been converted into an apartment with tenants - but it was definently a bit ridiculous. Solar energy is one solution - as are ceiling fans - and setting the thermostat a bit higher. (What can I say? I’d just had a baby and the hormones were raging).
What are you doing for the environment (and your pocket book)?
{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
What your BIL failed to get across is that energy costs are not the only reason to recyle. Just removing all that junk from the landfills is worth recycling at twice the energy costs. That said, I’ve not heard the energy costs of either option.
Over the last two years, out of cash flow and doing all the work ourselves, we reduct’d the house and installed a high-efficiency furnace, replaced all the windows with energy efficient double pane low E ones, and added a foot of insulation to the attic. Oh, and I take the bus to work, cutting our gas bill by over $100 a month. As for the heating bills, just the new furnace reduced our bill 20%! This winter will be telling as it is the first time it’s all come together.
And yes, I started composting this year as well, cutting our waste tremendously!
Way to go!
Thats awesome Sinfonian
Hi, PG, sorry I haven’t stopped by for a while.
We’ve been composting for 3 years, and it’s amazing how our level of garbage has reduced. We also use no chemicals on our garden.
The town we live in has zero recycling, but our local humane society collects cans. And there is a recycling place about 15 miles away, so when we go grocery shopping we take, paper, glass and plastic there.
We also replaced our ancient furnace/AC unit, and it made an enormous difference to our heating and cooling bills. We are gradually replacing our windows, as we can’t afford to do it all at once.
And we neither of us drive huge gas guzzling trucks or SUV’s, I would use public transport if there was any around here. For local errands I use my bike.
Hi Jan -
I wished I’d used my bike this summer - grr now it is freezing and much harder. Thanks for all your ideas!!
Environment
In this day of energy conservation and listening to the pleas of our dying, very much damaged environment, we are all in need of tips on how we can live better without depleting our natural resources. One such tip involves planting more trees and living in a greener world, where plants can use their natural ability to turn carbon dioxide in the air into oxygen. Another tip involves conserving water and making sure that one of our most precious commodities is abundant enough to sustain life for all animals, plants, and humans.
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Aaren
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