RT @MilesGrant RT @drgrist: Oil, coal & natural gas operations have all exploded & killed people in last month. I believe the term is “collateral damage.”
There’s also a leak at a nuclear power plant that has leaked before (apparently the acidic water is eating away at a cap).
Don’t you think it’s time for us to begin to do two things?
- Move to wind and solar
- Stop wasting so much energy
Stevens and I are scheduling our move to fuel-efficient cars, and we’re also looking at our energy consumption at home. We keep too many things turned on all the time (coughservercough), and some items we have pull electricity even when they’re turned off (I’m looking at YOU, digital cable box).
We’re really good at turning off lights and using the lower energy options on our appliances, but I keep being reminded that there’s more we can do:
- Shop local to reduce the distance food has to travel to us (and benefit local business!)
- Buy organic where possible, because pesticides and non-organic fertilizer are made with petroleum products…aside from not being, y’know, good for you to eat.
- Dry clothing on clotheslines, if your HOA allows it (if you have an HOA). If not, move to get your HOA to allow it
- Carpool, carpool, carpool
- Mass transit
- Save water, shower with a friend! (sorry, that was an ad from the 1980’s drought in NYC)
I know I’m leaving some obvious things off the list. Leave your favorite energy-saving ideas in the comments!
I pulled a truckload of building material out of a residential construction dumpster yesterday: dimensional lumber (some uncut!), 4×4 cutoffs of plywood and chipboard. It amazes me what we throw out.
Walk places. Like, places that take more than 5 minutes to walk to. You’ll be surprised what you learn about the next neighborhood over.
Go to bed early, then sleep in. Seriously, you’re not using electricity or gas as much when you’re sleeping. Plus, you get to sleep, and who doesn’t like sleep!