What do I do if I hate CFLs?

For better or worse, compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) have become the posterchild of the energy efficiency movement.  For better because, yes, they actually work!  EnergyStar-rated CFLs come in a range of colors, sizes and applications, use 75% less energy than incandescents and last seven to ten times longer.  Considering lighting accounts for 20% of the total energy use in the average Minnesota household, these bulbs can make a big difference.  And they’re easy – just screw one in and save!  However, they do have their drawbacks – mainly, that they MUST be recycled – and some people just aren’t comfortable with them.

If you don’t like CFLs and don’t want to use them, that’s okay! There are PLENTY of other things that you can do to improve your home, teach your family how to save energy and save money on utility bills.  Simple actions like washing clothes in cold water, driving the speed limit and fighting phantom load can make a difference. So if you really, really hate CFLs, never fear – there is always room for you to save!  Learn more at the Minnesota Energy Challenge.

Shower vs. Bath

Electric Shower by 77dmj (Flickr)

Here’s another frequently asked energy comparison question – is it more energy-friendly to bathe via shower or bath?  The answer definitely depends on your personal habits, but for most people, you will use less water (and thus, less energy) taking a shower than taking a bath, especially if you take quick and efficient showers.  You can find out for yourself really easily!  If you have a combo tub-shower, just plug the bath when you shower and see how high the water reaches.   If it’s less than when you fill the tub, then you’re saving energy!  If it’s the same, then maybe it’s time for you to start reducing your shower time.

If you’re a bath person, don’t despair – here’s a quick and easy tip to help reduce your water waste:  Plug the tub the second you start running water for it! I grew up letting the water run until it got hot, but that meant sending plenty of usable water just down the drain.  Even if it starts cold, you can mix in more hot water to get the temperature just right.  Stay clean!

How Much Will Waxman-Markey Cost Us?

The big legislative buzz around these parts has been, of course, the Waxman-Markey American Clean Energy and Security Act (ACES) which, among many things, proposes renewable energy and efficiency standards, a cap-and-trade policy in the US for greenhouse gas emissions and smart grid advancement.  The House is expected to vote on the bill this week, which would certainly make a huge difference environmentally.  But what is the impact on American families?

Some sources are claiming that this bill will cost American taxpayers thousands of dollars a year to accomplish, causing certain hardship for many families.  Luckily, this claim isn’t true!  The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) did run a study to estimate the costs of Waxman-Markey, taking offsets and the use of allowance value into consideration, and concludes that the bill will cost the average American household between $80-111 annually.  $80 to make significant inroads on reducing harmful greenhouse gas emissions: about 22 cents a day for a household. Could everyone in your family rally together a quarter to put towards creating jobs, providing energy security and re-establishing the United State’s role as intellectual superpower in the world?  If you can’t, good news – the poorest households in the US could actually receive a net benefit from the bill.  Talk about a no-brainer!

:: Pew Center on Global Climate Change, Economix:New York Times

Get thee to biking!

It’s time for the annual summer cry – drag out that bike and get cycling!  Once summer comes, we all know how much Minnesotans love to get outside and enjoy the warmer months.  Luckily for us cycling enthusiasts, Minneapolis is rated one of the best biking cities IN THE WORLD! Minneapolis has more than 40 miles of dedicated bike lanes and more than 80 miles of off-street bike paths that are just ripe for the biking these days.

If you’re new to urban cycling or looking at a refresher, look no further than the C.I.C.L.E Bicycle Lifestyle Guide, a snazzy online book that will walk you through all you need to know to get pedaling.  “Imagine actually enjoying running errands,” the guide asks, reminding us that biking is not just great exercise, a fun way to enjoy the outdoors AND good for the environment – but just generally a pleasant way to go about your business!

(Psssst: don’t forget to pledge to use your bike on the Minnesota Energy Challenge!)

:: C.I.C.L.E. Bicycle Lifestyle Guide

Over 23,000 Households Pledging!

I love hitting these milestones.  There are now over 23,000 Minnesota households from Duluth to Rochester pledging to improve their homes, AND save energy and money with the Minnesota Energy Challenge!  Some live in apartments, some live in condos, some own homes; some are seniors with limited income, some are families with small children, some are high school students; some are pledging to buy new furnaces, some are pledging to turn lights off when they leave rooms – but no  matter their differences, ALL are making a REAL difference in Minnesota!

HIGH FIVE!  Now on to 24,000…

Bring On the Heat

Ah, muggy summer days.  With high humidity and the temperature rising, you may be tempted to start that window unit or central AC going.  Here are some quick tips to help you stay cool without spending too much energy this summer:

Get that central AC serviced. If you don’t have the right pressure in your air conditioner, it’s going to reduce its efficiency and cost you money.  If it’s been a year since you had a professional come look at it, make sure to get them out soon.  Do a little weatherstripping! If you add up all the cracks and holes in the average Minnesota house, they can equal a two-foot-square hole open all year round!  What, are you trying to cool down the whole neighborhood?  Make sure you don’t have any leaks around your windows and doors.  Then make sure all windows and doors are closed when you use your AC. You’d be surprised how hard this can be for some people – especially those of you with absentminded children…Finally, don’t use your AC at night. Using fans to circulate cooler night air instead of a window or central unit uses less electricity, keeps you just as comfortable AND saves you some cash.

You can always find more tips on the Minnesota Energy Challenge!

Green Your School Contest

Doing something to green your high school and looking for a little recognition?  The Student Conservation Association, the conservation corps of America, is holding a Green Your School national competition to encourage and reward conservation service projects designed by high schoolers “that will improve or restore or beautify or conserve their high school environment.”  Submissions will be accepted through October.  High schools with winning projects stand to win a grand prize of $5,000 and two runner-up prizes of $2,500 each!

Hint hint: an Energy Challenge campaign would certainly qualify…check out our new school toolkit (PDF) for ideas!

Awesome Coloring Sheets

New resource up on the Minnesota Energy Challenge website!  Local artist Roberta Avidor designed these fun and educational coloring sheets for the Unitarian Universalist Ecominds, but they can be used in schools and all faith communities to give kids a fun activity that also teaches them about taking action.  From turning down the thermostat to planting trees, these coloring sheets have great ideas – and look great, too!

Download Roberta’s Coloring Sheets (PDF)

Congrats St. Michael Catholic School!

I’d like to congratulate St. Michael Catholic School for being the #1 school team on the Minnesota Energy Challenge!  Teachers, students and families at this school have really stepped up to the plate to make a real difference and show what communities can accomplish when they put their minds to it.

St. Michael is a small K-8 in Prior Lake with some seriously dedicated teachers and very motivated students.  Back in 2007, former teacher Pat Benson got a bee in her bonnet over the Energy Challenge and started a school-wide push for families to take the Challenge together (including extra recess for the classrooms that got the most signups).  St. Michael sat at the top of the list for a while, but recently current St. Michael science teacher Todd Kohorst noticed that they had fallen to 3rd place behind some larger metro high schools.

So Todd decided to take first place back!  He invited me* to come out to his classrooms and talk about energy efficiency, then gave buttons and fliers to every class in the school. He also made the Energy Challenge a class assignment to his 6th, 7th and 8th grade science classes.  More than that, Todd pointed out to his students the great opportunity they had.  Like I said, St. Michael is a small school, but with a little effort they had a chance to beat the much larger and nearby Prior Lake High School.  Students responded, and what do you know – St. Michael is number one again! This time, half of the student population is taking the energy challenge and reducing their carbon footprints.

“The response of the school was great and within a week we had moved back into the number 1 spot.  The students were very excited to beat Prior Lake High School because they are so much bigger of a school than us and that is where most of them will be going to high school.  I also pointed out how the city of Prior Lake has 3 schools in the top 10 in the state, making Prior Lake the number 3 city in the state, behind only Minneapolis and St. Paul.  The MN Energy Challenge has been a great way to get students and parents thinking about their consumption choices and realize that they can make a difference in their carbon footprint, and save money while doing it.’ – Todd Kohorst

Congrats, St. Michael! You are setting a great example – everyone makes a difference and when you take action, it counts!

*Um, I’m Neely.  I coordinate the Challenge.  I’m a residential energy auditor and a big geek and I love giving presentations on energy efficiency!  So hi.

The Energy Challenge Guide to Audits

The Minnesota Energy Challenge provides a lot of great information, including all the first-tier, low-and-no cost actions that are quick, easy and cheap for families to do in their homes.  When you’re looking to take the next step, however, what to do?  Energy audits are a great way to diagnose larger energy issues in a home and get some solid feedback on how to save.  However, they can also be really confusing!  Here’s a quick Energy Challenge Guide to Audits to help you navigate this useful diagnostic tool.

(1)  What is an energy audit? I know, the word “audit” doesn’t have the greatest connotations.  A home energy audit is nothing to be afraid of!  It’s just a great way for a professional to be able to run some basic diagnostics on your home to see how it is using energy and what are your most cost-effective opportunities to save.  There’s no judgment involved – the professional auditors who come to your home have been in a lot of homes and are intimately familiar with the issues you are facing.  They are there to help!

(2) How can I get one? Your gas or electric utility probably provides a basic energy audit at a severely discounted price, so they are the best place to start.  For example, Xcel Energy offers a comprehensive home energy audit worth $150 for just $35 for their customers!

(3) What will they do in the audit? Your auditor will examine the outside and inside of your house to see any visible signs of energy issues.  They will also probably perform a blower-door test where they set up a fun big fan in your front door to measure the air flow in and out of your house.  Your auditor will probably want to look in your attic, poke around your furnace, boiler and air conditioner and ask you some questions about your comfort. Their goal is to give you easy to follow recommendations to improve the health of your home – the indoor air quality, safety and energy use.  Don’t be afraid to ask your auditor questions about what they are doing.

(4) What do I do after I get my report? One you get your report, take action! It is common to feel overwhelmed or paralyzed by the amount of information or the recommendations that you will get through a home energy audit.  Don’t worry, you’re not expected to do everything at once.  Obviously, if they find any indoor air quality or safety issues, those should be addressed first.  As for beyond that, don’t forget the awesome tax credits!