Incessant Expressions

Here’s a Carnival of the Green #140 (URL lists it as #2 because it’s the second time Everyday Trash has hosted it).

However, if you read the list carefully, there are some very glaring errors:

1. Not exactly a way to save electricity but a way to identify biggest consumers of it (always these: big screen TVs, fridge, A/C, hot water heater, multiple computers).
2. If it’s off and not on standby then it’s using no electricity at all, not even phantom energy.
4. Small conventional TVs and small LCD TVs consume very little power to begin with. Better tip: watch TV on your PC as much as possible. One device, one source of consumption.
6. Use a push-reel mower instead of either. An electric mower uses…electricity and I thought this was a list on how to cut down on usage? Use a gasoline mower if you have a huge yard as you will not have an extension cord long enough and arguably less stamina to push a push-reel around.
8. Use a ceiling fan instead of A/C if possible. This is not always feasible in places with high humidity (Florida, much of the South) or people with airborne allergies.
11. Instead of turning off, set heat lower than needed and bundle up on blankets. It’s easier to take them off in the middle of the night than to add them or to jack up the thermostat.
21, Should be common sense to anyone, I don’t call common sense a ‘hack’.
23. Letting certain foods rest outside of a cold temperature can invite bacterial growth or make them spoil more quickly.
24. Defrosting isn’t about keeping foods cold, it’s about defrosting them to warm them up. If really worried, let the food sit out in the kitchen and use the microwave. 2 minutes in a microwave versus a day or two in the fridge consumes much less energy.
31. Vacuum the coils if you can, not a lot of people can — or want to — move a fridge that weighs a few hundred pounds.
33. Wash and rinse clothes in cold water. If warm or hot water is needed, use a sink. Washing for a few minutes in the sink versus a 20 to 30 minute wash cycle consumes much less electricity from the water heater.
35. Take a navy-style shower or simply fill a bucket with water instead. Both will use less water and electricity than a shower or a bath.
37. Again, common sense. I don’t know any men that shave with running water except in the shower (closer shave) and I don’t know any women that shave in a sink (they just shave in the shower/bath too).

There are some helpful hints there otherwise, despite the fact that many of them are a bit off base given both common sense and what many ecogeeks already consider ’standard practice’. Here are some things that should’ve been on the list instead of others (like putting your computer into sleep/standby/hibernate, just turn it off):

-insulate your water heater
-get an on-demand water heater
-use a solar water heater
-insulate your fridge
-use a smaller fridge
-use a laptop instead of a desktop
-use energy efficient PC components, such as ULV (ultra low voltage) processors and EnergyStar rated components
-use smart power strips or unplug devices when not in use (or turn off existing power strips)
-use light timers
-switch as many bulbs as possible to fluorescent, CFL, or LED.
-use natural sunlight during the day to light your house/apartment/condo, this is completely free
-use window films to reflect light (summer) or hold in heat (window)
-use windows with higher R values
-use higher R value insulation in your walls and roof
-dress warmly in the winter and try to utilize space heaters
-use small area fans in the summer to cool yourself instead of the entire room
-make sure your ceiling fan is rotating the proper way during summer or winter
-instead of boiling a pot of water for a cup of tea or instant coffee (yuck!), simply microwave a cup of water;it’s faster and uses less electricity
-slow cook or smoke your foods
-contact your power company about energy saving options such as smart meters, on call boxes (to turn off idle appliances during peak usage times)
-conduct an energy audit and implement those changes; if conducted by your power company, they can sometimes give you incentives to use less energy
-use solar panels to charge/power small electronics
-use wind-up electronics such as radios

These are more tried-and-true than some of the options on the other list, put them together for more savings.

(I’m not bashing Kacper’s list entirely but much of it won’t actually save you much, if any, electricity overall hence my numbered list rebutting portions of it. Much of my list aren’t things I’ve thought of but suggestions people have been giving out for quite some time.)

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