Andy, I thorough enjoy reading your posts (although I'll have to admit I can't get through everything).
One problem with all this conservation is that the service providers (municipalities, power company, etc.) will still want/need to get paid. I don't have my bill with me, but I'm stuck with "base" charges whether I use anything or not. I think it's probably at least $50/mo (WSG+Elect, no gas). I recycle everything, sometimes only putting one or two small trash bags in a huge 50 gal bin. I could probably go two months between garbage pickup if the city allowed it. My monthly bill is mostly base charges, 911+ambulance and taxes (how's that for the conservatives on the forum).
Regionally here with $0.07/KWH and 200% hydro, 50% wind, 20% nuclear, 20% gas, 20% coal (obviously the excess is exported to CA), I have a hard time worrying about my energy use. I'm still pretty good with minimizing consumption (higher summer house temps, lower winter temps, CFLs, bicycling or EV to work, mega-gardening, zeriscaping, harvesting the nearly non-existent rainwater doesn't make sense). I've added more insulation and high efficiency windows (which were really needed). Last winter I read an article about a super high efficiency new build in Iowa (12" walls, triple pane Ar-fill, 24" roof insulation, etc). They got their electric consumption per sq.ft. "down" to the same as mine. Since they heated with natural gas, and I am full electric with an old heat pump, I'd say I'm doing ok. Turning down the thermostat really makes a difference in the winter. I can go for days, sometimes weeks, without heat if I leave the setting at 60 F.
I've looked into PV, but the city wants $200+ initially to permit and then an annual fee (maybe $50), though I'm not sure what it's for. Working through the numbers, the "payback" in purely financial terms would be three or four decades.
My biggest hang up right now is throwing away perfectly good (although older and less efficient) appliances to save a modest amount of energy (which is already some of the "cleanest" in the country). The electric water heater will eventually need replacement, so that is next on the efficiency list. However, I was laughed at by the only plumber around who advertises "solar", saying he only installs that for the "richies" and it doesn't make any sense and costs over $5K-10K.
I've added the EV (which I didn't really need and certainly isn't more environmentally-sound than bicycling or walking). I mostly purchased it to help support the industry and show there is a market. I suppose the best thing for me to do would be to EVangelize to others about reducing their consumption. So watt's next? Any suggestions?
Reddy
One problem with all this conservation is that the service providers (municipalities, power company, etc.) will still want/need to get paid. I don't have my bill with me, but I'm stuck with "base" charges whether I use anything or not. I think it's probably at least $50/mo (WSG+Elect, no gas). I recycle everything, sometimes only putting one or two small trash bags in a huge 50 gal bin. I could probably go two months between garbage pickup if the city allowed it. My monthly bill is mostly base charges, 911+ambulance and taxes (how's that for the conservatives on the forum).
Regionally here with $0.07/KWH and 200% hydro, 50% wind, 20% nuclear, 20% gas, 20% coal (obviously the excess is exported to CA), I have a hard time worrying about my energy use. I'm still pretty good with minimizing consumption (higher summer house temps, lower winter temps, CFLs, bicycling or EV to work, mega-gardening, zeriscaping, harvesting the nearly non-existent rainwater doesn't make sense). I've added more insulation and high efficiency windows (which were really needed). Last winter I read an article about a super high efficiency new build in Iowa (12" walls, triple pane Ar-fill, 24" roof insulation, etc). They got their electric consumption per sq.ft. "down" to the same as mine. Since they heated with natural gas, and I am full electric with an old heat pump, I'd say I'm doing ok. Turning down the thermostat really makes a difference in the winter. I can go for days, sometimes weeks, without heat if I leave the setting at 60 F.
I've looked into PV, but the city wants $200+ initially to permit and then an annual fee (maybe $50), though I'm not sure what it's for. Working through the numbers, the "payback" in purely financial terms would be three or four decades.
My biggest hang up right now is throwing away perfectly good (although older and less efficient) appliances to save a modest amount of energy (which is already some of the "cleanest" in the country). The electric water heater will eventually need replacement, so that is next on the efficiency list. However, I was laughed at by the only plumber around who advertises "solar", saying he only installs that for the "richies" and it doesn't make any sense and costs over $5K-10K.
I've added the EV (which I didn't really need and certainly isn't more environmentally-sound than bicycling or walking). I mostly purchased it to help support the industry and show there is a market. I suppose the best thing for me to do would be to EVangelize to others about reducing their consumption. So watt's next? Any suggestions?
Reddy