Negawatts
It's amazing how much energy we waste by not turning off lights, leaving electronics plugged in while not in use, and using old, inefficient appliances. Some reports identify that as much as 35% of delivered elecricity was wasted through inefficient use.
A first and critical step to reducing the region's carbon footprint is to be more conscious of our energy consumption and to make smarter energy choices. This change in mindset, coupled with more efficient technologies and buildings, is our region's greatest resource. Implementing energy conservation and energy efficiency measures will allow us to do more with less - less energy, less money, less waste, less pollution.
Reduced consumption through greater energy conservation and efficiency is a win-win-win strategy and should be the number one goal of any energy and climate strategy.
Follow the links below to find energy conservation and efficiency tips related to:
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General resources
- Google PowerMeter- A Google PowerMeter is a free electricity usage monitoring tool that provides you with information on how much energy your home is consuming. Google PowerMeter receives information from utility smart meters and in-home energy management devices (e.g. The Energy Detective (TED)) and visualizes this information for you on iGoogle.
- Kill-A-Watt - The Kill-A-Watt allows you to connect your appliances and assess how efficient they are. A large LCD display counts consumption by the kilowatt-hour (kWh).
- Consumer Guide to Home Energy Savings - American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy
Financing opportunities
- The Tax Incentives Assistance Project: "TIAP, sponsored by a coalition of public interest nonprofit groups, government agencies, and other organizations in the energy efficiency field, is designed to give consumers and businesses information they need to make use of the federal income tax incentives for energy efficiency products and technologies passed by Congress as part fo the Energy Policy Act of 2005 and subsequently amended several times."
- Federal Tax Credits for Energy Efficiency - from ENERGY STAR
- Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency (DSIRE), Ohio incentives and policies
- Energy-Efficiency Home and Vehicle Tax Credits - from the Alliance to Save Energy
- Ohio Department of Development, Ohio Energy Office - Advanced Energy Program/Fund
Habitat Diverts Materials from Landfill
jeffreybowen Says:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WedkFgHOsGA
Bottled Water
Larry Wise Says:In 24 hours I have learned more than I ever wanted to Know. Examples, bottled water is tested in house by bottlers under FDA mandates that has minimum requirements on contamination. The FDA does not have a test requirement for fecal matter, lead, mercury and the list goes. Those of us responsible for Ohio EPA controlled water plants must daily test for bacteria and during the year must do a complete "physical" on our water qualty. You fail, and the EPA can shut down the plant. The real shocker, most tap water sells for less than $.01 per gallon, and bottled water starts at $7.800 per gallon in liter bottles and can go as high as $50.00 a gallon at theaters and sporting events for 8 oz. bottles. The real downside is the terrible, negative carbon footprint left by bottle production and transportation. Cities are taking action with PR campaigns and taxes to reduce the consumption of bottled water as the throw away bottles have really burdened their waste management and filled up land fills. The bottled water industry is a multi billion dollar sales industry with huge profits and the sky seems to be the limit. Ooooh My! Larry Wise