We've all experienced the increase in gas and food prices recently; everything seems to be more expensive. I'd say the majority of Richmonders are looking for any possible way to save money.
There is a way to save and help manage our ecosystem: conservation.
Conservation Ecology is a theory that aims to provide management to entire ecosystems. One goal is to ensure that populations respond to environmental change in an adaptive manner. Managing what we already have (i.e. 'conservation') is a good place to start.
I'd like to relate this idea to our ever-changing city; specifically our households. What are the ways in which we can manage the things we have and what can we do to provide for long-lasting, healthy environments?
I was happy to see the June 9 Metro Business insert's stories titled "Conservation: Virginia's hidden energy resource". The articles are chock full of energy- and cost-saving tips for area homes. Everything from do-it-yourself energy audits to informative websites is listed. I want to build on this and give some extra tips that can both lessen your environmental footprint and lower your electric bill.
Meet Greg and Catharine Moser, friends and fellow environmentalists. They live down the street from me in a brick building built in 1930. The Mosers have been avid conservationists for a long time. Citing global warming as the most important environmental issue, they have committed to consuming as little energy as possible.
"Money has always been second to me, but it's still important." When asked about his electric bills every month, Greg humbly comments that his bills are around $20 on average! The Moser's heat comes from natural gas and is separate from their electric bill – but it's still impressive!
About three years ago Greg upgraded their home's storm windows, insulated everything he could and did a lot of caulking to seal his entire house from losing air. Regulating the temperature of the air inside your home is the most important thing anyone can do to lower that electric bill, especially in the summer.
In order to help control the temperature inside his house, Greg's wife Catharine crafted thick curtains that entirely cover their windows. In the winter, Greg opens all his curtains that point south, east and west during the day to let heat in and closes them at night. In the summer, he shuts the windows and closes the curtains during the day (to ward off heat) and opens them up at night, allowing the cooler air to enter the house. Additionally, he has a fan blowing air out of his bedroom at night in the summer to help move out hot air. If you choose the reverse (blow cool air in) you can still maintain similar comfort levels.
"I've found that I can save around five degrees of air temperature throughout the year." This translates to almost a 20 percent savings on your electricity bill year round!
As I visited the house, they pointed out many more household improvements they have made over the years like purchasing Energy Star appliances. Greg says that "anytime a plug is connected to an electrical socket, you are using energy." In other words, if you unplug what is not in-use you're electricity meter is not turning (and you're not spending any money). Power strips are a great way to congregate your plugs to turn them on and off with ease.
Heating water is another important energy-guzzler. According to The Consumer's Guide to Effective Environmental Choices (1999) 90 percent of the energy used for washing clothes goes to heating the water. The Mosers choose to wash their clothes with cold water, use cold water detergent and hang their clothes outdoors to dry.
Greg doesn't let his dishwasher go through its final drying phase either; "I just open the door and let it air dry." Also, they use tops on all the pots when bringing water to a boil, speeding up the cooking process and therefore using less electricity. Oh, and anytime you can slash back on your shower time is a good thing too!
Dominion has stated that we need an additional 4,000 Megawatts of energy by 2017. According to Gov. Tim Kaine's Virginia Energy Plan, over half of this can be met with energy conservation. As far as I have heard we've only seen a four-day tax holiday to buy efficient bulbs and appliances out of Kaine's plan; we can do more.
Conserving energy is the most accessible action that each of us can take to aid rising energy demands, assist in the health of our ecosystem and save money in these tough economic times.
David Martin is an environmental consultant in Richmond. He has maintained a devoted study in environmental issues since his early teens, when his sister would kidnap him from home and take him to Blacksburg to appreciate Geology, go hiking and tube the New River. David recently fled the country of Ghana because he received too many marriage proposals.