Would you consider an energy audit?

A friend of mine mentioned that energy audits are available in his municipality - provided by his energy company.

Apparently they presurize your house and look for leakage.

This is fascinating - quite possibly worth doing.

Would you take your energy provider up on such an offer?
Would you pay for it, if it was not for free?

Regards, makingourway

Compact Flourescent Light Bulbs (CF) - going for 100%

I've been pondering how we can both help the environment and reduce our electrical usage.

Last weekend at a cost of $110 I replaced the incandescent bulbs in almost all of our ceiling fan fixtures (we have 5).

I still have a large number of sconces and ceiling fixtures that use flame tipped bulbs. Although Costco does not have any, Target does for about $4.50 or so (+/= $0.50) - however these are for the normal ligh bulb width screw base.

I remember seeing a narrower screwbase with an adapter somewhere - but have to track it down.

I'll need 20-30 of them.

With the cost of summer air conditioning, i'm wondering how quickly i'll see a cost savings. Probably not too quickly.

we're currently setting our hvac temperature at 75 degrees. Outside temperature usually goes into the 80s in Chicago for this time of year. I'm wondering if we should raise it 1 degree to 76 - perhaps at night time? Maybe it won't be noticed. We'll have to see how the family accepts this.

I realized that I have not replaced the incandescents in the garage - that may be a morning project.

One of the most challenging projects is replacing the light bulbs in a lofted area of the house that are very high up. Somehow we'll have to tackle that - I imagine as soon as a light goes out we'll replace all of them with long lasting CF bulbs.

Additionally, we should consider converting outdoors lights as well, however, we don't use the outside lights very often.

One question I ask myself, does it make sense to spend $300 - $400 on CF bulbs? We certainly noticed a $50 per month reduction in electrical bills during winter, so i think it does.

One area, where we have little ability to convert are the dimmable can lights in the kitchen (6) and finished basement (12?). The kitchen is a high use area, however, the basement is not. However, I have not yet seen dimmable floods and I wonder how much they would cost. Dimabble flame tip or torpedo style bulbs cost $11+ each. That would be a very big investment!

In the next few years, manufacturers will stop making incandescent bulbs. I can only imagine that chepaer CF and CF dimmable technology will be created. One question remains - will it work with current dimming systems?

Regards,
makingourway

PS I wonder how we're doing lowering our carbon footprint. I have a sneaking suspicion keeping the swimming pool heated in September will not help.

investment opportunities of global warming

With the new IPCC report discussing global warming issued recently, I began wondering what the impact on investements and the economy would be.

Here's a quick summary:

• Fossil fuels were accused as the primary protagonist with a 90% confidence
• Temperature increases of 2.7 to 8.1 degrees, north central and Mountain West see up to 7 degree increase
• More heatwaves in S and W of US
• Less frost in N of US
• Sea levels may increase up to 20"
• N states see more rain and snow, drier regions become drier still

What is the commercial impact:

1. Catastrophe claims increase in coastal areas - sub-sea level areas become uninsurable - residential properties decline in value or become unusable - insurance companies see increased costs, wind and flood premiums rise. Opportunity: construction technologies designed to withstand significant flooding and wind damage.
2. Significant increase in electrical costs for air conditioning and refrigeration - nuclear energy and alternate energy products - much of what GE produces.
3. Dramatic change in farm lands will create opportunities to grow tropical and other food crops domestically. Traditional grain belt may shift N into Canada. Free trade agreement between US and Canada becomes more important. Geographic impact of shift in agriculture as well as labour and transportation dislocation risk social instability and increased social welfare costs (i.e. taxes).
4. Relocation of population further inland to avoid the worst of weather and water related catastrophes as well as those who have lost homes.
5. Florida will be one of the worst hit locations. Somehow I expect increasingly significant catastrophe damage will drive relocation faster than rising waters, which will be more gradual.

This is certainly not an apocolyptic message, but certainly one full of change and discomfort.

The report further discusses the unlikeliness of reversing these effects - in fact cessation of any greehouse gas emissions would still leave a 100 year legacy.

Scientific research, of periods long past, also indicate previous greenhouse epochs, so we know our planet will survive. The most critical decision is how we plan to adapt and how we can preserve our invstments in the process.

One thought, without inexpensive energy sources, we will not be able to compete economically against the many third world countries creating export based economies who do not abide by greenhouse gas reduction treaties.

We are most likely to see reactive tarrifs placed upon their products. Actually, this plays well into the current positioning by democrats in regard to their demands for globalization offset terms as part of their renew of President Bush's fast track trade negotiation rights. Congress would further like to further hobble the President's trade agreement freedoms with various special interest requirements that will certainly nueter future trade negotiations. It's odd how President Clinton, a Democrat, also desired and lead free trade negotations free of special interest influence.

We are at an unusal time where the cheap US dollar makes our exports more competitive. Will we destroy the opportunity for economic growth, increased employment, etc...? I'm sure congress would like to do so.

Regards, makingourway