An Alternative Spring Break...

...one with Energy Conservation as the destination!!

We’ve told you before about eco-friendly ways to travel when headed out on Spring Break. This year, consider a destination with energy conservation in mind. There are many lists that rank hometowns and cities as being green. Traveling to one of the cities on the list can allow you to being back green ideas to your own hometown.

One type of alternative spring break for a college student can be to transform their week away from studying and books into a service trip. Habitat for Humanity supports home buildings sites throughout the year and all over the nation. You can volunteer to build a Habitat home for a family in need.

The best part is that ENERGY STAR is the standard building practice for Habitat, meaning that each home is at least 15% more efficient than homes built to standard building codes.

If you go visit a new city, try to plan one where mass transit and environmentally friendly practices are in place.

Lastly, if you decide to stay in your local neighborhood, why not volunteer your time with a community farm or recycling company. You’ll learn more about your own community’s conservation initiatives!

Have a wonderful Spring Break!

Green Olympics

What’s better than curling, figure skating, and Alpine skiing? America winning the gold!!

What else? Knowing the Vancouver 2010 Olympics has gone eco-friendly! Our friends in Canada have kept sustainability in the front of their minds.

According to www.vancouver2010.com, they have done many efforts throughout the entire games in considering energy conservation and the environment…

• Incorporated LEED standards into venue design and construction
• Created a Sustainability Management and Reporting System which tracks performance of the sustainability efforts
• Have taken an extra step by “forecasting, reducing, offsetting and publicly reporting on its carbon footprint”
• Publishing sustainability reports

And specifically at the Whistler Creekside Alpine Skiing venue, they have…

• Chosen a smart site selection, using existing ski-hill infrastructure
• Installed an energy efficient snow making system
• Strategic course alignment to minimize impact on streamside vegetation buffers
• Wood waste has been reused for on-site revegetation purposes

Check out all the ways the Olympics have built in Sustainability.

Go USA!

A Green Valentine’s Day

Peaking through this blizzard, you might realize there’s a special day this Sunday - Valentine’s Day!

Since there are many people just trying to get through this snowstorm and haven’t given much consideration to this Valentine’s Day, we’re here to help at the blog!

Here are some ideas to help you skip the red/pink and go green!

• Instead of purchasing roses for your ‘boo’ shipped in from across the world, purchase locally grown flowers.
• Better yet, get your ‘sugar’ a rose plant. In the early summer, you’ll have many blooming roses!
• Hand craft a card instead of purchasing one, but if you do want to purchase one, try and find a 100% post-consumer waste paper card.
• Purchasing chocolate? Try to find a chocolate manufacturer who uses renewable energy to power their factory, like Theo Chocolate or try the taste of organic chocolate.
• Go with a holistic therapy (like a massage, or health spa!). Why not? It can be a couple’s retreat from the harsh cold winter many are experiencing.
• Instead of buying your ‘honey bunches’ a gift, what about helping them with a project around the house and take it off the ‘honey do’ list.

Have a wonderful Valentine’s Day!

Energy Conservation Quiz Answers

Here are the answers to our energy expert quiz:

1. The biggest energy user in your home is heating and cooling. Heating and cooling can account for up to 40% of your monthly electric bill. Therefore, adjusting the thermostat just a few degrees can really save energy and money.
2. Your refrigerator should be set at 37°F. If a refrigerator is too cold, excess energy is being used. If it is too warm, food may spoil.
3. CFL’s use 75% less energy than incandescent bulbs.
4. False
5. 1 hour
6. Water heating can account for 15-20% of your household energy usage. The recommend temperature setting on a water heater is 120°
7. ENERGY STAR® is a label for energy efficiency for homes and household appliances.
8. True
9. Laptops use 90% less energy than desktop computers.

Let us know how you did and what questions you may have.

Another Heat Pump Efficiency Tip

With snow possible accumulating in your town, you see people shoveling out their cars and sidewalks, but here's an efficiency tip for you - don’t neglect your heat pump.

Be sure to clear an area around your heat pump so that it can ‘breathe’.

Just like we told you back in the fall to clear the leaves from out and around your unit, don't forget to shovel a path around it during wintry weather.

As temps rise during the day, snow begins to melt but will refreeze at night to ice. This ice can build up inside and prohibit the fan from running. Heat pumps will go through an automatic defrost cycle but be sure to inspect them for ice buildup.

There are also heat pump deflectors, but once again, don’t place too close to the heat pump as to restrict the air flow it needs.