Energy Miser is about saving you some money on day-to-day energy expenses. Along the way, I hope to chat about how the wider world of energy affects people's daily lives. EM is my way of joining the Green Revolution. Maybe you'll join with me.
Exposed looks at how toxic substances reach into our homes, and how the United States is taking a back seat to the European Union in controlling exposure to dangerous chemicals. Click here for more.
Thomas Friedman's book, Hot, Flat, and Crowded, is a thorough and thoughtful look at what is wrong with America's approach to energy and the environment and what we can do to change it. Click here for more.
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If you're free April 3, 4, or 5 and live within a couple of hours of
the Garden State Exhibit Center in Somerset, New Jersey, think about
attending PSE&G's GreenFest 2009. This is the second year for the
event, and it 's intended to introduce homeowners and business owners
to the latest environmentally savvy technologies and ideas. Their Website
promises hands-on demonstrations and workshops, interesting speakers
and kid-friendly activities (including a visit from the kooky Kratt
Brothers).
A friend of mine told me years ago that she didn't like those new compact fluorescent lamps because they made faces look, well, greenish.
I have to admit that she was right. Not only that, but the light from the fluorescents was kind of harsh, making our faces look like the Incredible Hulk, just what we all DON'T need, right?
Since then, things have come a long way in the world of compact fluorescents, and the quality of light is getting better all the time. Still, you might have to go through some trial and error before you find a light that makes you, and the things around you, look the way you want. Here are some helpful hints to make a good choice.
Continue reading "How to Pick the Right Fluorescent Light Color" »
Dreary weather and dreams of summer encouraged me to go on the internet the other day to search for places to stay when we take our summer vacation in Sebago Lake, Maine. In between contemplating cottages, motels and B&B's, I started to think of the energy cost of driving there from New Jersey.
I had some help from the Energy Department, which just released its monthly forecast for energy supplies and prices. There was good news for me, and for you. The quick message is that crude oil prices and gasoline prices will remain relatively stable for the rest of the year.
When we had our local utility representative visit a few weeks ago to explore switching from oil to gas heat, he told us that one of the best energy-efficiency investments we could make was home insulation. So, in my seemingly endless quest for comfort and economy, I decided to call a nearby insulation specialist see what he had to say. I learned a lot.
Most heartening for our pocketbook was the news that we would save 30-50% on our heating bill if our house were properly insulated. Based on our 2007-2008 heating oil expenses, that would have been an $800-$1,300 annual savings.
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