Thursday, April 25, 2013

Ohio Residents! Are you getting the best price on your Home Energy?

Ohio Residents!
Are you getting the best price on your Home Energy?
Thanks to a change in regulation, Ohio Residences are now able to shop around for their Electric and Natural Gas Provider.  This means you could be saving money on your monthly energy bill.  The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) has created the “Apples to Apples” website to provide residential consumers with a snapshot comparison of current natural gas and electric supplier price options and contract terms. The PUCO updates the Apples to Apples charts on a regular basis and verifies each supplier offer to ensure accuracy. The charts list only the certified Natural Gas and Electric suppliers and aggregators that are actively enrolling new residential customers.
How to take advantage of this opportunity:
1.      Go to PUCO’s Apple to Apples website, http://www.puco.ohio.gov/puco/index.cfm/apples-to-apples/
2.      Select the Apples to Apples chart for your local electric distribution company from the list below.
·     AEP
·     DP&L
·     Duke
·     First Energy
3.      Compare the supplier offers contained in the chart with the “Price to Compare” shown on your electric bill.  Note the "Tariff" code referenced in some of the Offer Details can be found on your monthly electric bill, under the charges from the utility. 
4.      Choose the current offer and contract terms that work best for your personal situation.
5.      Then Enroll.  It is that easy

Watch outs:
·        As with all contracts, consumers should carefully read and understand all terms and conditions before signing any forms or agreeing to enroll with a supplier for natural gas or electric service.
·        The Energy Market is ever changing and the best rate today may not be the best rate tomorrow. However, locking in a rate will reduce the fluctuation of energy cost for the contract term.
·        Some Ohio communities have negotiated prices and terms with energy providers for their residents and allowed residence to ‘opt-in’ to the aggregation.   
·        Please be advised that if you are currently enrolled in the Percentage of Income Payment Plan (PIPP PLUS), you are not eligible to enroll with or switch to an alternate supplier.
·        If you are currently enrolled with an alternate supplier, and want to enroll with a different supplier prior to the expiration of your current contract, you may be subject to an Early Termination Fee.

Save Money by Using the Right Light Bulb

Save Money by using the Right Light Bulb
Compare the Features of Incandescent, CFL and LED bulbs

LED
CFL
Incandescent
Light bulb projected lifespan
50,000 hours
10,000 hours
1,200 hours
Watts per bulb (equiv. 60 watts)
10
14
60
Cost per bulb
$35.95
$3.95
$1.25
KWh of electricity used over
50,000 hours
300 500
700
3000
Cost of electricity (@ 0.10per KWh)
$50
$70
$300
Turns on instantly
yes
slight delay
yes
Durability
durable
fragile
fragile
Hazardous Materials
none
5 mg mercury/bulb
none
Resource

Vegan Challenge Week 5

Happy Late Earth Day!  Earth Day marks week 5 vegan.  I love Earth Day and what better way to celebrate it than by being vegan!  One of the lowest impact diets to the planet!
This year I was given the opportunity to teach a 35 minutes session on Sustainability with a co-worker on Monday to a few interested peers.  The session went well.  But when the topic is saving money while doing something good for the planet, it tends to get people’s attention.  I also organized my team’s participation on my site’s Earth Day Fair and worked on the overall Earth Day team for my site.  Yes I am a bit of an overzealous tree hugger! And I am very proud of my team’s effort in Earth Day Fair.  With a few suggestion I organized my team, Energy Purchases, booth.  We educated co-workers on what we are doing for the company, what they can do to save money on their utility bill and even what is the best light bulb.  I enjoyed 2 things. 
1.       Watching people’s face as I explained how they can save money (I was just after the energy conservation which leads to a little less CO2 while they were after the savings).
2.       The fact that I was able to show my manager what a value our participation can bring to the company.  He also enjoyed watching people’s face after we promised to save them money and the sense of community it brought.  As I knew it would J

So now I am back into the routine of work and vegan.  This week has been one of the hardest.  And not because I have cravings or anything but because I am fighting off a cold or something and I am just exhausted.  I am not really sure what I have so everyone says ‘are you getting enough protein or sugar?’  ha what can you do? 
Today marks 1 week till I give blood and plan to end the vegan only diet.  Ironically I got a letter in the mail asking me to donate blood and that they need my type.  Silly Hoxworth, I am scheduled for May 2nd.  What I like about this vegan challenge is that I no longer crave chocolate and cheese as I once did and that I know I can do it and be fine.  So you may read this and say ‘but Valerie you keep mentioning that you don’t feel very good’ yes that is true, however I have stopped taking birth control and been trying for a baby.  Most women experience similar symptoms as I have when they give up birth control. 

Anyway I hope my experience helps you try vegan and not shy away!

My Thoughts on the Great Coal Debate

In the USA we have an abundant supply of coal.  Coal was generated over long periods of time from the breakdown of plant matter.  It is a black sedimentary rock that contains carbon, hydrogen, sulfur, oxygen, nitrogen among other minerals.  It has been used as a fuel for hundreds of years as it is a slow burning but dirty fuel.  Today about 44% of the US’s electric comes from coal. 
There are a few advantages to coal.  These are:  in the USA we have a lot of it, a lot of technology to mine it and a lot of technology to burn it.  Some also say it is cheap.  The disadvantage: we have ruined many ecosystems and removed many mountain tops to get it; many people have died mining it; burning it releases tons of emissions that have been linked to Climate Change, respiratory problems, cancer and many other diseases.  So though some say it is a cheap fuel it is only because the disadvantages do not have a price tag in our current market.  If we could put a price tag on these disadvantages we would find that coal is very expensive. 
OK we do have the infrastructure to mine, transport and burn coal so naturally there has been funds directed to understanding if there are ways of making coal clean and to compete with low emission energy such as solar and wind.   There are two developments in the US.
1 The EPA has begun reducing the emission allowed in the coal burning power plants.  This is forcing older dirtier plants to close and newer ones to invest in new technology to remove more toxins from the emissions of the plant. 
2. Clean Coal: several new technologies that are designed to remove much of the carbon out of the coal or the emissions and turn it into a product that can be placed into locations other than the air.  This is done by scrubbing the coal or the emissions or through gasifying the coal and removing it in the process among other processes. 
Clean Coal sounds like a good idea.  What are the issues with it then? It is a new technology that can be very costly and some are not very effective.  Once the carbon is separated from the coal, the issue becomes what to do with it.  This is the same issue we face with manure ponds, coal ash ponds, natural gas fracking waste water, consumer waste and nuclear toxic waste.  Much of this can be cleaned, recycled and put back into the environment but that is expensive.  So the option has been to inject or bury it into other locations.  In the case of Clean Coal the carbon is then being injected into salt mines or old gas drilling mines or even into the ocean.  My issue with this is we need studies to show what the impact is to the environment when this is done.  I do not agree with injecting it into the deep ocean as, the ocean, is suffering so much today with all the other toxic materials in it and the whole planet’s ecosystem is dependent on it.  When the carbon is injected into the land and old mines I am concerned that there may be issues as we have seen with industrial fracking and geothermal. 
In my opinion the US’s energy is better spent on technologies to improve energy conservation in home and industry and in the grid.  As well as invest in improving renewable technologies.  After all “We have not inherited this earth from our parents to do with it what we will. We have borrowed it from our children and we must be careful to use it in their interests as well as our own” Moses Henry Cass


Resources:

Tuesday, April 23, 2013

Week 4 - Gone Vegan

                I have made it to week four of my vegan challenge only I didn’t really make it.  I enjoyed cheese and eggs Friday, Saturday and Sunday.  I had planned on doing this due to our plans to go to the Red River Gorge in Kentucky with nine other friends.  I could have committed and skip the Miguel’s Pizza but that feels like a sin when I only get the chance to have it once or twice a year.  Excuses excuses….  So I am back on the wagon and vegan world again.  Week four was kind of hard to get back into the routine but not bad.  I am keeping my eyes on May 2.  That is the day I will be giving blood and get a chance to look at my cholesterol.  I will also do all the same tests I did several weeks ago.  I am hoping for a bit of change.  I have not really seen any changes in my weight, so I will be curious if there will be other benefits. 
                I had intended to begin juicing after returning from the Red River Gorge.  It is a big commitment and I haven’t had a chance to begin.  I have been busy starting my seedlings and getting caught up from work and tasks around the house.   So that is my plan to begin that soon. I need to remind myself how great I feel when I juice.
I had hoped that trying vegan I would begin feeling better.  This makes about 8 weeks since I haven’t had a good night sleep.  It is getting the best of me.  I am feeling run down, unmotivated and a bit loopy.  I want to change this!  So I have been watching my gluten intake but not as closely as possible.  I find it hard to go vegan and gluten free.
                Are you interested in the Red River Gorge?  Well it is part of the Daniel Boone National Forest.  It is 2.5-3 hours south of Cincinnati.  If you like hiking, climbing, camping or repelling, you need to go to the park.  It is a beautiful place.  We try to go a few times a year.  This trip we did 3 hikes and 2 I have never done before.  We hiked to Natural Bridge, climbed through the rock at Cloud Splitter, and then Sunday before we headed home we hit up Indian Staircase.  I have some pictures.  This was a great trip because we did a few of those ‘secret trails’.  Most trails are on maps and in books but there are a few not widely advertised.  Possibly because they are a bit dangerous.  We luckily had a few experienced hikers to help, people like me, get through some of them.

Cloud Splitter




The view after climbing through Cloud Splitter
 


Indian Staircase
 


Looking up at my friends at Indian Staircase
 

Saturday, April 6, 2013

Day 13 of the Engine 2 Diet

I will be honest I am not in love with this vegan challenge.  I think it is more because of everything else.  I am still always tired and not sure if it is just because I stopped birth control.  It has been 7 weeks since I stopped the pill and I haven’t had a good night sleep and woke up feeling refreshed since.  I have been tired for 7 weeks!  I had hoped this challenge would help.  I think I need to go back to juicing. 
So this week was just like any other.  I shared my Quinoa recipe which I had for a few meals.  Yesterday I made pasta, veggies and roasted walnuts.  I had a super craving for pasta.  It is one of my weaknesses.  Pasta,  french fries and peanut butter… Yum.  I normally love cheese too but I am surprised how easy it has been to give it and chocolate up.  I mean I want to eat them but don’t have cravings for them.
I want to try to reduce the gluten in my diet but I haven’t had time to do all the research I need on it.  I plan to do what I am doing now for the next week.  I am going to the Red River Gorge in KY next weekend so I will do my best to stay on the challenge.  My game plan is to try juicing once I return.  I have tried it once before and loved it but it takes a lot of commitment.  I find it hard to commit with all the excuses to go out for lunch and dinner. 
About a year ago I watch Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead.  A documentary, you can find it on Netflix, which walks through Joe Cross’s efforts to juice across America.  His goal was to reverse his health problems by giving his body pure nutrition.  I recommend watching the video.  It is motivational and then if you join the website or Facebook page you will see a ton of people who also have great experience.  I will warn you that you will have a bit of withdrawal.  I think the first 5 days were very hard.  I still ate but only veggies and fruit and very little.  90% or more of my diet was juice.  After the first 5 days I felt really good and had more energy and ended up losing 15lbs.  It was awesome.  I even felt old injuries heal.  You do need a juicer and not a blender.  You need to take out the fiber from the fruit and veggies and only getting the nutrition.  Now everyone asks if I get enough protein.  Just look at the cow, the buffalo, hippo, elephant and gorilla.  Each one only eats vegetation and they are some of the largest and strongest animals on the planet. 
So that is my game plan.  3 weeks vegan and 1 week juice and slowly reduce gluten.  I can’t wait to have my blood work done, May 2nd to see if it has improved. And retest my heart beat to see if this is worth it.

Tuesday, April 2, 2013

Vegan Week 2 with a Recipe!!!


So it is Tuesday and this marks the beginning of week two!  I can’t believe I have made it this far and it wasn’t that bad!!! So I have noticed the last few days I have been in a better mood and had more energy.  I can’t say for sure if it is because of the challenge but I will take it. I lost weight the first few days then I put it right back on the fallowing few days then lost it again.  Crazy.  I do fluctuate but for me it is typically about 2 lbs. e very few days.  I am not going to get too excited just yet.
                My husband is sick today so when I got home I tried to make something healthy that he would eat.  I took a recipe on the Quinoa and made it my own.  Let me share.

·         1 Cup of quinoa; cook as directed
·         1 Can of northern white beans drained, rinsed, and cooked as directed
·         2 Cups of frozen cauliflower cooked as directed
·         2 Cups of frozen broccoli cooked as directed
·         ½ Cup of pine nuts roasted.  Watch these closes they roast fast.  I typically do like 5 min in a toaster oven (add  last to individual dishes)
·         ½ Tablespoon olive oil: you can add more for taste
·         ½ Tablespoon Ume Plum Vinegar: you can add more for taste
·         ¼ teaspoon dried mint
·         Salt and pepper to taste
·         Mix all of the ingredients and if it is a little cool microwave it for a few min before adding the pine nuts

I loved it but my husband said the beans we a little dry.  Hope you can try this and make it your own!

25 Ways to Save Energy, Money, Reduce Emissions and be more Sustainable!

1.     Unplug your Energy Vampires:  Vampires are anything that drains energy when not in use.
Energy Vampires include DVR, VCR, DVD; computers power cords; MP3 players; Video game consoles; Standby coffee makers; Devices that turn on instantly via remote control; Devices with standby light or clock; unused lamps, TVs, printers, clocks, toys, washers and dryers. Combined, these account for an estimated 10% or more of your energy bill.
2.     Turn off the lights
Unless you will be back in the room in less than 1 second for all bulbs other than florescent (which is 23 seconds ) you are saving money by turning off the lights, an estimated $37-45 a year
3.     Use Energy Star compact fluorescent light bulbs
They use 75% less energy than standard light bulbs and you can cut your electric by $60 if you change just the 5 most frequently used bulbs.  *note these bulbs should be properly disposed of with household hazardous waste.
4.     Power strip it
Are there several things you use often together but not all the time.  Use a power strip to turn them all off and on when needed instead of unplugging them all.
5.     Recycle Aluminum Cans
Recycling 1 can saves enough energy to watch TV for 3 hours vs. producing a new can.
6.     Rechargeable batteries
They can save up to $70.00 a year
7.     Turn off computer monitors when away
Monitors use about 2 watts of energy when turn ‘off’ vs. 25-60 watts when ‘on’.  so turn them off when you leave a huddle room, conference room or for the night
8.     Cool it down
Lowering your thermostat setting in the winter by 2° can save an estimated $150/year.
9.     Warm it up
Increasing your thermostat setting in the summer by 2° can save an estimated $55/year.
10.  Programmable thermostat. 
A programmable thermostat can save an average $290/year when adjusted to your lifestyle. 
11.  Water heating can account for 14% to 25% of the energy consumed in your home.
Turn down the temp of your water heater to the warm setting (120°F). Invest in a water heater blanket (R-8 or better) and insulating pipes.  A blanket can save 4%–9% and pipe insulation can save you up to $25 annually in water heating costs.
12.  Wash clothes in cold water
Approximately 80% of the energy consumption associated with the use of laundry detergents is from heating the wash water.
13.  Upgrade your showerhead.
Low flow showerheads save a family of four 15,000 gallons per year, reducing water heating costs by $60-$150 annually.
14.  Use just one refrigerator or freezer.
A second one can cost up to $120 in electricity per year. If you need a second one for a special occasion plug it 1-2 days before it is needed. 
15.  Don’t set the fridge/freezer temperature colder than you need.
Set the refrigerator temperature between 36° F and 42° F and the freezer between -5° F and +6° F. Also a full freezer will perform better than a nearly empty freezer.
16.  Set your ceiling fans rotation
Set your ceiling fans to spin counter-clockwise in the summer. This will pull hot air up and push cool air down into the lower levels of the room and allow you to reduce your thermostat by 4%
17.  Keep it clean
Dust absorbs light and increases heat.  Keep light bulbs, fridge/freezer coils and intake valves dusted; vacuum out your dryer lint trap, clean AC and replace filters to allow air to flow and reduce the strain motors.
18.  Let the sun be your friend
Open the curtains in the winter and keep them closed in the summer to keep the house warm or cool.
19.  Appliances
Always consider Energy Star rated appliances that are manufactured to uses less energy.
20.  Cook it up
Use the right size burner with the right size pot
21.  Put a lid on it.
Cook food and boil water in a covered container whenever possible. This traps the heat inside and requires less energy.
22.  Insulate your Attic
Attic floor insulation should be at least R-38 or about 12 inches thick. Do not compress insulation on the attic floor by adding a layer of wood, storing boxes on it or walking across it
23.  Bring in light
Consider installing solar tubes.  They act as a skylight but much smaller and much easier to install.  Igot mine for $150.00 at Home Depo and was able to write them off on my taxes. * you also have light on full moon!
24.  Mow the Lawn
Consider an electric mower. They are much cheaper to run (estimated 3-10 cents), about ¼ noise pollution and significantly reduce emissions (don’t need to worry about smog alerts).

25.  Consider Renewable Energy
Today there are a few different forms of renewable energy you can add to your home including: Solar Energy, Solar Hot Water Heater, Tankless Water Heaters, Geo-Thermal, and small Wind Turbines.  Check with state, federal and even your utility for savings and incentives.  If you produce more than you use you may be able to sell the energy back to the utility.

 

Kitchen Solar Tube





Bathroom and Kitchen Solar Tubes