Posts Tagged ‘ energy ’

Spend $60 to Save Long Term on Energy

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Spend $60 to Save Long Term on Energy

We don’t use a microwave, so all of our baking and food warming happens in our oven. My son cooks himself a hot lunch daily, so it’s not unusual for the oven to be warmed up to 350 degrees a couple of times a day. Even though I usually try to combine dinner preparation with a round of baking, it seemed like we weren’t exactly being efficient. After pondering it for six months or so, I finally forked out for a toaster oven, deciding on an Oster Six-Slice Extra Capacity Convection Toaster Oven. Yes, it came packaged with a couple of slabs of Styrofoam (cringe). My son uses the toaster oven for making lunch, I’ve cooked many dinners in it (casserole dishes actually fit), and even baked a loaf of bread. It’s convenient and takes less time to warm up than the full sized oven, but I’ve been waiting to see if it would actually make any difference in my utility bill. The answer: absolutely! Household energy usage this past month (the first full month with the toaster oven) is down by about 75 kilowatt hours, netting a $30 savings. In just two months, I’ll have recouped what I spent on...

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January Challenge: Cut Your Energy Usage

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January Challenge: Cut Your Energy Usage

Ah, winter. It’s all snow and cozy and hot tea, until you get the monthly energy bill. You spent HOW MUCH on electricity?? This month, I challenge you to lower your electricity bill. (This is where you off-grid folks can fold your arms across your chest and smile smugly…) For many, heating is a huge expense this time of year. For me, it’s not heat – we don’t actually have a heater; when our temp hits 55 degrees, our only option is more blankets – but our bill is inexplicably rising. So, let’s work to depend less on the electric company. If your electric bill reflects the need for heat this time of year, consider these easy to implement options – no home renovation required: Turn down your thermostat. Even one degree will make a difference. If you’ve got a drafty door or window, roll up a towel and use it to block the cold air. If you’ve got rooms that aren’t really in use, close the heating vents to the rooms and close the doors. No sense heating unused space. Got sunshine? Open the blinds to let in the warmth. If you use your dishwasher, open the door...

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September Challenge: Cut Fuel Usage

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September Challenge: Cut Fuel Usage

With gas up well over $4 a gallon (here, a brief pause while you all gasp) I’ve been limiting my own gasoline usage for quite awhile. I’m fortunate that we live within walking distance to town and both of my boys can walk to work. Since I work from home, I generally only drive the car once or twice a week. Certainly I drive it little enough that I’ve wondered if we truly need it. This month, as school gets into full swing, many families may see a surge in their fuel usage – but I’m challenging you to cut it. Inspired by this post over at Living Large in Our Little House, join me during the month of September as I work to cut my driving down even more. As Living Large asks: Do you really need to take the kids to school and pick them up, idling your car in those long lines in front of the school? Here’s the challenge: Eliminate ONE car trip from your weekly travels. Ask yourself if you really need to drive to the post office, the bank, the store. Could you save that trip and do it on the day you...

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Guest Post: Vampire Power

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Guest Post: Vampire Power

Matthew Epperson contacted me recently to find out if I’d be open to having him guest post here on Attainable Sustainable. I’m always open to hearing how other people are living a more sustainable life, so I accepted! Matthew is a recent University of Georgia graduate with a BS in Psychology, and is continuing as an intern with the UGA Office of Sustainability. His focus has been the STARS (Sustainability Tracking, Assessment, and Rating System) project for the university, as well as volunteer coordination at the Daily Groceries Cooperative. Here’s what he’s got to say: Right at this very moment vampire power is having a real impact on the electric bills of all homeowners – it’s a kind of leakiness you can’t see. What you likely haven’t heard is how much it matters or what you can do about it. First off there’s no official definition of vampire – or standby – power but it’s essentially this: the energy drawn by any plugged-in device, when the device’s primary function is not being served. For example leaving the TV plugged in when no one’s watching. The TV is “standing by” faithfully for the remote beck of its master instead of...

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Save on Heat with Firebricks

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Save on Heat with Firebricks

Photo: insulatingfirebrick.com Make the most of your oven's heat by placing several firebricks inside as you bake. The firebricks will absorb the heat from the oven and once you're done, continue to put off heat long after your oven is off. Just prop your oven door open to allow the heat to escape. Of course, you'll want to use extreme caution with this method if you have young children in the house.

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Welcome

It’s one thing to think, “Hey, I’d love to be more self-sufficient!” and quite another to implement a lifestyle change that might require learning some new skills.

Attainable Sustainable is about bridging the gap between wanting change and making it happen without becoming overwhelmed. Nobody’s saying you have to go get a tractor and a cow. Attainable Sustainable is about discovering – one step at a time – how to make changes in your life to support a sustainable lifestyle.

The Author

Kris Bordessa has been gardening for most of her life. She's been authoring books and writing features for the past ten years or so. It's about time she combined the two, don't you think? [More about the author]