http://blog.mapawatt.com/2009/06/15/sustainable-energy-without-the-hot-air/ Your resource for energy and water conservation Mon, 22 Mar 2010 03:34:20 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 http://blog.mapawatt.com/2009/06/15/sustainable-energy-without-the-hot-air/comment-page-1/#comment-458 admin Wed, 17 Jun 2009 10:52:19 +0000 http://blog.mapawatt.com/?p=958#comment-458 Good point Ed! I just heard about this company yesterday, http://www.aptosolutions.com/, which buys electronics from companies that want to get rid of them, and sells those electronics to companies who want to buy re-used products. Not only do they provide a Sustainable "waste stream" but they also create a business that improves the lives of those involved. Good point Ed! I just heard about this company yesterday, http://www.aptosolutions.com/, which buys electronics from companies that want to get rid of them, and sells those electronics to companies who want to buy re-used products. Not only do they provide a Sustainable “waste stream” but they also create a business that improves the lives of those involved.

]]> http://blog.mapawatt.com/2009/06/15/sustainable-energy-without-the-hot-air/comment-page-1/#comment-450 ed browning Tue, 16 Jun 2009 15:53:04 +0000 http://blog.mapawatt.com/?p=958#comment-450 very illuminating book. Reminds me of a recent New York Times article stating that energy star savings are not always achieved. I believe that much of the mistakes occur from failure to realize that energy runs downhill, in other words it eventually turns into heat. Most savings estimates ignore the fact that this heat is useful in warming the home in the winter , fall, and summer. The ignoring of this fact overstates the cost savings of new appliances and, unless you have free energy, should be considered. Today with the strains on family budgets coupled with the hype to buy new appliances from television shows such as Get It Sold, How Much is My Home Worth, and other shows on HGTV, Planet Green etc. While I support wise investments in energy efficiency, I am also aware that a rational home owner decision must include a realistic estimate considereing relevant factors such as mentioned above and it also should consider cost of many years includiong expected replacement of the new appliance. Twenty years ago , refrigerators and st\poves were built to last thirty years. Now according to conmsumer reports theirt lives are often less than ten. while such concepts do not matter to many in our wasteful unsustainable society, it should matter to families who are concerned about the environment and providing the best lives for themselves and their children. I am totally irritated by those that believing buiying a new car every 4 years actually improves the environent, or purchases new appliances, every five or ten years believing somehow that junking them and buying more energy efficient appliances actually protects the environment. Reduce, reuse, and recycle are the rules for sustainable living, but too often we emphasize reuse and recycle in order to rationalize conspicuous consumption. As others have said the greenest brick is the one already in the wall. Lets start doing some realistic calculations to decisions. Otherwise we will achieve negative energy savings by having to work more with its related energy demands to pay for conspicuous consumption and poor decisions. very illuminating book. Reminds me of a recent New York Times article stating that energy star savings are not always achieved. I believe that much of the mistakes occur from failure to realize that energy runs downhill, in other words it eventually turns into heat. Most savings estimates ignore the fact that this heat is useful in warming the home in the winter , fall, and summer. The ignoring of this fact overstates the cost savings of new appliances and, unless you have free energy, should be considered. Today with the strains on family budgets coupled with the hype to buy new appliances from television shows such as Get It Sold, How Much is My Home Worth, and other shows on HGTV, Planet Green etc. While I support wise investments in energy efficiency, I am also aware that a rational home owner decision must include a realistic estimate considereing relevant factors such as mentioned above and it also should consider cost of many years includiong expected replacement of the new appliance. Twenty years ago , refrigerators and st\poves were built to last thirty years. Now according to conmsumer reports theirt lives are often less than ten. while such concepts do not matter to many in our wasteful unsustainable society, it should matter to families who are concerned about the environment and providing the best lives for themselves and their children. I am totally irritated by those that believing buiying a new car every 4 years actually improves the environent, or purchases new appliances, every five or ten years believing somehow that junking them and buying more energy efficient appliances actually protects the environment. Reduce, reuse, and recycle are the rules for sustainable living, but too often we emphasize reuse and recycle in order to rationalize conspicuous consumption. As others have said the greenest brick is the one already in the wall. Lets start doing some realistic calculations to decisions. Otherwise we will achieve negative energy savings by having to work more with its related energy demands to pay for conspicuous consumption and poor decisions.

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