Pollution Reductions & Personal Actions

The National Resources Defense Council and the Garrison Institute released a new collaborative study looking at the science of human behavior and applications for reducing pollution contributing to global climate change.  The report concludes that simple personal actions may reduce U.S. emissions of greenhouse gases by 15% or about 1 in every 7 tons of emissions.

The main point of the study is that collective simple and low cost actions by many individuals can make a difference.  The activities included reductions in junk mail, use of programmable thermostats, turning off appliances and lights when they are not in use, and regularly substituting poultry for red meat in family diets.  The study found that people would be more likely to take personal action if they knew that the collective actions of many similar individuals would make a difference.  A symposium where the results of the study were presented worked to create potential programs that would allow individuals to see the collective progress of cumulative individual action.

A 15% reduction in greenhouse gases is significant, though probably only the first step to avoid the most serious potential effects of climate change.  I’m all for new programs to encourage personal progress and take many small actions in my personal life, but I don’t know how a non-profit funded social marketing campaign can compete with the billions of dollars spent on advertising or break through the constant input from email and Facebook.  The best solution is still coherent and effective national or international policy to set enforceable reductions or create appropriate economics incentives for action.

While I wait for a policy solution, I’m going to keep going with my personal actions.  Join me and we can move closer to that 15% pollution reduction.

-Chris, Green

More Smart Meter Trouble

At least one California utility is trying to manage angry customers after their smart meter rollout.  A Texas electric company is experiencing something similar.  Customers are complaining that their new smart meters are inaccurate and leading to higher electricity bills.  The utility looked at the meters and found they were working.  The higher bills were a result of cold weather and inefficient appliances. 

Not to simply state the obvious, but I think the major problem in both cases is consumer expectations that smart meters will automatically reduce their energy bills.  The promise of smart meters and real time pricing is better information.  The information will allow consumers and utilities to better manage energy use and supply.  The hard part for many of us will be the initial feedback that tells us we own inefficient equipment and use too much energy at peak times (when energy is most expensive). 

I worry the initial problems will make other utilities and regulators wary about rolling out pilot projects in other states.  Consumers must understand that the smart meters will only provide information and it’s up to us to manage our behavior to reduce costs.  Utilities should be ready to hold our hands as we figure out the technology and how to respond to the additional data.  Some studies say the utilities are not ready for the increased communication.  I hope that will change, because is smarter electric grid will reduce our environmental impact and our costs in the long term.

-Chris, Green

Green Housing Options, Now Standard

EcoHome Magazine reports that two major homebuilders are moving to make green options standard in their new housing developments. KB Home's California developments and Lennar's Minnesota projects will meet third party certification standards, incorporating sustainable design and efficient equipment.

Green design features and products will include building materials with recycled content and efficient appliances and HVAC equipment. New projects that meet Energy Star Homes criteria feature appropriate insulation, efficient windows, “tight” construction to minimize drafts and energy losses, and the latest Energy Star products.

Although it won't be standard, KB's home packages will include the option of pre-wiring for electric vehicle charging. Electric vehicles are an option for reducing air pollution from the transportation sector but, like any big change in our transportation behavior, their adoption is limited by the lack of a new infrastructure. I can buy an electric car but there are no charging stations for me to “fill up.” Progress equipping homes with chargers now will make any future transition easier and, therefore, more likely to happen.

The best news is that these programs are voluntary and in response to consumer demand. That demand for more efficient housing will drive additional advances in technology and improve our ability to reduce our energy use (and costs) without needed to be a green expert.

-Chris, Green

Shower Efficiency

Long, hot showers are one of my guilty pleasures. It’s nice to get a few minutes of quiet away from the noise and chaos of raising a family. The extremely eco-enlightened among us recommend five-minute showers to save water and energy. I’d like to limit myself but, so far, can’t muster the will to get out after only a few minutes.

The US Environmental Protection Agency released shower specifications earlier this month that will save water and energy. Manufacturers may apply and get their products certified in the WaterSense program if they meet EPA’s criteria. The specifications include a 20% reduction in the maximum water flow rate and requirements for performance (e.g., spray force and coverage).

EPA calculated that the average household would save 2,300 gallons of water per year by using WaterSense certified showerheads and enough energy from hot water savings to operate a TV for a year. The payback period for two certified showerheads would range from 14 months to two years, depending on the source of energy for hot water heating. EcoHome Magazine reports that several manufacturers have models that will meet EPA criteria.

I’d like to remodel both of my bathrooms but that isn’t going to happen this year. Maybe I’ll settle for a new showerhead and reduce my water and energy costs.

-Chris, Green

Energy Efficient Appliance Rebates

Phyllis recently covered the advantages of replacing appliances with Energy Star models, and I want to follow up a bit. As part of the federal stimulus bill last year, the federal government offered $300 million to states to promote the purchase of Energy Star appliances. Of the total amount, $5 million went to my state.

The rebate program in Minnesota opened on Monday of this week and the money was gone by late Tuesday. I'm not surprised. Free money is popular around here. Iowans also collected their rebates in short order. Some other states, including Wisconsin, still have rebate money months after their programs began. Maybe they should give away cheeseheads with new appliances. Interstate snark aside, I wonder how the programs in other states are structured and publicized. I don't think Minnesotans are more likely to buy new appliances that our eastern neighbors. I do wonder how many of the rebate recipients would have purchased their new appliances even if there were not rebate.

It is good to see people buying new, efficient appliances. Energy use and related air pollution will decrease, as will family expenditures on electricity and gas. If you’re looking for appliance rebates in your state, the federal Energy Star site has a handy rebate finder. Take a look.

-Chris, Green

Solar Leasing

I would love to install a solar array on my roof and generate some or all of my electricity using the sun, but the cost of purchasing and installing the equipment is more than I can justify (or at least convince my wife is reasonable). A Texas utility is implementing a program that would allow homeowners to generate their own solar power at lower costs, reports the New York Times.

Texas utility TXU Energy is partnering with renewable energy start-up SolarCity to lease solar arrays to residential customers. SolarCity will design, install, and retain ownership of the systems. The utility will get a referral fee for each system sold. Homeowners will pay a monthly fee. According to TXU, the monthly fee for a typical house would be about $35. That's not too bad, given the upfront cost of a typical system: $26,000.

It is not clear from the TXU's program description, but I expect the monthly fee covers the use of all electricity generated from the solar array. I assume the homeowner would then pay TXU for any electricity used beyond that generated by the solar system. It is also not clear who would benefit if the solar system generated more power than the home used in a given period.

Many folks pay less than $35 each month for cable TV or cell phone service, but should be compared to typical costs of electricity. My utility offers a buy-in program for wind energy, and I pay, on average, $60 per month for my electricity plus $5 for 100% wind power. A leased solar system that provided all my electricity for $35 would save me money and keep me on renewable energy.

-Chris, Green

Natural Products

I have never understood the term “natural” as it is applied to products or food. I do understand it is meant to imply purity, as though the product is a simple mixture of mountain stream water and fairy dust (Is fairy dust natural?). But what ingredient is “unnatural?” Pesticides are made from petroleum-based chemicals and oil is certainly “natural” in a literal sense, as it is created by geologic and biological processes. Like the organic classification, the natural descriptor is probably most useful if it is well defined instead of meaning virtually anything.

CleanTechies reports that the National Products Association is moving forward with specific standards for products that want to be certified as “natural.” Covered products include laundry detergents and household cleaners. Requirements preclude the use of ingredients with suspected health risks and specify the allowed percentage of “synthetic” ingredients.

Creating these standards is difficult for experts, who argue about the purity of their products, but helpful for health or eco-conscious consumers as we cruise the aisles at the grocery store. Watch for the certifications as you shop. The products may not be 100% pure but as least someone has taken a look at the ingredients and it's not all marketing.

-Chris, Green

Ice Dams

Last week I wrote about a study examining the potential for white roofs to reduce urban energy use and local temperatures. It's fun to speculate about ways to reduce energy use or new high tech gadgets. Unfortunately, most of my time as a homeowner is spent on repairs and maintenance, not super cool upgrades.

Our weather fluctuated around the freezing point most of the week and the freeze/melt cycles made me nervous that my ice dams would lead to water damage. Our attic space is well insulated so we typically don't have much trouble with ice dams. Our local paper pointed out that this year is the worst in more than a decade for ice dams.

I'm not prepared to spend $250 per hour for a company to use steam to melt off the ice dams, so I broke rule number one from the experts: “Don’t climb on an icy, snowy roof.” I swept and shoveled excess snow off the roof, used the “urea-based ice melt in an old nylon” trick to create channels in the ice for water to drain off, kept my center of gravity low, and stopped work when pedestrians passed so they wouldn't be permanently scarred by watching me fall off the roof.

I am strongly interested in reducing home energy loss (which leads to ice dams) and preventing permanent disability from my stupid behavior, so I'm going to get an updated home energy audit to see if there are easy improvements I can make to reduce energy loss through the roof. As always, you'll hear about any good ideas.

-Chris, Green

Native Garden Pre-Planning

One of my green resolutions for 2010 is to put in a garden with native plants. I previously discussed the water quality benefits and reductions in synthetic chemical applications for natives. Native species also offer high quality habitat for wildlife. I had the opportunity to hear a presentation on native planting from one of my county's specialists this week. He covered potential plant species, advice for starting a garden, and maintenance issues.

I'm at the planning stage now and thinking I will start small and build up over time. After deciding on financial and space limitations, I can start with either small plant "plugs" or larger potted plants. The plugs are less expensive that potted plants, around $1 per six-pack compared to $3 to $4 per plant, and take two to three years to mature. Sunlight, soil moisture, and aesthetics are factors to consider when choosing plants. There are some good online resources for planning a native garden.

One critical early step in preparing a garden is marking buried power lines and other utilities. My state has a central phone line to handle these requests. There is a federal number, 811, that you can call to be connected to the proper service in your state.

I'm excited to get a plan together and be ready to go when the snow melts. I'm going to negotiate a spot in the yard and pick out some prospective plant species. I'll report back when it's time to break ground.

-Chris, Green

White Roof

A new study from the National Center for Atmospheric Research used computer simulations to look at the potential effects of painting urban rooftops white. Light colors reflect sunlight while dark colors absorb sunlight, so lighter colored roofs could theoretically reduce the amount of heat absorbed by buildings. Less heat absorbed would reduce the air temperatures around the buildings and the necessary loads on air conditioning units.

The study was not meant to be predictive of actual changes in urban temperatures and did not simulate real world limitations, such as fading of white paint that would reduce effectiveness of the white roof.

The researchers caution that white roofs would also reduce the amount of heat absorbed in the winter, potentially increasing the amount of space heating needed in cold climates. That may be true in some instances but I can say that my dark roof is not absorbing any extra heat this winter due to a couple feet of white snow sitting on top.

-Chris, Green