New York Renovator

The Old House Journal has a terrific article called How to Find Energy Efficient Bulbs That Don’t Suck: Nutrition Facts for Light Bulbs.

Starting in January 2011 light bulbs are required to be labeled with lumens, watts, kelvins and efficacy. Greek to you too? Not worry. The label is now clear, easy to understand and full of fun colors.

It’s good news to me. Here in New York State, we will be forced to use only CFLs (or LEDs) for lighting. I have discovered that not all CFLs are created equal, and have often wondered why the differences seems so enigmatic. I had no idea about kelvins and lumens and all that jazz. I recently purchased some “full spectrum” bulbs for our desk lamps, in the hopes that these bulbs would give us a little energy perk and cheer up our spirits on the gloomy days that New York often suffers. I’d heard that full spectrum bulbs simulate sunlight and therefore help improve mood and maybe help Thyroid imbalance and make you faster than a speeding bullet and etc. Honestly, I don’t rely on light bulbs to cure diseases! But if full spectrum bulbs give us a little psychological boost, then, hey- why not? Honestly, I can’t say I have noticed a huge difference. Maybe. I’m a pretty chipper person, anyway, especially when I’m at my desk.

Anyway, now we have a little guide for choosing CFLs. I like it. Here’s what Old House Journal said:

1. Bedroom and Living Room: Pick a bulb in the “yellow” range as close to 2700K as you can get.

2. Garage, Basement, Laundry and Utility Room: These are rooms where mimicking the sun is okay. So, look for bulbs in the “white” range and have a high color temperature of about 5800K. Don’t go too much higher than that or you’ll end up in the ugly “blue” range.

3. Computer Screen: There is a great free program I use called F.lux. It makes the color of your computer’s display adapt to the time of day, warm at night and like sunlight during the day.

For more specific information, see the U.S. Department of Energy’s CFL lighting facts chart here (opens as a pdf document).

In 2012, sales of incandescent light bulbs in New York State will be illegal. The bulbs nominated to fill the void: Compact Fluorescent Lights, or CFLs. The government’s Energy Star website says that CFL bulbs use “75% less energy than standard incandescent bulbs and lasts up to 10 times longer.”

Honestly, I’ve been using CFL bulbs for certain rooms, and I haven’t seen any big difference between them an incandescent bulbs; CFLs may last a LITTLE longer than incandescent, but NO WAY not 10 times longer. Maybe 1.5 times. As a matter of fact, I filled my living room chandelier with CFL bulbs in December, and already one has blown. :-p These suckers are pricey, too. No one ever says that they COST 20 times more than incandescent. I have yet to see any reviews on CFLs, like I see all the hgh reviews and etc. If you know of a website that offers some statistics, I’m curious.

Anyway, I’m mainly against CFLs because they contain mercury, one of the most toxic neurotoxins known to man. Currently, there is no system for disposal of the bulbs that we will all be forced to use. Oh, there are a whopping total of THREE recycling centers in New York State (all near Albany) that accept CFLs from residents only (at the time of this writing, to my knowledge). But what are homeowners to do with burned-out CFLs? Throw them in the trash for the landfills? Imagine all the mercury polluting the environment, seeping into the water system. Ugh.

Some experts recommend that we save all our CFLs until the state figures out how to dispose of them all.

Uh, hello? We are supposed to stash old bulbs in bags under our beds until you guys figure out what to do with them?! You mean you didn’t have this all planned out BEFORE you passed such a law?

*rolls eyes*

Brilliant. Just brilliant.

How about you? Is your state regulating CFLs? Do you see a noticeable difference between them and the incandescents?

Here it is, came in the mail today:

It’s not a thoroughly extensive book for wiring, but it addresses the basics. Plus, there is some very good information on wiring ethernet and other digital stuff throughout the home. I am definitely going to wire for ethernet throughout the house. Eventually, I’ll set up a small control panel in a special cabinet in the kitchen. It will look like a typical matching cabinet, but it will actually be a small service panel, disguised. I like to make the kitchen the “central” place. I’ve traditionally kept all medicines, natural acne treatment etc, and small household tools in the room. I just prefer it.

Back to the book: diagrams like this as in the photo below are helpful, too. My next goal is to create a schematic. It is important to map out all the wiring and lighting fixtures, so that I can keep track of the circuits and make sure one circuit does not have too great a load.

So I’m preeeeeettty busy these days! More to come.

I’m pretty excited about the new push for renewable energy in the country. Of course, I don’t think our economy should be brought to its knees before anyone does anything about it– our country should have been preparing for these things long ago.

A news story in my local area recently said that a “green” economy would mean good news for Upstate New York. Great news!

A new report says almost 132,000 new jobs could be created in New York state, and more than 2 million nationwide, by making investments that aim to reduce dependence on oil.

[A] report from a University of Massachusetts think-tank wants to use $100 billion in federal money over two years for so-called “green” projects. New York’s share would be about $7 billion. The money would be spent on projects like weatherizing buildings, improving mass transit and making the electric-distribution system more efficient.

That’s pretty cool, BUT there’s a caveat: the use of “carbon offsets” money to fund this idea.

The plan calls for the money to come from a “cap-and-trade” program to require energy producers to pay for the right to emit carbon dioxide into the atmosphere — an idea that passed the U.S. House earlier this year but died in the Senate.

New York has established a similar program with nine other states in the Northeast, which will be implemented early next year.

Honestly, I think the idea behind carbon offsets is silly. And I am not convinced that “global warming” exists, especially when it’s being touted as a way to control people and world economies. Aren’t there better ways to encourage alternative energy and efficiency in our living spaces?

But I’m happy to see that thrift, resourcefulness, and sustainability are becoming the new trends. It’s about time! Now, if we can only get rid of scheming politicians and corporations’ “planned obsolescence”…

Photo courtesy of thinkpanama at Flickr.

Ever since the kids and I saw the Fenner Windmill Project in Madison County, I’ve been interested in wind power; more specifically, in wind power for small farms or for families. I would LOVE to create my own energy with them. I doubt I’d get much wind power in town on my small property… maybe a little… anything would help at this point. We paid over $3000 in heating bills last winter, and “they” say they are going to jack it up even higher this winter.

Anyway, I discovered a great resource site on everything wind! Thought I’d share with you in case you’re interested. Lots of reading there, so curl up with a nice cup of tea.

I’ve heard of tiny little modular cubicles in Europe. It is only fitting that the United States have our own style of small-scaled housing. What else would it be but a tiny log cabin? I saw this at Off-Grid Living. I don’t want to copy the photo– you’ll have to go see for yourself. Off-Grid Living is one of my favorite blogs, because I would so love to live that way! Here in New York, the energy rates are… shall we say… OUT OF THIS WORLD. So I’m always looking for good ideas.

Having a little logg cabin like this isn’t really feasible for my large family, but I do like the idea behind it: that of self-sufficiency and thrift. Amazingly cool!!

I know I’m not the only one to notice the outrageous food costs these days. I was listening to a guest host on the Rush Limbaugh Show who stated that the food crisis and energy crisis are government-induced. I believe it. The real question is WHY. I try to avoid news headlines because they are too sensationalist (meant to manipulate) and sometimes just too darn scary when I have enough to worry about around here. I made the mistake of checking headlines today and nearly blew a gasket when I saw this: Feds To Collect DNA From Every Person They Arrest. Um… there is something called the Fourth Amendment in this country that prohibits them from doing this. I hope we Americans bite back.

But about food costs. It is more on my mind because it is gardening time. I want to be planting things that will last through the winter. In particular, potatoes. Some folks are saying potatoes will be the new commodity, because they grow so well, they are plenteous, and they keep well. Plus, no stupid politician has any plans to use it to make fuel or bullets or money out of it. Yet.

How about you? What are you doing about food costs? Are you cutting back on your eating? Are you planning for a larger garden? And do you think things will get better any time soon?

I don’t think things will get better. But we can do well if we adapt. I’ve talked a lot about the excessive lifestyles that we live. It is too excessive now. We can become more self-sufficient, by growing our own food, getting smaller vehicles where possible, by getting rid of gadgets, and living more frugally all around. Leave a comment or two. I;d like to know what you think.