Ways to help....

[chickwhorips]

Ways you can help Unscrew America.

Don't let the title fool you, it is a helpful website, not derogatory.

[Trek420]

Cool site! Don't tell Knott 'cause I'm not supposed to be doing anything on the remodel today but I'm comparison pricing dual pane windows right now to make sure I got a good deal on the ones I'm ordering.

Our bikes make a big difference and we all love to ride of course but the site's right, it's embarasingly easy to make a difference. I don't have the figures at hand (they are probably on that site) but choices at home and work: energy efficient appliances and lighting are a big deal.

So why not? Whether you own or rent it raises the value of your home, saves you $$$ every day and can save a polar bear and the planet

So let's hear it, what's everyone doing?

[bmccasland]

Contemplating buying shears and thermal drapes for my big front window, to replace the verticle blinds. I can really feel the thermal loss/gain in the winter/summer (my living room is cold in the winter and hot in the summer). Most of my lamps in the house currently have fluorescent bulbs. Could replace the porch light (incandescent) with a yellow LED. Wonder if Home Depot has them yet?

[Trek420]

Contemplating buying shears and thermal drapes for my big front window, to replace the verticle blinds. I can really feel the thermal loss/gain in the winter/summer (my living room is cold in the winter and hot in the summer).

www.sierratradingpost.com has good prices on lined/thermal drapes. Trick is not to get distracted by deals on wool and cycling gear.

[kelownagirl]

Thanks for that link CWR! I'd like to get a copy of the list of 100 things but I can't cut and paste it...

[GLC1968]

Wow, fun site!

We replaced all our bulbs at our last house, and then took them out (putting the old ones back in) for our move here. Now I can't find all the CFL bulbs!!

At least our lamps are all CFLs. I'll need to buy a few more for the kitchen and bathroom lighting in the apartment until we find our stash.

Our goal in our new home purchase is to go solar for most of our electricity. Let's hope we'll have power in the winter in the PNW. We started making some basic lifestyle changes towards this end in our last place (like not leaving anything plugged in, using a thermal carafe for the coffee maker in place of the warmer, sharing a lamp when we are reading, insulating/sealing drafty spots, getting used to cooler settings, etc). Doing little things really add up...and if you do it a little at a time, you don't really notice the change.

[dex]

Great idea, but the implementation is driving me insane. The site is cute and fun, but almost completely unusable...and, professionally speaking, that makes my heart hurt and my blood pressure climb.

After three tries, I was finally able to read 18 of 99 items on their Further Unscrewing List. And then I gave up. *sigh*

[Pax]

Great idea, but the implementation is driving me insane. The site is cute and fun, but almost completely unusable...and, professionally speaking, that makes my heart hurt and my blood pressure climb.

After three tries, I was finally able to read 18 of 99 items on their Further Unscrewing List. And then I gave up. *sigh*

I thought the same thing, I think you have to be a gamer or something to be able to control that site well enough to read it.

[chickwhorips]

Thanks for that link CWR! I'd like to get a copy of the list of 100 things but I can't cut and paste it...

That's about the only bad thing about the site. If you figure it out, let me know.

And if anyone has any other sites they've found let me know about those to please.

[chickwhorips]

www.sierratradingpost.com has good prices on lined/thermal drapes. Trick is not to get distracted by deals on wool and cycling gear.

Thanks! I was trying to find a cheaper set to buy. Not only because of the thermal part but because when I go to bed now it's still light out.

[GLC1968]

There's a really cool book out called "It's Easy Being Green" written by Crissy Trask. The book gives tons of great ideas about how you can 'be green' in everyday life without having to give up basic comforts or turn your life upside down. It's full of smart ideas.

And her website is here:
http://www.greenmatters.com/gm/

I haven't explored the website much, but if its anything like the book - it's probably practical and useful.

[Duck on Wheels]

Story in yesterday's local news: Schools here in town are running an energy economisation program, getting the kids active. They've switched bulbs, added insulation stripping around old windows (we've got some schools here that are centuries old!) which has also allowed them to lower class temperatures and yet raise comfort levels at the same time. They've got kids competing class by class and school by school about switching off idling equipment. So far they've saved 10% on the electricity bills overall, and one school has saved enough on power to hire one more half-time teacher! They think they can double their savings, at least.

[Trek420]

one school has saved enough on power to hire one more half-time teacher! They think they can double their savings, at least.

That's been my thought: imagine what schools could do with the money they pay on energy bills. But there's only one school near me that's solar.

[maillotpois]

So let's hear it, what's everyone doing?

Trying not to pee my pants at this site!!! It is so funny. I mean great information, sure, but I am so distracted by all the innate coolness. (And they will play Hall & Oates... so just ODD and funny).

The kangaroo: "I'm hopping and I'm hopping!"

Being on this site makes me feel like I have severe ADD.

[Trek420]

Being on this site makes me feel like I have severe ADD.

Kids these days I think that's how they process information.

Why when I was your age ::here trek shakes cane::: we went to the library, wrote papers with footnotes and ....