First I want to follow up on some technology I have been tracking for the last couple of years and that is LED lighting. What should be a “true revolution in lighting” is having a tough time getting into the market place. Here is an article reviewing some recent developmentsin LEDs (not only for lighting but for flat screen TVs as well). Also, some researchers have calculated that the lifetime cost of LEDsmight be the same as compact fluorescent bulbs, which is somewhat of a surprise, however, I would estimate LEDs still have a lot of room for improvement. I have been using a couple different LED bulbs in my house for the last 2 years and they seem to be doing fine. Still, judging by the data in the articles, it looks like we will be waiting a couple more years for a chance of screwing LEDs en masse into our light sockets.

I am excited about the LED bulbs for the potential energy and cost savings. It doesn’t take much prodding for me to test out new energy saving ideas. When I saw this article “Scientists Say Greenhouse Gas Cuts Start at Home” I thought they might be talking about me, since i have blogged about saving energy for years now. It got me to thinking about the different ways I save energy at home. I am a fairly miserly fellow when it comes to energy use (and saving money). Here are some things I do, and I don’t suggest these are good for everyone.

1. I have plastic on many of my windows.
2. I got new siding, in part, to increase the R value of my walls.
3. The thermostat is set at 63 F all winter long.
4. I limit my shower time to about 1-2 minutes.
5. I have a front loading washer which uses less water.
6. During the winter, I open the window shades/curtains during the day and close them at night to better manage the natural sunlight and resultant heat.
7. I only use the air conditioner at night when the temperature is over 80 degrees in the house.
8. I have started unplugging gadgets and appliances that are not being used.
9. I don’t let my tea pot whistle. Now that is getting miserly…lol. I find that the water is plenty hot even before the pot starts to whistle. I only save a tiny fraction of a percent off my total energy bill by turning the burner off, but it is something.
10. Of course you know that both my cars get over 30 mpg.

You might also know that I encourage people to save energy (and money) but I don’t advocate forcing people to adopt certain practices, whether it be through laws/regulations or increased taxes. I just don’t like the feeling of all-controlling bureaucrats dictating everyone’s life. Before you know it, they will be taking away our cars, our food options, and even pets. Yes, Pets! Don’t you know they are bad for the environment? Some researchers have calculated that a medium to large sized dog has more negative environmental impact than an SUV!! Here is the article. It is not a farce. I was frightened when I read this, because I am the guardian of a couple cats and I love them. I shudder to think that in the name of limiting greenhouse gases, that pet companionship would be restricted or outlawed. Looking at the “greenhouse gas” or environmental aspect of typical pets is only one part of the equation. For those of us who have pets, we know there are numerous and important intangible benefits of having a pet. Not only that, it has been shown through studies that household pets lift the mood of people (especially the elderly) and reduce the incidence of allergies in children.

And to complete the encroaching regulation theme for today’s post, at least one researcher does not want to stop at regulating and limiting carbon dioxide emissions. Stacy Jackson from the University of California Berkeley is hoping world leaders will eventually regulate all types of effluent that might contribute to AGW (anthropogenic global warming), which is pretty much everything that humans emit into the atmosphere, from methane, to ozone, to soot.

I would have covered the ARES-1X launch but at the time of this writing it had not taken off. Also, it wasn’t going into orbit today and it won’t be carrying humans for a couple more years either, so it is not the most spectacular event.

Have a fine Tuesday! Meteorologist Justin Loew.

Posted under AGW, Alternative Energy, Climate Change, Environment, Pollution, Space