Conserving Energy and Going Conserving Energy and Going Green Class 3Green Class 3

Fall 09 GCCC Encore ProgramFall 09 GCCC Encore Program

Joe Boisvert, Encore InstructorJoe Boisvert, Encore Instructor

Problems with Coal for ElectricityProblems with Coal for Electricity(Coal Ash)(Coal Ash)

Over 1 billion gallons of toxic coal ash Over 1 billion gallons of toxic coal ash sludge burst through the dam of a waste sludge burst through the dam of a waste pond, located 60 feet above the Emory pond, located 60 feet above the Emory River at TVA’s Kingston Fossil Plant in River at TVA’s Kingston Fossil Plant in Harriman, Tennessee. The waste covered Harriman, Tennessee. The waste covered 300 acres below the plant, destroying 300 acres below the plant, destroying homes, poisoning rivers and contaminating homes, poisoning rivers and contaminating coves and residential areas.coves and residential areas.

In yet another controversial development in the case In yet another controversial development in the case of he of he Tennessee coal ash spill, the millions of , the millions of

pounds of ash are being pounds of ash are being shipped from the accident site to a landfill in a poor  to a landfill in a poor

county in Alabama.county in Alabama.

Where is Your Clean Coal Where is Your Clean Coal Now?Now?

We all know that We all know that burning coal is a very dirty source of energy. Just . Just the act of mining it out of the ground causes a fair the act of mining it out of the ground causes a fair amount of destruction (and costs the lives of many amount of destruction (and costs the lives of many miners, especially in poorer countries), miners, especially in poorer countries), and and burning it produces more CO2 than any other burning it produces more CO2 than any other source of energysource of energy, as well as mercury that makes , as well as mercury that makes its way up the food chain and smog-forming its way up the food chain and smog-forming emissions of all kinds... But that's not all! Even emissions of all kinds... But that's not all! Even after all that you are after all that you are left with literally tons of coal left with literally tons of coal ash (fly ash captured from the chimneys, and ash (fly ash captured from the chimneys, and bottom ash from the furnace)bottom ash from the furnace)

 Recent Toxic Coal Ash Spills

Going Green Around the Going Green Around the House – Class 3House – Class 3

These Commercials Have Been Around for These Commercials Have Been Around for YearsYears

Think Green for the Entire HouseThink Green for the Entire House

Bamboo Flooring 1 - Top Ten Bamboo Flooring 1 - Top Ten BenefitsBenefits

Renewable resource.Renewable resource.

Easy upkeep.Easy upkeep. While no flooring surface is completely maintenance free, While no flooring surface is completely maintenance free, some are better than otherssome are better than others

Easy to install.Easy to install. While there are several ways to install bamboo flooring, one While there are several ways to install bamboo flooring, one popular option is the beloved "floating floor," popular option is the beloved "floating floor,"

Cost.Cost. The cost of bamboo flooring can vary greatly, Another cost-saver is the The cost of bamboo flooring can vary greatly, Another cost-saver is the option of self-installation. That particular cost saving can be tremendous, option of self-installation. That particular cost saving can be tremendous, depending on the application. depending on the application.

Style points.Style points. Style counts, and when it comes to bamboo floors, style is what Style counts, and when it comes to bamboo floors, style is what it’s about. From its mellow light hues and colors, to its widely varying grains, it’s about. From its mellow light hues and colors, to its widely varying grains, bamboo can match almost any décorbamboo can match almost any décor

Advantages of Bamboo FloorsAdvantages of Bamboo Floors Adaptability.Adaptability. Bamboo is one of the most adaptable flooring options available Bamboo is one of the most adaptable flooring options available

today. today.

Material Handling.Material Handling. For some hardwood materials, like mahogany or oak, For some hardwood materials, like mahogany or oak, handling and cutting can prove to be a chore in itself. This isn’t the case for handling and cutting can prove to be a chore in itself. This isn’t the case for bamboo; general hand tools, cross cut saws, compound miter saws and bamboo; general hand tools, cross cut saws, compound miter saws and dovetail saws are perfect for finishing a home project like this. dovetail saws are perfect for finishing a home project like this.

Strength.Strength. In Japan, bamboo has historically been used for industrial In Japan, bamboo has historically been used for industrial scaffolding, scaffolding,

Durability.Durability. People instantly think of tile or marble when they are looking for a People instantly think of tile or marble when they are looking for a durable flooring surface, but bamboo can certainly be considered a top durable flooring surface, but bamboo can certainly be considered a top contender for longest lasting. contender for longest lasting.

Material Availability.Material Availability. Since its increase in recent popularity, bamboo has gone Since its increase in recent popularity, bamboo has gone from a difficult to find and somewhat obscure material, to a widely available from a difficult to find and somewhat obscure material, to a widely available surface found at almost any home improvement center. surface found at almost any home improvement center.

Average Bamboo One Large RoomAverage Bamboo One Large Room

Energy Savings - Is Your Energy Savings - Is Your Computer Deleting What's In Your Computer Deleting What's In Your

Wallet?Wallet?

The computer is a vital source for information, The computer is a vital source for information, business and personal relationships business and personal relationships

In an effort to have their computer at-the-ready In an effort to have their computer at-the-ready whenever it’s needed, many, if not most computer whenever it’s needed, many, if not most computer users leave their computers constantly running. users leave their computers constantly running.

This type of computing habit can end up costing This type of computing habit can end up costing you more than you realize on your electric bill.you more than you realize on your electric bill.

Understanding Your Computer’s Understanding Your Computer’s Power ManagementPower Management

For PC owners, modern versions of the Microsoft operating For PC owners, modern versions of the Microsoft operating systems provide easy to manage power settings. With systems provide easy to manage power settings. With modes like idle, stand-by and sleep, setting up an energy modes like idle, stand-by and sleep, setting up an energy profile is easy. But first let’s look at the difference between profile is easy. But first let’s look at the difference between energy modes.energy modes.

Idle – This is when the computer is left powered on but with Idle – This is when the computer is left powered on but with no programs other than the operating system running.no programs other than the operating system running.

Stand-By – This places your computer in a hibernation Stand-By – This places your computer in a hibernation mode. You will have to press your computer’s power button mode. You will have to press your computer’s power button to bring the computer back up. When in stand-by, the to bring the computer back up. When in stand-by, the computer is as close to being actually off as it can be. It only computer is as close to being actually off as it can be. It only uses about 2 watts of power while in stand-by.uses about 2 watts of power while in stand-by.

Sleep – This condition has your hard drives and your monitor Sleep – This condition has your hard drives and your monitor turned off but a simple move of the mouse brings everything turned off but a simple move of the mouse brings everything awake again.awake again.

The new Windows Vista operating The new Windows Vista operating system features three pre-set power system features three pre-set power

plans. They includeplans. They include

Balanced, Balanced, Power Saver Power Saver High Performance. High Performance. If it’s a laptop you’re using, then the power If it’s a laptop you’re using, then the power

scheme you choose will also affect your scheme you choose will also affect your battery life as well.battery life as well.

Computer MonitorsComputer Monitors

Another thing to consider when thinking about Another thing to consider when thinking about computer energy conservation, is to look into computer energy conservation, is to look into replacing your big, television-sized monitor with a replacing your big, television-sized monitor with a flat screen model. Flat screen monitors are much flat screen model. Flat screen monitors are much more energy efficient and better looking than their more energy efficient and better looking than their boxy predecessors. boxy predecessors.

With utility costs rising at incredible rates, it makes With utility costs rising at incredible rates, it makes complete financial sense to save energy where complete financial sense to save energy where you have the ability to, and that includes you have the ability to, and that includes configuring your computer’s power settings. configuring your computer’s power settings.

Conserving Your Computer’s Energy Conserving Your Computer’s Energy – Things Change– Things Change

Most computer manufacturers agree that you Most computer manufacturers agree that you should set your power management profile on should set your power management profile on your computer to turn your monitor off after 10 your computer to turn your monitor off after 10 minutes of non use. They also advise to minutes of non use. They also advise to configure your hard disks to turn off after 20 configure your hard disks to turn off after 20 minutes of inactivity. minutes of inactivity.

If you use a screensaver on your computer, you If you use a screensaver on your computer, you may think that your computer is using less may think that your computer is using less energy, when in fact, the opposite may be true. energy, when in fact, the opposite may be true. When you see your screensaver on and you can When you see your screensaver on and you can still hear your computer humming like a still hear your computer humming like a locomotive, then you know you’re not saving locomotive, then you know you’re not saving energy! Set your power scheme to go from your energy! Set your power scheme to go from your screensaver to sleep mode after a certain period screensaver to sleep mode after a certain period of time to help conserve energy.of time to help conserve energy.

It was once believed to be better for your computer if it was left on all the time. It was thought that turning it off every night and back on the next morning would wear out components and shorten the life of the computer. We now know that to be untrue. But what we also know is that by turning your computer and all of your peripherals off every night, you can save anywhere from 100 to 400 kWh per computer! If it doesn’t hurt your computer but it does save you money, why not do it?

PC Power Management Saves PC Power Management Saves MoneyMoney

"Power management is probably one of the "Power management is probably one of the easiest, low-cost ways to get big, big easiest, low-cost ways to get big, big savings,savings,

" Kaplan says, pointing out that using power " Kaplan says, pointing out that using power management features on desktop PCs can management features on desktop PCs can save $50 per computer per year.save $50 per computer per year.

Enabling power management tools on Enabling power management tools on monitors can save another $12 to $90 monitors can save another $12 to $90 annually per monitor. annually per monitor.

Depending on what type of set you buy, a Depending on what type of set you buy, a televisiontelevision can consume as little as 45 watts or as can consume as little as 45 watts or as

much as 500 watts, and cost anywhere from $13 to much as 500 watts, and cost anywhere from $13 to

$145 per year to run.$145 per year to run.

Low Water Usage Low Water Usage Toilets Toilets

Lowe's wants to help you save water and Lowe's wants to help you save water and money. By incorporating some easy fixes money. By incorporating some easy fixes and adjustments to your home water use, and adjustments to your home water use, you can potentially knock off a third of the you can potentially knock off a third of the cost of your annual water and sewer bill.cost of your annual water and sewer bill.

Lowe's is proud to offer products that bear Lowe's is proud to offer products that bear the Water Sense® label.the Water Sense® label.

Get Flush With SavingsGet Flush With Savings

Replace your older toilet with a Water Replace your older toilet with a Water Sense-labeled high-efficiency model Sense-labeled high-efficiency model that uses 20% less water but doesn't that uses 20% less water but doesn't sacrifice performance. A family of four sacrifice performance. A family of four can save more than $90 per year and can save more than $90 per year and more than $2000 in reduced water more than $2000 in reduced water utility bills over the toilet’s lifetime when utility bills over the toilet’s lifetime when replacing older, existing toilets with replacing older, existing toilets with Water Sense-labeled options.Water Sense-labeled options.

Example of Water SavingsExample of Water Savings

Can save a family of four more than 16,000 Can save a family of four more than 16,000 gallons of water each year when replacing older, gallons of water each year when replacing older, existing toilets. existing toilets. That’s enough water to:That’s enough water to:

Make more than 250,000 cups of coffeeMake more than 250,000 cups of coffee Do more than 1,800 loads of dishesDo more than 1,800 loads of dishes Take more than 900 showersTake more than 900 showers Do more than 300 loads of laundryDo more than 300 loads of laundry Fill 2 backyard swimming poolsFill 2 backyard swimming pools