My mission is to live as sustainably as I can and share my actions and ideas so that others may benefit from what I have learned.
Translate
Saturday, October 4, 2014
"It's the end of the world as we know it (and I feel fine)"
To put it in context, anytime there is a major news event that captures the attention of the world such as a hurricane, plane crash, or major terrorist activity - it becomes a topic of conversation in almost any social situation. Yet I cannot remember a single conversation that I have had with anyone about climate change in which climate change was recognized as the crisis that it is for humanity. In a sense we are at war with our climate, but this war is not a topic for conversation as it would be with any actual war in which humans slaughter each other.
I would very much like to see humanity wake up and respond to the ongoing crisis in the same way that we do after major hurricanes make landfall. I am was somewhat encouraged by the major climate awareness marches a few weeks ago in New York and other major cities, and sincerely hope that they will have some effect on global policy. But we need to bring this issue down to personal responsibility and direct action. We cannot trust our willfully ignorant elected officials many of whom are in complete denial about this issue to take assertive action. It is my feeling that we all need to have frank and open discussions with each other about what it is that we are doing and can do to protect future generations from the fallout of our actions or inactions today.
The fossil fuels that we are burning that pump massive amounts of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere took millennia to create and store underground. Yet we have been removing and burning this stored energy over a period of a little more than a century which is an eyeblink in the context of geologic history. We have so little time to act to prevent the worst outcomes of our actions. Every day I learn that scientists are discovering new feedbacks that are accelerating change like the melting glaciers and ice caps and releases of methane as the permafrost is exposed to melting conditions.
So I am challenging myself and anyone reading this to go out and stimulate conversations amongst friends about this crisis. And more importantly take some form of direct action every single day. Almost every dollar we spend as individuals has an impact on climate change in some way or another. Becoming conscious of how we spend our money is equivalent to voting for change. Investing in energy efficiency and renewable energy on any scale at all will make a difference.
For myself, I have invested tens of thousands of dollars over the last 13 years or so in improving efficiency and renewable energy systems for my property, and that has paid returns better than the stock market. We own electric and hybrid vehicles and our home and my workshop are both extremely efficient, requiring very little energy for heating, and lighting. I am still finding ways to improve small things. If you need some suggestions, go to my webpage: "Some notes on living sustainably".
Tuesday, September 30, 2014
The perfect washing machine
When my ex-wife moved into our current home in 2001 we purchased a new Staber washing machine. It is the most efficient washer available at the time based on energy, water, and detergent usage. It is particularly pleasing to know that it was designed and is still manufactured by a family owned business based in Ohio.
What is distinctive about this machine is that it is a top loading horizontal axis design. See this promotional video that shows its features, and a cool video about How It's Made. When you open the lid, you are presented with two stainless steel doors that open into a hexagonal washing chamber that rotates inside a larger water tank. This means that it uses significantly less water, detergent, and also electricity due to its very simple and elegant design.
The control panel is very simple and basic - yet has all the features needed.
I noticed a little water underneath the washing machine yesterday so I jumped into repairing it today. To be clear, this is the first repair I have had to do on this machine in over 13 years! I remembered that another major feature of this washer is that repairs can be accomplished from the front which is quite unique in the industry and a very thoughtful piece of design. It was quite simple to remove four screws from the bottom front edge and then take off the front. I discovered that a flexible rubber hose had developed a leaking seal where it exits the bottom of the large stainless steel water tank. It was a relatively simple matter to clean off the existing silicone sealant and replace it with new silicone. Problem solved!
While this machine is relatively expensive at $1300, I am sure it has saved us hundreds of dollars in energy, water, and detergent. Overall we have been extremely pleased with it. If you are looking to replace your machine with a beautifully engineered piece of American design and want something extremely efficient - look no further than Staber!
As of December 2022 this machine is still running great after 21 years! I did do one other minor repair that required that they sell me a small replacement part.
Monday, September 29, 2014
Propane: the dirty little secret of rural living
propane tanks below my solar collectors |
While propane is a fossil fuel, in the grand scheme of things it is one of the cleaner fossil fuels and is also relatively benign. I found this webpage promoting propane that offers the following bullet list:
- Propane is not considered a greenhouse gas.
- Propane is not damaging to freshwater or saltwater ecosystems, underwater plant or marine life.
- Propane is not harmful to soil if spilled on the ground. Propane will not cause harm to drinking water supplies.
- Propane vapor will not cause air pollution. Propane vapor is not considered air pollution.
- Propane vapor is not harmful if accidentally inhaled by birds, animals or people.
- Propane will only cause bodily harm if liquid propane comes in contact with skin (boiling point -44°F).
propane statistics for our home |
In my workshop, I have dramatically reduced my propane use - largely by burning wood that I cut on my own property:
workshop propane usage - reduced by using solar and firewood |
Many of my neighbors have traditionally heated their homes exclusively with firewood. Two neighbors in particular have added supplementary propane heat over the last five or six years. One of them rationalized it because he did not want to worry about freezing pipes in his house if he needed to leave it for more than a few days in the dead of winter when temperatures dip below 0°F frequently. Another neighbor added an in-law suite that was at the far end of his home from the wood stove and elected to put in a propane heater rather than another wood stove. Unfortunately, propane heaters require electricity to operate so if the power does fail as it often does during winter storms one is still without backup or emergency heat. This makes a wood stove and/or a propane fired backup generator an important asset.
I have come to accept propane as a necessary evil. I remember a quote from an author writing for Home Power magazine in which he stated: "propane is the dirty little secret of off grid living". And that has stuck with me as a way of focusing my consciousness around this relatively benign fossil fuel.
Sunday, September 28, 2014
Why I'm committed to living sustainably
This is a re-post from my May 12, 2014 blog |
Part of my response can be summarized as: “I’m an engineer dammit!”. Most of what I do for a living is design and develop electronic products. As an engineer, it is my job to use technology to solve problems, and in this case I am addressing climate change directly using technologies that I find engaging. If misusing technology has gotten us into this mess then appropriate use of technology should be able to get us out of it. By transitioning our global energy systems to renewable ones, I have hope that we can limit the damage to our planet.
I also fall into the demographic category known as the “Cultural Creatives“. Cultural Creatives is the term coined by Paul H. Ray, Ph.D., to describe the group of individuals who are the early adopters of progressive trends in a society. They are the ones who are creating and defining the future of life and living. As a rare combination of both artist and engineer, I am someone uniquely suited to think outside the box and vision an inspiring future for humanity.
I also read a great deal of science fiction, particularly the subgenre of extrapolative fiction in which authors take an existing facet of our contemporary society and explore outcomes. A number of authors have tackled climate change in various ways. Kim Stanley Robinson wrote a trilogy: “Forty Signs of Rain“, “Fifty Degrees Below” and “Sixty Days and Counting“. These books are set in present day Washington DC and center around the sociological and political aspects of abrupt climate change. The central character endures significant challenges personally and professionally and makes the whole story come alive with the direct impact of climate change on his life. These books left a profound mark on my perception of the larger issue and imbued me with a sense of urgency to do what I can personally.
I have spent some time at the Maine Statehouse lobbying for renewable energy bills, and I became so discouraged by the response within the Utility and Energy committee that I gave up. As I watch the American federal government become more and more dysfunctional, I realize that the solution to the world’s problems will not be political it will be up to those of us operating within civil society to take direct and personal responsibility for the well-being of our planet. The good news is that a large number of cities, counties, and states in the US are choosing to take action independently of the federal government, and I find that very encouraging.
Saturday, September 27, 2014
Repurposing old light fixtures to use LED lamps
Vehicles and shading
Once we have exceeded the volt's battery range of 27 to 39 miles, the onboard gasoline powered "range extender" activates and at that point heating the vehicle becomes free due to the waste heat from the engine. On many trips I will turn the heat down very low until the point at which the engine comes on in order to conserve energy and extend the electric range of the vehicle.
As we edge into colder weather I will be leaving the vehicle out in the sun unless a snowstorm is imminent. On very cold days, or very hot ones, we can use the remote control from up to 100 feet away to activate the climate control system in the vehicle for 10 minutes while it is still plugged in to our charging station. The advantage of this is that we are not draining the battery to pre-warm, or pre-cool the vehicle interior since it is using "shore power".
These strategies can be applied to any vehicle to reduce the requirement for air-conditioning in the summer. For instance when parking in a public parking lot in the summer I always look for the shadiest spot to reduce the need for energy hogging air-conditioning.