Background from NESEA:
"We waste too much energy, and it’s having a terrible impact on public health, the environment, and our pocketbooks.
"Meanwhile we’re using energy sources like coal and oil which cause asthma and heart attacks because of air pollution that comes from power plant smokestacks.
"We’re seeing record energy prices and gas lines for the first time since the 1970’s; Hurricane Katrina is a terrible reminder of just how fragile our energy system is.
"There is plenty we can do here in Massachusetts to solve our energy problems. Energy conservation is the cornerstone of a safe, sane energy policy. It throttles back old dirty power plants, cutting air pollution and radioactive waste generation. It reduces our region’s appetite for natural gas and the dangers associated with risky gastransportation and storage. It lowers electricity bills directly through cutting home and business electricity use – we use fewer kilowatt-hours to do the same work, so we pay less on our bills. And it drives down demand and prices for costly fossil fuels like natural gas, which are already putting the squeeze on home and business budgets in this cold winter and will do the same during a hot summer.
"The state legislature is currently considering the Energy Efficiency Standards bill, HB 4299, which would cut energy waste by setting minimum energy efficiency standards for commonly used appliances like furnaces, floor lamps, and boilers. Energy efficiency standards for appliances would save the same amount of electricity used by half the homes in Boston, and we have the technology to start saving today."
This is a no brainer. MA consumes less energy per capita than many states because we use less gasoline per capita and so few homes have air conditioning.But — we also generate 26% of our electricity by burning oil, and well over half of our generation of electricity comes from oil and coal. The Cape has the lowest air quality in the state, and it’s no coincidence that the Canal power plant is right there, burning fossil fuels daily.In the mean time, some things you can do to reduce your consumption of electricity and heat: * put a hot water heater blanket on your hot water heater * insulate your hot water pipes coming out of the heater * set your hot water heater to 120. Any higher is a waste since you’ll blend with cold. Any lower is dangerous, since bacteria could grow. * if you have wooden window sashes, make sure that they all lock in the closed position. If you’re missing a lock, get a new one from Home Depot — they’re less than $2 each and they keep the window closed * Make sure your exterior doors have sweeps underneath them to cut the draft. * If you have a screen door, get it up soon and make sure you put the window up on it. * Invest in a programmable thermostat so you’re not heating the house all day when nobody is home or in the middle of the night, but keep a warm house otherwise. * BTW — set it at 68, not 72. Wear a sweater. * Invest in a few $5 cans of Great Stuff or other foam spray insulation. Then, go around your house and pull off all electrical box covers (outlets, switches) on exterior walls. Spray the foam NOT IN THE ELECTRICAL BOX but outside the box in the wall. This seals holes everywhere. When you do this, prep all areas, then spray everywhere, because the foam dries quickly and will clog the tube. Also, for areas around windows and doors, there is a special formula that won’t put added pressure on the frames. * Consider replacing your old windows with new uber-efficient replacements.Most utilities have a FREE energy audit. They come to your house, and figure out the best way for you to save. Some repairs/investments have a payoff of less than one winter; many have a payoff of less than 3 winters. Invest a little, save a lot!