Mental Gymnastics: The "Going Green" Year Long Project

by webranding

Not sure where I got that phrase mental gymnastics from, but I've used it for decades to describe doing something just to do it. Not cause you have to. Not cause you are forced to. Maybe not even because you think it will be fun. But to do it to think, learn, and maybe expand your horizons.

I've been a liberal for as long as I can recall. Coming here I don't know how many years ago has not changed my views much. This site has instead reinforced them. Educated me endlessly. And maybe most important of all, given me the ability to express my views to others in a much more persuasive manner.

But it has changed me in one major way!

For most of my life I was the cheerleader on the sidelines. Somebody could tell me they were going to "save the world" I'd cheer them on endlessly. Offer support. And then say something like, "hey when you are done saving the world I'll be here when you get back." Before I came here I had never worked on a political campaign (well once). I had never given money to a campaign. I'd been to marches and rallies, but mainly cause I figured they'd be a train-wreck and I wanted to watch it.

The community here has changed all of that. Which is why if you follow me below the fold I'll explain why I'm going "green" in the next year.

continued at Daily Kos....

Weatherization Barnraising Results

by gmoke

On June 26, at the Cambridge, MA YWCA Emergency Family Shelter, about 30 people from Home Energy Efficiency Team (HEET)

Reduced the leakiness of the building by 12% (reducing the air leakage by 1,500 cubic feet per minute as tested by a pre and post blower door test.  Each 100 cfm reduction = 7 therms of gas savings.  Thus saving $1,480 for them over the next decade in heating.)

Installed 20 cfls [compact fluorescent lights] (saving probably $11 per year on each one because of the high occupancy of the building)

Installed 3 incandescent exit signs with LED retrofit kits (saving 36 watts per bulb  24 hours a day all year long.  Since there were 2 bulbs in each of the 3 signs this will save over $388 in total per year)

Installed 7 low flow showerheads (each saving $42 each in heating the water and $26 in water and sewer charges) $476

Installed 2 programmable thermostats which can save up to 10% on heating if used to turn the temperature down during the winter when no one is home or everyone is sleeping.

We did other work too, but we should save the shelter at least $14,260 in total in energy bills over the next decade.  

Thanks for all your work.

continued at Daily Kos....

The ECSTASY of Growing Your Own — A DIY Garden Project

by WarrenS

E.C.S.T.A.S.Y. — End Consumption, Save The Air & Sea, Y'all!

A support group and discussion forum for those who want to kick the habits of consumption that are damaging the world we live in.

It's Independence Day!  And while I have some diaries plotted for this series that will be profound and erudite and full of depth and insight...today I'm just going to brag on my garden a little.

Our little household will never be able to get off the food grid entirely (can't grow rice in the Boston suburbs!  No room for the spaghetti trees!) but we've been getting better at it every year.

Let me describe our layout.  We live on the side of a hill.  47 steps lead from street level to our front door.  When we bought the house, the front yard was a very steep slope, covered with weeds and debris.  There is a garage at street level, inset into the hill.  When we bought the house, the garage had a peaked roof in wretched condition.

continued at Daily Kos....