Staying Cool this summer

Here are few ideas for staying cool during the summer.


http://finance.yahoo.com/expert/article/millionaire/35112



This is a post from our friends at A Fresh Squeeze

Stay Frosty and Save Green
Summer Tips for Your AC

Want the green scoop on chilling out this summer? The best ways to save money and energy start with your cooling systems.

The Midwest Energy Efficiency Alliance, a nonprofit based in Chicago, publishes a checklist of tips on how to stay cool in the summer. For every degree above 72 that you set your thermostat, the MEEA promises a three percent reduction in monthly cooling costs. They also recommend drawing the shades which can save you an additional 10%. The ideal companion for an air conditioning system is a programmable thermostat. These nifty little items allow users to dictate when—and for how long—the air conditioning system kicks on.

Above all, keep an eye on all your cooling systems, including your fridge, for leaks. These hard-to-spot culprits are often the source of inefficiencies, says Greg Ehrendreich, a policy associate with the MEEA. “As your cold air leaks out, whether through bad seals or your refrigerator door being left open for too long, then your pump and condenser have to work harder to remove that heat from the inside,” he says. To quickly check your refrigerator’s door seal, stick a dollar bill in the door and close it. If you can easily pull the bill out, you might want to look into a new door sealer.


Stay Frosty and Save Green
Summer Tips for Your AC

Want the green scoop on chilling out this summer? The best ways to save money and energy start with your cooling systems. The Midwest Energy Efficiency Alliance, a nonprofit based in Chicago, publishes a checklist of tips on how to stay cool in the summer. For every degree above 72 that you set your thermostat, the MEEA promises a three percent reduction in monthly cooling costs. They also recommend drawing the shades which can save you an additional 10%. The ideal companion for an air conditioning system is a
\u003ca href\u003d\"http://e2ma.net/go/615541124/512512/17195895/goto:http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c\u003dthermostats.pr_thermostats\" target\u003d\"_blank\" onclick\u003d\"return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)\"\>\u003cfont face\u003d\"arial,helvetica,sans-serif\" color\u003d\"#0000ff\" size\u003d\"2\"\>programmable thermostat\u003c/font\>\u003c/a\>\u003cfont face\u003d\"arial,helvetica,sans-serif\"\>\u003cfont size\u003d\"2\"\>. These nifty little items allow users to\ndictate when—and for how long—the air conditioning system kicks on. Above all, keep an eye on all your cooling systems,\nincluding your fridge, for leaks. These hard-to-spot culprits are often the source of inefficiencies, says Greg Ehrendreich, a policy associate with\nthe MEEA. “As your cold air leaks out, whether through bad seals or your refrigerator door being left open for too long, then your pump and\ncondenser have to work harder to remove that heat from the inside,” he says. To quickly check your refrigerator’s door seal,\nstick a dollar bill in the door and close it. If you can easily pull the bill out, you might want to look into a new door sealer. Learn more energy saving tips at programmable thermostat. These nifty little items allow users to dictate when—and for how long—the air conditioning system kicks on. Above all, keep an eye on all your cooling systems, including your fridge, for leaks. These hard-to-spot culprits are often the source of inefficiencies, says Greg Ehrendreich, a policy associate with the MEEA. “As your cold air leaks out, whether through bad seals or your refrigerator door being left open for too long, then your pump and condenser have to work harder to remove that heat from the inside,” he says. To quickly check your refrigerator’s door seal, stick a dollar bill in the door and close it. If you can easily pull the bill out, you might want to look into a new door sealer.

recent articles

Here are some short articles on environmental policy by the Canadian and US governments.

http://www.sfomag.com/enewsletter/detail.asp?ID=5188

http://www.sfomag.com/enewsletter/detail.asp?ID=5186

If you have any info to post on this matter or any other matter, post or email keanemd@gmail.com and I will post the info for you.

As always, if you do not want to be notified of blog updates, let me know with delist in the subject reply and I will stop sending you emails.

Cheers

Plumbing union= anti green

Hey

Comcast, our wonderful cable provider (cough, cough) is building a new site in Philadelphia that is supposed to have waterless urinals. That sounds great!

Except someone at the plumbers union realized that along with not needing water for the urinals, they would also not need the piping. So the union sued!

The result is that there is a five year contract for the water free urinals with the pipes put in just in case they are needed. What!?!?!?!

http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/story?id=1783912&page=1 (Thanks to ABC News for the story)

I think you can chalk this up to the union being pro environment except for when it affects their revenue stream!

I wonder how much carbon emissions were put into the air making the pipes that will not be used. They muffed this one. Keith Olberman would characterize them as being "Today's worst persons in the world!"

keanmd@gmail.com

Fresh Squeeze update

Hey

This is something I received from A Fresh Squeeze

Keep it Cool
"Hot Ideas for a Cool Planet"

There are a few time-honored ways of keeping cool in the summer. Popsicles, sprinklers, and trips to the lakefront come to mind. But if you’re looking for ways to keep the planet cool—that's usually a bigger challenge. Not this summer. Starting June 1st, learning how to fight climate change is as simple as a trip to the lake. Cool Globes is a public art project with a purpose—to inspire individuals and organizations to take action against global warming.

Stretching from the Field Museum to Navy Pier, over 100 globes will be on display along the lakefront.\nEach 5 foot tall globe features a different artist’s interpretation of a global warming solution. Find out about small steps you can take like\nwashing your clothes in cold water, as well as larger changes like geothermal energy. Wendy Abrams, founder of the project, says she’s “hoping people walk away with an idea of what they can do to impact climate change.” After the globes are unveiled on Friday, you can pledge to implement some of the Cool Globes suggestions. “Pick five and\nyou’ll be entered in a sweepstakes. The top prize is a Toyota Prius,” says Abrams. Next time you’re looking for a way to cool off, go to

New York = clean city?

Hey

I heard over the news yesterday that New York is going to have all their taxi cabs hybrid by 2012. With the fact that most traffic is stop and go, that should make a huge difference in the air quality in and around New York. Good for them. The story is below.

http://www.sierraclub.org/pressroom/releases/pr2005-07-01a.asp

If you have any info to post on this matter or any other matter, post or email keanemd@gmail.com and I will post the info for you

News from CASE

Hey Everyone

I am passing on some info from Northside's great CASE Club.

Thanks to Mike Coy for the information.

Students and colleagues – on July 13, 14, and 15, the Pitchfork Music Festival takes place in Union Park (Grand and Western). Lots of freaky, beautiful music will happen, and you have an opportunity to see and hear it all for free, and from the inside out (maybe even from backstage!).

CASE (the Community for Alternative Sources of Energy) are volunteering at to work the festival again this year. If we get enough volunteers, they will let CASE set up a table to advertise our club, and then they’ll give us money. Last year, we volunteered and they gave $500 to CASE. And everybody got to see the show for FREE!! This year, we’d like to get a total of 25 shifts, and they’ll give us $1500!

So – we’re looking for volunteers for 6-hour shifts on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. If you join us, you’ll “work” for 6 hours (11am-5pm or 4pm-10pm) checking wristbands, tickets, ID’s, helping bands set up, tear down, getting water for prima donna performers, etc. You also get a ticket for the show for that day. And you’ll be helping CASE help the environment. Sweet deal. You can work one, two, or all three days – it’s up to you.

If you want to join us (I think they want upperclassmen, but we can work on that), please respond to Tyler Johnson (cc’d above) with your choice of shift(s).

Shifts:
Friday, July 13: 4pm to 10pm
Saturday, July 14: 11am to 5pm OR 4pm to 10pm
Sunday, July 15: 11am to 5pm OR 4pm to 10pm

Check out https://mail.nscollegeprep.cps.k12.il.us/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://www.pitchforkmusicfestival.com/ for more details on which band is playing when.

You live in a big, beautiful city. Take advantage of opportunities like this that just fall into your laps. This may be a life-changing experience for you.

If you have any info to post on this matter or any other matter, post or email keanemd@gmail.com and I will post the info for you.

Thanks!

Prince Charles the environmentalist

Hey

Did you know that Prince Charles is a serious environmentalist? I didn't. I watched a Nightline episode on his environmental activities last night. It was very informative.

I recommend going to Google and read some of the articles on his efforts.

PS - He isn't perfect. He recently flew to New York to pick up an award and I guess the carbon output for his trip was huge. That said, he is someone to look to i nthe environmental arena. I would even say he has done more than our Oscar friend Al.

If you have any info to post, post or email keanemd@gmail.com and I will post the info for you.

Thanks!

computer recycling and more

Hey

The city has a recycling center for computers and other items in the Goose Island neighborhood. The press release with information is below.

http://egov.cityofchicago.org/city/webportal/portalContentItemAction.do?BV_SessionID=@@@@1226813849.1178120004@@@@&BV_EngineID=cccdaddkkjejlikcefecelldffhdfgn.0&contentOID=536947319&contenTypeName=COC_EDITORIAL&topChannelName=Dept&blockName=Environment%2FI+Want+To&context=dept&channelId=0&programId=0&entityName=Environment&deptMainCategoryOID=

There is also an article in today's Chicago Tribune (front page) that talks about Global Warming with residents of Bangladesh. It is pretty interesting. Check it out.

If you have some information to be posted, email to keanemd@gmail.com and we will get the info posted.

Pepsi's energy buy

Hey

This is big corporate news. Pepsi plans to purchase over 1 billion dollars worth of energy credits over 3 years. This is a leader. If a company as large as Pepsi is coming to the table, there is no guessing how much of a difference our efforts can continue to make.

The article is below.

http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/070430/pepsico_renewable_energy.html?.v=1

Keep Green

If you have any info that you want on this blog but don't want to join Blogspot, email your comments to keanemd@gmail.com and your comments will be posted

environmental magazines

Hey

I am dropping a link to a couple of emagazines that I enjoy reading. There are some nice articles. Visit and let us know what you think. Are there any other magazine websites to look at?

http://www.emagazine.com/

www.consciouschoice.com


Keep Green

If you have any info that you want on this blog but don't want to join Blogspot, email your comments to keanemd@gmail.com and your comments will be posted.

Ecological Home Ideas

Hey everyone

Coming up at Green Scene is a company named Ecological Home Ideas that you should really check out. The site itself has information on all aspects of greening a home from where to find a green contractor to what materials to use. They have a magazine, forums, contractor lists and much more.

If you are looking for a new home, or simply updating the place you live, this site is one that should be very useful.

As always feel free to email me any questions, and comment to keanemd@gmail.com.

Green Scene Day

Hey

On April 21, there is going to be a huge gathering of business and community behind Northside College Prep High School in Chicago. The school has really taken a proactive role in finding energy solutions for the school and community. You can find all the information you want at www.caseproject.org.

I would like to invite everyone that can make it out there. Please forward to everyone you know that can make it.

The local alderman will be giving, I SAID GIVING away the new light bulbs out to the community!!!!!!!!!!!! For that matter, it was announced today that the city of Chicago is giving away 500,000 light bulbs in the month of April. Here is the article:

http://egov.cityofchicago.org/city/webportal/portalContentItemAction.do?BV_SessionID=@@@@1302364365.1175015542@@@@&BV_EngineID=cccfaddkhmgjgmjcefecelldffhdfgn.0&contentOID=536951804&contenTypeName=COC_EDITORIAL&topChannelName=Dept&blockName=Environment%2FI+Want+To&context=dept&channelId=0&programId=0&entityName=Environment&deptMainCategoryOID=

Cheers to all

Intro

Hey everyone

Just started a new blog with regards to energy. Feel free to post, comment and email to keanemd@gmail.com with any information for the blog.