Light

When I began reducing the amount of electricity
my household used, I began with awareness.
I found that I like light.

It was 1990, when I first began my hunt for waste.
I looked at the meter.
I grabbed a leftover notebook.
My job was to find the ways in which my household was wasting electricity.

As I walked around my house I turned off any light I was not using.
The under cabinet lights in the kitchen burned all day.
The kitchen is on the North side of the house. It has always seemed dim.

These lights are florescent tubes so they were efficient yet still they were using electricity for no reason. I was not in the kitchen all day. I realized I like my rooms to be welcoming. I was using light to bring warmth not always for reading or tasks. I decided I needed a plan. Some way to bring light into my rooms with out electricity. I needed ideas. I spent one year becoming aware. I looked at our use in the daytime and at night. I watched how our use changed seasonally. I began asking myself questions, " How can I add warmth and enjoyment? Am I using this light or am I wasting?" Each lamp was looked at. I asked myself, " Is this light for reading or task? Is it to chase the dark away? Why do I have this lamp here?" I wrote ideas in my notebook. I learned that often a lower watt bulb would give me what I needed, I learned to love shadow art!
I began one step at a time. In the first year I reduced our use by 50%!



Since that first awareness I have done many things to add enjoyment and to reduce use.

We painted the walls white and I started finding antique mirrors for decorating.
I removed the curtains from the windows on the south side of the house. I raise the blinds on sunny, winter days. I use crystal and silver in the winter. It reflects the light and adds a shimmering beauty to the rooms.
I added glass doors to my cabinets in the kitchen. I added dresser mirrors to the inside of a dark china cabinet.

Each January I check again all the different ways I use electricity.
I get my notebook out. I ask myself my questions. If I have ideas I write them down.
I still would love to add skylights in the kitchen and one for a windowless bath. It is in my notebook as a, "good idea". Adding solar panels would be nice too.
I walk around the house and look at all the appliances and schedule the cleaning of the refrigerator coils. I plan the spring window washing.
I make sure our furnace filter is clean.
I make a plan for the year.

Last year I added two carafes to my counter top. One is for my morning coffee and the other is for hot water. This way I have my hot coffee with out leaving the coffee maker on. I have my hot water for sipping or for making tea without having to turn my kettle on more than once.
I am looking at adding a clothes line for 2009. I would like the umbrella style. One I can bring out on wash day and put it in a sleeve in the backyard.
Something pretty. I like pretty.

We switched out another six bulbs in a couple of ceiling fixtures yesterday. This was a saving of 300 watts.

I seldom use these fixtures but now when I do need the extra light I will be using efficient bulbs.

I wish the bulbs did not contain Mercury.

This afternoon I will start looking at our water usage again.

Often water and electricity are tied together.

The washer just finished.

I heard the chime.

May your week be filled with green ideas.