Premier's New Thermal Imaging Commercial...

Recharge America: Home Energy Tune Up

Here is a video with several items you can complete around your home, all these will help reduce the amount of energy you use. This is part of the Recharge America Program. For more information go to rechargeamerica.com

The Story of Stuff...

Here is a very interesting story about how we purchase items we don't need and how "happy" the American consumer is. You may or may not agree with the statements in this video, but I think at the end of the day there are several true statements. I think this current economic condition has a lot of people thinking, do we really need all this extra stuff...where is my money going...



(It's about 20 minutes long, it takes a few minutes to load.)

Leave a comment, let everyone know what you think.

FREE Energy Savers Booklet

I found a great FREE booklet from the US Dept of Energy. This booklet has some really good information. Saving energy in our homes is really becoming a hot topic. We have been busy using our thermal imaging camera helping several home owners identify areas in their home that can be sealed and insulated. If your interested in an Energy Audit or Thermal Scan please call me on my cell phone (541) 993-2410.

Here is the link for Energy Savers Web Site:
http://www.energysavers.gov/


Here is the link for Energy Savers FREE Booklet:
http://www1.eere.energy.gov/consumer/tips/pdfs/energy_savers.pdf


Here is a link for FREE "No Cost and Low Cost Tips to Save Energy This Winter"
http://www.energysavers.gov/tips.html

Free is always a good price!!

Green Classes Comming Up

Columbia Gorge Community College is offering some classes that may be of interest. These are at the new Hood River Campus. I encourage you to attend these classes to learn more about the options we have to conserve energy.

• 2/2 Residential Sustainable Development, Introduction
• 2/9 Passive Solar Home Design Principles
• 2/16 Alternative Building Methods
• 2/23 Intro to Renewable Energy: Photovoltaic, Wind & Micro Hydro
• 3/2 Solar Hot Water, Introduction
• 3/9 Rainwater Catchment & Greywater Systems
• 3/16 Solar Energy Discussion
• 3/23 Commercial Scale Renewable Energy

Here is the link for the Columbia Gorge Community College class schedule for Winter 2009.



See you there!!!

Oregon's FREE E-Cycle Program

Have you heard about Oregon's New FREE E-Cycle Program...

As of January 1, 2009 the State of Oregon has started a program to recycle unwanted computers, monitors, and TV's. This does not include speakers, keyboards, printers, scanners, or other electrical devices.

The local drop off sites are at The Dalles Disposal and Hood River Disposal.

This sounds to be a great program!!!

Here is the official link to the program for more information:
http://www.deq.state.or.us/lq/ecycle/index.htm

How To Recycle CFL's Light Bulbs

Ok, so the new trend is to use the newer style CFL Bulb (Compact Florescent Light). Energy Star has a program called "Change a Light, Change the World", this encourages consumers to replace their older incandescents with CFL's. They claim if each home in the US changed just one bulb, it would save $600 million a year in energy cost. On average, about 20% of a home's energy bill is for lighting.

Well this is all good, but the downside is each of these CFL's contain about 4 milligrams of mercury. The EPA actually has a procedure for cleanup if the light gets broken.

So do we just throw these lights in the landfill when we are done with them?? No, they should be recycled. The easiest way to recycle these CFL's is to take them to your local Home Depot. Every Home Depot store in the US has a program to recycle these bulbs. Here is a information bulletin from Home Depot describing the program

http://www6.homedepot.com/ecooptions/pdf/CFL-RecyclingProgramRevised.pdf

Home Depot started this program in June of 2008. The bulb can't be broken or damaged and must be in a plastic bag. Good Job Home Depot for helping protect the environment!!