Energy Efficiency

Our 1970's-vintage house always seemed a bit too welcoming when howling winter winds swept up Colorado's foothills. Each year, the annual road show staged by Jack Frost and his Chillers would take center stage in our home despite our best efforts to keep these rowdies at bay.

There were plenty of reasons why this happened. Instead of playing the role of picky bouncers, our doors acted more like enthused Middle School kids at a Justin Bieber concert, welcoming the arctic Canadian travelers though gaps in the doorjambs and frames. The leaky windows were no better, taking up the rattling chorus and forcing us to crank up our thermostat. I'm surprised someone from our utility company wasn't outside selling custom "It's Cool to be Cold" T-shirts for this expensive draft-a-palooza.

Last year, our family decided to cancel our subscription to this expensive performance. We knew that heating costs can run about a third of a typical annual energy bill—and we were tired of paying a premium during the period from November to March. So we found a contractor familiar with the energy efficiency strategies on the Energy Savers website. Together, we selected three new energy-efficient doors and seven windows which were Energy Star compliant, meaning that they qualified for federal tax credits. Our contractor carefully installed the upgrades, and the change was noticeable. Once he replaced the warped sliding porch doors with a snugly-fitted set, our dining room candles no longer flickered in the breeze, and soup didn't need reheating mid-bowl. Finally, there was a hot energy-efficient ensemble performing nightly. Not only did we applaud the federal tax credits, we thrilled as our heating bills dropped.
This winter, we're expecting an encore. And you can enjoy this too if you act soon because the federal tax credit expires on December 31 for Energy Star-qualified windows and doors. The incentive makes a good thing even better. The federal tax credits amount to 10% of the cost of the energy efficiency upgrades, up to $500 for a lifetime, with rebates for windows are capped at $200. There are restrictions: the cost of installation doesn't apply, and work must be in an existing home that is your principal residence. (Sorry, no rentals). For products placed in service in 2011, you'll need to file the 2011 version of IRS Form 5695 and submit it with your 2011 taxes. But long before that, you'll be cheering the benefits of energy efficiency you've orchestrated. See the Energy Savers seasonal guide and be prepared to enjoy a new seasonal hit that swings. It's bound to be more pleasing than the seasonal shock-rock provided by Jack and company.

WINTER WONDER LAND

This time again. It's "X shopping days until Christmas," you're maybe a touch stressed from trying to get a lot of work done despite holiday parties and shopping trips, and, to top it off, it's cold out.

If you're reading this, you're probably familiar with our Stay Warm Save Money seasonal campaign. We've been sending out energy saving tips for the changing season for years now; we hope you've been able (and willing) to take advantage of that information.

If you have, that's great! If you haven't, well, when you take that shopping trip, it might be time to look for a few stocking stuffers:

For big ticket appliances, think energy efficiency. Check out this page for how to buy a refrigerator, dish washer or clothes dryer that'll save you money on your electric bill.
Looking for something a little more economical? We've got you covered. Lighting is a great place to get started, as is getting a home energy assessment.

Some of these might not fit under the tree or in a stocking, but they're gifts that keep on giving.

Be Creative, Save Water

The theme this year is water. As I live in a country where water is theoretically abundant, I, as many other Lebanese, may not feel the urge to conserve water or use it wisely.

But as I watch TV and read bloggers posts from other countries, I have become more aware of the critical water situation the world is facing. After enrolling as a blogger against hunger for the United Nations World Food Programme and engaging more into the world blogosphere, I was shocked to know that around 4.500 children die daily from water related diseases and that a almost a billion people on Earth don't have access to clean and safe drinking water!

Since then I realized that there are so many things with our water consumption in Lebanon. We take hour-long showers, flood our houses to get them cleaned, stare at the open faucet while brushing our teeth, and use excessive amounts of water to irrigate our flowers and plants. But the most unfortunate thing is that we let all that water we have go to waste, all those rivers end up in the sea. My history teacher at school told us something that I will never forget. He always used to stress that if the Lebanese government built just on dam on the dozen-plus major rivers that we have, we not only be able to satisfy the water needs of the Gulf (and perhaps the Middle East) but also generate enough water-powered electricity to light up the whole MENA region.

Too bad the only concern for Lebanese politicians is sectarianism and stupid religious rivalry. But I digress.

Save the Environment

There are many things that we can do to save the environment.  Whether you live in Los Angeles or Beijing, you can help to clean up your local environment and work toward improving the global environment.

One way you can help the environment is by joining an Environmental Organization.  Many of these groups already have developed action plans for saving the environment.

You can also take part in Earth Day 2000 or future Earth Days.  Be sure to get members of your community involved in the activities as well.

But there are many ways that you can help the environment in your daily life as well.



Either use the links in the graphic above for suggestions on how to help the environment, or use the links below.

Helping out:

    At Home
    On the Road
    While Shopping
    In Your Community

Problems to solve:

    Global Warming
    The Ozone Layer
    Air Pollution
    Reducing Waste
    Water Pollution

The following resources were used for this feature and contain additional ideas about how you can help save the environment:

1. Caplan, Ruth.  Our Earth, Ourselves.  New York: Bantam Books, 1990.

2. Makower, Joel.  The Green Consumer.  New York: Penguin Books, 1993

3. Rogers, Adam.  Taking Action .  Hong Kong: United Nations Environment Programme, 1995.

4. "Ways to Help the Environment."  Save Our Earth and Make a Difference.  ThinkQuest. 1999.  [/11353/indexframe2.htm] (July 9, 1999)

Candlelight vigil to save child workers

NEW DELHI: Six days after a 10-year-old child labourer was beaten to death in Bharat Nagar, a candlelight vigil was held at India Gate in his memory. Scores of people flocked to the place to show solidarity with the movement against child labour. The victim's mother Naziya lit the first candle and broke down on seeing Moin's photograph.

The vigil, titled "No More Moins", is part of a campaign to urge both the administration and common people to end the exploitation of young children. "The laws alone are not enough to clamp down on child labour. It is a people's fight; their active participation and awareness can help in eradicating the malaise. People need to speak up when they see children working as domestic helps as well as in factories, dhabas and other such units, so that these are not hidden from the police and administrative machinery. We also need to boycott goods and services offered by these children," explained Kailash Satyarthi, chairperson for Global March Against Child Labour.