Every year, more than a few of us resolve to change certain behaviors. The beginning of each year is the start of this tradition, in the form of New Year’s Resolutions, and usually a few weeks into January, those resolutions are history. Usually a resolution stems from a problem we perceive we have. To overcome that problem, we should write it down, state the problem on paper to get a better understanding of what we are really trying to change. Then, develop a solution to that problem. How will we overcome this problem? In this solution should be a path, from the existing problem to life without the problem. Then create rewards along the way. Taking these planning steps will help us to keep our focus and motivation.
This year we should all resolve to change, and change in a lasting way to reduce energy use.
First, the problem. The United States is the largest energy consumer in terms of total use, using 100 quadrillion BTUs in 2005. The majority of this energy is derived from fossil fuels. The burning of these fossil fuels to create energy pollutes the air, soil, and water, leading to increased cancer rates, lower life expectancy for animals, and entering our food supply. On top of the fact that we consume large amounts of energy, this energy costs us money, and an increasingly larger amount each year. In 2007, Americans will spend an average of $5,000 on energy for both their home and vehicles.
Now, let’s work on the solution. This is an easy one; make it a habit to reduce the amount of energy we use. This is a win-win for both the environment and us. It will not only reduce the amount of pollutants that are put into our environment, but also save us money! As we all know, humans are creatures of habit, but luckily, we can change our behaviors to make new habits. The key is through repetition.
So, let’s plot a path to this solution. How can we make a habit of reducing energy, and still have a comfy standard of living? Here are some energy saving tips:
· Turn off the lights when you leave a room. I know this is an easy one, but not all changes have to be drastic. Take baby steps towards using less energy.
· Turn off and unplug electrical devices. Many electrical devices draw power even when they’re off. The Department of Energy figures that 95% of the energy most devices use is when they are turned off, but still drawing energy. To combat this we can plug electrical devices into a power strip and then turn the power strip off.
· Take shorter showers. A five-minute shower uses about the same amount of water as a bath. If you simply can’t get down to five minutes for your shower, then you are better off taking a bath.
· Don’t preheat your oven. This is a waste of heat, and is rarely needed. If you’re making anything from a casserole to a frozen pizza, you don’t need to preheat your oven. If you need to warm up small amounts of food, use the microwave. It is much more energy efficient than an oven.
· Check your tire pressure on a weekly basis. You can improve your gas mileage by up to 4% by keeping your tires inflated to the proper pressure.
· Avoid aggressive driving. Speeding, rapid acceleration, and excess braking wastes gas. It can lower your gas mileage by 33% at highway speeds and 5% around town. Sensible driving is also safer for you and others, so you may save more than gas money.
· Avoid open burning and limit the use of wood burning fireplaces to special occasions.
· Lock windows, they are designed to operate more efficiently that way.
A major component of changing these behaviors is to give ourselves rewards. One of the major rewards for all of these actions is the money we will save, so treat yourself. Go out to dinner, see a movie, or splurge on an organic cotton shirt. Another reward is that you will be polluting the environment less. While this isn’t a tangible reward, we should feel good about ourselves for making this change. Think of the kids who won’t suffer as much from asthma because of our actions. Every little bit helps.
City Council approved the City’s request for a solid waste fee increase; the monthly fee for service will be $11.24 beginning January 2008. The fee was a much needed adjustment to cover the $1.00 per month fee that City Council transferred from June 2006 thru May 2007 from a no longer available tax refund from the State. The $0.49 is strictly a result of the ever increasing cost of doing business. Fuel, medical insurance and salaries all increase some every year so an adjustment to the solid waste fee was necessary to maintain the current level of service enjoyed by City residents. Our recent survey of other localities indicates that Fort Wayne’s cost for solid waste collection and disposal remains competitive with other municipalities while providing a higher level of service. For example Evansville’s monthly fee is $11.57 for garbage, yard waste and recycling while; Columbia City charges $12.17 with a one cart limit and no leaf collection paid through the garbage user fee. The approval also included a $2.00 per month fee for the rental of an additional cart for the convenience of residents who routinely generate more than one full cart per month. Recycling should cut down on the need for an additional cart. Call 311 if you would like to rent an additional cart or have any issues or questions concerning solid waste pickup.
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