Boston Gal's Open Wallet

I watched this show today, and it struck a chord with me. I hate waste, and we're always on the kids about turning the lights off, shorter showers, don't waste food. TV, computer and Wii use are by permission only and for limited times. I realize there is more we can do, such as stop using paper plates and cups and using less bottled water.

I'm going to have my family watch the show and see what ideas they can come up with to be less wasteful.

 

This is a reply to this post and the last one.

I find we save a lot of energy and are green to save money. In the spirit of being frugal we only use compact flourescent blubs, have reusable water bottles, don't have cable TV (basic is provided by the apartment, and we don't pay for more) don't have a home phone, share a "family plan" for cell phones with my parents, unplug and turn off appliances when they aren't in use, etc.

I feel like we are doing almost everything we can to cut back, but at the same time want to do more. High-speed internet is a must for work, but otherwise we don't pay for any frivolous stuff.

 

I think the point about regulating the inside temperature is interesting--for the last seven years I lived in a house without AC (and with radiators) in a climate that supported that for most of the year. Now I live in an area that gets REALLY hot in the summer, so everybody has AC and forced-air heat. In looking for houses, I've found it interesting that newer houses are just not optimized for opening up the doors and windows and letting the air in. In some neighborhoods there are even restrictions on what kind of storm door you can put on the front of your house, because you're not supposed to leave your front door open.

I'm leaning toward the older neighborhoods, where the houses have attic fans (as well as AC) and screen doors, and there are no restrictions on putting up a clothesline in the back yard, as there are in most of the newer neighborhoods.

But I think it's bizarre that there are these whole neighborhoods of HUGE houses that are intended to be heated and cooled every single day of the year in an area where spring and fall are really exceptionally temperate. It just seems so wasteful to me to deliberately set people up to spend money and energy that way.

 

Hi CT Mom,

Good idea to see if your family can come up with some ideas to challenge yourselves to lessen the waste in your household.

Hi Twiggers,

I am with your husband on this one - while no cable would hurt, giving up my telephone is a non-starter. I gab to way too many people :)

Hi l@spillingbuckets,

You could probably add to your list of energy savings based on your living situation - if you live in an apartment complex and have people living beneath, besides, and above you are sharing heat with each other. By living more compactly you are not contributing to sprawl. By living in existing housing (not newly built) you are saving all the carbon created by home building... So I would say you are doing very well!

Hi Molly,

I really challenged myself last summer to keep my central AC off. I caved a few days in August, but for the most part I was really pleased how cool I could keep my little house by learning how to optimize cross breezes, ceiling fans, stationary fans, and window coverings.

I know the South can get really hot, but it does seem a shame that something as simple as an open window is denied folks.

I know electric rates tend to be lower in the South, but who knows how long that will last? Those folks in the big box homes with the windows that don't open may wish they had your forethought when choosing a home as utility prices continue to escalate.

 

I live in the South and, during the summer, our nights stay very warm so it's difficult to get any sort of cooling effect without AC. Back in the days before AC, most people who could afford it left for the summer.

Molly - I live in an older home and be aware that the insultation is usually very poor. You can add attic insulation but there's not much you can do about walls that are uninsulated. I love my house but it's not as energy efficient as newer homes that are built with insulation and modern windows. It's extremely drafty in winter despite the storm windows. Be sure to check out the average utilities before you buy.

 

I did not see this show but I hope anyone who lent this family money did see it. They borrow from family members because they are too lazy to do the common sense things they should be doing. I cannot imagine lending money to someone just so they can get their fast food fix while they throw good food away. What a sense of entitlement they have!
PS...Love your blog

 

molly, i'd agree with you about the older neighborhoods thing. i live in one. so many of our friends live in those big box type neighborhoods, and it just feels so plastic to me! and unlike what susan says, you CAN insulate older homes' walls - we just did. they drill holes in under the siding, or in through the walls of the house (which have to be patched & painted, but no big deal), and they blow the insulation in between the studs in the walls.
i didn't watch the show, but read the article, and can't believe how wasteful those people are! just can't believe it! and probably most of america is like that - how embarrassing.