Carbon-Free Home

VrJxS

I am getting a new house next month and have decided to make it totally carbon-free. I'm going to be buying 100% of my electricity from a hydroelectric dam in my state. I also calculated how much CO2 will be generated from heating the home with oil and also from my car and will be buying Renewable Energy Credits from a wind power generation facility in my state to offset both of those.

Anyone else have a carbon-free home??

Jeanie

Sounds very positive Vr. Well done.

No carbon free household here I'm afraid, but we did just replace the light bulbs in the lounge with those fancy new spiral energy saver ones. The damn things have lit the room up so bright I practically need shades in there!! :eek:

We've purchased energy efficient white goods and appliances wherever we can. And I turn off everything when I'm not in a room. So we're only using electricity in whatever room we're in. Well not counting the fridge.

We're doing pretty good on the water conservation. Our average daily water usage is 5 litres less per day than the average household with effecient water use.

I rarely drive the car anymore, maybe once or twice a week and I keep it serviced so it's running well.

Of course there's tonnes of other things we could be doing, but we'll get to them as time, energy and finance allows.

Good luck with your efforts though, very commendable.

polaris

i don't own a home but i offset all my travel and energy usage last year ... so, technically i can say i was carbon-neutral last year ... and the house where i rent an apt gets its electricity from renewables ...

congratulations on your decision ... make your home energy efficient and you will do much more ...

mca47

VrJxS wrote:

I am getting a new house next month and have decided to make it totally carbon-free. I'm going to be buying 100% of my electricity from a hydroelectric dam in my state. I also calculated how much CO2 will be generated from heating the home with oil and also from my car and will be buying Renewable Energy Credits from a wind power generation facility in my state to offset both of those.

Anyone else have a carbon-free home??

Good for you!

There should be more people who take the responsibility to protect the one and only world we have.

thatirwinfella

i don't mean to diminish your attempts at reducing carbon emmisions [they are to be applauded] but purchasing electricity from the hydro plant isn't as great as it seems.

unless all money goes into increasing the output of the plant, ie: more electricity, than it won't reduce carbon emmisions, it will just mean that someone else's electricity is being purchased from a nuclear or coal power plant.

perhaps solar panels on your roof, connected to the grid would be a better alternative.

this means that when you use power you use your own power initially, then take power from the grid when your demand is above your output. when our output is above your demand than you feed back onto the grid and help power the state.

as this power goes through your wattmeter it can actually reduce the total of your bill and you will receive credits for the energy you produce.

however, this system and can be expensive to implement, so if money isn't there [as it's often not when buying a new home] than your hydroelectricity will definatly do in the mean time.

i still hope you can move to becoming more carbon neutral.... even carbon negative!!

Ahnimus

Great work!

I live in an apartment and bout all I can do with my finances is buy energy efficient light bulbs.

I don't like to say 'use' energy. I like 'convert' energy. It really doesn't matter how much energy we convert, as long as it's converted from and to safe forms.

VrJxS

thatirwinfella wrote:

i don't mean to diminish your attempts at reducing carbon emmisions [they are to be applauded] but purchasing electricity from the hydro plant isn't as great as it seems.

unless all money goes into increasing the output of the plant, ie: more electricity, than it won't reduce carbon emmisions, it will just mean that someone else's electricity is being purchased from a nuclear or coal power plant.

perhaps solar panels on your roof, connected to the grid would be a better alternative.

this means that when you use power you use your own power initially, then take power from the grid when your demand is above your output. when our output is above your demand than you feed back onto the grid and help power the state.

as this power goes through your wattmeter it can actually reduce the total of your bill and you will receive credits for the energy you produce.

however, this system and can be expensive to implement, so if money isn't there [as it's often not when buying a new home] than your hydroelectricity will definatly do in the mean time.

i still hope you can move to becoming more carbon neutral.... even carbon negative!!

Yeah, I realize that the electricity in my home will be indistinguishable from anyone else's even though I chose a hydroelectric power supply. However, by choosing hydro power, it means that someone somewhere is receiving at least a portion of their electricity from hydro power. It also helps to support local energy facilities and increases the overall demand for non-fossil fuel enegry sources. If a large number of people demand cleaner energy sources, eventually the power companies (and legislators) will have to start listening.

As for the solar panels, that would be ideal, but really too expensive for me.

When I started planning all this, I really wanted to install a rainwater harvesting system, but the house I decided on has public water so I don't think that will work now. Maybe I'll just collect rainwater in a barrel for watering plants and stuff.

cincybearcat

VrJxS wrote:

I am getting a new house next month and have decided to make it totally carbon-free. I'm going to be buying 100% of my electricity from a hydroelectric dam in my state. I also calculated how much CO2 will be generated from heating the home with oil and also from my car and will be buying Renewable Energy Credits from a wind power generation facility in my state to offset both of those.

Anyone else have a carbon-free home??

Very cool.

jeffbr

VrJxS wrote:

I am getting a new house next month and have decided to make it totally carbon-free. I'm going to be buying 100% of my electricity from a hydroelectric dam in my state. I also calculated how much CO2 will be generated from heating the home with oil and also from my car and will be buying Renewable Energy Credits from a wind power generation facility in my state to offset both of those.

Anyone else have a carbon-free home??

There was an interesting article about the emerging carbon offset market on MSNBC.com today. The gist is that it is a good thing, but beware of some of the companies out there. Make sure they're legit and are doing something useful with the dollars you're paying them.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/18659716/

VrJxS

jeffbr wrote:

There was an interesting article about the emerging carbon offset market on MSNBC.com today. The gist is that it is a good thing, but beware of some of the companies out there. Make sure they're legit and are doing something useful with the dollars you're paying them.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/18659716/

That's a good article - it's important to know exactly where your money is going before you hand it over.

I checked out a few companies for the RECs, one company was one that PJ used to offset their last couple of tours - Bonneville Environmental Foundation. Their sources are mostly in the Pacific Northwest so I didn't go with them cause I wanted something a little more local (I live in Maine). They seem like one of the top organizations out there though, check 'em out in the activism section.

thatirwinfella

have a look at greywater systems, they reuse the water from the shower and laundry for other uses; who needs fresh, clean water to flush the toilet or water the grass?

there are heaps of "developments" in domestic water recycling in most parts of australia at the moment because of the drought, heck, it's a 6month wait in mostof the country to have a private rainwater tank installed [yes, it does rain, but most of the rain seems to be over the cities and in non catchment areas, so is of no use as a water supplies or for irrigation]

something as simple as a grey water diverter can switch water from the stormwater pipe to your garden, and then back again when it doesn't need watering anymore. it's not automatic though, but a sparkie could automate it with the odd solenoid or two.

in my neighbourhood, all new homes need to install a watertank connected to the mains supply and their stormwater spout. the stormwater fills the tank, and it is used to flush the toilet. if there isn't enough stormwater in the tank it fills to a certain level [1/4 full] from the mains water.

we're actually banned from using water for certain purposes, we can't water our garden or wash our cars. In Melbourne, the water authority was too pussy to enforce the garden ban so people can water the garden twice a week, but not the grass. :S stupid pussies.

In Queensland, motel and hostel showers are on timers; once the water has run for four minutes it cuts out, then won't restart again for another four minutes.


there are so many simple things you can do to save water and power... change globes to a lower wattage, stuff like that.

good luck

Scubascott

VrJxS wrote:

When I started planning all this, I really wanted to install a rainwater harvesting system, but the house I decided on has public water so I don't think that will work now. Maybe I'll just collect rainwater in a barrel for watering plants and stuff.

He he. 'Rainwater harvesting system' Sorry, I shouldn't laugh. . . .

You make this sound like an awesome novel idea that requires a very high-tech solution. We have 'rainwater harvesting systems' in Australia too. We just call them gutters and a tank though.

Very commendable effort though. One of these days I'd love to have the budget to build a self-suficient house. Its quite doable if you have the money to spend on it.

VrJxS

Scubascott wrote:

He he. 'Rainwater harvesting system' Sorry, I shouldn't laugh. . . .

You make this sound like an awesome novel idea that requires a very high-tech solution. We have 'rainwater harvesting systems' in Australia too. We just call them gutters and a tank though.

Very commendable effort though. One of these days I'd love to have the budget to build a self-suficient house. Its quite doable if you have the money to spend on it.

Yup, it's just gutters that take the water from the roof, through a filtration system, into an underground storage tank until it's pumped into the house.

I stopped investigating this option for now because of the public water supply.

mca47

I live in an apartment, so I can't really control all aspects of my energy use.
I have switched to energy efficient bulbs, AC no lower then 78 while at home and 85 when I leave...keep in mind I live in the damn desert! LOL! I also demanded that the apt. complex fix the seals on the windows and fireplace.
Making these minor adjustments I have seen a reduction of energy cost of about $7-10 per month in the cold months and so far about $15-18 per mo. so far since it's been warming up.

It really is win/win. I help the greater cause and I save money! Woohoo!

Honestly people...even if you don't give a rat's ass about the environment (which is a shame...), go out and get those new bulbs. They really do save you $!!...something everyone can relate to!

VrJxS

thatirwinfella wrote:

have a look at greywater systems, they reuse the water from the shower and laundry for other uses; who needs fresh, clean water to flush the toilet or water the grass?

there are heaps of "developments" in domestic water recycling in most parts of australia at the moment because of the drought, heck, it's a 6month wait in mostof the country to have a private rainwater tank installed [yes, it does rain, but most of the rain seems to be over the cities and in non catchment areas, so is of no use as a water supplies or for irrigation]

something as simple as a grey water diverter can switch water from the stormwater pipe to your garden, and then back again when it doesn't need watering anymore. it's not automatic though, but a sparkie could automate it with the odd solenoid or two.

in my neighbourhood, all new homes need to install a watertank connected to the mains supply and their stormwater spout. the stormwater fills the tank, and it is used to flush the toilet. if there isn't enough stormwater in the tank it fills to a certain level [1/4 full] from the mains water.

we're actually banned from using water for certain purposes, we can't water our garden or wash our cars. In Melbourne, the water authority was too pussy to enforce the garden ban so people can water the garden twice a week, but not the grass. :S stupid pussies.

In Queensland, motel and hostel showers are on timers; once the water has run for four minutes it cuts out, then won't restart again for another four minutes.


there are so many simple things you can do to save water and power... change globes to a lower wattage, stuff like that.

good luck

I don't think I could install a graywater system like that very easily in the house. The sewer/drain pipes that would need to be diverted are in the cement basement floor. I'm thinking a barrel under the gutters on the house & garage to use the water as needed.


You'd think the US would have systems similar to that at least for the dry west coast. I have friends in Cali who aren't allowed to water their lawn at certain times, but that's about it.

Jeanie

VrJxS wrote:

I don't think I could install a graywater system like that very easily in the house. The sewer/drain pipes that would need to be diverted are in the cement basement floor. I'm thinking a barrel under the gutters on the house & garage to use the water as needed.


You'd think the US would have systems similar to that at least for the dry west coast. I have friends in Cali who aren't allowed to water their lawn at certain times, but that's about it.

I don't think that a greywater system could be installed particularly easily at our place either Vr, but gee I wish we had one. I'd love for the water to be used more than once in a more effective and simple way. I'm tired of collecting from the washing machine in buckets to pour onto the garden. Which I never water with the hose any more. It's a shame that people aren't learning the lessons that we are here in Australia at the moment, that water is such a precious resource and should be treated accordingly.

Scubascott

Where I live there are no lessons being learned sadly. . .

Armidale has a storage reservoir that is more than ample for the water use of the town, and there is no irrigation up here to use the water. That's why this is one of the few towns in SE Australia that has never had any town water restrictions ever in its history.

Jeanie

Scubascott wrote:

Where I live there are no lessons being learned sadly. . .

Armidale has a storage reservoir that is more than ample for the water use of the town, and there is no irrigation up here to use the water. That's why this is one of the few towns in SE Australia that has never had any town water restrictions ever in its history.

Yes, one has to wonder what is really going on with irrigation scott.
When I look at them growing cotton as a crop, here in the driest continent on earth, not to mention this seeming glut of vineyards and olive trees, not to mention the endless canola and a plethora of other unsuitable crops, well I have to wonder how on earth these things aren't being regulated a little bit more. I just don't see how the kinds of crops that we are growing here can be sustainable in the long term.

Scubascott

Jeanie wrote:

Yes, one has to wonder what is really going on with irrigation scott.
When I look at them growing cotton as a crop, here in the driest continent on earth, not to mention this seeming glut of vineyards and olive trees, not to mention the endless canola and a plethora of other unsuitable crops, well I have to wonder how on earth these things aren't being regulated a little bit more. I just don't see how the kinds of crops that we are growing here can be sustainable in the long term.

Canola? My family grows canola as a dryland crop. No irrigation involved at all. Olives don't use much water either.

The two big ones are cotton and rice. Fruit and vegetables use a lot too.

thatirwinfella

i'm from geelong, and our dam is maybe 200k from the city.

the water travels in a mostly open topped aqueduct, which also has major leaks in it, but the water authority is refusing to cover or repair it because of the costs.

also, a major problem for us has been that the geelong water supply also covers torquay, queenscliff, ocean grove and barwon heads, all areas hugely popular in the summer, especially with campers.

for a few years, these people were absolutley ignorant to the water restriction despite huge efforts to inform them... somehow they have the right to shower three times a day, hose the boat down at night and water the grass on the campsites.

Jeanwah

VrJxS wrote:

I am getting a new house next month and have decided to make it totally carbon-free. I'm going to be buying 100% of my electricity from a hydroelectric dam in my state. I also calculated how much CO2 will be generated from heating the home with oil and also from my car and will be buying Renewable Energy Credits from a wind power generation facility in my state to offset both of those.

Anyone else have a carbon-free home??

Awesome! I live in a log home which is naturally energy efficient with excellent insulation performance values (solid wood acts as a natural insulator). They're cool in the summer and warm in the winter. We also are receiving wind/hydro (60% and 40%) power for our house.