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The upstairs heat pump in my house died and I was quoted $2200 to repair it. Even when working properly, it did not keep the upstairs comfortable in summer or winter, was inefficient (builders-grade junk), and IMO was unreliable. I replaced the entire system with a high efficiency unit and saw a reduction in my electric bill. A year later, I looked at the gas furnace/AC downstairs and chose to replace it with a hybird system, resulting in further reductions in my utility bills.
I've replaced many of the lights in the house with CFLs and even used LEDs in a few spots. More savings.
I just bought a new car and opted for the Hybrid version. Better gas mileage is a plus (30 vs 18 for the gas engine). The biggest factor here is the ability to use the HOV lanes when driving home.
Bottom line - while it may seem I'm being "green" and consciencious about the environment, that's really the furthest thing from my mind in making these changes. I'm looking to reduce my utility bills and keep more $$ in my pocket each month, or in the case of the car, make my drive home more convenient.
Do you feel that someone's motivation is important in making changes like this or is it just important to make the changes? Thoughts?
Last edited by Workin_Hard; 02-03-2010 at 11:49 AM..
I think that overall it is good that you made those changes for yourself and it will help the environment also. It would be nice if you graduated to the next level and started to do other things that were good for the environment and maybe didn't save you money or were a little bit of a hassle.
BUT if you don't do anything else you are still doing more than other people do. If everyone would change out their light bulbs it would make a big difference, so the more people you tell about your cost savings by changing your light bulbs, then maybe you can convince others to do it.
Spread the word!
Some people are all or nothing and are hardcore about this stuff. But I don't think it's realistic and I believe we can still make a difference by doing our little bit to make our lives/homes better.
Energy used = energy to manufacture + energy to install + energy to run + energy/harm to dispose; Replacing old for new is not straightforwardly "green" because nobody even bothers to estimate the first, second and fourth terms in the equation.
The upstairs heat pump in my house died and I was quoted $2200 to repair it. Even when working properly, it did not keep the upstairs comfortable in summer or winter, was inefficient (builders-grade junk), and IMO was unreliable. I replaced the entire system with a high efficiency unit and saw a reduction in my electric bill. A year later, I looked at the gas furnace/AC downstairs and chose to replace it with a hybird system, resulting in further reductions in my utility bills.
I've replaced many of the lights in the house with CFLs and even used LEDs in a few spots. More savings.
I just bought a new car and opted for the Hybrid version. Better gas mileage is a plus (30 vs 18 for the gas engine). The biggest factor here is the ability to use the HOV lanes when driving home.
Bottom line - while it may seem I'm being "green" and consciencious about the environment, that's really the furthest thing from my mind in making these changes. I'm looking to reduce my utility bills and keep more $$ in my pocket each month, or in the case of the car, make my drive home more convenient.
Do you feel that someone's motivation is important in making changes like this or is it just important to make the changes? Thoughts?
It sounds to me like you have spent one heckuva lotta money to save some money.
Sometimes "being green" is outrageously expensive.
I'm not certain that I have a motivation to be "green" by what may be the modern definition. I find it more a matter of being generally respectful of the gifts we've been given on this earth, and when done properly, "being green" also has the potential to save money as well as lead to a greater level of self-sufficiency. I'm cheap and I have problems with someone else "controlling" my personal energy and economic resources. "Green" seems to have the potential to solve both of these conundrums.
I think that overall it is good that you made those changes for yourself and it will help the environment also. It would be nice if you graduated to the next level and started to do other things that were good for the environment and maybe didn't save you money or were a little bit of a hassle.
BUT if you don't do anything else you are still doing more than other people do. If everyone would change out their light bulbs it would make a big difference, so the more people you tell about your cost savings by changing your light bulbs, then maybe you can convince others to do it.
Spread the word!
Some people are all or nothing and are hardcore about this stuff. But I don't think it's realistic and I believe we can still make a difference by doing our little bit to make our lives/homes better.
I think you are gravely mistaken in your assesment of "changing lightbulbs" as "helping the environment" if you are including CFL's in this discussion. The unintended consequences of the mercury from those that will leach out into our environment following their disposal has the very real potential to become a monumental problem down the road in regard to our fresh water supplies.
LED's look promising but still have a way to go before they throw enough light and the right kinds of beams for certain applications as well as before they reach a price point where they make economic sense. The "blue spectrum" when used in outside landscaping is proving to have detrimental effects on wildlife.
To me, to "replace a lightbulb" in the name of "being green" before the original light bulb has burnt out is just wasteful and the furthest thing from "green". Same goes for replacing cars.
The upstairs heat pump in my house died and I was quoted $2200 to repair it. Even when working properly, it did not keep the upstairs comfortable in summer or winter, was inefficient (builders-grade junk), and IMO was unreliable. I replaced the entire system with a high efficiency unit and saw a reduction in my electric bill. A year later, I looked at the gas furnace/AC downstairs and chose to replace it with a hybird system, resulting in further reductions in my utility bills.
I've replaced many of the lights in the house with CFLs and even used LEDs in a few spots. More savings.
I just bought a new car and opted for the Hybrid version. Better gas mileage is a plus (30 vs 18 for the gas engine). The biggest factor here is the ability to use the HOV lanes when driving home.
Bottom line - while it may seem I'm being "green" and consciencious about the environment, that's really the furthest thing from my mind in making these changes. I'm looking to reduce my utility bills and keep more $$ in my pocket each month, or in the case of the car, make my drive home more convenient.
Do you feel that someone's motivation is important in making changes like this or is it just important to make the changes? Thoughts?
My wife's new 2009 Non Hybrid gets 34 MPH... And I bet it cost a LOT less...
I bought a new car in 2007 ( full size) for $18,200
It gets me 33 mpg.
I guess I could have spent at least another $10,000 to buy a hybrid to impress certain people.
Heck, for $1 I can buy a floppy hat at a garage sale and people would proclaim------" green"--------" enviromentalist"--------" organic grower"--- based on their perception.
( I didn't waste either the extra $10,000 or the extra $1 , however )
I bought a new car in 2007 ( full size) for $18,200
It gets me 33 mpg.
I guess I could have spent at least another $10,000 to buy a hybrid to impress certain people.
Heck, for $1 I can buy a floppy hat at a garage sale and people would proclaim------" green"--------" enviromentalist"--------" organic grower"--- based on their perception.
( I didn't waste either the extra $10,000 or the extra $1 , however )
There you go.
I'm driving a VW Golf that I bought at an abandoned vehicle auction for $250. I put a $350 engine in it, replaced brakes, tires, etc., and have been driving it for the past 7 years.
It now has about 350,000 miles on the car (not engine), gets 31 mpg, I pay minimum liability insurance, is down to minimum fee for registration renewal, and I've never made one single car payment. It is in good enough condition that I could get in it and drive it anywhere in the country right now.
Why, pray tell, would I replace that car?
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