Powering Down by Rachel VanCott
Half a month's journey into energy conservation
We're entering the attrition phase of this year's resolution
season. According to professor and clinical psychologist
John Norcross, about a quarter of New Year's resolutions
won't make it past the first week. In six months, over half will be abandoned. But while we're
riding this reckless "high" of self-improvement, let's talk
energy use. Better yet, let's talk energy conservation. I'm
willing to bet that "reduce energy use" topped more than a few
resolution lists this year, right up there with "lose 10
pounds," "be nicer," and "finally finish
Guns, Germs, and Steel."
I'm not above self-help, particularly if it'll aid the
environment. But a vow like "reduce energy use" is so vague
that it hardly seems achievable. As Norcross says, "If you
can't measure it, it's not a very good resolution."
So here's the plan. I've challenged myself to a two-week test.
Record (week one) and reduce (week two) my energy use. I'm
armed with a pair of
household power meters, a thermometer, stopwatch, calculator, lots of little
notebooks for data gathering, and the naive insistence that
this is a good idea. It's not a full-fledged resolution, but
with a little luck, I'll learn a lot about my place in our
energy ecology and at least a bit about sustainable changes
that could decrease my impact on our environment.
Of course, the whole affair is timed to complement our
broadcast of
The Big Energy Gamble.
Check back here starting Tuesday, January 13, a week
before the show's premiere, to follow my blogged exploits,
hear some of the latest news in energy conservation, and pick
up some tips that might work for you.
