Resolve and Reduce

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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.


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About Powering Down

This page contains a single entry by Rachel VanCott published on January 7, 2009 11:29 AM.

"What Do You Need the Stopwatch For?" is the next entry in this blog.

Check back daily and follow my attempt to measure and reduce my energy use.

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