LET'S CONSCIOUSLY THINK ABOUT OUR CHOICES

The biggest thing we can do as individuals is to reconsider our relationship with energy and consumer goods. What choices do we make that continually endorse such high demands for fossil fuels?

Imagine living closer to our work places, choosing smaller and better-insulated homes, endorsing products and stores that skip the unnecessary packaging and plastic bags, buying less stuff in general, and avoiding appliances that we don't absolutely need (how did leaf blowers come to replace brooms and rakes?). When we hang our laundry up to dry, for example, we are making a choice not to use an electric or gas dryer. When choosing to make our own pizza instead of buying processed pizza from the store, or opening the windows instead of using an air conditioner, we are divesting from fossil fuels. If it takes 11,000kWh a year to power an average household, imagine cutting that wattage in half.

Let's question every time we use energy, and ask ourselves, what is necessary?

            >> The largest single use of electricity in our households comes from cooling our homes with air

            conditioners.

            >> On a hot day, a well-insulated house keeps the heat out and on a cold day, it keeps the heat in.

            Having efficient insulation reduces energy costs by 40%.

            >> The Tiny House movement produces living spaces that emit only 558 lbs of CO2 for heating and 286

            lbs of CO2 for cooling per year. An average house emits about 16 times that amount.