“The rate we are losing ice is phenomenal. This (climate change) is real,” he said. “I think a lot of people don’t understand how fast things are changing up here.”

Published in the Toronto Star this morning, a reminder from the frontlines that the results of climate change are already here…

Skylights provide wonderful natural sunlight all year round. However, if they are not installed with heating & cooling efficiency in mind, they can lose a lot of heat in the winter, and bring in too much heat in the summer.

On the Fostering Sustainable Behavior Listserv, Dave asked if it’s true that skylights aren’t very green because they can be poor for insulation purposes. He said he read about a product that claims to be a greener alternative to regular skylights.

I was curious about this alternative, and checked it out myself. Solatube (a “Tubular Daylighting Device” and Energy Star certified product) is an impressive piece of technology. It harnesses sunlight to deliver consistent lighting throughout the day, and can even light up a basement. The system works by “capturing sunlight on the rooftop and redirecting it down a reflective tube into interior spaces. The tubing will fit between rafters and will install easily with no structural modification.”

What do you think of this lighting alternative?

Hello Cheryl,

Just a few questions. At my age (80) do I still replace my refrigerator, home heaters and car, considering the energy and resources used for new appliances? I live in a rural town, alone, in my own small home, and am very concerned about the environment. I am trying to replace my older car with a more economical one, no success so far. I have been following a green lifestyle for quite a few years.

I have cut back my driving to a bare minimum, am buying carbon credits for special occasions, but am still feeling guilty about my energy use. What do you suggest? I would love to put it out of my mind, forget about it, but do not seem to be able to.

Regards,

A Friend of the Earth

~

Dear AFOTE,

You made the right call about your car. Driving less is the best solution. Purchasing a used, more fuel-efficient car would be sensible; however, buying a brand new hybrid or fuel-efficient car creates a much larger footprint due to the energy intensive process involved in the production of a new car and the disposal of the old one.

It’s hard to go wrong with energy-efficient appliances, as they are a wise investment if you can afford it. And of course if you decide to sell your house, newer efficient appliances can increase the house’s value. As a responsible environmental citizen, however, you must be thinking about the trade-off of dumping working appliances before their shelf life is over. That is a personal decision you will have to consider.

There are many energy savings related activities that you can do to reduce your home energy use…insulating, caulking around drafty windows, applying weatherstripping on doors, unplugging appliances when not in use, using powerbars to hook up your electronic equipment, lowering your thermostat in the winter, raising it in the summer if you have air conditioning.

Keep up the good work and let me know if you are needing more ideas!