18 July 2008 - 15:29At Age 80, How Can I Be More Energy Efficient?

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!