New Year's Change of Habit

[jducoeur]

I don't really do New Year's Resolutions any more -- somehow, they seem to create the wrong mindset. What really matters, most of the time, is changing one's patterns of thought and habit, and at least for me that's best done as a subtler and more pervasive process than a neatly-encapsulated resolution. That said, sometimes such a resolution makes a good marker for a change of habit I'm trying to get myself into, and this year is one of those.

The change of habit is, "Be more energy aware". As with all things, I'm trying to be moderate about this -- I don't want to turn into an Ed Begley-style energy fanatic, trying to save every possible erg. It's just a matter of paying a bit more attention, and start fixing the stupid and easy stuff. Unplug that TV that we haven't turned on in months, which is sitting there hungering for someone to press a button on the remote. When I change a lightbulb, ask seriously whether there is any reason *not* to replace it with a fluorescent one. Stuff like that.

The resolution itself is sort of like keeping kashrut: the little observance to keep the more important matters in mind. It's pretty simple: "When I'm not in a rush, and I'm on the highway, drive five miles per hour slower". Nothing dramatic or life-changing, and it's not going to save the world by itself. But it's a little change I can make without any significant cost to myself, which makes things better. It drops me from the high to the low side of average Massachusetts speeds. It kind of forces me to consider the process of where I'm going, instead of being solely focused on getting there as soon as possible. Overall, it probably has the positive side-effect of being good for my blood pressure. But mostly, it reminds me that the issue matters, and the little changes are worthwhile...

Comments

[eclecticmagpie.livejournal.com]

My car has a readout that averages my gas mileage over about 5 miles, which allows me to get a pretty good idea of what driving habits affect mileage, and how. Turns out that the single thing that makes the biggest difference is getting into 5th as soon as possible and staying there. Next is keeping at the low end of the torque curve. So, I actually get better mileage at 65 than at 55, as at 55, I sometimes have to downshift when going up hills, and that costs.

When switching to fluorescents, I find that the daylight-balanced bulbs make a big difference.

Unplugging unused appliances is a good idea. I was reading somewhere recently that all those wall warts sitting plugged in whether their little appliance was on or off eat up a surprisingly large amount of power over a year.

[jducoeur]

So, I actually get better mileage at 65 than at 55, as at 55, I sometimes have to downshift when going up hills, and that costs.

Oh, I can believe it, and the same is probably true for my car. But this is (typically) slowing from 67 to 63 in 55 MPH zones, and from 72 to 65 in 65 MPH zones. All of that is pretty reliably in top gear.

When switching to fluorescents, I find that the daylight-balanced bulbs make a big difference.

Any particular preferred brand? I'm still experimenting, to see what annoys us least.

[jimpage363.livejournal.com]

But mostly, it reminds me that the issue matters, and the little changes are worthwhile...

Amen, brother. We started sorting our trash to make certain that most of the recyclable stuff makes it into the appropriate dumpster. Such a small thing and we realized that 2/3 of our trash output is recyclable material!

I applaud you on your decision not to become a erg-Nazi. That's the easiest way to break a new resolution -- to be all-or-nothing.

[alexx-kay.livejournal.com]

You might want to do some research into the recycling issue. While political pressure (and subsidies) define quite a bit of material as "recyclable", there are some (possibly) convincing arguments that most of current recycling (except for aluminum) is actually a net energy loss. (I don't have a strong opinion on the matter myself, having not actually done the research, just heard some second-hand arguments.)

[msmemory.livejournal.com]

Net energy loss, perhaps so (I've not done the research either), but perhaps less in the landfill. While we collectively need to save energy, we also need to reduce the amount we bury instead of melting down and reusing. It's a good thing the town gave us three recycling bins.

[alexx-kay.livejournal.com]

we also need to reduce the amount we bury

Why? You may be right, but it's not clear to me that landfill is inherently a Bad. It creates more usable land, doesn't it?

[msmemory.livejournal.com]

Depends - the Back Bay was built on landfill, but then there are those big stinking heaps that just sit outside the cities and don't even decompose because they're so full of metal cans and plastic bottles and diapers and other non-compostables.

[jimpage363.livejournal.com]

You might want to do some research into the recycling issue. While political pressure (and subsidies) define quite a bit of material as "recyclable", there are some (possibly) convincing arguments that most of current recycling (except for aluminum) is actually a net energy loss. (I don't have a strong opinion on the matter myself, having not actually done the research, just heard some second-hand arguments.)>>>


I have researched it. There is an argument that says the net energy loss is greater. However, it is also a fact that there is less and less landfill space available for materials that could be "recycled" or at least reduced. I am not a screaming advocate on the subject. Rather, just trying to do some small amount in some way.

BTW - thanks for the rec on the Edward Gorey book. Very interesting man!

[jducoeur]

My impression is that this is getting better -- that much more is genuinely worthwhile to recycle than in previous times. (This is supported by the rise of companies that are *buying* recycled materials, which indicates that it's a net positive economically.) But I can't say I am confident about that...

[qarylla.livejournal.com]

Completely unrelated to your post:

Who should I contact to donate to the Gold Key? I have a lot of gear that would be useful for new people.

[jducoeur]

I'll warn you upfront that Gold Key is getting picky these days. When we last handed the office over, we discovered that we had an *insane* amount of loaner garb -- much of a garage-full -- and so we spent quite a while getting rid of much of it.

So the answer is Safiya (contact me by email for her contact info), but I have no idea whether she's accepting donations right now or not. In the larger scale I suspect that some of the sub-groups (the Cantons, the Boroughs) might be interested, but I don't know if Safiya is co-ordinating that or not...

[rosinavs.livejournal.com]

One of the most interesting "resolutions" I ever kept was to not violate the speed limit for an entire month. For any reason. It was an incredible lesson in patience.