Kilowatt Ours Blog

Kilowatt Ours is in the news.  “The Huffington Post” recently featured a clip from the film showing the how the city of Austin built a “conservation power plant.”  Click links below to see the full stories:   

Follow Austin’s Example—Cut Back on Energy and Save Big

How Green is Austin?

I was a guest on Nashville News Channel 5’s “Open Line” program, and “Kilowatt Ours” was featured in the Tennessean earlier this month.  My alma mater, UCLA ran a feature in The Daily Bruin, and the film was featured in Earth magazine.

Two radio programs hosted me recently. Deborah Lindsay featured me on her “Tomorrow Matters” radio program (a link will be posted soon), and Charlie Geiger interviewed me for the The USA Green Lady blog radio website.

Our partnership with Johnson Controls has also been in the news, with features on the Renewable Energy website and Ethical Markets. 

We’ve had lots of great exposure for our important message of energy conservation.  Be sure to explore our website, join our network, and help us continue to get the word out about the film and its message of hope. 

This morning I would like to say congratulations to Jennifer Barrie (my sister) for her steadfast and inspiring work taking Kilowatt Ours into schools and teaching students in Nashville and across Tennessee how to become energy conservation leaders.  The Kilowatt Ours Youth Initiative, designed and implemented by Jen over the past two years, just won the 2008 Governor’s Stewardship Award for Environmental Education.  This is a wonderful affirmation of hard work, dedication, AND the enthusiasm of young people helping our environment by saving energy in their homes, schools and communities.

Congratulations to Jen, and to all the teachers and thousands of students who are helping to change the world!

To download our award-winning schools curriculum, visit www.KilowattOurs.org/curriculum

To learn about the other Stewardship Award winners, visit www.tn.gov/environment/awards

Today, I am saddened to learn about the untimely passing of my friend Jim Hager.  My memories of Jim revolve around our time working together to save America’s Arctic National Wildlife Refuge from politically-motivated oil drilling, and to advance more sensible solutions.  Jim and Jon joined me for a day in 2001 during a drive across Tennessee, comparing the fuel economy of an SUV and a more fuel efficient passenger car, while exploring our state in search of clean energy solutions.  Jim always made himself (and Jon) available for this cause, and others.  He displayed courage to use his talents to make a difference in the world.

Jim was an impassioned environmentalist, and a man of integrity.  I am honored to have had a chance to know him, and experience his wit, gentlemanly charm and boundless heart.

Thank you Jim!

Do you think you have to spend money on expensive technologies to make a difference, help the environment, and cut your power bills?  If so, guess again.

One of the best energy saving tips that Heather and I use daily in our home is adjusting our thermostat to the most energy-saving temperatures.

Simply put, for winter heating, keep your thermostat at 68 degrees.  In summer, make it 78 degrees.  We use ceiling fans to improve comfort.  At night or while we are away from home for more than a couple hours, we adjust the temperature a few degrees further.

Our NES power bill runs us between $25 and $50 most months, and I attribute most of the savings to the 68/78 technique.

It works!  Try it and let me know how it works for you.

According to EPA, in the average home, 75% of the electricity used to power home electronics is consumed while the products are turned off. Across the US, this equals the annual output of 12 power plants and costs consumers over $1 billion each year.

There are two ways to eliminate this slow leak, otherwise known as phantom power:

1) plug all electronics into power strips and switch the power strip off when not in use

2) buy energy star rated electronics

Learn more at: http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?fuseaction=find_a_product.showProductCategory_code=HEF 

One of the simplest energy-saving steps people are taking is to replace old, inefficient incandescent light bulbs with the new compact fluorescent (CFL) variety.  The energy savings are significant as are the environmental benefits.

Did you know that CFLs contain a small amount of mercury?  Yes, it is true, so it is very important that when your CFLs burn out after several years of use to dispose of them properly.  Please don’t throw them in the trash. Click on the link below to find a bulb recycling center near you. This link also provides locations to drop off all your household hazardous wastes:

http://www.epa.gov/epaoswer/hazwaste/id/univwast/lamps/live.htm 

For Davidson County Residents, East Center off Trinity Lane is a permanent site: 

943A Doctor Richard G. Adams Drive
Nashville, TN 37207
615-862-8631
Hours: Mon.-Sat. 7:30am-5:00pm and Sun. Noon-4:00pm

Next week is a career week for me, and I would like to share this exciting moment with readers, along with an invitation to participate.  Next Tuesday and Wednesday (2/4 and 2/5), the Tennessee Valley Authority board of directors is hosting a listening session in Knoxville to hear from you about how TVA may become a leader in energy efficiency, conservation and green power.  I have been invited to address the board at this listening session, and I will be speaking Tuesday afternoon along with a panel of experts about the environmental benefits of conservation and efficiency.

You can learn more, register to attend, submit comments and/or listen online at: http://www.tva.gov/abouttva/board/renewable_listening.htm

Please check it out, and don’t miss your chance to shape the future of America’s largest public utility.