[Madpaddy]

I thought it would be a useful exercise for people to put down 2 or 3 specific devices they have found to be useful.

Here are my 3 and I look forward to seeing what other people have found good.

http://www.solaris-energy.ie/pdfs/FK2-ds11-05.pdf

These flat plate collector solar panels have withstood small branches falling on them in a gale. Top quality german engineering.



http://www.electrisave.co.uk

This is a useful device for educating your family on the electrical consumption of different appliances. It also shows the financial and environmental implications of your energy use.



http://www.megamanuk.com/catalogue/index.php

These are top quality CFL bulbs. I found the 9watt direct replacement bulbs for 50watt halogen spotlights particularly good.

[vision-master]

I use a couple of these LED systems now.

[Sheb]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Madpaddy', 'I') thought it would be a useful exercise for people to put down 2 or 3 specific devices they have found to be useful...

[kjmclark]

1. Bicycle. Unlike the lighting devices others listed, bikes save liquid fuel, the kind we're having problems with. Biking is also great mild exercise - with a basic proper fitting and anything other than a slow cadence biking is good for your knees while being great for your heart.

2. Ditto on hand tools. However, I would point out that a sharpened crosscut saw *is* a match for a chainsaw, is much less dangerous than a chainsaw, and makes a good family activity with more good moderate exercise.

3. A woodstove. Modern woodstoves are much cleaner and more efficient than their predecessors. They are pretty much carbon neutral, and if you use yours to also produce charcoal and put that in your garden, you're sequestering carbon *and* enriching your soil. At that rate, they are carbon negative.

[Sheb]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('kjmclark', '1'). Bicycle. Unlike the lighting devices others listed, bikes save liquid fuel, the kind we're having problems with. Biking is also great mild exercise - with a basic proper fitting and anything other than a slow cadence biking is good for your knees while being great for your heart.

[aflurry]

the bicycle may be seen as humanity's crowning acheivement.

it's usefulness is on the whole untapped.

[Pops]

I’d say the light switch, the thermostat and a good pair of shoes.

They are cheap to make, pretty well ubiquitous but unfortunately, underused.

[shaunpagan]

I hate to mention this name because they used to be infamous for pop-up ads, but I use lots of X10 devices in my home.
Smart Home

These little devices allow you to REALLY turn off energy hogging devices like TV's, cable modems, stereo's, etc. when you leave the house or go to bed at night. When I cut the power to my devices that are already turned off, I save 93 watts. I've calculated that I save $74 a year just by cutting the power to my devices that are already turned off.

I know how much electricity each device uses because I have one of these cheap little meters. Under $25!!
Kill A Watt

I also purchased one of these reel mowers last year.
Reel Mower
I mowed last night and my 4 year old son followed me like he always does. I was able to have a normal conversation without shouting.

[Niagara]

The Boeing 767.

Just 2 of these amazing machines can collapse 3 hi-rise buildings thus saving gigawatts of future electricity consumption

[cynthia]

I built a solar oven at the end of last summer so didn't get much practice with it but we're back in solar cooking season and looking forward to using the sun for many of our summer meals.
Solar camp shower bags. My honey and I shower nightly outdoors-under the pear tree or grape arbor. Presently looking for a clean, black metal barrel to make a permanent outdoor situation.
Rain barrel collection system. Using rainwater to irrigate all of our greenhouse plants and more.
These virtually free and handy devices keep life simple.
cynthia

[vision-master]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('aflurry', 't')he bicycle may be seen as humanity's crowning acheivement.

it's usefulness is on the whole untapped.

[JRP3]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Niagara', 'T')he Boeing 767.

Just 2 of these amazing machines can collapse 3 hi-rise buildings thus saving gigawatts of future electricity consumption

[green_achers]

The wheel, the lever, and the inclined plane.

[SILENTTODD]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('aflurry', 't')he bicycle may be seen as humanity's crowning acheivement.

it's usefulness is on the whole untapped.

[SolarDave]

Insulation. I cut my heatiing season in half and eliminated the air conditioner with extra attic insulation. With added water pipe insulation we now get two showers from one tank of hot water instead of one.

Skylights. We just don't use electricity to light the house during the day.

I second the Watt meter. Knowledge is power, in so many ways

[Madpaddy]

I third the wattmeter. I had no idea that my computer when fully powered down was still sucking 25 watts via my wireless broadband connection. The electrisave showed me that I have a baseline consumption of between 50 and 90 watts. That is because either one of the refridgerator or my well pump or my solar pump or mycordless phone is always using something.However, I am quite happy with my 7-8kWh per day consumption. I reckon though, that to be off grid I need to cut this down to 3 kWh per day - what gives...

I don't use a clothes dryer and my fridge is A rated.

[snax]

Aside from my commuting to work by bike or bus, the second biggest energy saver for us is the OFF setting for the heat pump during temperate days. Although we keep the fan running most of the time to promote better air circulation, it seems to be cutting about 200kWH/month on average from our energy useage. That and more intelligent planning of our oven useage, such as less frequent baking as the weather warms up, makes a significant impact.

[gg3]

Ten points to Green_Achers. The lever, the wheel, and the inclined plane / multiply muscles by using your brain!

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Niagara gets a TrollRate for "767s..."

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Okay...

The clothes line. Saves 2.4 KWH for every load that goes on the line instead of in a tumble dryer.

The sweater, knit cap, and scarf: Let you turn down winter temperatures to about 60 Fahrenheit and still stay cozy.

The heating pad: 50 watts to warm your body at even lower temps, rather than 1500 watts (or equivalent) to heat a room.

The Kill-A-Watt meter. Same comments as others above.

Bicycles, obviously. Ditto.

The (hardwired landline) telephone. 2.5 watts while talking, instead of having to drive places. Communication substitutes for transportation.

The pot pipe. Enables smoking marijuana, which replaces the desire to consume material goods with the pure satisfaction of whatever sensory stimulus happens to be available at the time, thereby contributing to overall powerdown.

The condom and the IUD. Preventing accidental pregnancies is the single biggest thing anyone can do to reduce overall energy & resource consumption.

[Madpaddy]

gg3,

You have to get off the whole lets stop reproducing thing... you're beginning to upset me.

Because you are right and I already have 2 kids. Don't worry, we won't be having another.

[Wolfeman30]

I can think of 2 things:

1. Your Brain - make the choice to consume less - drop your ego and cooperate more. Stop the me, me, me, rhetoric

2. Education - understand the consequences of using more.