Lenten Carbon Fast

Day 10: What you can do today Dry your clothes on a clothesline instead of in an electric or gas dryer.  Electric dryers use up to 10% of residential electricity in the United States.  The average household can save more than $100 a year by foregoing the electric clothes dryer and using a clothesline.  A recent study by Cambridge University's Institute of Manufacturing found that 60% of the energy associated with a piece of clothing is spent in washing and drying it.  Over its lifetime, a T shirt can send up to 9 lbs. of carbon dioxide into the air.  Read more.  (If you must use a dryer, consider installing a diverter valve to the vent so that during winter, the hot air exhaust can be used to help heat and humidify the house.)

Lenten Carbon Fast

Day 9: What you can do today Fireplaces - we love them and we want to use them.  However, as Grist's "Ask Umbra" says, "the fireplace accounts for 14 percent of air lost out of a home - more than the windows.  So before we get all excited about window glazing, it pays to stop up the chimney.  At the very minimum, close the damper when you're not using the fireplace.  If you know for sure you will not use it for an extended period, plug and seal the flue... and put a note on the fireplace, so that no guest or forgetful resident lights a fire in the plugged chimney."  See: http://grist.org/climate-energy/beating-the-draft/    For more information, seehttp://www.lowimpactliving.com/blog/2007/10/10/get-cozy-guide-to-eco-smart-fireplace-fires/ and http://www.alternativeenergyprimer.com/Environmental-effects-of-wood-burning.html   For a useful guide for home energy saving, see the U.S. Dept. of Energy 2009 booklet: http://grist.files.wordpress.com/2008/09/energy_savers.pdf

Lenten Carbon Fast

Day 8: What you can do today Your hot water heater represents about 20-30% of the carbon emissions of your home, the biggest user of energy in your house. Consider setting your hot water thermostat to 120°F. Insulate your hot water tank with an insulation jacket if available for your system. Arrange for your boiler to be serviced so it runs more efficiently. If your boiler needs to be replaced, learn all you can about energy efficiency. A great resource: http://www.house-energy.com/

Lenten Carbon Fast

Day 7: What you can do today Ask your electricity and gas suppliers if they have a green or renewable energy plan such as that offered by NSTAR Green or by Veridian.   Make the switch to a green plan today. Bonus: Switch to an energy company that supplies 1002 percent renewables such as Good Energy.

Lenten Carbon Fast

Day 6: What you can do today Put on a sweater and turn down your thermostat to 65° when people are home and active and 55°- 58° at night as well as when no one is home. In warm climates, raise your air-conditioner thermostat 4° or up one setting. Home heating and air-conditioning are responsible for a large portion of our carbon footprint. For more on air conditioning and alternatives, check out Losing Our Cool: Uncomfortable Truths About Our Air-Conditioned World (and Finding New Ways to Get Through the Summer).

Lenten Carbon Fast

Day 5: What you can do today Make an announcement in Church today about the Lenten Carbon Fast, share your personal commitment to the Fast, and invite others to join you. This is how we multiply impact.

Lenten Carbon Fast

Day 4: What you can do today Did you hear about the civil disobedience at the White House on Ash Wednesday - a call to conscience in advance of tomorrow - which will be the largest climate rally in history?  Click here to read Jim Antal's blog on the Ash Wednesday Action:  www.macucc.org.  Click here for details on tomorrow's rally:http://forwardonclimate.org   If you're going - develop some strategies about sharing your experience and conviction in ways that will increase others' commitment.  If you're not going, take time today to ponder: what would it take for me to publicly witness to my convictions about creation and climate change?