NRCM Blog

How to keep cool and save energy this summer

Something we use to save a bunch of global warming gases and $$$

Tip: After insulating our house we now...

Manipulate the windows and oversize thick curtains and blinds to take advantage of temperature changes during the day.

In warm weather, we watch the thermometer, and when it cools, we open most of our windows to let in the cool air.  Then in the morning we close all the windows, blinds and curtains until it re-cools in the evening - thus trapping in the cool air.  Then we repeat the process.

In cold weather, we reverse things - we open all the south, west and east facing blinds and curtains during the day, and close them at night.

We use overhead and window fans to increase the effect.

It is nothing for us to raise or lower the temperature in our house by 4 to 5 degrees.  We have used the air conditioning one day this year, and we live in Virginia when we are not in Maine.

By the way, we usually take the train to Boston, and the bus to Bangor when we visit Maine.  We us an econo rental car to get around.

Greg and Catharine Moser
Richmond, VA

What are you doing to save energy in your home and workplace this summer?  We would love to hear from you.  Post your tips on our blog and check back often at http://blog.nrcm.org to learn about what others are doing.

Update on energy issues for 2008

Happy New Year from NRCM’s Clean Energy Team!

This winter has been off to a wonderful start for those of us who enjoy snowy outdoor activities, including my dog! I love the four seasons we have in Maine, and this most certainly includes winter! Hopefully everyone is taking advantage of the bountiful snow, since the most recent years have been disappointing as the climate has been changing. Of course, the colder and snowy winter does come with higher energy costs to keep our homes warm and cozy; and this is a real hardship for many Mainers, especially with the rising prices of oil and gas. So what are we doing about this here in Maine?

This legislative session, which began yesterday, has several bills which address global warming and rising energy costs. There is a bill we are working on at NRCM which will require new homes to meet minimum energy efficiency standards and provide incentives for high-efficiency homes, and provide home buyers with more information about energy performance. This way you’ll have an idea how much it will cost to heat and cool your home; this is information I’m sure many people would have liked to have before buying or renting their current place. There is also a bill to require carbon capture and sequestration of any new proposed coal facility in the state, since this would be a huge source of carbon emissions which could undermine the steps we have already taken to lower Maine’s global warming emissions. There is legislation to make it easier to do small renewable projects and provide funding for rail transportation, much needed since Maine’s largest source of global warming pollution is from transportation. The Governor’s Task Force on Wind will also be making recommendations later this month, and the Land Use Regulation Commission will make their decisions about both the Black Nubble Wind Power and Kibby Wind Power proposals on January 14^th.  As you can see this winter is off to a busy start…

We hope that in 2008 we will resolve as a state to move toward a cleaner, healthier future, but we need your help! Make sure to sign up through our action network at http://supporters.nrcm.org/site/Survey?SURVEY_ID=1180&ACTION_REQUIRED=URI_ACTION_USER_REQUESTS to stay updated about energy and global warming issues. We’ll let you know when we need you to contact your legislator, government officials, or rally support in your community!  We hope you will join us.

Sara Lovitz

Clean Energy Outreach Coordinator

Global Warming Events Set for Saturday, November 3

Global Warming Rally Set Saturday
Thursday November 1st, 2007, By Ann Bryant, Staff Writer
Lewiston Sun Journal news story

FARMINGTON - A national call to rally for climate change was answered in Farmington by a Mt. Blue High School sophomore.

A "Step It Up 2007: Green Leadership" event will take place from noon to 2 p.m. Saturday in the Education Center on the University of Maine at Farmington campus. Another rally, one of 1,100 nationally, was organized here in April to push Congress to act on global warming and reduce carbon emissions.

Amanda Hall, 15, will host Saturday's rally to raise awareness of global warming. It's one of many events being held across the country to demand leadership on global warming, she said.

Step It Up is a movement started by a group of Middlebury College students and environmental economist and author Bill McKibben.

Power of the People: The growing movement to stop global warming

Make sure to mark your calendar and attend NRCM's annual meeting, "Power of the People," on Saturday, October 27 at the University of Southern Maine, Portland campus.  Learn more and register for the event by clicking here.

The debate is over: human activity has contributed to global warming and the consequences may be dire. Fortunately, a new movement is emerging to help individuals harness their power as voters, investors, and consumers to contribute to the solution. Join us for a presentation by people who are making a difference locally and nationally and learn what you can do to turn your personal commitment into collective action. Click here to learn more about the panelists.

Second Mars Hill Wind Tour Participants Enjoy Beautiful Fall Foliage, a Strong Breeze, and Learning First-hand about Maine’s Only Up-and-Running Wind Farm

Many Mainers joined the Natural Resources Council of Maine on Saturday, September 29th, for our second excursion to Maine —and New England’s— only large wind farm, located at Mars Hill.  The group toured the ridge line, met with wind farm developer UPC Wind, enjoyed the incredible fall colors, and went round the mountain to gain perspectives from town officials and residents about the benefits of wind power to our environment and on local communities and to hear the project on a windy day from multiple locations. The weather ended up cooperating and we had at the very least partly sunny skies and steady winds, hot summer sun and beautiful fall colors greeting us in Mars Hill.

How Walkable is Your House?

Here's a chance to learn about the walking-friendliness of your neighborhood.  If you are looking for alternatives to automobile transportation in your everyday life, check this out:

http://www.walkscore.com/index.shtml

This is a google maps "mash-up" using mapping technology and info about your neighborhood to give you a ranking.  On a scale of 1-100, anything above 70 is a good neighborhood, 90-100 is excellent.

Here's a picture from a home in beautiful downtown Brunswick.  Try it out for yourself at http://www.walkscore.com/index.shtml