I have signed on as a guinea pig for the Marcellus Challenge, by entering 2008 and 2009 NYSEG-based electric and gas use, in kWh and therms, for my 2200 square feet, single-story, 1949 house into the Green Energy Compass's online calculator created by Performance Systems Development. I then clicked on the 'Energy Use Report' and 'Peer Group Report' calculators to learn the sad news.

In comparison to the admittedly-small group of six local Ithaca area users in my peer group, I am on the bottom. Even when compared to the larger national group, I am only average. And that's bad news, because I have made the easy fixes -- switching to compact fluorescent bulbs, using power strips, keeping the wintertime house temperature at 62F in the day at 58F at night. My house has no airconditioning, no dishwasher, and up to date appliances, with new windows and doors for one end of the house, and a new roof in 2009.

However, if I am going to walk the talk of protecting water and air quality and community life from hydrofracking, I must reduce my natural gas use. We don't need no stinking hydrofracking here -- or anywhere. (Not to mention the fact that I can save thousands of dollars per year if I put some money into greater energy efficiency!)

So, I'll start making the necessary changes during 2010 at my house, and I invite you to do the same. Make your pledge to accept the Marcellus Challenge at http://www.sustainabletompkins.org/programs/marcellus-challenge/ . For your next step, join me and many others at the Marcellus Challenge Pledge-In on March 3 from 6:30-9:00 pm, Womens Community Building, 100 West Seneca Street, Ithaca NY.

 

TAGGED WITH: energy efficiency, energy footprint, hydrofracking, Marcellus Challenge, Marcellus Shale