"Paul M. Eldridge" wrote in message
...
Hi Mike,

I can appreciate your frustration. What I find funny is how major
power consumers vigorously fought for deregulation, fully expecting
electricity rates to go down. In most cases, that didn't happen
(quite the opposite) and some of those same voices were screaming to
have things put back as they once were.

We can bemoan high energy prices but at the end of the day we're no
further ahead. What we need to do is look for intelligent ways to use
less. For example, all of us might consider replacing the five
incandescent bulbs we use most frequently with CFLs; at $2.00 to $3.00
each, there's really no reason why any of us should be using a bulb
that consumes four times more energy than necessary.

When it comes time to replace that old refrigerator or dishwasher,
select an Energy Star model. A twenty-five or thirty year old
refrigerator could easily consume 2,000 or more kWhs per year; my
current refrigerator uses less than one-quarter of that. How many old
refrigerators sit in hot garages keeping one or two cases of beer
cold?

If you put your mind to it, you'll find a dozen different ways to
reduce your bill.

This Channel 4 presentation might help start the ball running. And
who knows? You too might save a "packet of money".

#1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1PVGEk5Wlxk

#2
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fxfyiOtfD88

#3
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sQGtHpxvmLg

#4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8S8DPfICQiM

#5
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XXqHrsTFv2Y

#6
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eAub4yoRZkc

Interesting Links Paul, so far I've listened to three of them. I swapped the
bulbs for energy saving baulbs within months after moving in in 2003.
Unfortunately,
for now I spend most of my time in my dining room which has a variable
switch for the overhead lights (two 100w bulbs) I haven't been able to
find -variable wattage energy saving bulbs. I never use the standy mode
for my plasma tv, etc.
I really do need insulate some. My PC is against a wall w/ two windows one
of which has an air conditioner and the other one just a 20 y/o dual pane
replacment window. For now I'm going to take off the window molding and see
if I can get some foam insulation in there and wrap the outside of the air
conditioner. Theres a sheet of platic over the inside of it.

I've been reading Tyson Slocum papers on energy. He tends to be a Bush
basher but if you read around it there's some very useful information about
the politics of energy in the US. What rates to you pay?

http://www.citizen.org/cmep/energy_e...r/electricity/

Mike