 Stories About: advice AND Ask Umbra AND energy efficiency AND green living
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Path of Lease Resistance
On being an energy-efficient renter |
Umbra Fisk |
10 Sep 2008 |
Ask Umbra |
| Dear Umbra, I'm an apartment dweller in the San Francisco Bay Area, where it doesn't get too cold or too hot. Still, my energy bill is much too high for my liking and I'm wondering what I can do to bring down the cost and the waste. Any suggestions for non-homeowners? Sarah J. Oakland, Calif. Dearest Sarah, Renting is a blessing and a curse: little control, and little responsibility. You don't get to make lon ... |
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| Topics: advice, Ask Umbra, energy, energy at home, energy efficiency, green living (all these topics) |
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Be Cool
On fans versus AC |
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07 Jul 2008 |
Ask Umbra |
| Dear Umbra, I'm a girl trying to make it in a big, hot, airless city -- New York, that is. We're in the middle of a heat wave that will soon end, but the longer heat wave we call summer will continue, so I wonder: when the interior of my apartment is up to 93 degrees and I have no less than three fans oscillating, am I using more energy than I would if I purchased and used one energy-efficient air conditioner? What's the best choice here? Elizabeth Q. New Y ... |
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| Topics: advice, Ask Umbra, energy at home, energy efficiency, green living (all these topics) |
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Don't Spray It
On long, hot showers |
Umbra Fisk |
02 Apr 2008 |
Ask Umbra |
| Dear Umbra, The biggest waster of energy in our house right now is our 15-year-old daughter, whose never-ending daily showers must surely be responsible for warming the planet another half-degree. No matter how loudly we bang on the bathroom door and scream for her to stop, she showers on -- 20, 30 minutes at a time. And yes, we have a low-flow showerhead and our water heater is set to 120 degrees. Is there any kind of device -- one t ... |
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| Topics: advice, Ask Umbra, energy, energy at home, energy efficiency, green living, parenting, water conflicts (all these topics) |
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Java Script
On reheating coffee |
Umbra Fisk |
21 Nov 2007 |
Ask Umbra |
| Dear Umbra, As a web developer for a certain respectable online magazine somewhere in the Pacific Northwest, I drink a lot of coffee to keep me alert and my very demanding employers happy. However, in my constant imbibing of the dark elixir, I'm concerned about the energy use involved. Specifically, I can only drink coffee piping hot, and sometimes when I take a break from being wired and resume my regimen, what little coffee is left is i ... |
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| Topics: advice, Ask Umbra, energy efficiency, food, green living (all these topics) |
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Frigi-Dare
On refrigerator downsizing |
Umbra Fisk |
23 Jul 2007 |
Ask Umbra |
| Dear Umbra, Two of our favorite Brit-coms are Keeping Up Appearances and As Time Goes By. It is hard for an American not to remark that in both households, which seem quite affluent, the refrigerator is short, and fits beneath the kitchen counter: nothing so grand as what passes for normal in American kitchens. Do most Brits and Europeans in fact have in their kitchens only counter-height refrigerators? And if so, are they therefore ... |
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| Topics: advice, Ask Umbra, energy, energy efficiency, food, green living, health, shopping (all these topics) |
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You Look Radiant
On radiant heating |
Umbra Fisk |
18 Jul 2007 |
Ask Umbra |
| Dear Umbra, We're trying to build a really small house and be really economical as we do it. Radiant floor heating sounds practical for the first floor, although it's expensive. What do you think about radiant floor heating, pluses, minuses, efficiency? Radiantly yours, Kerry Florence, Mass. Dearest Kerry, Thank you for helping me to write about radiant floor heat basics by sending in your question as requested. How I have coveted a ... |
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| Topics: advice, Ask Umbra, energy at home, energy efficiency, green building, green living (all these topics) |
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Still Worth It
On mercury in CFLs |
Umbra Fisk |
16 Jul 2007 |
Ask Umbra |
| Dearest Umbra, For the past 10 years or so I have been patiently and methodically replacing the incandescent light bulbs in my house with the more efficient compact fluorescent ones. Even though they cost more than incandescents, I have been confident that their lower energy requirements and longer life span more than made up for the increased cost. Thus I was greatly dismayed the other day when I went to our local transfer station and ... |
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| Topics: advice, Ask Umbra, energy, energy at home, energy efficiency, green living, green products, toxics (all these topics) |
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Honey and Vinegar
On convincing colleagues to turn the lights off |
Umbra Fisk |
12 Feb 2007 |
Ask Umbra |
| Dear Umbra, I'm always hollering at my friends and colleagues to turn off the lights when they leave the room. Considering my business is green-related, it blows me away that my staff can't seem to get a handle on flicking the switch. But it's probably mostly a matter of them not really knowing why it's important. So what's the elevator pitch -- you know, a good sentence or two? I know we're unnecessarily ... |
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| Topics: advice, Ask Umbra, energy efficiency, green living (all these topics) |
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You Were Always Cozy Like That
On insulation |
Umbra Fisk |
31 Jan 2007 |
Ask Umbra |
| Dear Umbra, I recently discovered that our attic is not insulated. While I live in the fairly warm climate of San Diego, we've been hit by a cold spell the last few weeks and I've cranked on the heater. I'd really like to insulate my home and was wondering what is the most planet-friendly method of doing so. I know it is good to reduce energy output, but I've heard that the insulation itself is not so environmentally friendly ... |
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| Topics: advice, Ask Umbra, energy at home, energy efficiency, green living (all these topics) |
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Logging On
On which wood to burn |
Umbra Fisk |
17 Jan 2007 |
Ask Umbra |
| Dear Umbra, I live in Maine, land of many loggers. My home is heated by an oil furnace, and I try to keep the temps down with thermostat timers to use as little oil as possible. I supplement my heat with a wood stove, as many Mainers do, and in my travels I have noticed a big variation in how much smoke is coming through chimneys and stovepipes. Is there a better type of seasoned wood to burn as far as reducing pollutants? Wendy H. Free ... |
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| Topics: advice, air pollution, Ask Umbra, energy at home, energy efficiency, green living (all these topics) |
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Minding the Gap
On weather-stripping |
Umbra Fisk |
27 Nov 2006 |
Ask Umbra |
| Dear Umbra, With rising heating costs on the horizon, we're looking to install a storm door, seal gaps, etc., around the house to prevent air leaks and increase efficiency before old man winter arrives. What are some good resources (how-to's, sustainable product suppliers, etc.) for the job? Scott Roswell, Ga. Dearest Scott, Hi-dee-ho, dee-ho, to the hardware store we go. To choose vinyl or metal, adhesive or nails, That will pro ... |
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| Topics: advice, Ask Umbra, energy at home, energy efficiency, green living, green products (all these topics) |
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Chilly Screens of Winter
On inefficient windows |
Umbra Fisk |
08 Nov 2006 |
Ask Umbra |
| Dear Umbra, I am lucky enough to have a home I really love and food to feed my family and my pets. However, the home has one major energy flaw: it is older and has huge, single-pane window/walls with aluminum frames, in two adjoining rooms. We currently are not able to replace them, and they lose heat rapidly. With this winter being a bit colder, is there anything that you can suggest we do, other than the window upgrades ... |
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| Topics: advice, Ask Umbra, energy, energy at home, energy efficiency, green living (all these topics) |
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A View to a Sill
On window manufacturers |
Umbra Fisk |
06 Nov 2006 |
Ask Umbra |
| Dear Umbra, We are looking into replacing some of our windows. Any thoughts on which companies are more environmentally friendly, not just in the energy-efficiency of their windows, but in the manufacturing process (Forest Stewardship Council-certified wood, recycling materials, etc.)? Lyell Slade Concord, Mass. Dearest Lyell, Let's warm up on this topic: Windows in residential buildings are responsible for about 2 percent of th ... |
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| Topics: advice, Ask Umbra, energy, energy at home, energy efficiency, green living, green products (all these topics) |
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Follow Her LED
On LEDs |
Umbra Fisk |
18 Sep 2006 |
Ask Umbra |
| Dear Umbra, Where are the LED replacement bulbs for normal household incandescents? They're supposed to be more efficient, cheaper, cooler, longer-lasting, and less toxic, right? So why aren't there any LED bulbs similar to CFLs? I've been looking around but haven't been able to find any yet besides flashlights, holiday lights, and the like. Still in the dark, Tim Eureka, Calif. Dearest Tim, As you suspected, LEDs, or light-emitting diodes, are ... |
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| Topics: advice, Ask Umbra, energy at home, energy efficiency, green living (all these topics) |
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Freezer Learn
On fridge-freezer efficiency |
Umbra Fisk |
26 Jul 2006 |
Ask Umbra |
| Dear Umbra, Are there any environmental advantages to the refrigerators with the freezer on the bottom and the fridge on the top? Annette Indianapolis, Ind. Dearest Annette, There are three fridge/freezer configurations: side by side, bottom freezer, and top freezer. In models with comparable storage volume, the least efficient is the side by side. Top and bottom models, on the other hand, are fairly close in their efficiency ... |
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| Topics: advice, Ask Umbra, energy efficiency, green living (all these topics) |
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Just Screw It
On replacing light bulbs |
Umbra Fisk |
21 Jun 2006 |
Ask Umbra |
| Dear Umbra, I am reluctant to switch to compact fluorescent light bulbs because that means tossing out not only used-but-still-working incandescent bulbs, but also the brand-new bulbs I have waiting in the closet. Is it really a positive effect overall when we're reducing our carbon emissions but adding to landfills? Julie Pittsburgh, Pa. Dearest Julie, Damn fine idea ... don't know why I didn't think of it myself. The gummint sa ... |
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| Topics: advice, Ask Umbra, energy, energy at home, energy efficiency, green living, waste (all these topics) |
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You Can Count on You
On global warming and you |
Umbra Fisk |
10 May 2006 |
Ask Umbra |
| Dear Umbra, I love the scientific ins and outs, really I do, but what oh what can we do about global warming? And I mean us ordinary folks with a house and mortgage and some percentage point of kids and a few compact fluorescents and maybe even a hybrid in the driveway. We're right there with you, so please don't leave us hanging. Peter Kelley College Park, Md. Dearest Peter, Right. Sorry. I got frowny last month, and for ... |
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| Topics: advice, Ask Umbra, business, climate, energy, energy efficiency, green living, politics (all these topics) |
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Matters of the Hearth
On fireplaces |
Umbra Fisk |
23 Jan 2006 |
Ask Umbra |
| Dear Umbra, We pile on socks and sweaters, but there are just times you need more warmth. Should we use the fireplace or our central (gas-powered) heater? Also, can you let us know which is better, natural firewood or those chemically infused logs that claim lower particulate matter is released? Kas Sut Davis, Calif. Dearest Kas, Although we've contemplated this heating dilemma before, I find I have more to say about fire. Don't use ... |
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| Topics: advice, air pollution, Ask Umbra, energy, energy at home, energy efficiency, green living (all these topics) |
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Moving Light Along
On LED holiday lights |
Umbra Fisk |
07 Dec 2005 |
Ask Umbra |
| Dear Umbra, Suppose I replace all my many old, tangled, not-so-efficient holiday lights with the newer LED lights. These are supposed to be better for the environment. What is the best way to dispose of my old lights? R-M Ottawa, Canada Dearest R-M, The LED lights are indeed better for the environment, and, since I'm frankly running out of winter holiday-related questions (see my previous work on Christmas trees, gift wrap, cand ... |
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| Topics: advice, Ask Umbra, energy efficiency, green living, holiday (all these topics) |
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Do the Bath
On heating with bathwater |
Umbra Fisk |
16 Nov 2005 |
Ask Umbra |
| Dear Umbra, After a hot bath, I leave the water in the tub so the heat will go into the room. My husband says the heat saved is inconsequential. How would one calculate the BTUs saved this way? J. Reiman Helena, Mont. Dearest J., I do that too. I'm trying to heat the entire office building with my baths, and I've been making my editor bring me my encyclopedias in the tub. Ay, there's the tub. Roughly speaking (and cut me a little s ... |
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| Topics: advice, Ask Umbra, energy at home, energy efficiency, green living (all these topics) |
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Over the Chill
On preparing for winter |
Umbra Fisk |
05 Oct 2005 |
Ask Umbra |
| Dear Umbra, With the coming winter, our local news did a story on how to save on heating. The tips included window treatments, lowering the water heater, etc. But those of us in apartments are limited in what we can do. I can feel the cold air seeping through the cracks, and laying towels on the window sills doesn't seem to help. Any advice? Carol Lafayette, Ind. Dearest Carol, Yar. It's going to be doom and gloom this winter acro ... |
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| Topics: advice, Ask Umbra, energy, energy at home, energy efficiency, green building, green living (all these topics) |
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Sill and Grace
On windows |
Umbra Fisk |
12 Sep 2005 |
Ask Umbra |
| Dear Umbra, I just bought an old house and need to replace some of the windows. Are there alternatives to vinyl windows that will still cut down on heat loss? Noah Winer Philadelphia, Pa. Dearest Noah, I hope I've caught you before you've placed your window order, because you are at a moment of opportunity. Window replacement will make a huge difference in your house's energy efficiency. You could be losing up to a third of your heat through t ... |
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| Topics: advice, Ask Umbra, energy, energy at home, energy efficiency, green building, green living (all these topics) |
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Get a Load of This
On washing machines |
Umbra Fisk |
11 Jul 2005 |
Ask Umbra |
| Dear Umbra, I have a top-loading washing machine that's nine years old. I've heard that front-loading machines are a lot more efficient and use less detergent, so I'm thinking about taking the plunge, even though my old machine works fine. How much less water do the front-loading machines use, and why? And is it true that they use less detergent? (I just switched to an environmentally friendly detergent, but boy, is it expensive -- ... |
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| Topics: advice, Ask Umbra, energy, energy at home, energy efficiency, green living (all these topics) |
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String Theory
On clotheslines |
Umbra Fisk |
08 Jun 2005 |
Ask Umbra |
| Dear Umbra, We would like to install a clothesline this summer to take advantage of the few months of sun that we get here in Oregon. Any advice on the best kind, and how to keep air-dried clothes from feeling like cardboard? German Whitley Philomath, Ore. Dearest German, Excellent. If your power supplier is, as I suspect, Consumers Power Inc. in Philomath, you are paying about 7 cents per kilowatt-hour; their handy electricity calculator ... |
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| Topics: advice, Ask Umbra, energy, energy at home, energy efficiency, fashion, green living (all these topics) |
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Got Money?
On spending wisely to help the environment |
Umbra Fisk |
10 Mar 2005 |
Ask Umbra |
| Dear Umbra, I read your column on how best to spend six hours of time a week on environmental issues, but how about the best way to spend limited financial resources on environmental issues? Obviously, giving a gift to Grist would help, but what can I do with my limited pocketbook to make the most difference on a daily basis? Chris Kent, Wash. Dearest Chris, Save up your money and use it to replace an inefficient bu ... |
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| Topics: advice, Ask Umbra, cars, energy efficiency, green living (all these topics) |
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