All Posts Tagged With: "energy savings"

We were wondering if you’ve heard of Blackle? A new Google search page in black, created by Heap Media. Their idea is that having a black screen on your computer can cut electricity demand. Seemingly insignificant? Blackle was also created to “remind us all of the need to take small steps in our everyday lives to save energy.” I wonder if this might be more effective then the actual energy savings but according to Ecolron a white web page uses about 74 watts to display, while an all black page uses only 59 watts. There is much dispute. Please, tell us what you think. Could this be "green-washing"?

On a local level the fight for energy efficiency is hitting much harder. This just came to me via email with the following concerns from the Green Building Institute. Thanks Janice Romanosky for sending it along:

A key committee in the Maryland House of Delegates will decide this week whether to divert $70 million away from energy efficiency program to bill-payer assistance. The committee will vote as early as Wednesday, so it couldn’t be more urgent. Please call AND fax the Delegates in the areas where you work and urge them to keep the energy efficiency funding in the Strategic Energy Investment Fund as it was passed into law last year.

PRIORITY DELEGATES TO CONTACT:

· Baltimore County – Del. Susan Aumann – (410) 841-3258, fax (410) 841-3163

· Baltimore City – Del. Talmadge Branch – (410) 841-3398, fax (410) 841-3550

· Charles County – Del. Murray Levy – (410) 841-3325, fax (410) 841- 3367

· Montgomery County – Bill Bronrott – (410) 841-3642, fax (410) 841-3026

Please also pass this message along to former clients or colleagues who also believe that energy efficiency is an important part of Maryland’s energy future.

Continued

The Amicus Green Building Center is a collection of genuine “green” products, resources, and expert support for the Mid-Atlantic region. Their mission is to create healthy, environmentally-friendly, stylish, energy-smart, and sustainable buildings. Through services like design consulting, energy analysis, and research reports, and offering green products in the way of paints, flooring, kitchen fixtures, lumber, tile and lighting, among others, the center is a able to assist just about any project toward becoming a little, or a lot more, eco-friendly.

Each winter, The Alliance to Save Energy publishes energy costs by state, along with tips to save energy and money. Their report for Maryland indicates that the average energy bills this season for homes heated with natural gas will increase by about $100. If you heat with oil, your increase will be about $335. Electric heating costs are expected to rise a mere $30. Since 45% of a typical yearly energy bill goes to heating your house, their tips can be money in the bank. Download the PDF by clicking on this link.