Energy Saving Sundays

Hello fellow bloggers. Today I get to talk about something that makes me really happy. Money. Every person wants more money and today I am going to save you some. Every Sunday I am going to post a new tip that will make your house more energy efficient.  Making your house more energy efficient will save you money.

The first tip I have for you is replacing those old incandescent light bulbs with new compact florescent light bulbs.  CFL bulbs use 2/3 less energy than regular light bulbs and there is little difference in the light that they give off. Using CFL’s cut down on the amount of electricity used from a coal powered power plant. Most of the city of South Bend is powered by coal power plants. There are many problems associated with extracting, processing and burning coal. The extraction of coal is destroying the Central Appalachia Mountains. The processing of coal is releasing toxic chemicals, including mercury, in streams and rivers. The burning of coal is releasing harmful amounts of CO² into the atmosphere. Using CFL’s in your house will reduce the amount of harm done to our environment.

CFL’s will not only better the environment, it will also benefit your pocket book. CFL’s last 10 times longer than your old light bulbs. This means less time spent changing light bulbs. One CFL bulb will save you more than 30 dollars over its life span; I have 12 light bulbs in my home so I just saved 360 dollars. CFL means saving time, money and energy. Follow this link to purchase CFL bulbs.

A Picture of Sustainability

I chose this picture because I feel that America is currently at a crossroads in our development. We are at a key part of our history and need to start making some hard choices. The U.S. cannot continue at our current rate of consumption. We use more and throw away more than any other nation. We have two choices we can continue to invest in old technology (fossil fuels) or we can move to more renewable resources. New innovation will not only create much needed new jobs but will also help preserve our environment. The other choice, the choice we are now living, cannot continue forever. Gas prices will continue to go up until oil is gone.

One company in South Bend IN that is making a more sustainable future is the Purple Porch Co-Op. This Co-Op is dedicated to bringing the people of South Bend locally grown, organic food. It is a member owned business and is a trend setter in how they think about, grow and sell food. This is a business worth supporting.

IU South Bend has also decided to make their campus more sustainable by reducing their carbon foot print with the Center for a Sustainable Future. The center encourages participation within the school and the community in their sustainable programs. They also help promote sustainable businesses around South Bend. They are constantly working on new ways to make the IU South Bend campus more sustainable. When I look at this picture I am reminded of the choices that people make and it makes me happy to see more people making sustainable choices.

A More Sustainable South Bend

My hope is that this blog becomes a way for environmentally minded people to come together and share their ideas about the sustainable way that South Bend IN is headed. South Bend IN has many emerging businesses that are environmentally minded. The idea that businesses can’t be “green” and profitable at the same time is starting to change. Many businesses are realizing that they have a social responsibility to the people it serves and to the environment it exists in.  

This is coupled with new tax laws that are giving tax breaks to businesses that make sustainable choices when regarding their businesses and employees. There is a huge range of sustainable choices that businesses can make. Some of these changes can be small, like having the default printer settings to print on both side of the paper.  Other choice can be huge, like having a live roof that can cut energy cost by half. This blog is also intended to promote those businesses that are making sustainable choices and also give suggestions to consumers who are looking for more sustainable products.