Hey Folks, I just received my 5th email about Maryland’s “One Green Hour” event. Initiated by Governor Martin O’Malley, the idea is to turn off your lights for an hour on July 28th (now dubbed Maryland Energy Independence Day”). The idea may be a little hoaky -we’d prefer they turn off the coal-fired power plants for an hour. But its getting traction. I’ve received alerts from the Governor, the Democratic Party, Rep Elijah Cummings and more… So I guess that means we need to join in.Here’s the email from the Democratic Party.
CELEBRATE
Maryland Energy Independence Day
Saturday, July 28, 2007
Saving money and making a real difference for your country can be as easy as flipping a switch – OFF. More on that below.
Please join thousands of Marylanders who will use this day to commit to energy conservation for the long haul. Imagine saving money while saving the Chesapeake Bay and helping create an Energy Independent future.
Mark your calendar and join The Maryland Democratic Party for:
One Green Hour –
Fight Global Warming – Promote Energy Independence – Save Energy, Money & the Planet
UNPLUG YOUR HOME FOR JUST ONE HOUR – TURN OFF ALL electric lights, *air conditioning, *appliances, TV, radio, computers and UNPLUG your energy draining chargers (cell phones, I-pods, etc.) and other energy wasters
12:00 noon to 1:00pm
Saturday, July 28, 2007
BUT YOU CAN START SAVING ENERGY TODAY AND EVERY DAY
What You Can Do: Summer Energy Savings Tips, from the Alliance to Save Energy
Home energy costs will rise with the temperature this summer, as air conditioning comes into play and continuing tight natural gas supplies put upward pressure on electricity prices
Smart Energy Practices
- A well-maintained cooling system
will run more efficiently, use less energy, and lower energy bills, so
clean or replace AC filters monthly or as needed. Also, keep both
outdoor and indoor air conditioner coils clean.Dirt build-up on the
indoor coil is the single most common cause of poor operating
efficiency. - Reduce the cooling load by
effectively shading east and west windows. When possible, delay
heat-producing activities such as dish washing until the evening. Close
curtains during the day, and install awnings on south-facing windows.
Plant shade trees or vines. - During the cooling season,
keep your house closed tight in the daytime to keep unwanted heat and
humidity out. If practical, ventilate at night either naturally or with
fans. - Avoid running a dehumidifier at the same time as the AC. The dehumidifier will increase the cooling load and force the air conditioner to work harder.
- Turn off your computer
and monitor when you are done using them; activate the “sleep” feature
so the machine powers down when on but not in use for a while. When you
leave a room, turn off the lights and all other energy-using equipment. - Shift energy-intensive tasks such as
laundry and dish washing to off-peak energy demand hours to increase
electricity reliability during heat waves; do full loads when you run
washers, dryers, and dishwashers. - Switch to cold water
washing of laundry in top-loading, energy-inefficient washing machines
to save energy and up to $63 a year
