energy

Written by Samantha Strong for the 30 Days of Biking Blog

I got into biking because of a guy. 15 years ago, my boyfriend at the time was a junior pro cyclist. (He used to brag about riding with Lance. Wonder how he feels about that now?) Anyway … he built me a bike. It was a sweet Raleigh beach cruiser. I wasn’t going to win any races on this thing, but it felt good to ride it. And we rode a lot.

I would ride it to work on the nice days (bussing all the others). It made the tedious chore of getting to work much more fun. And there’s a point of pride in showing up to work with that pant leg rolled up and sweat running down your neck. “That’s right, I’m gross, but I worked to get here. What did you do this morning?”

He and I have long since broken up (and I would later realize that my bike wasn’t sized right_ ah, the metaphor). Coincidentally, it was stolen from my garage the same year my current partner and I shacked up.

This guy is also a bike fanatic. A year_round rider, never is it too cold, too icy, too hot, too wet for him to get on his bike and tackle the elements. Honestly, his stubbornness amazes me. Riding is the only option, anything else is an insult. (That’s his trusty winter steed above.)

I am not that person. I have my single speed, but it’s nothing to write home about. But because I am not that person, I want to do whatever I can to support the people who are. Biking is a simple way to get off your duff and enjoy your neighborhood, meet new people, and build community. This is what my company, Metamorphosis, is all about.

Thank you, ex-boyfriend, for getting me into biking, Thank you, JP, for being an inspiration. Thank you, 30 Days, for starting this movement. Metamorphosis is a big fan.

Have you heard of the Minnesota Energy Challenge? The Elkhart schools certainly have. Simply by closing window blinds, closing doors, shutting off all electronics, and turning off the lights before leaving every evening, the Elkhart schools have saved $3million dollars over the last three years. Schools from all over the state are joining in on the challenge and the savings. There are many ways to take advantage of these savings in your own home. Take a look at the Minnesota Energy Challenge website for helpful tips.

Winter can sometimes seem like it will go on forever! At least you can take advantage of the sunny, cold days we’ve been having by using daylighting techniques. Daylighting describes the strategic use of sunlight for internal lighting and passive solar heat.

All you need to do is make sure the blinds are open in the daytime to take full advantage of the sun letting in its warm rays. Just make sure to close the blinds at night to prevent any cold drafts blowing inside.

So next time it’s sunny out, let the sunshine in!

Thermal image of heat loss through recessed lighting-Photo from the MN Energy Challenge

Do you think about how much natural resources are used when illuminating a light bulb? The Minnesota Energy Challenge recently posted an infographic of how much fuel it really takes to power a light bulb for a year. It really puts into perspective how much of a difference one can make when one does not leave lights on unnecessarily. Click here to view the full version of the infographic.

Infographic by Inlec

There are many things you can do when remodeling your bathroom to conserve energy, but do you remember to do the simple things? Here is an infographic made by Inlec and published by Inhabitat that shows the big difference you can make with a few small changes.

Fall is well under way and we are anticipating snow any day now. Enjoy the warm weather while we have it and make sure to follow these steps to get your home ready for winter!

· Clean out gutters. This is a major contributor to ICE DAMS. Reattach any loose sections and ensure water flows away from the house.

· Clean and/or change your furnace air filters. This keeps your furnace functioning effectively to reduce your heating costs and prevent safety problems from noxious fumes.

· Remove window AC units, or place a cover on top of an exterior AC unit.

· Close storm windows.

· Weatherstrip doors and windows.

· Caulk any gaps or holes on the exterior of the house.

We do a lot of bathroom remodels which utilize energy efficient and low flow fixtures. The benefit is huge not only for the environment, but on both your water and energy bills. Inhabitat recently published a list of 7 ways to “green” your bathroom. For your next bathroom project, consider incorporating one of these fixtures and reap the rewards! Read the full list at Inhabitat.