Energy

When it heats up outside, Americans spend big bucks to cool off. Our love of the air conditioner costs us about $29 billion a year, using 183 billion kilowatt-hours. And, while those air conditioners are cooling off our house, they are helping to heat up our earth by releasing over 117 million metric tons of carbon dioxide into the air annually. Save money and keep cool with a few simple steps:

• Use window coverings to your advantage. If you’re not home during the day, close all window curtains and blinds to keep your house cool for as long as possible.
• Use the ceiling fan even if the air conditioner is on! The average ceiling fan costs less than a penny an hour to run and can make you feel 3-8 degrees cooler, so you can turn your AC a few degrees higher. Set your ceiling fan to rotate counter-clockwise, to increase the airflow.
• Pay attention to your appliance usage. Appliances such as irons, washers, and dryers can add significant heat to the inside of your home. Use these appliances at night or early in the morning to avoid adding big sources of heat to your home during the hottest hours of the day. Consider eliminating the dryer and using a clothesline.
• Consider changing your light bulbs. Incandescent light bulbs waste about 90% of their energy in heat. Switching to compact fluorescent or LED bulbs will keep your home cooler and your energy bills lower.

A recent U.S. Department of Energy report states that space heating (and cooling) is the number one use of energy in our homes, resulting in high bills and consequential pollution. No doubt a ‘heat pump’ has entered your mind as an option to replace your fading furnace, but you’re worried about its cost and capacity to perform in cold weather. In reality, heat pumps are a cost-effective and energy efficient replacement for old heating and cooling systems.

Heat pumps use less energy to heat (or cool) homes and save money on bills (up to $1,000/year), in addition to reducing CO2 emissions from natural gas. They are dual functioning, meaning they heat in the winter and cool in the summer, so no need for a separate AC. They use electricity to transfer heat into and out of your home. Even if electricity is drawn from coal (still 60% of the U.S.A.), the emissions are less than a gas furnace, similar to an electric car being powered by coal instead of gas.

Cost varies depending on heat pump type, house size and local climate. It could cost up to $14,000 including installation, though the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) offers rebates up to $8,000 and tax credits up to $2,000. New technologies have drastically improved allowing heat pumps to work in cold temperatures below -10 degrees F. Finally, if you decide a heat pump isn’t right for you, other systems are available, like mini heat pumps, mini-splits, or hybrid dual-fuel heat pump systems. Tax credits and rebates from the IRA bill are also available for certain systems.

Gas furnaces typically last 10-30 years, depending on quality and maintenance. If you’re within that range, it’s time to consider electric heating options. Summit County is on track to be powered by renewables by 2030 through the Utah Renewable Communities program established by HB 411 in 2019. As heat pump technologies change, users also should adapt. Now is a great time to start researching trained contractors and the appropriate electric heating and cooling system best suited for your home – next stop is your water heater! Utah Clean

Energy (utahcleanenergy.org) is a wonderful resource for the energy-curious consumer.

By Mary Closser

When I was little, I remember stepping out of a birthday party with my balloon. It slipped out of my hand and floated away, never to return. I now know that this mistake could have deadly consequences for marine life and ecosystems. Balloons have become a prominent symbol of the culture of celebration. However, most people don’t think about the fact that any time a balloon escapes into the sky, it can lead to many unintended consequences for marine life.

Pollution from balloons actually accounts for some of the ocean’s deadliest trash. Balloons (including latex and mylar balloons) take a long time to break down in the ocean, contributing to plastic pollution. As balloons gradually break down they turn into smaller pieces of colorful plastic that resemble food for marine life; the digested plastic has detrimental effects on the digestive system. Statistics show that ingestion of soft plastics (for example: balloons) often does more bodily damage than hard plastics in marine animals, although both are a critical problem. Over many years, balloons can eventually break down into microplastics, which can build up in marine animals, some of which are eventually eaten by humans. Additionally, the strings of balloons are capable of entangling and suffocating or drowning marine animals. It is estimated that over 100,000 marine animals die annually because of plastic pollution.

So what can we do about this issue? The most straightforward and effective action is to stop using balloons and supplement them for other decorations and materials. Try using bubbles, biodegradable confetti, or even natural materials like rocks, shells, and leaves for creative crafts and decorations. While it may be fun to celebrate with balloons, the long-term environmental effects outweigh the benefits.

By Grayson Rae

Are you vacation planning? Wherever you go, don’t forget to bring along the great eco-friendly behaviors you’ve incorporated into your daily life—those that reduce your waste and use of natural resources and protect the environment. These practices are just as important to the people and places you visit as they are in your home community.

When choosing your vacation destination, how far are you going? Driving there by car – especially a hybrid or EV – emits far less carbon than a jet, and cruise ships can emit 3-4 times more carbon than jets. If you fly, try to book direct flights, since 50% of jet emissions happen during takeoff and landing. Think about traveling by train. This is the most ecologically-friendly way to travel, with 50-75% lower per-person carbon emissions than driving or flying as reported by Amtrak and Eurail.

So what are your sustainable vacation destination options?

• Nothing has lower carbon emissions than a staycation. When it comes to staying home, Summit and Wasatch counties are quite fine vacation options. Instead of waiting for guests to see local “destination-caliber” sites, visit them on less busy, less expensive weekdays on your staycation. Check out https://www.onlyinyourstate.com/states/utah/ and subscribe to their excellent free newsletter. You will have more choices than days of vacation.
• Research locations that publicize their efforts to provide a greener, cleaner environment and quality of life for their inhabitants. Are there agencies dedicated to providing sustainable services? Are natural and cultural sites well-protected? Some locations receive certifications and awards for their sustainability pledges. For example, each year the European Commission awards a European city the Green Capital and Green Leaf Award.
• Choose to spend time at “second city and park” locations instead of joining the mass of tourists in a vacation hotspot. This way, you can still visit major attractions without contributing as much to over-tourism and pollution. Camp at lesser known state parks and national forest campgrounds and visit a popular national park for the day.
• Stay in a town or village near a major attraction. You’ll experience a more authentically local visit and contribute to a smaller economy.
• Visit locations off-peak when energy and natural resource demands are less. You’ll stimulate local economic growth and provide additional work hours for otherwise seasonally-employed workers.

By Bev Harrison