Zero Is The New Black

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When we were renovating our new old farmhouse, we were sorely tempted to go all out. Put in that geothermal heat pump. Install a solar water heater. Hook up that wind turbine and sell energy back to the utilities rather than the other way around. Light up the house with sun tunnels. In other words, do what we could to get off the grid as much as possible.

And then reality set in. Namely, finances. While we’d have loved to do all of the above, after updating the home to modern standards, not a whole lot was left in the ol’ bank to afford our off grid dreaming. So, what did we actually do?

• Yes, we installed a very efficient heat pump. But no, it was not a geothermal one, as we were quoted approximately $7,500 more than we could afford.
• Yes, we replaced our hot water heater with one substantially more efficient than what was already in place. But no, it wasn’t a solar unit.
• No, we didn’t put up a wind turbine, even though our location makes it a feasible energy source. Unfortunately, the installation cost versus our local energy costs shows that this project just didn’t make much economic sense right now.
• And the sun tunnels? Well, lets just say they weren’t the highest priorities on the list to start with, and you saw how the list has went so far…

So as you can see, we fell a little short of the dream. The intent was there. Even the feasibility of our plans was there. The money, alas, was not. But, that doesn’t mean I’m abandoning the idea. It just means I’ve got to be a little more involved to finance it.

Another of my obsessions is money, investing, debt reduction, yadda, yadda, yadda. So I thought, if we’re investing so we don’t starve in retirement, why shouldn’t we do a bit of investing to be able to afford to go off grid. Equally laudable goal I believe, and a little complimentary to boot — after all, if our energy footprint isn’t so expensive, retirement suddenly becomes cheaper as well. So that’s what we’re going to do.

But what to invest in, that’s the big question. I’m thinking that picking up shares of, say, Exxon just wouldn’t feel quite right. So even though I have an idea or ten, I’m going to do a little research and see if I can come up with a few more appropriate avenues. If you have any suggestions, I’d love to hear ‘em!

What are you doing this July 1st? Join me in shutting everything off, even for just an hour…

At midday On Sunday July 1st 2007

we are asking everyone concerned about the effects of climate change to simply turn everything off for an hour. That is one hour with no cars, mobile phones, televisions, household appliances or any other non-vital equipment. We would also like as many businesses as possible to join in and publicly show their commitment to tackling climate change. Effectively, we want to unplug the world for an hour or at least your little bit of it.

One Hour No Power is not just another event about raising our awareness of global warming; after all, the media has been pretty good at scaring us all silly on that one. One Hour No Power is an event to raise awareness of our collective ability to tackle climate change through our everyday lives.

This is a people powered event for all, old and young, multi race, multi faith, as well as for those of no faith. It is an opportunity for us to come together and publicise an event ourselves, help to shape it, swap green ideas and talk to each other instead of being talked to.

It is up to you how you spend the hour. You could hold a sponsored event for your favourite environmental group, take to the roads on your bike, hug a tree (while stocks last), write your personal green action plan for the coming year or even hold a John and Yoko style love-in.

Visit www.onehournopower.com for more information about how you can join in.

Please help to promote One Hour No Power by circulating this email to friends and family.

Thank You!

Precisely who is the government trying to protect by suing a small Kansas meatpacker in order to prevent them from testing all of their cattle for BSE aka Mad Cow Disease, rather than the pitiful sub-1% level currently required?

For some reason, I don’t think it’s me or my family…

One area I’d love to lighten up on would be our family’s food budget, both in the area of environmental impact as well as dollars spent if possible. After all, who wouldn’t like to save a little money? Even though we live in the breadbasket of America with possibly the greatest concentration of agriculture in the world, it’s a lot more difficult to eat locally than you would ever think.

Oh, sure, locally raised beef / pork / chicken is everywhere (especially the first two). But there’s only so much meat you can eat before you, well, die. Try to find any local vegetables outside of onions, tomatoes, or sweet corn (bleh), and the pickings are slim indeed. Even hitting the local farmers market doesn’t yield much more: red and white onions, maybe a couple varieties of tomatoes, soon enough all the god awful sweet corn you can stand; if I’m lucky, some carrots or cucumbers of maybe even a green pepper or two might make an appearance. Heck, if I’d stumble on some asparagus or broccoli or salad greens or even garlic, I’d wonder if I was in the right place. No doubt my experience is tied to the quality of my particular farmers market (because I’ve been to many that are excellent; just not our local one ), so all you farmers market proponents out there can relax!

I’d love to get a local CSA subscription. But the closest ones I’ve been able to find leaves us quite a distance outside their delivery range. And far enough away that driving to pick up weekly deliveries makes no economic sense.

I’m personally looking forward to setting up our own garden - I’ve got too many ideas for what I’d like to attempt - once we settle a bit more at our new home. But considering that it’s almost June already(!), I’m not sure there is time this year to plant all that much. But future years will certainly see quite a bit of very local produce!

So I am a little bummed that I can’t pull something off like Rebecca Blood with her Eating Organic on a Food Stamp Budget series - Nebraska just ain’t California, I’m afraid. Our little family of three will just have to continue to spend a fairly ridiculous amount to eat. We go out of our way to avoid as much overprocessed food as possible, and unless I’m missing out on some cost savings that haven’t occurred to me, eating healthy is expensive.

I see via Lighter Footsteps that this week is National Vegetarian Week. When I first saw the headline I thought someone was taking a page from the Buy Nothing Day book by scheduling it during an especially meat-centric time: the opening of the grilling season AKA Memorial Day (Yes, I know that that is not the purpose of the day! Yet, many many grills will be making an appearance that day…). But I see the Vegetarian Society is UK-based, so I’ll excuse them from fighting the uphill battle here in the U.S.

Nevertheless, in the spirit of the week, I am going to be bringing a few extra veggies to any get-togethers I hit this weekend.

And I don’t just mean ketchup…