To most of us, indoor plumbing is pretty important. We bring in clean water, use it, and send the not-so-clean water out to be treated. And we all know that leaks are a problem - they waste water (which has a whole host of negative environmental impacts) and leaking water can cause serious damage to a home.
So we began a home repair recently to fix a major leak from our bathtub faucet. We had been staring at this leak for a while, but just didn't want to tackle it. I knew in my heart that to fix the leak was going to require replacing the whole fixture - and I did not want to do this.
Solder No More
Like most homes, ours has copper pipes. And the standard way to connect copper pipes and fixtures together is to solder the joints. Anyone who has tried to solder joints knows that this is not the easiest thing to do unless you've had a lot of practice. But there is now hope....
While shopping at our local home improvement store, we found a new type of connection for copper pipes. It requires NO soldering.....none....zero. If you don't feel extreme joy reading this, then you have never attempted to solder copper pipes together!
While I say "new", these items have likely been around for a while. The ones I used were sold under the brand name "Gator Bite" and they are simple to work with. Cut your pipe to length, remove the burs and clean off the inside and outside of the pipe, insert end of pipe into the fitting with a twisting motion.....done.
While this worked for me, it is not the only way to complete a piping job. Similar to the "Gator Bite" are the old-style compression fittings, which have been around for a long while and which are also effective at fastening water lines together (I have used these for external water filters on a refrigerator). There is also soldering the pipes together - done well, soldering provides you with a sure connection. But if you are like me and are soldering impaired, then there is hope. You can also hire a licensed professional to complete the work for you - I have had difficulty finding a plumbing professional that I can trust and that is available. As with any of the trades, if someone is thorough and does excellent work, that person normally has more work than they can do in a lifetime because of constant referrals.
Bottom Line
Water leaks are the enemy...and are something that need to be taken care of. Not just to reduce impact on the planet, but also to make sure that the leaking water doesn't destroy your home. Rotting boards, growing mold, rusting metal, inviting in pests - lots of bad stuff that a little water leak can do. But we can all take time to inventory our home and take care of those nagging water leaks. Good luck!
1/8/09
Easy Energy Saver
Recently, my wife brought home one of those window film kits. These kits are basically a roll of plastic film and some double sided tape - the theory behind this product is that by creating another air barrier across your window glass you improve the insulation rating of the window. This keeps more heat in during the winter, which should then lower your heating costs (and lower your environmental impact).
There were a couple of windows in our house that seemed to be colder than the others, so we decided to try out the film over these windows. I admit that I was skeptical about whether or not this would work. I get the science behind it, but wasn't convinced it would make that big of a difference.
The Results
Installing the film was relatively simple - if you can use scissors and work with double sided tape you can put in one of these kits. It didn't take very long and the windows were covered.
Just yesterday I decided to chek out one of the windows to see how well the window film was working. As I was standing there, I passed my hand along the surface of the film to see if I noticed a difference. At first, I didn't really notice a difference - the air just above the window seemed to be about the same temperature as the surrounding wall. Maybe an improvement, but I just wasn't sure. Then I passed my hand along the bottom of the window.
That's when I felt the cold air - it felt like cold water was pouring out of the window. And then I noticed the hole. We have dogs, and one of them must have punctured the film when jumping up to look out the window. The film was doing its job, except where there was a hole. I grabbed some clear packing tape and repaired the hole, which stopped the "leak" of cold air.
To make a long story short (too late), the window film kit has improved the insulation of the window. I don't know how big of an impact it will have on our overall heating costs, but it is helping in those rooms where the film kits are installed. So if you have issues with cold air from a window, spend a few dollars and a few minutes and install one of these film kits. They do work and they will save you a little bit of energy in the process!
There were a couple of windows in our house that seemed to be colder than the others, so we decided to try out the film over these windows. I admit that I was skeptical about whether or not this would work. I get the science behind it, but wasn't convinced it would make that big of a difference.
The Results
Installing the film was relatively simple - if you can use scissors and work with double sided tape you can put in one of these kits. It didn't take very long and the windows were covered.
Just yesterday I decided to chek out one of the windows to see how well the window film was working. As I was standing there, I passed my hand along the surface of the film to see if I noticed a difference. At first, I didn't really notice a difference - the air just above the window seemed to be about the same temperature as the surrounding wall. Maybe an improvement, but I just wasn't sure. Then I passed my hand along the bottom of the window.
That's when I felt the cold air - it felt like cold water was pouring out of the window. And then I noticed the hole. We have dogs, and one of them must have punctured the film when jumping up to look out the window. The film was doing its job, except where there was a hole. I grabbed some clear packing tape and repaired the hole, which stopped the "leak" of cold air.
To make a long story short (too late), the window film kit has improved the insulation of the window. I don't know how big of an impact it will have on our overall heating costs, but it is helping in those rooms where the film kits are installed. So if you have issues with cold air from a window, spend a few dollars and a few minutes and install one of these film kits. They do work and they will save you a little bit of energy in the process!
1/5/09
Externalities - or, What's the real cost?
So my inner teacher has appeared again with a big word for the day. It's a term generally used in economics (having take a few courses, I know why it's referred to as the dismal science), but has seen increasing use by environmentalists. Here is my take on the term....
What does it mean?
An externality is either a cost or a benefit that is not part of the reason why I might buy something. It often comes in the form of a cost or benefit to a third party, someone who was not involved in the original transaction. A quick example (which I pulled off of Wikipedia here) is that of a homeowner who puts time and money into a beautiful landscape. This improvement may have the effect of raising the property value of adjacent homeowners. They receive the benefit without having put any money into the equation.
And this connects to the environment, how?
One of the most cited examples of an externality is that of pollution - a side effect of an industrial activity can be pollution to air, water or land. While there are regulations and costs to meeting environmental rules, not all of the costs associated with pollution are usually included with the cost of a product or service.
One example is the air pollution that comes from power plants. While there are rules that control most of this pollution, there are still dusts and other chemicals that are released into the air - and these things can cause breathing problems in children or others with respiratory diseases (asthma, etc.). During a "bad air day", emergency rooms and doctors see an increase in the number of patients with breathing issues, which puts a financial burden on the health care system that is not currently compensated (especially in low income areas - but environmental justice is a topic for another day).
Where environmentalists come into play, is their belief that if these external costs were added into the cost of a product or service that people would change their behavior. What if the medical costs of all these people were added up, and the total cost divided and added to my power bill? What if I faced paying an extra $10 or $20 or $100 per month to compensate society for the medical impact of the air pollution created generating my electricity? Would saving electricity become more important? When external costs are added on it can make a difference.
What can I do?
One thing each of us can do is education. Educate ourselves on the external costs of the products and services that we use. Educate our families and friends - share with them what we have learned.
And then, each of us can take what we learn and change our own behavior. Instead of waiting for the external costs to be included, we can make our decision based on what we know and do what we feel is right. If everyone takes action, it can have an impact. The more I learn, the more I am moved to act. So let's get moving and work on changing the equation!
What does it mean?
An externality is either a cost or a benefit that is not part of the reason why I might buy something. It often comes in the form of a cost or benefit to a third party, someone who was not involved in the original transaction. A quick example (which I pulled off of Wikipedia here) is that of a homeowner who puts time and money into a beautiful landscape. This improvement may have the effect of raising the property value of adjacent homeowners. They receive the benefit without having put any money into the equation.
And this connects to the environment, how?
One of the most cited examples of an externality is that of pollution - a side effect of an industrial activity can be pollution to air, water or land. While there are regulations and costs to meeting environmental rules, not all of the costs associated with pollution are usually included with the cost of a product or service.
One example is the air pollution that comes from power plants. While there are rules that control most of this pollution, there are still dusts and other chemicals that are released into the air - and these things can cause breathing problems in children or others with respiratory diseases (asthma, etc.). During a "bad air day", emergency rooms and doctors see an increase in the number of patients with breathing issues, which puts a financial burden on the health care system that is not currently compensated (especially in low income areas - but environmental justice is a topic for another day).
Where environmentalists come into play, is their belief that if these external costs were added into the cost of a product or service that people would change their behavior. What if the medical costs of all these people were added up, and the total cost divided and added to my power bill? What if I faced paying an extra $10 or $20 or $100 per month to compensate society for the medical impact of the air pollution created generating my electricity? Would saving electricity become more important? When external costs are added on it can make a difference.
What can I do?
One thing each of us can do is education. Educate ourselves on the external costs of the products and services that we use. Educate our families and friends - share with them what we have learned.
And then, each of us can take what we learn and change our own behavior. Instead of waiting for the external costs to be included, we can make our decision based on what we know and do what we feel is right. If everyone takes action, it can have an impact. The more I learn, the more I am moved to act. So let's get moving and work on changing the equation!
1/1/09
Fresh Start.....
Today is the first day of a new year - 2009 to be specific. And I find myself looking back on 2008; checking on my progress and taking stock of what I accomplished.....and everything I did not. For me, the new year can be something of a let down - there is always something I didn't do during the past year that I felt I should have done.
Now I'm not talking about keeping New Year's Resolutions - I gave up that game a long time ago. Mostly its about the little ideas I get in my head throughout the year. I'll see an article about something I can do to reduce my environmental impact, and immediately my brain will spring into action. "Well" I will say to myself, "that's something I can do". Sometimes it gets done and I feel very good about myself (and somewhat smug about my increasing greeness), but more often it gets relegated to that pile of really good ideas that I didn't get to.
Comfort & Convenience
And when I review the happenings of the past year what I find is that the changes that stuck, the things that really got going were things that didn't disrupt my comfort or cause me inconvenience. That's the hard truth, if I am to be really honest with myself.....it's because of me that I didn't make more changes in my life.
Hence the reason for my slightly somber mood as I make my way through Jan 1 (that and my college football team is not in a Bowl game for the first time in a long time). And so I found myself perusing some green websites and blogs and came across this article. And it reminded me that while there are those out there who have made significant (some would say crazy) changes in their lives (see here, here and here) it doesn't make the rest of us who didn't get there bad people. It makes us human.
That doesn't mean we get to sit back and let others do the heavy lifting. It means that I need to work harder, pray more and seek more guidance in 2009. It means I need to look back on my failures as an opportunity to learn, and to make those changes that will allow me to succeed this year. It means I need to stop looking back, and start looking forward - to rejoice in the hope of a new day (and year), not to wallow in despair over my shortcomings.
So its time for a fresh start.....no resolutions, no wishing. Just a renewed sense of purpose. So, are you ready for a fresh start?
Now I'm not talking about keeping New Year's Resolutions - I gave up that game a long time ago. Mostly its about the little ideas I get in my head throughout the year. I'll see an article about something I can do to reduce my environmental impact, and immediately my brain will spring into action. "Well" I will say to myself, "that's something I can do". Sometimes it gets done and I feel very good about myself (and somewhat smug about my increasing greeness), but more often it gets relegated to that pile of really good ideas that I didn't get to.
Comfort & Convenience
And when I review the happenings of the past year what I find is that the changes that stuck, the things that really got going were things that didn't disrupt my comfort or cause me inconvenience. That's the hard truth, if I am to be really honest with myself.....it's because of me that I didn't make more changes in my life.
Hence the reason for my slightly somber mood as I make my way through Jan 1 (that and my college football team is not in a Bowl game for the first time in a long time). And so I found myself perusing some green websites and blogs and came across this article. And it reminded me that while there are those out there who have made significant (some would say crazy) changes in their lives (see here, here and here) it doesn't make the rest of us who didn't get there bad people. It makes us human.
That doesn't mean we get to sit back and let others do the heavy lifting. It means that I need to work harder, pray more and seek more guidance in 2009. It means I need to look back on my failures as an opportunity to learn, and to make those changes that will allow me to succeed this year. It means I need to stop looking back, and start looking forward - to rejoice in the hope of a new day (and year), not to wallow in despair over my shortcomings.
So its time for a fresh start.....no resolutions, no wishing. Just a renewed sense of purpose. So, are you ready for a fresh start?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
