What have I done?

So, put up or shut tinman.... what exactly have you done, so far, to be Greener Than? Well... the whole point of this blog is to chronicle steps, stages, compare notes, compete (in a friendly sort of way) to do even more, do better, do it right so that all of us can exist more sustainably... so this is just the beginning and this doesn't include everything, and some things I did, but don't do now, and some things, I'll say, are what I hope to do.

Perhaps the biggest things I have done is go solar (see photos). Specifically, I have a 2.7kw PV array plus a 20 tube Thermomax hot water heater system. 2.7kw is enough for about 35 - 40% of my yearly total power (based on last year's bill). I am trying to lower my power use by at least 10% from last year by switching to LED lights (the one flood pictured uses just 2.75 watts of power... compared to 16 watts for the compact florescent I replaced and lasts 10x longer, and mercury free to boot), replacing desktop PC's with laptops, plugging everything possible into power strips to completely cut them off when not in use, line drying, replacing appliances as they fail with the most efficient, longest lasting types I can find, turning down the heat, and so on. The solar hot water by the way has, since July, made 100% of all the hot water we need. In Seattle... I expect that our gloomy winter will reduce that significantly... but I expect overall for the 20 tube unit to make 60% of our total hot water, or better, on average.

There is much more to update on re: household greening... like comparing gas + electric bills before and after the solar stuff. Before, (2007) my August gas + electric bill was $85 (our house is already extremely well insulated). After, (2008) $12 in my favor (this is after factoring in the WA state incentive that I won't receive until July 2009... my actual power bill was $33). Our only natural gas use was to keep pilot light running on original water heater and our PV made approximately 57% of our total electricity). In the next two years, I plan to add additional PV to get to at least 3.5kw, hopefully more (this stuff ain't cheap, that's for sure). Next time... transportation.

Links:
http://www.ledlight.com/LZHousehold.aspx
(LED light source)
http://www.ccrane.com/lights/led-light-bulbs/index.aspx
(another LED light source)
http://www.aandrsolar.com/
(PV and water heater installers, I endorse these guys - they do great work and they are friendly, well informed, communicative contractors)
http://solar.sharpusa.com/solar/modules/1,2474,4-2,00.html
(I have Sharp PV panels)
http://www.thermomax.com/Tech_Index.php
(Thermomax - my brand of solar hot water collector)
http://www.iinet.com/~solarwashington/
(another great site for research on WA state solar resources)