Q. I came across your website this weekend, and it has been really enjoyable reading it. I am trying to switch all our light to compact fluorescents, but I have run into one problem. In our kitchen, halls, and bathroom, we have light fixtures (holes) that are recessed, and the compact fluorescent bulbs needed for [...]
Q. What did you do to help drastically reduce your electricity usage?
A. We purchased a energy efficient Kenmore model from Sears back in 2003. The City of Pasadena offered(s) money back incentives to buy Energy Star appliances, and we got a considerable rebate! A friend of ours posted on her blog of the drastic drop [...]
Q. Besides replacing your appliances and the solar power, what other ways do you cut electricity?
A. Besides changing over the majority of our appliances and such (computer, tv, fridge, washer) over to Energy Efficient models, we do without all “unnecessary gadgets” such as hair dryers, electric shavers, blender (use a hand crank one), microwave, can [...]
Q. How long have you been using your sun oven?
A. We’ve been using solar ovens since the late 1990s. Over the years, we’ve made our share of cardboard solar box cookers (including one from a recycled pizza box). However, over time the cardboard would get dented or just look ratty. [...]
Q. I have a small question: how did you go about unplugging yourself from electricity? How long did it take to find alternatives?
A. As you can see from our ENERGY CHART (PDF) we cut our energy usage in 1/2 to an average 6.5 kwh (from the City of Pasadena site a “normal” Pasadena family uses [...]
