I'm retired and have lived on the Northcoast for almost 30 years. This year I turned down my thermostat down to 62 during the day and 60 or less at night. I warm up the house to 65 once a day for 30 minutes if I feel really cold or the sharp ocean wind is blowing or I'm preparing to take a shower. I had to turn up the heat when my children stayed for a couple of weeks at Christmas, but they were impressed by my fortitude. It saved money.

I depended on wearing polar fleece and thermal shirts and pants day and night, in several layers, and covered up in bed with a fleece blanket over my other blankets. I couldn't have survived the winter without polar fleece.

George, I drive a Toyota Corolla that still gets 40 MPG on a trip. I keep my tires proplerly inflated and don't carry 500 lbs of junk in my trunk. I also don't do jackrabbit starts and I usually drive 60 MPH. I"m happy to get to my destination about 5 minutes after the speeders!
My monthly utility bill even in winter isn't more than $50 per month. I have sweaters and comfy socks to wear and don't need the heater up to 80 degrees. Most of my lights are fluorescent and I don't leave them all on when I"m not in the room. Everyone can do at least a few of these money-saving ideas.
Janet

I am a resident of Contra Costa County living in Port Costa for 22 years, but hailing from Pennsylvania where the weather is quite different. I have been hanging my wash on the line outside in the generous California sunshine and warmer temperatures since moving here. My family did not have a dryer; our wash was hung in the basement on freezing and raining days of which there were weeks and weeks and weeks. I have encouraged other women to hang their wash, but so many feel it is a sign of poverty and others don't wish their undergarments to be seen. A response to the first might be to advertise the dollar amount in savings from 1 month's dryer use; to offer savings on purchases of washlines, clothespins, clothespin bags, pulleys for the washline; maybe whole kits could be created. And the installation of the necessary poles or pulleys from houses to trees, etc could be performed by groups such as the Boys Scouts or the Sierra Club. The emphasis on the smart and efficient way of doing things over the glamor and well-to-do- factors is so much more difficult to overcome in California, I fear, that it will take an enormous downturn in peoples' individual fortunes to get them to give up their dryers. The soultion to the second factor of modesty is solved by using fold-out drying racks available in many places and in catalogs.

In my case I have a Toyota prius to save on gas. My wife and I have a garden raising vegetables. We purchase food from discount stores, and clothes from thrift stores.
I am looking for an installation on my Prius to increase the mileage to 150mpg with a new Lithium-ion battery pack. I expect the price of oil to reach from 200 to 300 dollars a barrel by January of 2009. I am convinced we are in a deep recession of stagflation which drop into a full depression with no end in sight. Look for $10. per gal by 2009

"What are you doing to conserve energy?"

Hi George,

As one of your Martinez constituents, I am proud to have built one of the greenest homes in the Bay Area. The home has a very tight envelope with massive concrete floors, so that it stays cool in the summer & warm in the winter. Solar hot water collectors provide warmth in the winter & hot showers all year around. Solar pv (Photo Voltaics) will produce more electricity than will be used in the home.

The house has so many green features that it has been selected for the Alameda Coco Counties Green Homes Tour. The tour is June 1, you and/or your representatives are invited to tour my home. The address is 627 Teresa, Martinez. If the first of June is not convenient, feel free to invite yourselves for another time.

Thank you for your time & attention,
Joseph Metz

I hate to admit that I drive a '95 Chevy Blazer. But putting gas in it is NOT very painful because I work from my home. In fact, the vehicle only has 55,000 miles on it after all these years. Working from home is a godsend in so many ways if you can swing it. With a computer and an Internet connection, the working world can come right to your doorstep ... and save you a ton of gas money in the process.

Regardless, one thing I do religiously is to "gang" all of my errands together so that my gas guzzler is only used when absolutely necessary and in the most efficient manner.

My house has solar hot water, which saves a good deal on my PG&E bill. And the home is well insulated. But I, too, keep the thermostat down around 62 to 64. In the summer, I "board up" west facing windows with thick white cardboard on the inside of each pane to help keep the house cool. And I live without air conditioning (which I will admit, the elderly should NOT attempt to do!)

I would love to hang my wash out, but my homeowner's association has "rules" against such "unsightly" things. Boy, those "rules" would sure surprise my Grandmother who hung her wash out for most of her life.

Pat

I have been using CFLS for three years and have seen a noticeable reduction in my electric bills. I run the dishwasher only when it is full and at night,after the rates go down. I don't turn the air conditioner on til after 5:00 and only when it is very hot. I take public transportation when ever I can.Thank you for all your hard work in this area and other interests of your constituents. Melissa Miller

The phantom power option may have an adverse side effect. Some electronic equipment is designed to always be in this mode not just for quick access but to keep the circuitry stable and saved setup information. Constantly unplugging and plugging in the equipment may shorten the life of the component as well as possibly wiping out saved data.

We implemented your five energy saving tips years ago, and we have extended our energy savings plan to include:

Replacing all appliances to Energy Star efficiency, with low capacity water use where applicable; additionally, we wash/dry clothes and dishes during evening hours only. We donated or recycled our television sets and all components, and have not replaced them. We purchased an energy saving MacBook Pro, and will recycle our desktop computer and monitor by using the Apple recycling program. We dug-up our old analog telephone which does not need a power supply. We have two cars that average 30-34 miles to a gallon; and we bundle all essential driving into ‘areas’. If we have only one task to complete in an area, we wait to drive there until we have no less than three tasks. (This does not cover emergencies, commuting, or visits with family)

Recently, we moved to an HOA new home where native plants are thriving. We plan to construct our backyard to include native plants, top-screened and lumber-less pergolas for shading, and bottled gas grill for cooking.

We have Energy Star-qualified windows, and our window treatments will include block-out linings for all windows that are brutalized by the sun. Additionally, at our old home we replaced our old sliding patio doors with Energy Star-qualified steel French-doors, and have made upgrades to Energy Star products for our new lessees.

As time passes we will continue to find additional ways in which we can diminish our carbon-footprint. Furthermore, we hope that AT&T will match our efforts and embrace the idea of telecommuting for more employees! For us, this small effort could save hundreds of gallons a fuel a year.

Your efforts to share helpful tips on saving energy, as well as fighting the good-fight in the House, are truly appreciated; thank you!

I save energy by using a clothes line instead of my dryer, by washing dishes by hand instead of using my dishwasher, and by composing my food waste instead of using the garbage grinder. I am hoping to afford solar electricity in the near future.

Hi George,
We live in Pacheco in an old house built long before insulation was common, but we do find ways to save energy. We run our dishasher only when it is completely full and air dry the dishes. We only wash full loads of laundry and use cold water in all but one load. We keep our thermostat off unless necessary - and on those few 100 degree days we recently had, we kept our thermostat at 85 degrees. We also put in "black out" curtains to prevent the West windows from heating up the entire house in summer. In the winter, we bundle up with lots of extra layers and keep our thermostat at 65 degrees. We use our propane grill to cook outside whenever possible. We keep lights off during the day. We plant drough tolerant plants and use our well water to water our lawn.
Thanks for all you do for your consituents! Your committment to kids, families and the environment is always appreciated!

Someone told me to place alumininum foil on the windows. He stated during hot summer months that it cooled his home (and his children's rooms) by nearly 10 degrees. During the recent May heatwave I did it and I think it was at least 10 degrees cooler in the house. The shiny side of the foil should face outdoors. It seemed to have worked and I have it in every window now.

We recycle or reuse everything we can, and eat from our garden. We always wash our laundry between 7 pm and 7 am in cold water, and hang it on the back porch to air dry, then give it a 2 minute heatless air fluff so it's less crunchy. We drive an energy efficient Prius and offer rides to anyone headed our way. I'd love to find a good way to capture used shower water for watering plants. Any ideas out there?

Dear George,

You are always sthe best and on top of things. I have been telling all my friends sthat we will know when the politicians are serious about energy independence when they reqire solar eneregy. As you may have noticed, the whole world runs on solar energy. Germany buys one half of all the solar pannels produced in the world, and they dont have half the sun we do in California. We could be energy independent NOW if we had the energy policy of Germany.

The bill you have helped pass is good but not great. Not if we truly want to be energy independent. We need an energy bill moe than we need a farm bill. We need solar on alal new constructions and subsidiese that create jobs and make it feasible for everyone to have solar on their roof, whether renters or home owners - just like Germany - or better.

Ronn Patterson

Dear Honorable Congressman Miller,

I live in Pleasant Hill for the last three years but before that I was in Concord for 28 years and am proud to have known you as my representative.
I do not use a car anymore and take public transportation. It takes far too long to get anything done but it is worth it to know I am saving at least Contra Costa Area from more polution. I congratulate people when I see them driving a hybrid or Smart Car. They appreciate it!!!
I do not watch TV. There is mostly junk on it anyway! With the savings
not paying cable and electricity I take AMTRAK trips. Beats using the sardine cans airlines fly now!
I turn off my gas pilot on the heater from March to December. Every little bit does help.
Because I get migraines from Florescent light bulbs;
I still use the irradescent ones. I think it is a mistake to outlaw them.
I have to stock up now for when the day comes when I can't buy the irradenscent kind.
I only wash clothes with cold water. With certain detergents the clothes get just as clean as hot water.
I am sure there is more that I can do. I will try harder in the future!
Sincerely
Veronica Vale

for $5 got a bicycle at the thrift store ,now pedal to places that are a couple of miles away.

These comments are great! A couple of links for those of you interested in looking further at these issues.

The California Urban Water Conservation Council has information on household water reuse (also known as "greywater"):
http://tinyurl.com/456am9

California's Flex Your Power program helps you find rebates and services offered locally: http://www.fypower.org/

PG&E has a number of rebates available as well as an online evaluation of savings opportunities from home efficiency investments: http://www.pge.com/myhome/saveenergymoney/

And to save water and money this summer, check with your local water utility. East Bay MUD, Contra Costa Water District, and the Solano County Water Agency all have tips to help you cut down on your water bill while protecting the Bay-Delta:

http://ebmud.com/conserving_&_recycling/water_smart_tips/default.htm

http://www.ccwater.com/conserve/index.asp

http://www.scwa2.com/water.html

We've been hanging clothes on the line for years, are now driving our 2nd Prius, and recycling everything we can think of (aluminum, plastic, glass, cardboard/paper and batteries). We are thinking now of how we can conserve water. We had roof-top solar water heaters until they required replacement and we calculated that the savings wasn't merited because all it was doing was cutting our water heater bill. This year we added a fireplace insert and think it could greatly minimize our heating bill in the winter. We have also considered a windmill jointly with neighbor.

I live in Benicia and use my electric bicycle to get around town to do my shopping, visiting friends and exercise.
I'm looking into wind energy because Benicia is beautifully situated to take advantage of wind but I'm running into sound and other barriers.

Constance Beutel, EdD

We turn off our wall furnace's gas pilot light during the summer months. We live in the San Francisco east bay where it's still chilly and foggy during the summer, but it's not that cold. We installed double pane windows years ago.
We recycle everything except for the dreaded PVC.

I live in California and we have had solar panels for over 10 years now. I think it should be incorporated into the law somehow that all new houses build after 2010 (just to mention a year) that all houses should be build with solar panels. Imagine the effect of this law on the environment.

I would like to know when Congress is going to take some positive proper action to address the lack of comprehensive energy policy in the United States. The implementation of the ethanol initiative has proven to be an absolute disaster which if people had looked at the facts, they would have know what was going to happen. For decades we have done nothing toward drilling for oil in the United States and offshore. The United States has little/no right to "whine" about foreign oil prices since we have done little to address the issue for decades. On another subject the United States has done nothing to allow or push the use of nuclear power in the United States. Nuclear power could be a massive step toward energy independence for the United States. The United States with 5% of the world's population consumes 25% of the world's energy. When are we going to take about true conservation measures. Why isn't Congress in the processing of debating and discussing the implementation of a 55 mph speed limit which would greatly reduce the use of crude required by the United States. I look forward to further discussion.

I have put my TV/DVD on a strip-plug/surge protector-- and I turn off and on from the switch-- so my electronic equipment will not be idol- all the time with the light on -- even when you think is off. This is suppose to save energy. I have also made sure my house has insulation top to bottom -- to help my home stay cool in the summer and to hold the heat in the winter.

I save energy by re-using the ice when I make a martini. Instead of throwing it away, I just put the whole shaker in the freezer for next time!

George and all, thanks for all the energy saving tips. We will use most of the suggestions. One though, we cannot and that's the composte suggestion. Up here in Alaska, right behind our place, we have bears and moose roaming by and they would love this extra treat. Gas up here in Anchorage went up to $4.09 today. We are all in this together and it is a wakeup call for everyone.

Thanks again for all your tips. Keep them comin'.

It is a disgrace to read energy saving tips on the floor of the House, George. Rein in the oil companies, NATIONALIZE the OIL COMPANIES. The people of the United States are telling you how to save pennies when the oil company CEO's are making MILLIONS???? AND SOME OF THE CEO's don't even KNOW how many MILLIONS they make?

Who are you guys representing? No impeachment and now the oil companies are cleaning up on the backs of the American worker. Truckers are suffering, the average family suffers, the middle class is falling apart (as Bush Co. planned), the standard of living has fallen, there are more homeless people than ever before (and housing costs are sky high and subsidized housing is almost non-existent) and you want our "tips on how to save energy?"

I live in a one bedroom low-income apartment in San Pablo. I only use two pieces of electricity at a time for each person present which is usually one. I only use two light bulbs in my four light bulb fan/light. I use fluorescent light bulbs received from the PG&E program. Am switching to an atomic clock with rechargeable battery, and timers for bedroom light. Am getting my place weather-stripped and low energy flow shower and kitchen sink faucet heads. Using less water in bath. Use only one burner on stove. Use microwave more, stove and oven less. In winter, mattress pads with plastic side up generates lots of heat in bed. I use daylight hours to work at my desk. I used to have a Geo Metro which was getting 42 miles per gallon; that was $18.50 per week in gas commuting to Berkeley and back four days per week. Now I use BART and bus which is only $9.50 per week (red disabled BART card and disabled bus fares). I bring my in-box in recyclable grocery bag with me on public transportation which makes my desk neater at home, keeps me busy and takes care of business while commuting. I water plants with grey shower water and flush toilet with it too (building muscles and tone). We have energy saving appliances here. I have started a vegetable garden. Instead of far away vacations, decided to explore the City across the bay which is always there so knew I could go anytime. Using energy alternative book "The Integral Urban House", now out of print but was a great place in Berkeley when I visited it in the 1970's.

I'm working on bringing alternative energy classes to Contra Costa College and a program like Richmond Build to San Pablo which would create more green jobs locally. I recycle everything possible. Would like some help starting a community garden outside our complex.

Thanks for all your help. I've been behind you and you have us since I started voting in the late 1970's.

We put a UV blocking film on all of our windows to cut down on our air conditioning in summer. It was the easiest suggestion in The Cabon-Busters Handbook-- and cheap. We also hung up a laundry line and use it instead of the drier about half the time.

MAKE YOUR OWN BIODIESEL

I have designed the system to grow algae, extract the algal oil and make biodiesel from the algal oil. This approach requires a covered pond, an algal oil extraction plant and a transesterificaton plant. I have the science and technology on paper and am in the process of preparing the working drawings. This system is a hoot and a holler away from growing our own liquid fuel. Anyone interested? Write me an email at: jimmiller5417@yahoo.com

Jim Miller

It's wonderful to read all the things that others are doing to save energy and reduce global warming!
I work at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, and have been commuting to work by bicycle, even through all the rains and winter cold. I ride a few extra miles from Richmond, where I live, in order to use the Bay Bikepath that skirts the edge of the water and has great ocean views. I arrive at work in Berkeley, and back at home in the evening, in a great mood after the exercise of riding and the fun of not being stuck in all the Bay Area traffic jams I ride past.
We also keep our home temperature below 64 in the day and below 58 at night; dressing warmly does it. We also hang out our wash to dry; bonus is that it smells better!
It's been fun taking on this global warming challenge, even at the age of 60.

George,
I am hoping that you will resign and we will get a congressman that will support drilling in ANDWAR, plus support nuclear power, plus allow oil refineries to be built and allow off shore drilling plus more use of clean coal and natural gas.

I think you are more interested in saving the latest endangered species than the economic well being of the people who elected you.

It is because of the political gridlock in Washington which you are pushing with all your influence that nothing gets done. It's no wonder congress has a lower approval rating than the president.

John Lillis

I cut w-a-y back on clothes dryer time, bought a couple of those wooden drying racks and hang my clothes outdoors to dry. Like many energy/money-saving practices, this one also has side benefits: my clothes smell fresh and I get the added exercise of hanging and retrieving them outdoors.

We are both 50's kids so do practice conservation
and a Victory Garden....

Keep up the good work and we'll support your
commitment to environmental issues and supporting
the seniors.....you are one and we are all influential in decisions for supporting the
next generation decision makers.

Well we have hit a crude oil price of over $138 per barrel today and may very well be headed for $150. Congress needs to start taking some position action on opening drilling offshore of the United States and steps toward implementing nuclear power and fixing the nuclear waste disposal issue. We can not continue to have a Congress that does nothing for another two decades. I hope everyone understands that the Chinese are drilling for oil 80 miles off the coast of the United States but we don't! George, what is wrong with this picture and when is Congress going to do something positive to move toward a comprehensive, fact based energy policy. Some good reading at www.house.gov/johnpeterson/energy/index.htm
Enjoy.

I encourage everyone to read the bill American Energy Act (HR 6566). In thirty years I think it might be the first comprehensive energy legislation introduced into Congress. It would go a long way to solve the energy situation the United States has allowed ourselves to get into by not implementing a comprehensive energy plan for decades. See the bill at http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c110:H.R.6566:

When is Congress and the White House going to do something to establish a comprehensive United States Energy Policy. I think Congress should not have recessed before working on established the country's energy needs of the future. I am encouraging President Bush to call Congress back into session since the Congress has taken any positive action toward solving the problem!

I recently purchased CA-40 fuel additive and it has made a big difference in my gas mileage. I have also done the things that Congressman Miller recommends in his latest mailer - all lighting is CFL, unplug electronics, programmable thermostat. I have a balanced payment plan on my PGE and have watched my balanced amount go down by 20%!

Another thing that I want my neighbors to know about is the PowerwoRX E3 - see the URL and contact me if you are either interested in purchasing one of these for your home or business or becoming a dealer or installer.

My wife and I had solar panels installed on the roof to generate electricity. Our electric bill each month is zero. I live in Vallejo, but I used to live in Berkeley where I got used to cooler weather. In the summer we can now run the air conditioner without guilt or expense. In fact, over the last 12 months we have generated more peak-hour electricity then we have used.

The intitial cost is high, but there are rebates and tax credits (George, be sure we keep getting the credits!). We compute a rate-of-return exceeding 5% per year, which is better than a CD right now.

I am a retired California resident. I have been using the enerygy saving tips listed on your mailer. And I appreciate the additional ones people have mentioned in the blog. But I have to agree with the person who stated that these ideas all represent minimal savings when compared to the profits that the oil companies are posting. I think congress should be working to eliminate the market speculation which raises the price of oil and to end the tax breaks the oil companies receive. It seems that the oil companies' are making only half-hearted attempts to find alternative, renewable energy sources----as an excuse to still qualify fo the tax incentives.

My efforts to cut energy costs include reducing the thermostat to 60 degrees in the winter.
Sweats and layers of clothes work fine.
I use a swamp cooler rather than an air conditioner for summer cooling.
I drive 62 mph in my 1992 Toyota Camry that still gets 30 mpg.
I have replace light bulbs with CFL's.
Drive to do errands less and include a neighbor.
If a store is close, I walk to the store and post office.
Turned down the hot water heater setting, and do dishes once a day. Do not use a dish washer.

I still dry my clothes out on the screened in porch on a clothes rack. Do not use the dryer and the clothes last a lot longer too.
Wash the car once a month instead of once a week.
Use the PG and E balance payment plan so the payments keep level and avoid high winter rates.
Watch only 10 hours of t.v. in a week, and wait to celebrate when Bush is no longer President.

I feel I'm in a time warp. I can't believe that we are reliving the debates over off-shore drilling, nuclear power, coal power, and downsizing of automobiles. I remember those discussions from the '60s on. I drove a VW Beetle then, waited in gas lines in the '70s, cheered when we stopped off-shore drilling in CA, etc. Don't families pass down their histories?

And all along the solar industry limped along developing technology without government support. The oil companies receive subsidies, but, oh no, not expensive solar. The government has been so short sighted. Why hasn't it used the bully pulpit for some good?

I see the government recycling its old tired lines. It is so depressing when it could be doing so much good. McCain is the biggest disappointment, and Obama had better stick to his "guns." Congressman Miller, I don't think we should release any of the oil reserves. I don't think we should give immediate relief to gas guzzlers and one person occupant vehicles. The American people have already driven down the price of oil by driving down the demand. Good for us!

As for me at present, I am using more fluorescent lightbulbs even though they contain mercury and can't go into the landfill. I drive a lot less. When I moved to my present home, I chose a place where I could walk to take care of most of my necessities. When I go to San Francisco, I travel on BART. I buy local produce first and never from Central and South America. I only use heat between November and April. I wish I could afford to put in solar.

Thank you for this forum.

"...what you're doing to keep energy costs down ..."

Hi George,

This is my first ever blog entry, but I thought it worth adding my 2 cents worth. I have stopped driving to protest gas prices and global warming! I have become creative about combining my need for exercise with errands. I am fortunate to live in a small enough town (Benicia) where I can either walk or ride my bike almost everywhere. I do my grocery shopping with one of those two-wheeled grocery cart or I put the bags in the special carriers on my bike. I also shop for my 97 year old Mother who lives 10 blocks away, and deliver her groceries on my bike. I have downloaded all the bus and BART schedules and have been making trips to Berkeley and S.F. by public transportation, sometimes with my bike.

I feel more fit than ever (by the way, I am 65) and more in integrity because I am living in accord with my values. So, having done my part to cut down on energy consumption, I say, NO, don't drill off our coast!!!

Alexa

I hang laundry on lines on non rainy days. Our thermostat is set and we don't allow the furnace to come on unless it is really needed. My husband is a heart patient and he is cold most of the time. He dresses in layers of clothing.
I recycle everything possible. The Vallejo Garbage service provides cans for recycling of glass, tin, plastic, paper and yardwaste.

I've been using green energy for some time now and it's worked wonders when it comes to paying the energy bill every month. I've managed to cut the costs of energy by nearly 80% in just a few short months. Going green is definitely one of the best ways to save a ton of money on energy.

http://www.squidoo.com/earth4energydiyguidereview