Do You Know Where Your Electricity Comes From?

What would you find if you traced the wires from your light switch to their energy source? Mountain top removal, global warming and childhood asthma. And possibly hope.

Do you know where your electricity (energy) comes from? Have you ever thought about how many kilowatt hours that your home uses each month? Did you know that across America, our beautiful mountains are being ravaged so that we can have coal to run our homes energy needs?

The average American has far too many appliances in their home. Every kitchen has a refrigerator (sometimes two!), an oven and stove, a microwave and dishwasher. Take a look at the additional small electric appliances that you have on your kitchen cabinet? Do you have an electric lotion warmer in your bathroom? How many other computers, printers, cell phone chargers, clock radios and televisions do you have plugged in while not used? It is sobering to take a look at our energy usage, and yet we can take a cue from Jeff Barrie, Producer and Director of Kilowatt Ours, on how to become a Net-Zero Nation.

I recently shared the DVD Kilowatt Ours with a group of energy conscious people. It is my pact with myself and our environment to share this DVD with as many people as I can.

Jeff Barrie gives America the tools for how to save $600 per year on energy usage just by following his Top 10 Steps.

1. Sign the Kilowatt Ours pledge and join the Net-Zero Network!
2. Perform an energy audit on your home.
3. Replace the 5 most used light bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs.
4. Switch lights and electronic devices off when they are not in use.
5. Adjust the thermostat to 68 degrees in winter, and 78 degrees in summer.
6. Upgrade refrigerator and clothes washer to Energy Star products.
7. Improve insulation of your attic, exterior walls and floors.
8. Weatherize and seal windows, doors, air ducts ect.
9. Financ a home-energy renovation with an Energy Efficient Mortgage.
10. Use a portion of your savings to pay for green power.

Best of all, the average home can save 8,378 pounds of coal per year, and with the greening of America, we can hope to see a shift in our global warming which is devastating our environment.

And check with your local power company to see if you can purchase shares of green power. This is an option in Tennessee, and in many other states.

To learn more about Kilowatt Ours, and how to work towards reducing your burden on our environment, visit KilowattOurs.org. And for more information about products that can help you live a greener life, and reduce your energy usage, check out Gaiam.com.

Jyotsna