Power Down, Y'all!

That says 37.4%.  It was drawn during a euphoric jubilee, so go easy.

"I'm just one person, what can I do?"   - some idiot, 2010

 A lot of people look at the energy quandary we're in and feel no solution is possibly on the horizon - what with the confluence of spiraling national debt, protracted economic agony and population growth that will threaten our way of living for future generations.  With that frame of mind, it's easy to just want to lay down on your couch and order Papa John's, while making sure to request extra garlic sauce, because they won't give it to you if you don't ask.

And then there's me - brilliant like a wizard and twice as popular at parties.  Why?  Because simple old me, with merely a drive to change and some questionable grammar, just cut my energy use by a whopping - that's right, I'm going with whopping - 37.4%.  "Prove it," someone randomly shouted from the crowd.

Add 'em up, fool.  What that's saying there is I used 3684 kilowatt-hours (kWh) in May through July of 2009.  It seems to think I used 2681 in that same period of 2010, but no, I assure you it was only 2308.  Good try PSE&G, with your wild assumptions despite not even knowing me - that's an estimate you made there in July, and you know what happens when you make estimates?  You make an ass out of yourself...mates.  I happen to have it on good authority I used a mere 950 kWh in July.  How can I be so sure?  Let's just say I keep an eye on my meter. 

 Image credit: 4hforestryinvitational

No, not like that...though I must say I'm disturbed that image was so readily available.

What I mean is I use an iPhone app called MeterRead that lets you enter your meter reading and extrapolates your usage, enabling you to get a good sense of how much and when your electricity use is more than it should be.

So over the past few months, as I've religiously logged my meter readings into my trusty app and made a conscious effort to eliminate waste energy, I can say with confidence that one person can make a difference. 

"One person can also set fire to a daycare center," some moron in the crowd may yell.  Whoa! Wait, why would you even say that, it seems irrelevant and counterproductive?  "My point," the moron may continue, "is that just because one person does something doesn't mean everyone else should.  Free will!  Also, 'Free Bird'!"  Put your lighter down, moron.  And possible arsonist.  

The overriding mission doesn't necessarily have to be a reduction of energy use.  I'm all for gadgets and gizmos and Christmas light shows and racing three remote control firetrucks simultaneously just for the purpose of mind-blowing my dog.  But I damn sure expect the juice to be coming from the ever-renewable source of the 6.5 kW solar installation up on that there roof.  Because if not, my dog gets a free pass, and we're back to playing boring old fetch.

No way.  That dog's just too big.  And - OMG is that cat dead!?  And what's the significance of the missing dog poster?  Is he in that fire?!  Too many questions!  Not enough "Contact the Artist" links!

Image credit: picture-book.com

Fine.  Let's start with the assumption that you want to make a difference by cutting your wasted energy.  What I, the Energy Wizard (trademark?), have done is proven it's easy as pie!  If you're wondering what actions I took to decrease my electricity use, you're about to find out - right after this commercial break.

Or, more likely, in another post.  I'm off to track down that artist.  That illustration is haunting me. Dog's too big, I'm tellin' ya...