LED Myths

Here is a recent article in Forbes that dispels some common misconceptions about LED lighting.  As we attempt to make our lives more energy efficient, this might help you make an informed decision.  Think of all of the electricity costs you could save if you changed the bulbs in your home to either LED or CFL.  Be a good steward of your money and the environment at the same time.

Myths on LED lighting

WHAT IS THIS THING....?

     So you may be asking yourself right about now.... "why does Ark and Dove have a green blog?".  It is all about stewardship.  Too often, we only think about stewardship in terms of giving money.  In reality, stewardship is about managing all the resources that God has given us-- from our money, to our environment, to our time, and our resources.  As stated by the Presbyterian General Assembly, 
     "The love of neighbor, particularly "the least" of Christ's brothers and sisters, requires action to stop the poisoning, the erosion, the wastefulness that are causing suffering and death. The future of our children and their children and all who come after is at stake. In this critical time of transition to a new era, God's new doing may be discerned as a call to earth-keeping, to justice and to community. "


     Keeping this in mind, Ark and Dove has decided to take a more holistic view of stewardship that includes how we stand up for our environment and those around us.  We hope this blog to be first, a practical guide on caring for God's creation.  There are so many things we can do locally in our community that help the environment and we have a long list of topics that we would like to cover.  Second, we hope this blog to be a resource of interesting news and new thoughts about caring for others around the world.  How we spend our time and our efforts is equally important  when speaking of stewardship.
     If there are topics that you would like us to cover, drop us a comment on one of the posts.  If you are interested in writing a post, let us know as well-- we welcome any input.  We challenge you to check in on a regular basis, and even try some of the suggestions and resources that are offered.


Thanks.

Community sponsored agriculture

     Have you ever heard the term Community Sponsored Agriculture?  Have you ever gone to the grocery store and wondered where did this produce actually come from and how far did it travel to get here? CSA's are a way that you can purchase food directly from the farmer that grows it.   This allows you to not only know about how and where your food was grown, but ensures that you are supporting the local economy and benefits the environment by way of lower transportation carbon emissions.
     There are many CSA opportunities in our area. Typically, you will pay a subscription cost of between $20-40 per week, and in return you will get a box of seasonally appropriate locally grown foods.  Different farms offer different subscription opportunities, so look carefully at what kind of foods you will get for your money.  CSA's also offer the opportunity to talk directly to the farmer about what you can expect during the season.  One CSA that several Ark and Dove members subscribe to is Calvert Farms, which has a local drop off at the home of one of our members.  Drop us a comment on this post if you want to find out more information on this particular farm.  Otherwise, visit the link below to learn more about CSAs and their benefits.  
     If you are interested in joining a CSA-- DO IT TODAY!  The farmers at these farms need to plan how much food to plant this year, and this is the time to sign up.

Local Harvest CSA information

Calvert Farm

Shop Maryland Energy weekend

 The weekend of February 18-20, is "SHOP MARYLAND ENERGY" weekend.  During these dates, qualifying Energy Star Products will be tax free at all retail stores statewide!  If you combine this with the ongoing BGE Smart Energy rebates, you could get a great deal on a wide range of home appliances, or even CFL bulbs.  Check out the links below for more information on the Tax Free weekend, and the rebates that are offered by BGE.

Shop Maryland Energy Tax Free Weekend

BGE Smart Energy Savers Appliance Rebates

"How to Speak Light Bulb"

    A recent article in a Washington newspaper ( http://www.columbian.com/news/2012/feb/09/learn-to-speak-light-bulb-and-save-some-cash/ ) gave this great information for helping you to buy CFL- compact flourescent light bulbs.

     • CFLs represent the best value for consumers today, because they use about 75 percent less energy than standard incandescent bulbs and last up to 10 times longer. A CFL that has the Energy Star label can save more than $40 in electricity costs over its lifetime.

     • Consumers who replace still-working traditional bulbs with Energy Star CFLs can recover their costs in about six months. After that, they will continue to benefit from the 75 percent energy savings each bulb offers, and they won’t have to change the bulbs for about nine years.

How to compare
Instead of watts, consumers should compare lumens. A lumen measures how much light a bulb will provide, whereas watts measure how much power it uses.

• If you used to buy 100 watt bulbs, look for a bulb with 1600 lumens.

• If you used to buy 75 watt bulbs, look for a bulb with 1100 lumens.

• If you used to buy 60 watt bulbs, look for a bulb with 800 lumens.

• If you used to buy 40 watt bulbs, look for a bulb with 450 lumens.

     As the government starts to phase out the standard incandescent bulbs that many people have used in their homes for years, we all have to move to alternatives.  The two main options at this point are CFL, and LED technology. CFLs are by far the cheaper alternative, as LED technology is still evolving.  Make sure that you start changing out your light bulbs for something more energy efficient.  You can be a good steward of you money and the environment at the same time.

Did You Know....?

Did you know that last year, Ark and Dove purchased a whole building lighting upgrade?  Through a program offered by BG&E, we were able to change all of the older style tube fluorescents to a new more energy efficient version.  At the same time we had motion sensor switches installed in most rooms, which will automatically turn off the lights when you leave.  The BGE program paid for 80% of this upgrade, and our out of pocket expenses were only about $1700.  So why is this a good deal?  Because we will save about $100 per month in electricity costs, even if our usage remains the same.  This green effort will pay for itself in 18 months, and we will continue to have lower electricity costs.
What is next on the list?  First, would be a renovation of the parking lot lights.  At 400W each, those units use quite a bit of electricity each night.  I would be great to upgrade those to LED versions, and cut that electricity usage as well.
Do you have an idea of ways we can be green and save money at the same time?  Let us know!