survivial tips

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The 2 biggest factors affecting fuel economy are1 ) driving habits and 2) engines not in tune. Together, these factors can cut your gas mileage by 10 to 20 % !

      So called "jackrabbit "starts waste tons of gas, as it takes much more fuel to accelerate than to maintain a "cruising speed" that is constant. Slow, gradual accelerations can also save wear and tear on brakes as well as stretching your gas dollar significantly farther. In addition, slower cruising speeds can save 20 to 30% of your fuel, as wind resistance increases exponentially, , meaning that you can get much better fuel economy at slower speeds in the 55 to 60 mile per hour range instead of blasting down the road at speeds in excess of 75miles an hour. Most drivers are completely unconscious of ther use of the gas pedal, but with practice, it is easy to change your driving habits and save 10% on your gas bill.
    The single biggest culprit robbing you of fuel could be a dirty air filter, when it comes to engine tune up.. Dirty air filters block airflow, causing the engine to run on a "richer" mixture of fuel , using more fuel  to travel the same distance. Dirty air filters also rob you of engine performance, making performance more sluggish. When you stop at a service station to get your oil checked, ask them to also check your air cleaner if it has been awhile since your last tuneup. If it is dirty, they cost around 10 dollars in most cases and will save lots of fuel. Vermonters who drive on lots of back roads will get their air cleaner dirty quicker.
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Windows 101

I worked for a home improvement company for 3 years which specialized in triple pane windows.In the course of my employment visited over a thousand homes in Vermont , so I saw lots of windows.The majority of them were very inefficient and notorious heat losers.

Here are some window basics, as the average Vermonter needs to know a few things about windows.

!) According to HUD research, windows are the biggest energy wasters in the average home. Single pane windows can lose heat at nearly 30, 000 BTUs per sq. foot! That's like having a hole in your wall. Its no wonder larger and older victorian homes can use between 1000 and 2000 gallons of heating oil a year.

2) Windows lose heat 3 ways:

     a) drafts (air infiltration)
     b) radiation directly through the glass ( because
     glass has virtually no insulation value).
     c) conduction through the frame.

3)  Most "thermopane" windows made by major window manufacturers such as Andersen and Harvey are double pane windows made for the "one size fits all market", which includes areas which do not have long and severe winters like we do in Vermont.

These windows are not nearly as efficient (even with a low e coating and argon gas the r factor is between 3 and
4. The u factor is similar).

R factor measures center glass whereas u factor measures overall performance, including the casing. By comparison, the Windows I sold were rated R9 and had a U factor of 1.9 With u factor the lower the number the better, which is the opposite of R factor.

The triple pane windows I sold also had 2 low e coatings and the 2 hermetically sealed chambers were filled with Krypton gas (denser than air and therefore a better insulator than just a dead air space ).

Bottom line is that practically speaking, windows are holes in the wall, and there are only 2 ways to effectively plug the hole . You can board up the window or u can install triple pane windows with low e coatings and argon or krypton gas (These gasses are inert and non toxic, and exist naturally in the atmosphere, along with oxygen ( 18%) nitrogen (78%) and 2% inert gasses, such as argon and krypton.

4) Windows MUST be properly installed no matter what type they are . This means that the casing must be stuffed with insulation and the window must have a correct "fit,"as well as properly calked. Lots of do it your-selfers try to to "fudge" the installation of windows that were not correct size, due to mistakes in measuring or manufacturing, but they were in love with that low price, so they went ahead and installed brand new windows which did not function properly (sort of counterproductive ).

How much can triple pane replacement windows actually cut heating bills? I make no claims, but my customers do, and so do the companies that manufacture triple pane (The only companies that make any specific claim, as opposed to manufacturers of double pane windows that absolutely never make a specific claim.)

And just how good are these windows? My customers themselves claim between 30 and 60 % heat savings! That's right, and if u don't believe that these people have made such claims, you can call C.Js Home Improvement 802-864-2284 and ask for a referral. C.Js has hundreds of references from Vermonters who saved their butts( in more ways than one) by installing triple pane windows.
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Solar power Primer

Solar power is really nothing new. The Romans had solar heat operating on the very same principals of todays solar thermal systems.

   "Solar Power" really breaks down into 2 general categories.

First, is Solar thermal, a technology which is very simple and suitable for application in Vermont , which uses heat collectors, which then store, and then transmit heat energy . Solar thermal collectors are extremely simple compared to solar photvoltaic, and self reliant Vermonters can in many cases, design and build a solar thermal system with locally available materials, on a low budget (see self -help section)
Solar thermal systems are either passive, with no moving parts, or active, when pumps and other mechanical components are added to the system.

       Second: Solar Photovoltaic, cells convert sunlight directly to electricity. Traditionally expensive and difficult to manufacture, Solar cells have typically been made from Silicon, manufactured in wafers. Recent breakthroughs in so called "Thin Film" technology have made it feasible to directly incorporate cells as part of an integerated roofing material, creating a dual use product, which is therefore, inherently efficent as well as much more affordable.

In either case, Vermonters could benefit greatly by making their own energy, putting money in their pockets in the process, and stimulating the local economy. In the present situation, every dollar which hits the gas pump or heating oil bill leaves the Vermont economy to make out of state, as well as out of country entities even richer, at our expense!

Vermonters who are served by Green Mountain Power (roughly 25% of the state,) can actually get paid a 6cts per killowat hr premium to produce their own electricity above the current net metering rate of 12 ,5 cts per killowat hour . This means that anytime during peak sun hours, which is, in many cases when many people are not home and home usage is low, they can put money in their pockets in the form of a substantial reduction of their electric bill, without having to purchase batteries to store electricity, traditionally the weak as well as most expensive point in solar electric systems.

With the already steep and ever increasing electric bills vermonters already face solar electric is theoretically feasible right now, from a strictly economic payback point of view.

The problem is, most cannot afford the initial investment required, as they are between a rock and a hard place, so to speak, namely already too strapped by fuel bills , both for home and car. That is why part of my "Rainy Day Proposal "is modeled after San Francisco's recent announcement to provide a solar subsidy to every homeowner, as well as businesses, in order to jump start solarelectric power production. But I also believe that this is the only "economic stimulus program "that will actually work! top of page

Solar Myths and Realities

     I have often heard people say that solar power doesn't "work " in Vermont. It' s as if they said that a solar cell knows the minute it crosses state lines and shuts itself off. Well, N.E.K. jokes aside , solar power could provide much more power to Vermont homes and businesses, than our politicians seem to believe, when they call for such puny so called goals of 10 or 20 percent local self reliance sometime in the mid century.

Berlin has a reputation for being a leader in solar applications, with extensive use of both photovoltaic as well as solar thermal systems, at the same time that they also have a reputation for having lots of cloudy weather, even more so than Vermont. Obviously Germany Knows something that we don't know in Vermont, that namely, these aforementioned technologies can actually provide 50% or more of energy needs .

   Here’s why: If every home and business in Vermont were retrofitted , where possible, with solar thermal technology for both heating and hot water, we could indeed cut our bills in half, and that's with out a window conversion to triple pane!

As for triple pane windows, since the average home losses 70 percent of their heat from windows that aren't much better than holes in the wall , simply by plugging the holes with triple pane windows  (see section on triple pane windows and heat savings of 30 to 60 percent) , WITHOUT A SOLAR RETROFIT YOU COULD SAVE BETWEEN 30 AND 60 PERCENT ON YOUR HEATING BILL

The fact is, that if we applied both approaches we could save far more than anyone has dreamed possible. But the more you study the concept of efficiency and apply it to our specific energy crisis, the more one starts to realize how incredibly inefficient we are as people when it comes to energy consumption.

The underlying business application of the word efficiency boils down to this: more efficiency = more productivity. More productivity means more money in our pockets So, if we were to think of our energy consumption from a business standpoint, the more efficient we become as energy consumers, the more money we put in our pockets to spend for other things we need. I This is also one of the keys to my economic stimulus plan. Ironically, part of the equation is for us to move in the direction of becoming more as PRODUCERS of energy than as passive recipients ie: CONSUMERS!
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Improper tire inflation (under-inflation) can reduce gas mileage, but not by nearly as much as the previously mentioned factors. Sometimes tires are over -inflated on the mistaken notion that it will improve fuel economy. All you accomplish, besides making your car less stable is premature wear of the center tread, and since tires are a petrochemical product, you will waste your tires needlessly.

Cold weather starting tips: Get your battery tested in the fall, if it is weak, replace it. At 0 degrees Fahrenheit, a new battery can lose 50% of its charge, and more in sub-zero weather. In addition, your engine oil is much thicker, making it harder to start the car.
Engine block heaters which attach to the oil pan (the flat - bottom part of the motor) with a magnet can help a great deal, by keeping engine oil warm, and making it much easier for the "starter motor" to turn the engine and start the car.
If you are mechanically self-reliant, you might try removing the battery and bringing it inside to keep it warm overnight. . If you do this, make sure to wear safety glasses and protective gloves, and do not put the battery next to your wood stove, either.
Ether, also known as "starting fluid" can be helpful, but it can also damage the motor, or cause an engine intake fire, if you have already "flooded" your engine attempting to start it. If you do use starting fluid, spray a very small amount in the opening of the air cleaner, and if it still doesn't start, you need a tune-up.
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Do it Yourself solar primer.

There is good news for self reliant Vermonters, and that is, that those who posess basic home improvement skills, namely carpentry and plumbing , can actually build their own solar hot water system, using recycled materials, for as little as a few hundred dollars!
Thats right, a simple solar thermal hot water system can be built relatively easily for those who already posess basic skills, and the ability to recycle a "decomissioned "electric hot water heater. Usually the only thing that is wrong with a malfunctioning electric hot water heater is that the heating element is burned out. But since you are only using the hot water heater to store water, as the sun will brovide the heat, these former appliances can actually gain new life and usefulness, and recycling manufactured products is also a great way to save energy, as a considerable ammount of energy was "invested" into the manufacturing process (This is why it is also desirable to recycle ALL MANUFACTURED GOODS WHEN FEASIBLE )

There are several very good websites which offer free information, as well as actual design plans for such systems.

builditsolar.com has lots of comprehensive general info explaining the various types of solar heating designs that are now available.

motherearthnews.com also has interesting and low budget do it yourself plans for a "solar heat grabber" as well as a plan to actually recycle storm windows,and turn them into solar heat collectiors, for pennies. There is also a site which is actually an on line advertisement for a manual for do it yourselfers which costs 49 dollars. It might be worth the money, but not necessary if you have a tight budget, as these sites I reviewed have lots of free info as well as free plans.

   Bottom line is, that many self reliant Vermonters can significantly cut their utility bills by becoming energy producers instead of helpless consumers, at the mercy of out of state forces controlling the price of oil. THE COMBINATION OF TRIPLE PANE WINDOWS, PROPER INSULATION, AND SOLAR THERMAL HEATING COULD CUT OUR OIL BILL BY 50% or more, and may in fact be the only real solution to the situation we are in now.

   By the way, for those who are more self reliant, please give your neighbors some help getting thru this winter IF YOU CAN , by volunteering to help a neighbor in need, especially if they are senior citizens. All it takes is a little recycling, a small ammount of dollars,and a weekend volunteered to help your community get thru this winter.

And for those who are not able to "do it yourself" see my rainy day proposal , specifically the solar grant program I am proposing, inspired by a similar approach taken in San Francisco, which gives 5000 dollar grants to residences to do solar heating retrofits.

Anyone who has any good ideas to share in the Winter survival tips section,is encouraged to contribute an article for the site. Also, please tell others about the "Rainy Day Prorpsal" and direct them to my website. Let EVERYONE be a community organizer.
By doing so, we can create the necessary political pressure to wake up our so called "leaders" who seem to be relatively clueless at best regarding our current energy dilemna, even if they are well- intentioned.
"When the people lead, the leaders will follow".

If your Town, Community group, school or church would like to learn more about solar power , including a do -it yourself low budget section, please contact me. I am willing to come to your community to conduct workshops.
I am offering to teach , with the help of my staff , workshops to help Vermonters "go solar" by providing practical information including low- budget solutions,  In this way,communities can learn to harness the sun, as well as our future. My email is jerrypilot2000@yahoo.com

Homesharing is really a self explanatory term in the context of a winter fuel oil crisis.
What I am suggesting, specifically, is that each family, or household team up with another and take turns trading off as hosts of a "slumber party". In this way, the thermostat can be turned down (to only the point necessary to prevent pipes from freeszing), when you are at your friends house. They , in turn can enjoy the same savings when it is your turn to "host" the party.
   I suggest that people bring musical instruments, or DVDs, or anything appropriate, to help pass the time. Parents can organize study groups, pooling their resources in a collective effort to get the homework done. \
Its going to be a tough winter, but maybe its possible to have some fun in the process of neighborly efforts to cooperate collectively!