A day without.... kind of.

For this assignment, I must minimize my energy usage as much as possible for a 24-hour period. This is my day, semi-off the grid:

I thought this assignment was going to be a piece of cake, but alas I was scattered, it was HARD. I think it was hard for me because I already do a fair job of keeping energy usage down, I wear a jacket in my house, I turn of lights and open blinds, I wash on cold, do dishes minimally and re-use everything I can. The biggest bone of contention was my cell phone and my computer. One of my classes is a hybrid, and it includes A LOT of homework, if I am not doing Spanish homework it is like a higher power itself has come down and graced me with clemency, it consumes me. Friday was vets day so I figured I could hang ant the house, keep things turned off and just buckle down and get some homework done, so that’s what I did. Usually I will run the TV or Pandora while I do homework because I live alone and it gets quiet, but I didn’t turn on the TV, and I didn’t plug in my speakers, I just quietly did homework in front of my glowing screen. I occasionally interspersed this with very green-ish things, I tended to my compost, raked up some leaves, swept the porch. I did a little laundry on cold but I did put it in the dryer because I haven’t taken the step towards natural drying due to laziness and room constrictions. Phone issues was my second problem, I was meeting my girlfriend at her place in the evening for my birthday/veterans day dinner and I had to coordinate with her throughout the day, but my offset was that she was the one using up all the energy! Ha-ha! So phone & Computer, AND refrigerator. I took a HOT shower because I have sworn allegiance to myself after so many cold showers in Iraq that I wont do that to myself anymore (I’m a glutton) but I was quick. THEN I jumped in my truck and drove 30 miles to Forest Falls, yes my girlfriend lives in the mountains, waaaaaay up in the mountains, convenient. It is awesome though because I get to go to the MOUNTAINS and see her, ill live. There upon that rock filled valley we ran the heater, ate good food, and used candles. I am such a proponent of reducing my footprint and getting of the grid, I cringe when I am realistic with myself; I am probably just as bad as most gluttonous, consumeristic Americans and I know it. I do have little things I do to try and reduce in this land of abundance we call California. I ride my bike when I can, I compost, I eat healthy, I try to shop at the Farmers market and use re-usable bags. I re-use everything I can; I try to reduce waste and my intake of goods. One day I want to be able to live off grid, produce my own energy and live lightly, but I don’t foresee ever getting rid of the electronic shackles that bind me, the computer and the cell phone……… maybe one day. Short term goals for me can be: Dry my own laundry, ride my bike more, and don’t take anymore hybrid classes!