my A/C addiction - an addendum (new thermostat)
The delayed post can be entirely explained by the fact that my life is in complete physical chaos due to the remodel/possible move.
Since all I can think about is that, I suppose it's appropriate to talk about something green that we're doing in the remodel (in amongst many un-green things, like floor refinishing and buying plastic tubs for packing).
I'm installing a new thermostat that is programmable. It's most likely that I won't get to see the benefits of it (no heat for me!), but it is DEFINITELY green - it automates the temperature control in your house, so you can set it to be less or more depending on when you're home, and you can schedule it for specific days (like, say you are away from the house from 8am-8pm on Mondays but home by 5 on Tuesdays, you can set it to that schedule)Not only that, but they don't contain mercury (the analog ones do), and they are supposedly more accurate (because you can set it exactly to 75 as opposed to just turning the dial close to the 75 mark).
Now, if you're really crazy, really type A, or really nerdy, you could pick yourself up one of these puppies. It's a thermostat that you can control remotely over the internet. Sounds like something my brother (who has a remote to control his ceiling fan) would LOVE. Probably those who would get the most use out of it are people who travel on a regular and impromptu basis - perfect for me, especially with the crazy who-knows-when-or-for-how-long travel to Georgia I do. If i decided to stay for a day longer or go home early, i could have the atmosphere in my house be ready for me.
Yes, it's a very high-maintenance sort of thing, but it eliminates the cost of forgetfulness, which is the biggest selling point for me.
I am a little apprehensive, though, because I am intensely slow to learn new devices (there's still stuff my cable box will do that I don't know about). Maybe I can just make my brother be in charge of it - if i got an IP one, he could just manage it remotely all the time! Man, wouldn't that be an awesome way to screw with someone - hack into their thermostat!
Ahhh, what a cool world we live in :)
Labels: consumption, new technology, social responsibility
posted by Big D @ 11:47 AM
2 Comments
2 Comments:
68 is what we stay at in the winter. Summer we stay at 72, far below the recommendation, I can't be sweating in my own house!
Oh, in the summer I am a carbon HOG.
I get hot at 73 degrees - and I can't sleep if it is above 72. So I've been trying to make up for that by freezing my rear off this winter. At one point, it was 48 degrees in the condo, and I had to give in and turn on the fire place for warmth as opposed to cheer.
I'm looking forward to living with Matt for a while during the remodel, because we can be cold together - one of the main obstacles to being green for me is living alone, so spending some time living with Matt will be good for me and the environment.
Thank goodness he likes it cold, too!
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