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| From Bike Ride |
Maia and I achieved something cool today: we ran all of our errands and had an ordinary Monday routine without getting into the car once! :) We had some time at home with baby Sam this morning, then we went to the bank (about 2 miles from our house) and to Dairy Queen (about 4 miles away) on our bikes. Brian came along for that last excursion after he came home from work for the day. The weather was hot and humid, but once we got moving on the bike, the wind made it more than bearable . . . it was even pleasant!
So, many of you out there probably know that I really dread this hot, sticky summer weather; it was about 90 degrees here today, the kind of day a friend of mine from college once described as "like walking into someone's mouth." Ick. Anyway, we've (reluctantly) started running our AC, mainly to make it possible for us to sleep at night. So, as our energy use and thus our carbon footprint climbs with the use of the AC, I thought we'd try to cut down on our consumption somewhere else. Driving less seems like the perfect solution, but I've had to quickly get over my disgust for summer weather.
It really hasn't been that difficult, which surprises me. I guess this is one of those little things that's changed about me since I became Maia's Mama. I know that it's best for both of us if we spend more time outside and less time driving around in the car, and I know that both of these things are good habits for her to have as she grows older. So, there you are. Somehow, the fact that I'm changing my behavior for someone else's sake makes it easier than simply changing it for my own. Perhaps that's sad . . . but perhaps it's not. It is what it is, you know?
3 comments:
I wonder if Roman-style home-cooling tactics would work for your place...? Might be worth a shot, if you want to reduce the ol' footprint during the summer.
1. Keep your windows closed and blinds or curtains drawn down during the day; the home should be fairly dim if this is gonna work - think of a cool, dark cave, a retreat from the heat. The light heats things up QUICK (remember your dining room, before the wood blinds? an oven, it was!).
2. Open everything up at night, and turn on fans that will bring the cooler night air into the house. Of course the fans use electricity - but still less than central air conditioning. And of course, sleep with less clothing and few (if any) blankets.
I'm not sure it'll be effective in Michigan, what with differences in construction materials and window shades and house layout and so forth, but it sure does work like a charm in the mezzogiorno.
The next step for our nation as a whole will be to address our addiction to air conditioning...
But in any case, props to you guys for trying! Every little bit...
I'm definitely trying to adapt to a strategy like this. Let's see how it goes today: it's going to be down into the 60s tonight, and then into the 80s tomorrow. I'd love to see if I could avoid the AC.
I can tell my approach to all this has changed, though, when I feel FREEZING and uncomfortable in 90% of retail and food places in the summertime.
Just this week, Brian and I were pondering the cost of cooling off one Target store for one day . . .
I know! During Michigan summers I now find myself carrying around a jacket or sweater, just because I am so uncomfortably COLD in stores, restaurants, etc. It's really excessive - really unnatural. And really, really wasteful. So, again, brownie points for the Family G.
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