Karen’s Energy Dare

Thermostat 16°C, Indoor Thermomter 16.5°C, Outdoor Thermomter 2°C, Weather Report 2°C.

Ok… hiatus for almost 2 weeks, my apologies. As well, I am leaving the country in 4 days, so the Dare will have to be cut then.

I just arrived home from Niagara Falls last night/this morning – had been away for several days. Just before then I had some friends over, so I jacked the temperature up to 23°C, which is a lot higher than the usual temperature, pre-energy dare. Perhaps I never linger long enough downstairs w/o my fleece anyway to notice how frickin cold 21°C actually is. If I do linger, it usually involves alcohol and/or painting, so I am very distracted to the cold.

At any rate, I set the thermostat to 17°C just before I left. Behold, when I got back this morning the house was frfrfrfreezing. The tiles felt like ice, and the carpet just felt like furry ice. I lowered the thermostat to 16°C, thinking “meh I’m already fucking freezing” and opted for a hot shower, even though I was flippin’ exhausted. I piled my outdoor layers back on and passed out (yes passed out, not fell asleep). I don’t know if I was so temperature-sensitive because I had been up and active for over 24 hours without much hot food intake. I think it’s natural to want to stay warm in colder weather, so I am lazying in bed more (which means an extra 3 minutes for me) as well taking longer showers (mmm mmm…) I don’t know how that offsets the energy consumption.

Tinker is not in the house any longer so I have no concern over another life in the house. Yay decrease in responsibilities!

I’m sitting with a t-shirt, fleece, winter jacket, tights, modrobes, and extra socks. I think I need HOT TEA.

Thermostat 17.5°C, Indoor Thermometer 17°C, Outdoor Thermometer 2°C, Weather Report 4°C.

I just turned it down to 16.5°C. I think I might as well since I’m very toasty warm with my winter jacket in the house. In fact sometimes I’m ok with just my fleece! Strange. Maybe I’m just getting used to the cooler temperatures? Or maybe the rain and humidity makes the weather warmer? The human body/mind is pretty resilient.

Energy Dare hasn’t really brought about that much change to my lifestyle. That said, it is but a very small change in my overall energy consumption, and I don’t even know how different the gas bill is going to be. It’s only been a week!

Thermostat 18°C, Indoor Thermometer 18.5°C (?!), Outdoor Thermometer -1°C, Weather Report 10°C – what’s goin on here?!

I got home about 10pm tonight, expecting to step into a slightly warm house. The house actually felt colder than outdoors. Brr. The piling on of clothes is surprisingly a minor adjustment to my life, considering how nude I like to be, however there are times when I am still freezing regardless of how much I am wearing. This is usually right before I sleep. On the otherhand, the much lower temperatures make my sleep fabulous! In otherwords, a timed thermostat would work wonders – only if I had a regular schedule! This drop in temperature has also made me… drink a shitload more tea. In the end, wearing an extra layer or two has actually made my life a little warmer than having the heat up. I think the nudity thing is something of an adjustable expectation/habit. Right now I am wearing my fleece sweater plus my winter jacket. When I go to bed I will just wear the fleece, and feel snug with my fleece blanket and duvet.

I just set the thermostat to 17.5°C. I will be out-of-town Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday next week. At a decline of 0.5°C a day, The thermostat should be set to 16°C by the time I leave. Next weekend I have some friends over, so it will be set at a hospitable 21°C for the evening. I am planning on capping it at 14-15°C, depending on how much time I am willing to spend feeling cold with clothes piled on in the house.

I should also mention, that aside from lowering my thermostat, I haven’t done much else to reduce my energy consumption, especially when it comes transportation. I drive an automobile to and from Toronto at least twice a week. I am non-preferential to local foods. I will say, however, that most bulbs in the house are CFL, my car is a relatively energy-efficient compact hatchback, and I never drink bottled water. Sadly though, the bottom line is that I will make energy conscious choices when it is economically convenient, and I think this is the reality for most consumers. As a consumer and dependent I’d hate to see the price of gas rise. At the same time, as a well-informed citizen of the world I know the price of gas (as well as water) is severely underpriced in order to sustain our economic model and lifestyle. What to do, really? The comforting tale of history (life goes on, we’ll pull through) allows complacency.

I heard Adam Bly speak today at OCAD. He was arguing for a conscious renaissance in the scientific method through art, design and popular culture. In other words, making science hip and immediate. I think the green movement is very much that. Green appeals to our cultural shift to spiritual, holistic well-being, which makes scientific discussions in climate change, alternative energy, accessible. Whether people care enough or have the neccessary scientific background to pursue further knowledge is another issue. Like anything that passes through pop culture ideas become disseminated, messages become convoluted. Efforts like Energy Dare inform, experiment with, and exemplify the greater (un)conscious of culture.

So what am I saying really?

That at the core I really have no idea why I’m doing this Energy Challenge, other than catching up with what seems to be the zeitgest of my generation.

Oh. My little blue bin below, just cause, yanno, pictures are fun.

Thermostat 18.5°C, Indoor Thermometer 18°C, Outdoor Thermometer 0.5°C, Weather Report 6°C – wtf?

I am wearing 3 layers to bed – including my winter jacket. I swear it feels 20 times colder at night – or morning in my case, when I’m about to sleep. Probably because the candle’s about to go out. I feel like I’m more on a expedition than an energy challege, lol.

Anyway, photo below… Tinker catching some brief sunshine today by the windowsill. Windows are good when the sun’s out, nice and bright, warm rays pouring in. Windows are bad when it’s gloomy and windy, you can feel the coldness seeping in, an icy glistening wall. How heat efficient are windows anyway?

Oh – 18°C.

Thermostat 19°C, Indoor Thermometer 18.5°C, Outdoor Thermometer 1°C, Weather Report 2°C.

Hey guess what! Not feeling the cold! Because I’ve been using the challenge as a fantastic excuse to nap like crazy. As well I’m wearing my winter jacket indoors now. That or 3 thin layers. A little drastic it seems, but you don’t know Karen if you don’t know she is deathly sensitive to the collddddd. C-c-c-collllld.

My brother came to visit the house today as he was on vacation. I told him that the house will be getting colder over the little while because I’m doing this energy challenge. First thing he says is “what about the cat”? lol. I told him I’m feeding her more. haha. That was the end of that.

18.5°C it shall be.

Oh shit I forgot to post yesterday! But it’s still Day 3 for me, as I haven’t slept yet. My days pass according to my major dormant/active periods…

I can def feel the drop now. Thermostat is at 19.5°C, but thermometer reads 18.5°C. Outdoor thermomter 2°C, Weather Report 2°C.

I’ve never had it set so low, and I’m putting on another layer in addition to my fleece. BUT an upside is I think cooler temperatures make my sleeps deeper. I’m more prone to wake up in the middle of the night sweaty, but I don’t know if I’ve been too cold till the morning after. Waking up cold is terrible…

Tinker (the cat) hasn’t been on the carpet leaning on the (leather) sofas as of late. She seems to prefer actually sitting on them. I don’t know if it’s a heat issue… or she’s just changed her preference. Haha.

Not looking forward to 19°C, but here goes.

Thermostat 20°C, Indoor Thermometer 20°C , Outdoor Thermometer 4°C, Weather Report 4°C.

19.5°C here I come!

I was wondering in the bathroom whether I will psychologically compensate by telling myself I am NOT cold because I know I may exaggerate the drop in temperature. In otherwords, will I under-exaggerate (ungerate! haha) the cold I feel? As of yet the 0.5°C drop has yet to be felt.

My room literally faces the North Western Winter Winds, and is supposed to be one the best ventillated rooms in the house (and hence colder), but because it is where 90% of my activity takes place, I think the heat is well-retained.

The left photo is of my outdoor thermometer – located in my backyard, open to weather elements.

The right photo is the most used area in the house. PC and subwoofer located beneath the desk… keeps feet warm! Place your heat-emitting appliances strategically!

Right now the thermostat is set at 20.5°C, indoor temperature reads 21.5°C, outdoor 10°C, weather report claims 10°C as well. This is a good temperature for me. I usually wear socks, Modrobes and a fleece sweater at home. Actually, I would not mind turning the heat off altogether and bundle up indoors for the sake of the challenge, but 1) my father had advised me that the water pipes may freeze over and burst; and 2) I would worry and over-feed my cat, thinking she would need lots of insulation.

I lowered the thermostat by .5°C to 20°C. Baby steps… baby steps. Plan: extra fleece blanket!