Challenging the need for NYRI

By STEPHEN STUART

Without a doubt, the proposal to run high-voltage direct-current electric transmission lines that New York Regional Interconnect (NYRI) through our river valley has had some very positive effects. People are talking about it, public awareness and citizen watchdog groups have formed, politicians are adding their voices of concern to the chorus and policy-making groups, like the Upper Delaware Council, and policy enforcers such as the National Park Service are allowing themselves to speak out on this topic.

But without a doubt, if electricity consumption continues to grow, the NYRI proposal and others like it will be blessed by the powers that be in Washington DC as a viable solution to satisfy a nation’s electricity craving.

Therefore, I propose that we raise the bar in this fight and attack the problem by demonstrating a new kind of solution. Can we dramatically reduce our electricity consumption to provide a role model for the premise that new power lines are not needed? Better yet, can we build a case that we do not need to build more fossil-fueled power plants?

Reduction of use is a powerful tool and it is surprisingly easy to do. The best news is that every household can take some very simple steps to reduce consumption and save money each and every month.

Many home appliances continue to use electricity, or stand-by power, even when switched off. This is called a phantom load and is usually associated with TVs and VCRs. Solar Energy International estimates that phantom loads cost the United States $3 billion a year, and consume the power generated by 10 power plants. That in turn produces 18 million tons of CO2 a year, more pollution that 6,000,000 cars. TVs and VCRs alone cost the United States $1 billion in lost electricity.

A couple of months ago, I started to unplug the TV and VCR in my home, and saw a $40 a month drop in electric costs. I finally bought a power strip and plugged the TV and VCR into it. A flip of the switch eliminates my phantom load draw.

Other devices that contribute to phantom load consumption are wall cubes associated with rechargeable devices such as vacuum cleaners, cell phones and batteries. These can consume 1.1 watts per hour when not in use if they are plugged into the wall. Clock radios, cordless phones, answering machines, cable TV boxes and security systems are other examples of phantom loads that are in our homes.

Our choice of lighting devices is another pretty easy way to reduce our electricity consumption. Compact fluorescent light bulbs can give the same amount of light (lumens) as an incandescent bulb and consume 75 percent less electricity. These bulbs have evolved nicely over the past several years and are now available in three different color temperatures (a measure of the color of light emitted).

Consider placing refrigeration devices, such as refrigerators and freezers, on a timer so that they shut off at nighttime. There really is no need for these appliances to run 24/7. If they are timed to shut off while we are sleeping, we have another opportunity to save electricity. During a recent power outage, our refrigerator/freezer was off for 30 hours. I was dreading the loss of stored food in the freezer and prepared for the worst. When the electric power was restored, I cautiously opened the freezer door and was thrilled to find that even the ice cubes were still frozen solid.

A fourth way to reduce electricity consumption is to upgrade our appliances. This is, without a doubt, the most costly strategy, but it will pay for itself quickly. The Energy Star-rated appliances include computers, refrigerators, dehumidifiers, room air conditioners, dishwashers, clothes washers and dryers and more. The website energystar.gov offers a wealth of information on the cost and environmental savings associated with Energy Star appliances.

Can we, as a community of communities, organizations and political voices with a river running through it, step up to the challenge and reduce our electricity consumption? Are we willing to take a positive leap (not just a step) and realistically say “No Power Line?”

I would like to think that we can and that we will.