Guest guest Posted July 18, 2006 Report Share Posted July 18, 2006 Groupies, I know we are all getting tired of 'cold stuff', but believe me it is important to conserve energy especially electricity. First because it is very expensive for home use, and second because during heat waves like this, using air conditioners causes power outages. This places the elderly and sick at great risk. I recall this happening several times in the past few years and many elderly died. The extra heat from the stove and oven causes the temperature in the home to rise dramatically. It also causes your refrigerator and freezer to run more and of course your air conditioner. Remember to un-plug your microwave, computer , tv, etc when not in use , especially at night as they continue to draw electricity. I love baking and cooking on the range top and look forward again to those cold days when I can have corn bread baking in the oven and beans simmering on the stove. In the meantime I will collect all the great recipes that you are posting. Sending smiles and hugs your way Deanna Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 18, 2006 Report Share Posted July 18, 2006 If you close your blinds(or at least tilt them up) or curtains during the hotest part of the day and of course when you are gone, you will conserve lots. I will use my AC and still cook well balanced meals and not eat just cold food. I am so thankful for living at a time when AC is around. You can turn it up just a few degrees and still conserve a lot. Use a Pressure cooker too and you'll cut your cooking time in half and not really heat up your kitchen. Covering your pots with lids also will reduce cooking time and reduce the amount of water you need. I don't like veggies that are over cooked, so cooking is done in no time at all. Waterless cookware is wonderful. Judy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 18, 2006 Report Share Posted July 18, 2006 Hello, The Japanese rice cooker with 'keep warm' function is very versatile; It combines the features of both stove and slow cooker. Once you bring your lentils/rice/peas etc to boil, reduce the heat to 'keep warm' and it makes delicious soups etc. The heat coil and the steam inside the pot keeps the food warm and tasty for many hours. Also, a rice cooker does not radiate heat like an electric stove and uses far less electricity. Please make sure that you get a good brand and quality rice cooker. Best wishes to all vegetarians! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 19, 2006 Report Share Posted July 19, 2006 air conditions... will you believe me we don't usually have them in austria?! we have a fan for the hottest days; but usually we just have the windows open, the air moves and it's perfect! air conditions and using them alot sounds sooo US-american to me. great that you made the point of saving energy!!! greetings from hot vienna anni Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 19, 2006 Report Share Posted July 19, 2006 Some other good things that have helped here. We plant plants in front of windows. I have banana plants in front of the bedroom window(looks so beautiful from the bedroom with the sun shining thru the leaves of it), another has a butterfly bush and another has a crepe myrtle. We love watching the hummingbirds and butterflies that land on the flowering crepe myrtle and the butterfly bush. They don't even seem to notice us, on the other side of the glass. We also planted some trees a little ways away from the house to block some of the sun from heating up the house to much. They are great for hanging birdfeeders and wind chimes on. I love watching the birds close up, without startling them. If your area allows, try putting you washed wet clothes in the dryer for 10 minutes and then hang them out on a clothes line. They dry much faster than in the dryer and drying them for 10 minutes first in the dryer keeps them for being stiff. I put our towels that we use for showers outside most days in the summer to dry quickly. We turn up the thermostat when leaving the house(even if just for a few hours) and turn the temp down on the hot water heater when we will be gone for more than a day. We also try to consolidate shopping/errand trips to reduce gas. Use a toaster oven for small baking items. Crockpots and pressure cookers are also wonderful kitchen tools. Judy . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 20, 2006 Report Share Posted July 20, 2006 Hey Anni- I just had to laugh at your post... my husband and I had a big discussion during the World Cup about air conditioners in Europe. I read a bunch of European blogs everyday and every blogger is constantly complaining about the heat. I mean constantly... but no one has any A/C. So my point was this is 2006 why continue to complain about the heat when you can just get an A/C? (I am not advocating using the A/C all of the time everyone should be responsible about their consumption but enough of the complaining already about European heat waves get back to the good stuff on your blogs like food and French contradictions already!) :-) Stay Cool! Whitney --- " a.bu " <the_saga_of_writing wrote: > air conditions and using them alot sounds sooo > US-american to me. > > great that you made the point of saving energy!!! > > greetings from hot vienna > anni > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 20, 2006 Report Share Posted July 20, 2006 They are talking about the heat because it is NOT the norm for that area at this time of year. The NORM for Vienna, Austria, is 20 degrees Celcius, which is 68 degrees F. For them to have high 90's F now is very unusual and highly uncomfortable. Since their normal temperatures are so very comfortable, what use do they normally have for air conditioning? Check this http://www.eurometeo.com/english/climate/city_LOWW/meteo_Vienna See? whitney <starrypryncess wrote: Hey Anni- I just had to laugh at your post... my husband and I had a big discussion during the World Cup about air conditioners in Europe. I read a bunch of European blogs everyday and every blogger is constantly complaining about the heat. I mean constantly... but no one has any A/C. So my point was this is 2006 why continue to complain about the heat when you can just get an A/C? (I am not advocating using the A/C all of the time everyone should be responsible about their consumption but enough of the complaining already about European heat waves get back to the good stuff on your blogs like food and French contradictions already!) :-) Stay Cool! Whitney --- " a.bu " <the_saga_of_writing wrote: > air conditions and using them alot sounds sooo > US-american to me. > > great that you made the point of saving energy!!! > > greetings from hot vienna > anni > > > > Talk is cheap. Use Messenger to make PC-to-Phone calls. Great rates starting at 1¢/min. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 20, 2006 Report Share Posted July 20, 2006 I was just teasing... but actually the last three summers in France have been in the 90s in Paris. The last time I was there it was in the 90s in September. It was upper 80s in Prague in Sept. four years ago... I think 68 is probably the pre-global warming norm and these " heat waves " are going to be the new norm... which is probably going to suck for us in the long run in good old Jawja. :-) Whit --- treazure noname <treazured wrote: > They are talking about the heat because it is NOT > the norm for that area at this time of year. The > NORM for Vienna, Austria, is 20 degrees Celcius, > which is 68 degrees F. For them to have high 90's F > now is very unusual and highly uncomfortable. Since > their normal temperatures are so very comfortable, > what use do they normally have for air conditioning? > Check this > http://www.eurometeo.com/english/climate/city_LOWW/meteo_Vienna > > See? > > whitney <starrypryncess wrote: > Hey Anni- > > I just had to laugh at your post... my husband and I > had a big discussion during the World Cup about air > conditioners in Europe. I read a bunch of European > blogs everyday and every blogger is constantly > complaining about the heat. I mean constantly... but > no one has any A/C. So my point was this is 2006 why > continue to complain about the heat when you can > just > get an A/C? (I am not advocating using the A/C all > of > the time everyone should be responsible about their > consumption but enough of the complaining already > about European heat waves get back to the good stuff > on your blogs like food and French contradictions > already!) :-) > > Stay Cool! > Whitney > > --- " a.bu " <the_saga_of_writing wrote: > > > air conditions and using them alot sounds sooo > > US-american to me. > > > > great that you made the point of saving energy!!! > > > > greetings from hot vienna > > anni > > > > > > > > > > > > Tired of spam? Mail has the best spam > protection around > > > > > > > > Talk is cheap. Use Messenger to make > PC-to-Phone calls. Great rates starting at 1¢/min. > > [Non-text portions of this message have been > removed] > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 20, 2006 Report Share Posted July 20, 2006 That was a useful link, Jeanne - apparently here in Edinburgh the average July temperature is 15C which is 59F - no wonder we are all flaking out with temperatures in the 80s here. Our bodies just aren't adapted to these sorts of temperatures and because the heat doesn't last, we never have the chance to acclimatise. We don't deal well with cold weather either because the average January temperature here is 37F, but at least if it gets cold we can pull on another layer of thermal underwear! Christie , treazure noname <treazured wrote: > > They are talking about the heat because it is NOT the norm for that area at this time of year. The NORM for Vienna, Austria, is 20 degrees Celcius, which is 68 degrees F. For them to have high 90's F now is very unusual and highly uncomfortable. Since their normal temperatures are so very comfortable, what use do they normally have for air conditioning? Check this http://www.eurometeo.com/english/climate/city_LOWW/meteo_Vienna > > See? > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 20, 2006 Report Share Posted July 20, 2006 Here in NW Pennsylvania 90s is not the norm tho we do get some hot, humid spells. We do not have A/C - I prefer open windows and fresh air. I conserve energy wherever I can, all year long. I enjoy using my little summer kitchen with its view of my gardens, groundhogs waddling about the yard - tho the barn swallows aren't too pleased with my close proximity to their nest. What helps us to get thru the heatwaves is " at least it's not snowing! " Cyndy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 20, 2006 Report Share Posted July 20, 2006 Cyndy, I do the same " passive solar " in the winter and blinds and windows in the summer. I love the snow and always excited when the seasons change. Deannna <moonspritetopaz wrote: > > Here in NW Pennsylvania 90s is not the norm tho we do get some hot, > humid spells. We do not have A/C - I prefer open windows and fresh > air. I conserve energy wherever I can, all year long. I enjoy using my > little summer kitchen with its view of my gardens, groundhogs waddling > about the yard - tho the barn swallows aren't too pleased with my > close proximity to their nest. What helps us to get thru the heatwaves > is " at least it's not snowing! " Cyndy > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 20, 2006 Report Share Posted July 20, 2006 Whew.... Here in the midwest I have central air. I know of people who own chinchillas and purchase an air conditioner specifically for them. Central air is a major selling point for a home. Linda and the zoo. moonspritetopaz wrote: > > Here in NW Pennsylvania 90s is not the norm tho we do get some hot, > humid spells. We do not have A/C - I prefer open windows and fresh > air. > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 21, 2006 Report Share Posted July 21, 2006 hi whitney, well, we're not used to constant heat at all, so people prefer to not buy expensive stuff for like 2 months a year.... but i think nobody should complain all the time - with the same personal energy you can cool yourself ;-))) in Greece, people have siesta in the hottest hours - so why do people run around like crazy here (eg. in austria, but also other places) in daytime? i wonder. we need to be more thoughtful + think of new solutions. best wishes anni > Hey Anni- > > I just had to laugh at your post... my husband and I > had a big discussion during the World Cup about air > conditioners in Europe. I read a bunch of European > blogs everyday and every blogger is constantly > complaining about the heat. I mean constantly... but > no one has any A/C. So my point was this is 2006 why > continue to complain about the heat when you can just > get an A/C? (I am not advocating using the A/C all of > the time everyone should be responsible about their > consumption but enough of the complaining already > about European heat waves get back to the good stuff > on your blogs like food and French contradictions > already!) :-) > > Stay Cool! > Whitney > > --- " a.bu " <the_saga_of_writing wrote: > > >>> air conditions and using them alot sounds sooo >>> US-american to me. >>> >>> great that you made the point of saving energy!!! >>> >>> greetings from hot vienna >>> anni Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 21, 2006 Report Share Posted July 21, 2006 If you already have central heat in your home, it isn't that much more to add central air conditioning. You use all the same duct work and other things. My relatives in Canada have put it in all their homes now. Even though in Ontario you only need it a couple of months, it was well worth it to them. BTW from friends I hear from in Greece, the practice of afternoon siesta's have been gone for several years. I personally would have a hard time with no AC here in the south, where the heat lasts for months. We are so thankful for it. There are many ways to help with global warming without compromising on having AC. You would have far less productivitity going on if everyone was wiped out from the heat and far more heat related health problems. I can tell you that living for 2 weeks following Hurricane Ivan in this heat with no AC, was very draining and you wanted to do nothing physically, because it would generate more body heat. I took tons of cold showers just to not feel like my body was burning up from the inside out. Those cold showers were a life saver. So many tornados have been occuring this summer, that are knocking out power and that is hard for them I know. It is hard to live in destruction from a hurricane or tornado and need to do so much clean up and no AC to cool off in. It also takes so much longer to get power restored when an area has been devasted. Bless all the hearts of those that have had this occur in their daily life. My favorite weather is unseasonable weather. Smile. Love to have days cooler than normal in the summer and warmer than normal in the winter. Love opening the windows when the temps are pleasant enough for it and airing out the home. Fresh clean air smells so good. We were lucky that most of our fall, winter and spring, this past year, had pleasant enough temps to do this quite frequently. Judy - a.bu Friday, July 21, 2006 3:42 AM Re: Conserving Electricity hi whitney, well, we're not used to constant heat at all, so people prefer to not buy expensive stuff for like 2 months a year.... in Greece, people have siesta in the hottest hours - so why do people run around like crazy here (eg. in austria, but also other places) in daytime? i wonder. we need to be more thoughtful + think of new solutions. best wishes anni > Hey Anni- > > I just had to laugh at your post... my husband and I > had a big discussion during the World Cup about air > conditioners in Europe. I read a bunch of European > blogs everyday and every blogger is constantly > complaining about the heat. I mean constantly... but > no one has any A/C. So my point was this is 2006 why > continue to complain about the heat when you can just > get an A/C? (I am not advocating using the A/C all of > the time everyone should be responsible about their > consumption but enough of the complaining already > about European heat waves get back to the good stuff > on your blogs like food and French contradictions > already!) :-) > > Stay Cool! > Whitney > > --- " a.bu " <the_saga_of_writing wrote: > > >>> air conditions and using them alot sounds sooo >>> US-american to me. >>> >>> great that you made the point of saving energy!!! >>> >>> greetings from hot vienna >>> anni Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 21, 2006 Report Share Posted July 21, 2006 Anni- I am all for requiring siestas! If preschoolers get nap time why can't adults! I think the funniest complainer is a girl from Florida who lives in France... I mean geez you are from Florida! :-) Stay Cool- Whitney --- " a.bu " <the_saga_of_writing wrote: > hi whitney, > > > well, we're not used to constant heat at all, so > people prefer to not > buy expensive stuff for like 2 months a year.... > > but i think nobody should complain all the time - > with the same personal > energy you can cool yourself ;-))) > > in Greece, people have siesta in the hottest hours - > so why do people > run around like crazy here (eg. in austria, but also > other places) in > daytime? i wonder. we need to be more thoughtful + > think of new solutions. > > best wishes > anni > > > Hey Anni- > > > > I just had to laugh at your post... my husband and > I > > had a big discussion during the World Cup about > air > > conditioners in Europe. I read a bunch of European > > blogs everyday and every blogger is constantly > > complaining about the heat. I mean constantly... > but > > no one has any A/C. So my point was this is 2006 > why > > continue to complain about the heat when you can > just > > get an A/C? (I am not advocating using the A/C all > of > > the time everyone should be responsible about > their > > consumption but enough of the complaining already > > about European heat waves get back to the good > stuff > > on your blogs like food and French contradictions > > already!) :-) > > > > Stay Cool! > > Whitney > > > > --- " a.bu " <the_saga_of_writing wrote: > > > > > >>> air conditions and using them alot sounds sooo > >>> US-american to me. > >>> > >>> great that you made the point of saving > energy!!! > >>> > >>> greetings from hot vienna > >>> anni > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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