Jenna LaChance

The big step we need to make is installing new windows. 60% of the windows in our house are in really bad condition. It is a large expense since we have so many windows, but looking at the energy audit suggestions, I'm sure we're losing more money than we realize. Another item that I'm sure we're losing more money than we realize in lighting. We've changed quite a few light bulbs to LED but not all of them. This would be an easy and cheap action to take. The next step that will come is a new washer and dryer. I looked at our energy usage on Vernon Electric where you can see how much energy you're using each day. The weekends are much  higher than the weekdays. I'm sure it's because we are home more, but thinking about what we use electricity for and what we use gas for, the biggest electrical usage appliances are the washer and dryer, which we use A LOT on the weekends. They are pretty old and will probably need replacing soon. I was happy to get the suggestion from the online energy audit website that was gave on the Drawdown Ecochallenge website that there is a different rating for washers that is a step further than energy star rating.

My vision of a sustainable community would look like it did about 100 years ago. Small communities producing the goods and services that its community needs. There would be a local butcher, a local mechanic, a local dry good store, etc. Since we are now used to electricity, the community would need solar panels or geothermal, or bio-digester, or some other electricity generator to power the communities homes and businesses. Either everyone would raise their own animals for their home's consumption or maybe there would be one person to raise cows, one person raise, sheep, one person raise pigs, that would be provided to the community. The same would go for vegetables. All the food would be preserved by canning or stored in root cellars to eat throughout the winter. In order for this to become reality, our entire economic and social structure would have to change. Right now each individual is driven by debt. Because of needing to pay bills, we have to go to work. We also have to go to work because we need health insurance, a retirement plan, etc. Right now we are living individualistically and to make my vision a reality, we would have to think communally. Another major change would have to be in the way we eat. This would mean not eating bananas or avocadoes if living in Wisconsin. We would also have to give up reality TV shows and social media because we would be outside, gardening or watering the cattle. And, everyone would be happy again because everyone would have a purpose, they would be getting fresh air, and they wouldn't be depressed from seeing how "cool everyone else's lives were" compared to their own. Ahh....if only.....

I can't believe how much I just learned about geothermal energy. I really had no idea how it worked, especially in Wisconsin. I am extremely happy to learn it is a very viable option. I think it is well worth exploring the numbers. With the 30% federal tax credit as an option until 2022, this makes it an even more viable option. I am also proud there are many options for companies to choose from right in Vernon County. This makes exploring what investment is needed easier, while giving more options. So excited I just took an hour to learn about this!