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13.04.04: Powerstream has come up with a useful presentation of data.
Bar graphs are quite useful for a quick visual summary.
Their site will show you how your home uses water and electricity ... compared to other homes in your area.
I was a little surprised our home was less electrically efficient than 56% of homes in the area ... and less water efficient than 82% in the area!
I guess changing to CFLs and turning lighs off when not needed doesn't account for much when everyone does it!
Maybe a 12 gallon/day humidifier isn't the way to go...
When I thought about it, I attempted to justify our results by thinking other homes were smaller, no inhabitants during the day, did not have an extra fridge and freezer.
What I can do:
1. I may have to borrow the Watt Reader from the local library again and test individual devices.
2. I need to better understand how to use the Energy Display device Powerstream provided for free.
3. I will take reading of the water meter in the basement, as I turn on and off the humidifier for a few days.
If you use Powerstream, here is how to get to the information:
1. go to Powerstream and sign in
2. click on "Compare Usage in My Area" in right side menu
3. select "electricity" and "amount" - chart will automatically update
4. select "water" and "usage" - chart will automatically update
5. select "usage history - electricity" - to see highs and lows of your usage over the last three years
6. select usage history - water" - to see highs and lows of your usage over last three years
Previous related blog items:
1. Up-to-the-minute Hydro Usage - Dec, 2010
2. Hydro - Time of Use Pricing - Oct, 2010
3. Powerstream Peaksaver - Jan, 2009
04.01.13: This blog item concerns the government's wasteful and dishonest spending our our tax dollars.
Why is it conservative politicians and senators think it is their right to spend as much as they can, as fast as they can, on themselves?
This last expose on senators Mike Duffy, Pam Wallin, etc, illustrates how stupid they think Canadians are ... and how apathetic Canadians are to bad behaviour by our politicians. Harper implied he had reviewed Wallin's $320 travel expenses (since Sept 2010) and found it acceptable ... later recanted....
Kevin Page has performed a great service for Canadians, as he completes his 5 year term as the first Parliamentary Budget Officer (PBO).
The mandate is:
"to provide independent analysis to
Parliament on the state of the nation's finances, the government's
estimates and trends in the Canadian economy; and upon request from a
committee or parliamentarian, to estimate the financial cost of any
proposal for matters over which Parliament has jurisdiction."
As he indicates, it is political (and civil service) suicide to accept the job of PBO. His replacement has not been named and may not be for some time.
Pls read the Toronto Star article (April 1, 2013). This is another example of Harper advocating and setting up an outside control of parliamentary spending (when he was in opposition) and then disregarding its guidance completely.
Remember Sheila Fraser (pic from MacLeans magazine June 2011), the previous auditor general (see my blog article of Feb 2009)? She performed a valuable and necessary service for all Canadians. What happened to her? Do you remember the criticism she received for pointing out irregularities (aka dishonest and irresponsible use of taxpayer dollars) by Harper's party?
Anyone remember the name of the current auditor general - Michael Ferguson?
Let's see how he gets along with Harper. He must report on progress of Kyoto Protocol every 2 years.
It was the auditor general criticism of senator expense claims that prompted this recent senate auditing activity.
Due to the nature of politicians (apparent total disrespect for taxpaying dollars), every Canadian needs to visibly support these two offices.
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