YOU NEED AN ENERGY DIET

We reset our temperature in the house to 72 degrees today due to the amount of dampness on the island. The storms we've had these last 3 days have been terrific. Wind gusts have been over 40mph and rain was large enough to fill the driveway to about 2 inches. Fortunately, everything is graded so we don't get any water in the garage. And you say "So what has that got to do with an energy diet?"

Well, we're glad you asked. We usually keep our temperature at 66 degrees during the winter. But, in a situation like this, you sometimes need to reconsider the normal. Since dampness around the house causes the wind chill to be lower than the temperature on the gauge, you need to adjust for a little while to "take the chill off". That means you need to drop the temp down in a couple of hours to conserve on energy costs.

Small adjustments to any "diet" are only common sense to make life comfortable. As with weight diets, your energy diet can be "adjusted" to make life pleasant and not so structured to discourage continuation with the diet.

For you Yankees, we are sure that the temperature we keep of 66 would probably be too low. Of course a temp of 70 would be better for you and an "adjustment" to 72 on extremely cold days (outside temp below freezing) would certainly be acceptable. But remember, to drop the temp back when your days are warmer. AND, turn the temp down a few degrees at night. Extra blankets on your bed makes this possible.

This is just an introduction to "Your Energy Diet" which we are going to be posting starting tomorrow. Each day we will add a tip so you can begin to save money and save your "world". The environment is just as important to your health as what you eat or what exercise you get. We intend to give tips on your house, your car, and your lifestyle. As we said, these are tips and whether you use these or not is your decision. We hope you do.

Please don't expect any tips this Saturday, 1/26/08, as we intend to include fun among our tips. This Saturday here in Galveston is the begining of the public parades for Mardi Gras and we will be there. This is the "family" weekend and the activity is on the Seawall with 3 parades through out the day. Of course, we will be hosting a party between parades so blogging will not be possible. Hopefully, we will take some time to take pictures (rather than just "catch beads") and will then share them with you. (We'll explain more about "our" Mardi Gras in days ahead. It's not exactly like New Orleans' Mardi Gras.)

We hope you stop by tomorrow for the begining of "Your Energy Diet". Until then, Live Well, Laugh Often, Love Much.