Follow Austin's Example -- Cut Back On Energy And Save Big (VIDEO)

"Kilowatt Ours," an educational documentary on the climate crisis and how some people are combating it by cutting back on energy use, recently started screening in areas around the United States. To find out where you can see the entire film, visit kilowattours.org.

Filmmaker Jeff Barrie offers hope as he turns the camera on himself and asks, "How can I make a difference?" In his journey Barrie explores the source of our electricity and the problems caused by energy production including mountain top removal, childhood asthma and global warming. Along the way he encounters individuals, businesses, organizations, and communities who are leading the way, using energy conservation, efficiency and renewable, green power all while saving money and the environment.

Below is an interesting clip from the film featuring Austin, Texas, a city that seems to have clutched conservation from the jaws of coal. WATCH:

Comments

[Dystopic]

I have done something different in my new home. I installed a paralell low voltage power grid in my home. All lights are on the LV grid.

I have a large solar array on my roof, and since I get 24 to 48V DC out of the array, it goes to the powerr banks (batteries) and then directly into the LV grid. No conversion loss to 120V AC, so the energy is used more efficiently.

I am planning on installing a power monitor to see if this is makin a difference.

Most electrical appliances use transformers to step the power down from 120V AC to 12-48V DC, conversion is very inefficient.

[KathB]

Kilowatt Ours: A Plan to Re-Energize America will be airing on PBS stations across the country, below is a list of scheduled airdates. For more information please visit www.kilowattours.org.

[KathB]

Full schedule on PBS

CA

San Jose, CA, KTEH, 11/18 at 12am
San Francisco, Oakland, San Jose, KCSM, 12/14 at 2am

FL
West Palm Beach, FL, WXEL " 11/15 at 8pm., 11/15 at 8pm

ID
Spokane, Coeur D"Alene, Moscow, ID, ID KCDT and KUID, 10/29/2008 at 3:00am
Boise and Twin Falls, ID, KAID and KAIDDT, 10/29/2008, 3:00am
Idaho Falls-Pocatello, ID, KISU and KISUDT, 10/29/2008 at 3:00am

MI
East Landing MI, WKAR, 10/27 at 11pm

NC
Charlotte, NC, WTVI, 11/15 at 1am
Greensboro/High Point/Winston Salem, NC, UNC-TV, 10/23 at 10pm
Raleigh/Durham, NC, UNC-TV STATEWIDE, 10/23 at 10pm
Raleigh/Durham, NC, UNC-NC & WUNC-NC STATEWIDE, 10/12 at 7pm, 10/12 at 10pm, 10/13 at 2am, 10/13 at 5am
Wilmington, NC, WUJNJ-DT5, 10/12 at 7pm, 10/12 at 10pm, 10/13 at 2am, 10/13 at 5am

NV
Las Vegas, NV, PBS Jackpot Cable111, 10/25 at 4:01 AM, 10/25 at 9AM, 10/25 at 2:01 pm,

SC
South Carolina, ETV, WRLK, and SC Channel, 10/22 at 10 pm

TN
Memphis, TN, WKNO, 10/22 at 8pm
Nashville, TN, WNPT, 10/24 at 7pm

TX
Waco-Temple-Bryan, Belton, TX, KNCT, KNCTDT2, 10/23 at 9:00 pm

VT
Vermont Public Television STATEWIDE, VPT, 10/28 at 9pm

WA
Seattle, WA, KCTS, 11/14 at 12pm noon, 11/18 at 11pm

[Enid]

And they laugh at Obama's suggestion on the first move is to start conserve energy.

[Exusian]

Tonight, Oct 21

On PBS Front Line

"Heat"

[AlfredoENewman]

Thank you for fixing the video whoever you are

[honestpolitician]

There are so many home made solutions that I have used at home and saved over 30% on my elecrtic bills...got this info from : http://myhomemadeenergy.org .. highly recommended

[GoNitro]

Please fix the video -- these are my home folks.

[gbrooks]

I thought it was just my browser, but the video has no sound except some garbled stuff at the beginning. Fix please! I'd love to hear it!

[wbarley]

Will someone fix this? I wanted to watch it!

[Star2000dancer]

Ever hear their leader? He is exactly the kind of leader we need.

[jahzilla]

She . . . their leader is a she.
Her name is Brandi Clark and she has influenced more green causes across the Austin/State of Texas than any other sole individual. Voted "Best Of" in the 2008 Austin Chronicle's annual reader poll, she IS someone whose energetic leadership abilities should be embraced by all communities. She is not the only one leading Austin (and by example, the nation) to and through the green revolution. The place is thick with people dedicating their lives to making our children's futures a far, far better place.
Right on, Brandi Clark !

[AustinFrank]

The video is hosed.