This month's Smarter Living challenge is to set your thermostat one degree lower than you usually do
Muncie Star Press Oct. 20, 2008
By Michelle Kinsey
It's quite simple, really. Live smarter.
That's the goal of The Smart Living Project, which was created by a group of eco-minded folks who want to help everyone live more sustainably.
The SLP was founded in 2006, but only recently went public during this year's Living Lightly Fair.
The group offers a Web site (www.smartlivingproject.org), Smart Living Guides (handy how-to's for greener living), monthly Smart Living Challenges (beginner and advanced) and will, in the near future, look at offering workshops and forums.
"There are so many green groups out there," said Lina Gordy, SLP board member and one of the founders of the group. "But there wasn't one with a local focus. We wanted to offer simple things that would be easy to incorporate into your daily life right here, in Muncie."
Take October's Smart Living Challenge, for example.
The beginner is asked to set their thermostat "one degree lower this month than you usually do."
Why? "According to the U.S. Department of Energy, heating and cooling accounts for 56 percent of the energy use in a typical home," the SLP states on its Web site. "With rising fuel costs and increasing concerns about our planet's health, maybe this is the perfect year to assess your home's energy efficiency. And, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, you can save up to 3 percent on your heating bill for every degree you lower your thermostat."
The advanced challenge is to conduct a "DIY home energy audit this month." The site offers tips on how to do that as well.
Past challenges included eating sustainable food and reducing your electricity consumption.
The SLP received a grant from the Community Foundation of Muncie and Delaware County for another outreach project -- Smart Living Guides. The first one is a Green Shopping Guide, filled with Q&A's and shopping tips.
What you won't find is anything political or controversial. They stick to the basics.
"The SLP will have a positive focus, less gloom and doom," Gordy said. "We want to inspire, to challenge. We want people to get excited about smart living."
How can you get involved? You can become a member. You can donate to keep the not-for-profit group going. You can also just hit the Web site and start taking the challenges and picking up tips.
"If you have been wondering 'How do I fit into the green movement?' this is a great place to find out," Gordy said.
