Cool Cities’ Sherlock Homes Energy Saving Toolbox
Cherie Yelton
In October, Anne Arundel’s Cool Cities group kicked off its Sherlock
Homes Energy Saving Toolbox program at K&B True Value Hardware
store’s second annual Ladies Night.
The Toolbox was put together to create awareness that individual’s
habits affect climate change and how we can make a substantial
difference by reducing our carbon footprint--and save money in the
process!
The program started with the eye-opening film “Kilowatt Ours,” which
documents where our electricity comes from—primarily coal in this
region—and the environmental degradation of mountaintop removal and
coal-burning pollution. Simple activities and materials help sleuths of
all ages test around the house for air leaks, count light bulbs and
batteries, assess water usage, and check insulation and car tires.
Some items in the Toolbox are: 
- the Complete
Guide
to
Energy Conservation for Smarties by local
activist/Sierra Club member, Susan Hartsfield
- a kilowatt meter that registers electricity usage of
appliances, electronics like cell phone chargers and all those
always-illuminated lights on microwaves and cable boxes
- a tire pressure gauge
- a timer for shortening the length of shower
- a magnifying glass to check for cracks in seals.
The Toolbox was well received by Ladies Night participants. Eighteen
signed up to borrow the kit including several teachers who intended to
use the Toolbox in their classrooms and another who hoped to hold a
neighborhood contest to reduce energy usage.
Visit K&B True Value at 913 Forest Drive (at Hillsmere) in
Annapolis to borrow the Toolbox. Many thanks to Jared Littman, owner of
the store, and environmental advocate extraordinaire, for his
willingness and enthusiasm in promoting this program.
For more information, call Cool Cities co-chairs Cherie Yelton
(443-254-1602) or Dawn Schulman (410-868-2436).
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