We own and run a local solar energy company in Altadena, CA. We engineer, build, & finance both solar electric and thermal system from San Gabriel Valley to Santa Monica here in Southern California. While many of our customers are the smart environmentally-conscious kind who don’t just want to save money, but also save the planet by turning to green renewable energy, we are often surprised by how much energy they consume when we first visit their homes.

One of the common questions that we get from customers is how big of a system they should get. This question cannot be answered without first looking deeply on how much one consume. This is where we find Thay's teaching on mindful consumption is so powerful and helpful. In most cases, we find that even those who are conscious about environment and energy consumption (a.k.a potential solar clients) are not always aware of how much electricity and other energy they consume on a day-to-day basis.

Modern lifestyle brings us a lot of conveniences,  but if we look deeply, we can see that a lot of energy is used to make those conveniences available to us. For instance, in order to have hot water the moment we turn on the faucet, a recirculation pump need to continually pump hot water through the house, and the heater needs to continually reheat it in order to keep it hot.  This can double the amount of natural gas used to heat the house’s water.  There are electronic household appliances that are consuming energy constantly, such as the refrigerators and computers that are working all the time. There are also appliances that we don’t necessarily notice, but are constantly consuming energy, such as the cable box and the printer.  These conveniences can consume a large portion of the energy at home without us even being aware of it.

Awareness of our energy consumption is probably one of the best results that comes with a home solar system.  People become aware of their energy use because they are interested in how the solar is benefiting them.  This new energy awareness that is spurred by their new solar system makes them aware of their consumption too.  In many cases, the new-found energy awareness causes people to reduce their energy use. Even before putting on the solar panels on the roof, many of our customers already reduce the amount of energy they consume by finding sensible ways to be more efficient. On average, homeowners can reduce 10-40% energy consumption in all forms including electricity and gas.

It is only through awareness that we can truly understand how we are benefited from the energy that is generously shared by Father Sun, and appreciate the miracle of wonder of this renewable source of energy.  For most of our customers, solar energy makes the invisible visible (on the monitor that keep track of energy production, and the utility meter), and it empower you to better understand how you connect with your energy.

Having green renewable energy without a consciousness for reducing your use only brings limited results. Many system owner’s come to terms with their over-consumption when they find that even a large solar system will not provide for all of their use.  One of our customers was surprised at getting high electricity bills after her system was installed. She initially suspected a faulty meter or equipment. When we investigated the issue, we met her son who recently turned the garage into an entertainment center with room sized plasma TV, electronic games and air conditioner roaring full blast with the door not closed.  He thought that electricity was ‘free’ after installing solar.  Recently, one of our thermal heating customers asked us why the floor space heating does not work well when the windows were open. We have to kindly and gently explain to him that the system was not designed for use with windows open.  Changing your consuming mindset is as important as installing solar.

In America, we are spoiled by the abundance of energy. Cheap energy from coal and oil make renewable sources looks relatively expensive. Furthermore, this condition of abundance created a culture that lacks awareness of how we consume, which perpetuates a unfavorable situation for the next generation.  We need to understand how precious resources are, and how to avoid wasteful habits. A big question that each of us needs to come to terms with is how we balance our want of creature comforts as individuals with the cost that these comforts bring to the whole world in the form of environmental damage.  Our consuming is in the context of a crowded world with 9 billion other people consuming as well.  How can we view our actions in that context?  Change needs to start with us.

When Hans was young and growing up in an older house in the Northeast, he was very concerned with over-consumption of resources and worked to reduce consumption at home, sometimes to the discomfort of his family.  He successfully convinced his younger sister that by surrounding herself with stuffed animals and two blankets, she can survive wintertime temperatures, even with her room heater switched off. She obliged him for a while, but was not fooled by her older brother’s sweet talk for long. Changing one’s habit is tough, as we Zen practitioners know through our personal practices. Lasting change is only possible if we have full awareness of our behavior as it is, and knowing the consequences as it is. Lasting change is possible when insight arises, and when we have such awareness to see what we consume daily is interconnected with the well-being of Mother Earth.

Recently we drove our all electric vehicle from home to Deer Park Monastery for the first time since we got it few months ago. It took longer than we planned, as finding and charging stations along the way and waiting for the car to be charged added extra traveling time. However, while it seems to be extra hassle that we have to deal with, it also brings us joy to discover that there are increasing number of charging stations along the way between Altadena to Escondido that make the trip possible. Driving an all-electric car with limited range is a great mindfulness practice, as we are constantly reminded how much energy we are consuming each time we press the accelerator. It is just another example of how awareness of how much we consume, changes the way how we behave.

With these thoughts in mind, we would like to encourage you to view consumption in your own lives with new eyes:

• Turn off and unplug unnecessary appliances.  How much energy consumption do I cause for simple convenience?

• Change the light bulbs to efficient ones.  Shut off lights you are not using.

• Avoid electric heater as much as possible.  Would I need heat if I altered my attire?

• Close the doors and windows if you are heating or cooling a space, otherwise the effect is wasted.

• Consider carefully the balance between energy use, comfort, and convenience.  Can I adapt myself to the environment rather than the environment to my wishes?

Dramatically reducing the energy inputs in our lives is possible by how we live, and consume. It is only through our everyday action that we can show our true love to Mother Earth.  Be the change you want to see in this world!

Joy Lam (True Palm Tree Garden) and Hans Rosenberger (Gentle Compassion of the Heart) live in Altadena CA in a house powered by solar thermal and solar electric, with three kitties, three chickens, many piles of compost and an organic vegetables garden. They practices with Sprouting Seeds Sangha in Pasadena and Tranquil Lotus Sangha (a POC & Alliance sangha) in Altadena. They own and operate Altadena Energy & Solar (www.altadenasolar.com) together, and also involve with the development of Arroyo Food Co-op (order.arroyofoodcoop.com), the second food cooperative in Los Angeles county.

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