Why?

Why start a blog? It could have been private notes. But, I feel I'm learning a lot and hopeful that others will also join my quest to understand and reduce energy consumption.

To start a few years back: my deep curiosity about oceans and marine conservation began in middle school, sparked by whale-watching trips where I witnessed firsthand the devastating impact of climate change. Each trip revealed new species teetering on the brink of extinction as rising ocean temperatures disrupted whale migration patterns and acidification threatened plankton populations, jeopardizing entire marine ecosystems. I began exploring these issues independently, scouring websites, and articles, watching documentaries, and attending Oceans Initiative’s virtual marine biology camp where I saw the deep interconnection between human activities and ocean health.

Through my family’s diving and snorkeling trips, I witnessed the decline of coral reefs, fewer parrotfish, and the increasingly warm waters of the ocean. I saw the truth uncovered by David Attenborough’s documentary about our coral reefs right in front of my eyes - the damage mostly from recent years. My advocacy for reducing plastic use, fundraising, and ocean cleanups made a difference, but it wasn’t enough to address larger issues like acidification, warming, and biodiversity loss from greenhouse gas absorption. Determined to make a greater impact, I decided to explore how our energy choices affect ocean health.

I felt compelled to do something to address the root cause for many of these environmental pressures: carbon emissions. I began by researching how energy consumption patterns contribute to environmental change, which led me to investigate data-driven approaches for understanding and mitigating these effects. One Saturday evening, after learning that 60% of our electricity is generated from fossil fuels, the realization hit me. I began reflecting on our household’s energy consumption, considering how much electricity and gas my family used, and what steps we could take to reduce our carbon footprint. This line of inquiry eventually led me to this point.

I hope to post as often as I can with what I'm learning about residential energy usage starting with my home. I'd be super happy if you join on this journey especially if you are in middle school ......