Where in the Great Lakes Is Something Important NOT?

Water Heater dial with little duct tape arrow to help return to lower setting after heating bath water.

Have you clicked through any of the links to the right? NOAA's website is a mass of information. Wave height maps, hazardous weather maps, and satellite images. What we're seeing lately answers the above question, and the answer to what we're lacking this winter is ICE. It's mid-January and the Lakes remain largely unfrozen. The Great Lakes Echo has a recent article on the financial impact of the lack of opportunities for ice fishing and snowmobiling and skiing. But unfrozen lakes also mean more evaporation, and lower lake levels. And there is less reflection of sunlight. The dark open waters absorb the sun's heat; ice reflects it.

Are you like a few of us here who are tired of people jubilating daily over this winter's ongoing indications of climate change? This warmth is not a good omen; not to be celebrated. It seems as though the region's weather has slipped northward, with Detroit's weather more like what we'd imagine for Cincinnati, and northern lower Michigan having a winter like we'd picture for Detroit. Have you come up with a good response when a friend or colleague praises an ominous sign like this unnaturally warm weather?

Among environmentalists, though, the lifestyle response could be stronger. We CAN and should turn down the thermostats, water heaters, anything using the fossil fuels that caused and continue to cause the threat. What do you do? Where is your thermostat set? We're experimenting with 60, reasoning that since 65 now seems too hot after years of steadily lowering the setting, 60 will soon feel pleasant enough. (Think of how warm that first 60 degree day of spring will feel). What IS the average thermostat setting, the average indoor temperature, worldwide? And do we need the whole space heated, or just ourselves? In many cold regions, citizens put on layers and heat their bodies rather than the space surrounding those bodies. Layers of light long underwear, fleece or wool vests, sweaters; often with the thermostat at 60, we can still feel too warm. (And I think we're livelier in the cooler house.) If you're at work, what's the temp there like?

A tank water heater CAN be used somewhat like a heat-as-you-go model. We keep ours set pretty low, and turn it up 15 or 20 minutes before wanting a bath (the low setting is still fine for showers, we've discovered.) I presumed it would take a couple of hours to heat the water to bath temperature, and was pleasantly surprised.

With the daily concerns about not only climate change, but fracking, coal mining, coal burning, coal ASH, tarsands oil, oil pipelines, we can feel lost in the deluge of threats, but also lost in what feels like our group response. What's everyone else doing? Are we ahead, behind the curve? Do we, as individuals, even need to do much of anything, or will the group solve the problem? Will the government somehow force industries to do the right thing and correct this trend, and do it soon enough? What are your thoughts? And your personal conservation measures? What would YOU like all of us to do? What did you try at home and were pleasantly surprised at? Have you ever attempted a lifestyle change and decided, no, can't keep THAT up? Weigh in. Write an agenda for all of us and post it here.

Post and photo by Rebecca Hammond