Richard Perez, the publisher of Home Power Magazine, has been living off the grid since 1970. He discussed America's energy situation and alternatives to reliance on the power companies. Perez has been utilizing a combination of wind generators, solar cell systems, and a gasoline-powered generator to provide all his electrical power and said he can store up to 4-5 days worth of electricity in batteries. He also made numerous suggestions to reduce your power bill. For instance, reducing thermal and electrical loads by replacing single-pane windows with double-pane, and increasing the r-value of insulation in walls and the roof.
Perez advocated for more efficient usage of home appliances. He pointed out if your refrigerator is more than five years old, a newer one would use up only half as much energy, because of the Energy Star regulations that have gone into effect on newer models. Incandescent light bulbs can be replaced by compact fluorescent bulbs that burn cooler and have a far longer life span. Perez also discussed "phantom loads," i.e. electronic devices with remote controls that are always on, thus sucking up small amounts of power.
News on the "Quickening" and weird weather, as well as Open Lines, were featured in the first hour, plus hours 4 and 5.