here is so much you can do that we decided to divide the possibilities
into three categories: Change of Habit, One Step Further, and
Ready for a Leap. This way, you can begin your journey toward
sustainable living at a level you are ready for, and can move
along at your own pace.:
AT HOME: CHANGE OF HABIT
Lights out!
It is a myth that turning the light on and off wastes more energy
than leaving the light on (same goes for the heat/AC by the
way — you always save energy when you are not using it). So if
a room is empty, it should be dark.
Turn that dial…less.
Try keeping the heat no higher than 68 in the winter and no
lower than 75 in the summer. Wear more/fewer clothes to "suit"
your comfort.
Be strategic about plant placement. Plants provide shade in
the summer and can help break drafts in the wintertime.
The sun gets in through the window. Sometimes people forget
to use the sun's light as a source of heat. In the winter, open
blinds/curtains during the day and close them at night. In the
summer, keep blinds closed during the day. For more about passive
solar heating, read Daniel Chiras' The Natural House: A Complete
Guide to Healthy, Energy-Efficient Environmental Homes. Or read
an Energy
Educators of Ontario paper.
Fill up! Run the dishwasher/clothes washer only when you have
a full load.
Unplug appliances. According to the Northeast Sustainable Energy
Association, "Even when they are not in use, many appliances
like televisions and VCRs continue to use small amounts of electricity
for things like their clocks and remote controls. If you have
a rarely used appliance, such as a TV or clock radio in a guest
room, pull its plug and then plug it in on those rare occasions
when it is going to be used."
Energy energy energy… We do not expect that people make energy-saving
their mantra. However, we do not want it to slip away from consciousness
either. A good way to keep it at the forefront of your mind
is to work it into conversations with family and friends, or
sign up for a newsletter such as Green
Tips, a bi-monthly online newsletter that provides
practical tips for sustainable living. Want more ideas? Do Good,
with Grist
Magazine's Do Good page.
AT HOME: ONE STEP FURTHER
Get flamboyant about fluorescent! According to ActGreen.com,
"If every family in the US replaced one regular light bulb with
an energy saving model, we'd reduce global warming pollution
by more than 90 billion pounds, the same as taking 7.5 million
cars off the road."
Hey Thermostat, Get with the Times! Newer thermostats can be
programmed to turn on/off at certain times. Replace the old
"dial" model with the state-of-the-art stuff-then show it off
to friends.
Clean! Anything with a filter functions more efficiently sans
dirt. Remember to clean air conditioner filters, refrigerator
condenser coils, and furnaces regularly, and get oil filters
in your car changed regularly.
Save with your (Shower)Head. Install a water-saving showerhead
and see lower energy bills at the end of the month.
When replacing a large appliance, look for "energy saving" labels
As you peruse refrigerator, washing machine, or air conditioner
options, seek out those that display EPA's Energy Star or the
Center for Resource Solutions's Green-e.
According to their website, "the Green-e logo denotes electricity
that meets by standards set by a collaborative of environmentalists,
consumer advocates, and energy experts." The
ENERGY Guide is another useful resource.
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AT HOME:
READY FOR A LEAP
Take
the Pledge. Vow to join over 221 million others in
cutting your CO2 emissions by 5%! Among other pledges, One Sweet
Whirled's is particularly good because each piece of the pledge
includes a tidbit of information on energy.
Do an Energy Audit on your home to evaluate how environmentally
friendly your electricity generation is. In many cases, people
are familiar enough with their homes to know where the drafts
are, how old the thermostat is, etc, so they can conduct informal
audits themselves. For some guidance on conducting your own
energy audit, visit Efficiency Vermont's
or Alliance
to Save Energy's.
If you find yourself struggling or want a more detailed audit
you can have an energy audit done professionally. Call a local
utility company, or visit a nationwide
energy service company.
Green Power! To be, or not to be on the grid. This decision
is one that we all make, whether consciously or passively. To
compare the effects of conventional energy sources like coal
and oil with those of renewable energy sources such as solar
and wind, visit the Power Scorecard. Pennsylvania, New Jersey,
and others are leading the nation in giving consumers the power
to choose their electricity company. Use the Power
Scorecard to opt for cleaner, sustainable energy. The
Power Scorecard is a rating mechanism that assesses the environmental
impact of different types of electric generation. The Power
Scorecard makes it easy for you to plug into cleaner power for
the future of the planet.
Co-operate! Consider joining an energy cooperative like Philadelphia's
Energy Cooperative, — licensed as an electrical supplier
in 1998. According
to them,
"The best way for residential consumers and small businesses
to benefit from electric deregulation is by combining their
buying power."
Really DIY. Of course you cannot make wind or sunlight, but
you can harness it yourself, without a middleman. People can
make their own windmills and buy solar panels themselves. Other
Power is the host site for a group of people who generate
electricity on their own. They are even featured in an issue
of Home
Power, the journal on home-made power.
Increase the energy efficiency of your home. Hear how one Philadelphian
has incorporated an energy-conserving stove and passive solar
heating system into her low-income household. Watch the GreenWorks
Ecological
Home segment.
Get involved and see also our Tips
for transportation.
Site sponsored by Refinery.
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