Ten Tips to Conserve Energy
There are many people who are eco-friendly in every aspect of their life. If you’re new to saving the environment, but are still interested in going green, then starting with just small things can help you to begin to save the environment. Here is a list of ten things that you can do to personally conserve energy and help fight global warming.
1. Turn off your computer when not using it
Leaving your computer on at night needlessly consumes energy. If you do not like having to start up your computer each morning, utilizing sleep or hibernate mode is the next best thing.
2. Lower the air conditioning/heat in summer and winter
The less you use air conditioning and heating, the more energy you save. In the summer, you can easily decrease your air conditioning use by spending more time out of the house. For winter, just wear warmer clothes.
3. Wash clothes in cold water
Just a few short years ago, there were virtually no options for washing your clothes with cold water. Now there are several varieties of cold water detergents, and using these can drastically cut your energy bill.
4. Avoid using the oven
Other smaller appliances use much less energy, such as microwaves and toasters.
5. Take shorter and fewer showers
Showers use water and heat, so the less you shower, the better. Keep in mind that you do not need to shower every day, and following an every other day routine can be significantly beneficial to the environment. Try it for a few weeks; you will not feel any less clean, and you gain more time.
6. Use fluorescent light bulbs
Fluorescent bulbs use almost eighty percent less energy than regular bulbs, and they last longer. Although their initial cost may be higher, in the long run they will save you money.
7. Do not overuse your dishwasher
While you may be tempted to turn this appliance on when you have a few plates that need cleaning, refrain from doing so until you have a full load.
8. Seal your windows
Lots of heat and air escape through small slits and holes around your windows. Sealing them is cheap and will save you a lot of money over time.
9. Turn off the lights
When you are not in a room, turn off the lights. This is a very common energy saving tip, yet it is still ignored by a large portion of the population.
10. Turn off and unplug other appliances
Whenever you are not using an appliance, turn it off. If possible, unplug devices as well, as most appliances still use energy even when not on.
