Save Energy to Stop Global Warming
How to Affect Climate Change in Your Everyday Life
Many people think that they are powerless to stop Global Warming. They are wrong. Here are ten steps that can make any home an environmentally friendly enclave.
Global Warming exists and it is a problem that needs to be addressed now. But you are probably wondering if you, the little guy or girl, can really do anything to protect the earth from the growing dangers of Climate Change. The answer is yes, every single person can help in the fight against Global Warming.
The most important aspect of fighting Global Warming is decreasing the amount of dangerous greenhouse gas emissions that are sent into the atmosphere as a result of, among other things, the burning of fossil fuels. Burning oil or natural gas, even for the necessary purpose of heating a home, gives off harmful emissions that eventually clog up the sky and heat up the earth. Furthermore, electric appliances and light bulbs, which seem pretty harmless by themselves, are fed by much larger energy sources that are likely powered by the burning of fossil fuels that throw off harmful emissions.
Every person can help lower the emission of greenhouse gases by: (1) lowering their energy consumption at home, and (2) using cleaner energy sources to power their own private world. Here are some tips that any conscientious person can follow.
Top 10 Home Energy Conservation Tips
1. Turn off the lights when you leave a room. Your mother told you this for a reason.
2. Turn off the radio, TV, or stereo that you aren’t using.
3. Use the heat and air conditioner within reason.
Taking these three simple steps will decrease energy consumption in the average home by up to 10%.
4. Consider purchasing energy efficient appliances. If you're buying a washing machine, refrigerator, dish washer or oven, buy the most energy-efficient model you can afford. They might be more expensive but they will pay for themselves through lower energy bills.
5. Don't leave refrigerator doors open for longer than necessary, let food cool down fully before putting it in the fridge or the freezer, defrost regularly and keep at the right temperature. Where possible don't stand ovens next to refrigerators.
6.Use the washing machine or dish washer only when you have a full load. Use dish detergent suitable for low temperature washes and use the economy setting on your washer.
7. If it is available to you, then consider buying non-polluting green energy from your electric company. If they don't offer it, see if you can you change to a company that does. Get your school, company or community to buy renewable energy, too.
8. Don’t let your computer be an energy hog. Five things to keep computer energy consumption down:
- Buy a laptop, which consumes five times less electricity than a desktop model.
- If you buy a desktop computer, specifically request an LCD screen.
- Turning off a computer that is not being used will extend its lifetime, and will save the owner more than 1,000 kilowatts of energy per year.
- Use one large power strip for your computer, scanner, printer, monitor, and speakers. Switch it off when equipment is not in use. This is a practical way to cut 200 Kilowatts of energy per year from standby energy losses.
- Minimize printing. Laser printers use more electricity than inkjet printers. You’ll save trees too. That will help even more.
9. If you are building a new home, try to construct it with proper insulation. A properly insulated home can reduce heating needs to one-third of what an average house would need.
10. Consider Solar Energy. This is not cheap. But in time, solar energy panels will pay for themselves. Plus, they greatly decrease reliance upon burning fossil fuels for energy.
It's just a start, but these are things that most people can do, and it will help keep this planet alive.
