The 20-Minute Environmentalist™: In the Living Room

The living room is usually where we go to unwind in the evening, spend time with our families and visit with friends. With so much time spent in this multi-use room, there are a lots of opportunities to waste - or save - energy while watching television, reading a book, playing board or video games, or hanging out with friends and family.

Here are five quick, simple energy saving tips that will have you saving energy, saving money and lowering your family's environmental impact all while enjoying your normal living room activities.

1. Buy a low energy television or use the low energy setting on your television - If buying a new, low energy use television isn't in your budget, but you do own a newer flat screen or plasma television, check your owner's manual to see if your television has a low energy use setting. Many newer televisions have this option and it is easy to access via your remote control. It might take you 20 minutes to find your owner's manual and look this up, but once you have the info it will only take you a few seconds to make sure your television is set to the low energy use setting each time you turn it on.
2. Install dimmer switches on living room lights - Install dimmer switches on your living room lighting and you will save money on your energy bill, reduce your home's carbon output, make your light bulbs last longer and enjoy a more relaxing experience with softer lighting. If you have old style dimmer switches already in place it's time to upgrade - old school dimmers convert excess energy to heat so, while you still get the mood lighting, you don't get the energy savings. Dimmer switches are widely available and easy to install, so pick one (or more) up on your next trip to your local home store and it should take you less than 20 minutes to install it once you get home.
3. Switch living room lighting to compact fluorescent bulbs - CFLs (compact fluorescent lights) come in a variety of styles and sizes now so you don't need to worry about having ugly bulbs in your living room light fixtures. The life span of compact fluorescent bulbs is significantly higher than incandescent bulbs, which means less waste to end up in landfills and CFLs are far more energy efficient, saving you money and lowering your impact on the environment. Depending on how many light bulbs you have in your living room, it will only take a few minutes to switch out your old, energy-hogging light bulbs for energy efficient, long lasting compact fluorescent light bulbs.
4. Use a power strip for your electronics - Did you know that a significant amount of the energy you use in your home actually occurs when your electronics and appliances are turned off? It's true, when you turn off your appliances and electronics, but leave them plugged in they are still using energy and raising your energy bill. Plug all of your electronics into a power strip and turn the power strip off when your electronics are not in use. You will see a difference in your energy bill and will lower your impact on the environment buy taking care of this energy-hogging issue. It will take you less than 20 minutes to plug in a power strip and plug all of your electronics into it - even if you have to move the TV stand to get to the plug.
5. Use draft guards and insulate windows - Lower your heating and cooling costs and keep your living room comfy all year long by insulating the windows and using draft guards on doors that lead outside or to the garage. Draft guards are inexpensive - or you can make your own as a simple knitting or sewing project, or even by using a rolled up towel - and will help to block the transfer of air between your cozy, temperature-controlled living room and outside. Insulating your windows with an inexpensive, simple insulation kit is another great way to keep the cooled or heated air inside and to limit the transfer of outside cold and heat through your windows. Any home or hardware store sells window insulation kits (basically thin sheets of plastic that you apply to the glass and then blow dry) and this simple DIY project can save lots of energy and money in the long run. Depending on how many windows you have and your agenda for the day, finish the whole project in one shot or break it down into 20-minute increments. Either way, you will save on your utility bills and lower your environmental impact while keeping your living room cozy.