Tips on How to Reduce Use of Energy

We all know and most agree that there is a global warming crisis happening right now on Earth. At present, things are still somewhat ok, but nobody can deny that the climate is changing. How much do the actions made by human beings affect the global warming? How can we at least reduce what we have been contributing to the global warming crisis? There are various things we can do as an attempt to save energy and cut down our impact on Earth. Here are some suggestions recently released this year.

1) Invest in compact fluorescent light bulbs:

There are compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) that have the ability to last years, and uses only a quarter of the energy that regular bulbs use and will actually produce more light. If you consider the money you spend on buying light bulbs every year, this may be a worthwhile investment. You can find them at major home improvements and hardware stores.

TIP: Make the effort to always turn off unneeded lights, there is no need to leave light on in rooms that are not being used at the moment. Also if there is daylight outside, try to leave curtains open. Your electricity bill will be sure to decrease if you make more of an effort as well.

2) Reconsider your use of cars:

It is known that a car emit as much carbon dioxide as an entire house will. An obvious option is to buy a fuel-efficient car such as a hybrid, but we all know that sometimes that is just not an option at the moment. The next best option is to try to drive as little as you can. If you have a friend who drives to the same workplace as you, car-pool so one car is being used instead of two. Taking the bus or skytrain is another option. Also a more healthy option is to start using the bike or walk. If the destination is within a walking or biking distance, you should opt to bike or walk instead. Your body will thank you in the long run, so it's a win/win situation!

TIP: Getting your car tuned up will often improve fuel efficiency by half!

3) Become more active with controlling your temperature:

Sadly, air conditioners inject additional carbon into the air. It would be nice to ditch air conditioners, but these machines are an absolute necessity in cities where the residents experience unbearable heat for a long stretch of time. So if an air conditioner is a must, here are options you can do.

Older heating and cooling systems are a third less efficient than the new systems, so if replacement is do-able, do it! Also, tuning your heating system once every few years can reduce your heating costs by ten percent per year. Clean vents, close unused vents, and change filters in the vents. Make sure the windows and doors are sealed. By doing all this, it will prevent you from turning the heating and cooling systems higher than it needs to be, which in the end, will inject more carbon than necessary.

TIP: Another option is to use fans, such as ceiling fans and so on instead of using air conditioners. That alone will reduce your cooling costs by more than half.

4) Confront the refrigerator:

The fact is that inside a house, the biggest consumer of electricity is the refrigerator. Older refrigerators are usually 50 percent less efficient than new refrigerators. However, most of us cannot afford to purchase a brand new refrigerator. Here are some options.

Don't set the thermostat too high, even one degree will make a big difference. Turn on your "energy saver" switch near the thermostat. Also clean the condenser coil, which will improve the efficiency of your refrigerator by a third! Finally, the obvious, make sure the doors seal properly and keep the cool inside.

TIP: If your refrigerator is near a window or a heating panel, cover the panel or put shades up on the window, or else it can affect how cool the fridge gets.

5) Twist that knob!

Aside for your refrigerator, the biggest energy consumers would be the hot water heater, dishwasher, and washer & dryer. By following the suggestions below, you can make a difference!

Try to turn down the hot water heater a couple degrees, or turn on the energy conservation setting if yours has one. Buy insulation for your hot water heater, and insulate the pipes as well.

Whenever possible, wash some dishes by hand. Also, don't pre-rinse dishes, today's detergents are powerful enough to do the job. Make sure to wait until you have a full load before you use the dishwasher.

Wash your clothes in warm water, instead of hot. This will cut energy use by fifty percent. Also don't over-dry your clothes.

TIP: Another option is to not use the dryer, and hang your clothes up if you have a backyard.

6) Eat and Buy Organic:

Organic? Why bother? Because when farmers spray a billion pounds of pesticides on their crops, they also kill off microorganisms that keep carbon contained in the soil. When the microorganisms are gone, the carbon is released into the atmosphere as carbon dioxide.

TIP: Grow your own garden. It can be very satisfying, and rewarding.

7) Buy recycled and recycle as well!

It actually takes less energy to recycle products instead of creating brand new products, thus by buying recycled products is more earth-friendly, and you will help create a market and need for more recycled products. Also make sure to be active with recycling as well!

TIP: If your neighborhood does not have a recycle pick-up program. Look for a recycling center nearby, often they will pay you for a certain amount of items! So you get to get a bit of money back!