thenextmile

The age of ‘Going Green’ is here. And with an increased focus on protecting the environment and the rising cost of living, there’s no better time than now to start looking for ways to conserve energy and help reduce waste and harmful emissions. There are small things that you can do today in your home and small changes to your everyday life that will turn into big savings and help protect our planet in the process.

5 Ways to Reduce Energy Consumption in Your Home:

1. Stop Wasting Energy Turn off appliances, lights and other equipment when they’re not in use. According to a study by the government’s Energy Star program, 40% of the electricity that home electronics use is consumed while the produces are turned off, but still plugged in. Unplugging unused electronics and appliances could slash your electric bill by as much as 26%. And don’t forget to unplug that computer!

2. Watch your Thermostat During warmer months, set your thermostat to 78 degrees or even higher when you’re away. Doing this can save you up to 3% for each degree the thermostat is set above 72. During cooler months, set your thermostat for 72 degrees when you’re home or even lower when you’re asleep or away.

3. Use Energy Efficient Lighting Replace those old incandescent light bulbs with fluorescent bulbs. Fluorescent bulbs use about 75% less electricity and last for up to seven years.

4. Install Energy-Save Showerheads Older, traditional showerheads use four gallons of water a minute. Low flow showerheads use just over two.

5. Replace your Air Filter You can eliminate unnecessary energy and save money by changing out a clogged air filter. Not only does it cause your system to run slowly, but it can cause a fire or burn up the motor.

5 Ways to Reduce Energy Consumption throughout your Day:

1. Recycle- Set up small bins in your garage or near your back door to collect recyclables such as plastic, tin, metal and paper. Many towns offer recycling pick up, or you can drop off your recyclables at a designated drop-off point. You’ll cut down on your trash, and help reduce waste that would otherwise sit in a landfill.

2. Paper or Plastic? How about neither! By bringing your own reusable grocery bag to the store, you’ll help cut down on the billions of bags that end up in landfills each year. Plastic bags eventually break down into toxins and pollute soil, lakes and rivers.

3. Brown bag it Save money and gas by bringing your lunch to work. Use up leftovers, make a sandwich or salad and carry it to work in a reusable lunch bag. Not only will you save money and gas, you’ll also have more time to get your work done.

4. Buy Local When you can, buy local. You’ll not only get the freshest food possible, you’ll also cut down on energy used to ship food and other items. You’ll also help local farmers and businesses. Plus, local is often cheaper, you’ll enjoy that extra money in your pocket.

5. Walk, Ride or Combine When running errands, combine errands to help cut down on gas and harmful emissions. Or, when possible, walk or ride a bike. You’ll not only cut down on energy use, but you’ll also get some exercise.

Going green might feel intimidating at first, but its small steps that make a difference. Set goals, it’s important to see your progress over the first month. Since immediate 100% eco-conformity isn’t realistic, consider what you can do. Set goals to reduce your household waste by 25%, or increase the amount of local food you buy each week. Try bringing your lunch to work three times a week instead of one. You have the power, with each choice you make to help make the world a better place today, and for the future.

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