Little Things to Help the Environment
Become an environmental superhero
Look up in the air—it’s a bird, it’s a plane, it’s...someone doing laundry in cold water?
Being a superhero these days doesn’t have to mean donning tights and a cape. In fact,
there are lots of surprisingly easy ways you can help save the planet.
Cool your jets
Did you know that water heating accounts for 90 per cent of the energy consumption of
washing machines? Using the cold/cold setting for washing and rinsing (instead of
hot/hot) can save 6.1kWh of electricity. Plus, many manufacturers have come out with
detergents specially formulated for cold water, so you’ll still get clean, fresh-smelling
laundry without using hot water.
Turn it down
Ringing in at 50 per cent of a typical energy bill, heating is the single largest use of
energy in most homes. Turning down the thermostat on your central heating and water
heating by just one or two degrees can result in big savings when it comes to CO 2
emissions—not to mention your bank account. Want to save even more? Put proper
weather stripping and caulking around doors and windows and you can reduce your
heating bills by up to 25 per cent.
Give up the ghost
Many electronic devices will continue to use energy even if they are turned off. Experts
say that as much as three quarters of all the electricity used at home is from “phantom
load”—or standby power used to keep your computer, television, and other electronics
running. That’s why it’s important to unplug things such as your cell phone after it has
finished charging and to turn off power bars that connect to multiple electronic devices.
Pump it up
Obviously the less you drive your vehicle, the better. But just making a habit of checking
your tire pressure regularly can make a big difference too. Under inflated tires reduce
fuel economy which then leads to higher CO2 emissions.
Change that lightbulb
Swap those old electricity-hogging incandescent bulbs for compact fluorescent bulbs
(CFL). Yes, CFLs are more expensive than incandescent bulbs, but replacing a 100watt incandescent with a 25-watt CFL, for example, will save approximately $30 in
electricity over the life of the CFL. Not sure what to buy? Ask for help at your local home
improvement store.
If you really have your heart set on wearing a spandex suit around town, we certainly
won’t stop you. But don’t forget to try some of these simple ideas too.