subject: Ways to Save Energy: Think Green to Save Green [print this page] Author: Marlon Jackson Author: Marlon Jackson
When many people hear the term green the first thing they think of is taking drastic measures to save the environment. In reality, however, thinking green often just means making small changes to prevent wasted energy. Thinking green is very easy to do in everyday life without having to make any drastic changes or cause hardships. There are a number of ways to save energy, and in the long run they could save you a lot of money. Many energy-saving steps are actually things that you already do to protect you and your home. Things like changing and cleaning your air filters, sealing your home for winter and making sure your attic is insulated are all examples of this. But how is this being green? Well, saving energy is being green. Making sure your home is being heated and cooled properly means you dont have to run your thermostat at extreme levels. This saves you money on your energy bills, and it helps the environment because your household requires less energy to operate and be comfortable. Monitoring how you use water can also save energy, and its often very simple steps that you may not have been aware of previously. For example, if youre brushing your teeth you may leave the faucet running instead of only turning it on when you need the water. Or sometimes you may use the dishwasher even when its not full. These are both things that are very easy to change. Another energy-saver is to take more showers. Thats not to say that you cant take baths but rather that you can cut back on the number of baths you take or use less water when filling the tub. Electrical use is probably the most obvious area to make energy-saving changes. Turning off lights and appliances that arent being used saves money and energy. Furthermore, its very efficient to unplug items that arent being used because they can still be using power even if theyre off. Installing light dimmers or simply using compact fluorescent bulbs are also ways to save energy. Compact fluorescent bulbs use about of the energy of standard bulbs yet they last much longer. This means youre spending less on buying replacement bulbs as well as lowering the amount of energy needed in your home. Thinking green doesnt have to mean making monumental changes to your everyday lifestyle. There are a number of simple ways to save energy that contribute to a productive, green lifestyle. Not only does saving energy have benefits for the environment but also you end up saving money. Those are benefits that cant be beat.About the Author:
