Global warming and wasting energy
Wasting energy is one of the many causes of global warming but there are many things that we can do to prevent this without going to much effort. Approximately forty percent of total carbon emissions are produced from our homes and our travels; that can be changed without much cost to the individual. Without making unpleasant personal sacrifices or drastic lifestyle changes we can help contribute to preventing more global warming and help reverse the changes that have already occurred.
Among the ways to save energy, money and help prevent climate change is to turn your thermostat down in the winter and up in the summer. It is recommended that you turn your heater/furnace to 68 degrees in the winter and your air conditioner to 76 to 78 degrees in the summer. Ceiling fans can make a difference of up to 5 degrees in the comfort level of a room! Cut back on wasting resources by setting your hot water heater to 140 degrees; this will also prevent burns from hot water. Take a short time to fix all dripping water faucets in your house. In one week the water from a leaky faucet will be enough to fill a bathtub half full!
More of the ways to cut back on energy waste are closing your curtains at sunset to stop the heat from escaping through your windows in the winter and closing them at sunrise to keep cool air in your home in the summer.
Unplug all appliances, lamps, toothbrushes, etc. that you are not using, as any electrical item pulls a small amount of electricity even when not in active use. This includes DVD players, televisions and radios. When you are washing clothes or dishes, be sure to use the economy programmable settings to conserve more energy.
It is very cost efficient to purchase the new energy saving light bulbs instead of the regular light bulbs. These energy saving light bulbs last up to ten times longer while helping to conserve energy. The common incandescent bulb wastes about 75% of its energy by throwing it off as heat and must be replaced at least once a year. Energy saver bulbs rarely burn out.
In the summer days, you can plan your cooking in the cooler hours of the morning and use your microwave to reheat for those hotter hours in the afternoons. Your house will stay much cooler this way. Many people, particularly those who work during the week, like to plan ahead and use a few hours of their weekend to cook one or two weeks’ worth of meals and freeze them. This will save you time as well as energy. Slow cookers, or crock pots, also save energy compared to using the oven or stovetop.
It is not a bad idea to do a home energy check once a year. You can go online and get a form that tells you the things you need to check to save on your energy bills. All of these steps are small but very effective in conserving energy and preventing climate change. If only half the population followed these simple procedures and preventative measures, it would have a noticeable impact on our climate.