Energy Efficiency and Environmental Stewardship – Getting Started

The myth that living “green” is expensive is certainly substantiated by the seemingly higher costs for health foods, LED light bulbs, and solar panels. However, there are myriad ways to save money and improve the environmental impact of our day-to-day lives.

Home Applications to Save the Environment

• Homeowners can decrease the carbon footprint and lower their energy bill by simply using available energy saving settings on their computers, turning their dishwasher to heated dry, and washing clothes in cold water.
• Buy food that is grown locally to reduce transportation related costs and emissions and use reusable water bottles will alleviate the amount of plastic added to landfills.
• Use environmentally safe cleaning products, without the polluting chemicals with biodegradable containers and contribute to a cleaner environment.

Automobiles – Potential Fuel Wasters

• Replace fuel inefficient automobiles with the newer fuel efficient models, minimizing greenhouse gas emissions, reducing the need for drilling for more oil, and saving fuel costs.
• Accelerate gradually, drive at slower speeds and avoid extended periods of engine idling. Sparingly use the air conditioner. All combined, these actions will reduce fuel consumption.
• Maintain the automobile properly including ensuring the tires are inflated to the specified pressure, the air filter is replaced as required, and that general tune-ups are performed routinely, all to ensure your car is operating at optimum performance- i.e. fuel efficient.

Changing Routines can Improve Energy Efficiency and the Environment

• Opt for purchases from thrift stores, Craig’s List, and consignment shops when purchasing plastic or foam-stuffed furniture, thus recycling existing rather than placing demand for the manufacturing of new products.
• Use libraries and rental shops for CDs and DVDs to ease the burden on landfills, and to the extent they are petroleum-based, reduce the demand on petroleum.
• Leverage public transportation and car pooling to reduce gas consumption and save on transportation costs.

Full Scale Energy Efficiency can be Expensive – But Incremental Progress can be made less significant Capital Outlay

Hydroponic farms in the basement, residential windmills, and full-scale deployment of LED light bulbs would require a significant outlay, but growing organic vegetables on a deck, purchasing wind power credits and using compact fluorescent light bulbs until LED prices lower will move us forward.