Reduce the US dependence on fossil fuels and other non-renewable resources:
- Carpool
- Trade in your SUV for a hybrid vehicle (there’s a Lexus hybrid coming in 2005, so you can be fuel efficient and impress your friends at the same time) or one of the new cleaner running diesels – you’ll save money at the pump too
- Walk or bicycle when possible
- Drive more efficiently – combine errands into one trip, park in the middle of the strip mall and walk to the different shops, don’t move your car from shop to shop – you’ll burn calories this way too.
- Raise your thermostat a few degrees in the summer and lower it a few degrees in the winter – you shouldn’t need a blanket when it’s 90 degrees out, or be wearing shorts inside when it’s below zero.
- Do not waste water – don’t leave it running when you brush your teeth, shave, etc.
- Insulate your hot water heater
- Turn down the hot water thermostat (120F/49C is sufficient and safer for kids)
- Always run dishwasher and washing machine with a full load
- Insulate your house
- Install energy efficient windows
- Use compact flourescent bulbs – they last 10 times longer. 90% of the electricty put into an incandescent lightbulb comes out as heat, light is only a byproduct. Make switching bulbs used more than 4 hours a day a priority.
- Turn off lights when they are not going to be used for more than 5 minutes – flourescent lamps too, it is a myth that this takes more energy than leaving it on.
- Purchase energy efficient appliances
- Unplug devices to charge cell phones or other related devices. These products consume almost 10 percent of the electricity in the home — even when they aren’t doing anything. Keep them unplugged until you need them. For additional savings, unplug televisions, VCRs, and similar products when you’re not using them. They use significant amounts of energy even when they are turned off.
- Enable your computer to operate in energy saving mode – this is not always default. Turn it off at night.
- Buy goods with less packaging
- Think about installing solar panels – they’ve gotten much more efficient
- Recycle, recycle, recycle
