Easy Tips to Save Energy this Earth Day
March 29, 2010 12:03 pm ActivitiesHelp your children to see you making an effort to do the right thing this Earth Day. If you engage them in the following tips on a regular basis, they will grow up respecting the earth more. We need “Green” citizens both now and in the future.
(NC)—April 22 marks the 40th anniversary of Earth Day, reminding us that there are still things we can do to lighten our impact on the planet. Here are some easy ways to cut your home energy use, courtesy of Warrington Ellacott an energy efficiency expert for Whirlpool Canada, the 2009 Energy Star manufacturer of the year.
Keep your heat or air conditioning from escaping by making sure you have a tight seal on your windows and doors. According to Natural Resources Canada, air leakage is a significant contributor to high energy costs during the heating and the cooling seasons. Use caulking and weather-stripping to make sure your house is airtight – saving you energy and money.
Look for the Energy Star symbol on your home appliances. Don’t see one? Think about replacing them with new, energy efficient appliances – according to the Canadian Appliance Manufacturers Association, replacing a fridge from the 1990s with a current model can cut your energy usage by over 50 per cent. In fact, Whirlpool makes a French door refrigerator that uses less energy in a year than a 75-watt light bulb.
Unplug electronics when they’re not in use. Even when electronics are switched off, they can still draw a small amount of power called a phantom load.
Keep your eyes open for machines that work for you while keeping the environment in mind. High efficiency washers – like the Whirlpool Duet – give great water and energy savings. Plus, the Duet dryer features a cycle called Eco Normal that reduces the energy used by up to 40 per cent.
Turn lights off when you leave. Save energy (and money) by making sure you turn lights off when you leave a room. Go the extra step by switching your bulbs to compact fluorescents – they use less energy and last 10 times longer resulting in less waste.
“Even small changes can make a big difference,” says Ellacott. “Taking simple steps like these can have a major effect on your resource use, your utility bill, and the planet as a whole.”
