Live Well – Live Green!

Here are a few suggestions on ways to save energy at home.  There are many more things that can be done, but these are just to get you thinking about how you run your home and your life.

• Switch off lights when you leave a room
• Install energy-efficient lamps in all your lights
• The most efficient new family fridge will save more than 2 tons of greenhouse gas over its life compared with the least efficient new model of similar size.
• Fan-forced ovens generate up to 35% less greenhouse gas than conventional ovens and more items can be cooked at the same time, as heat is more evenly distributed around the oven.
• Switch off computers, televisions, and sound systems when they are not in use and don’t leave them on ’standby’ overnight.
• If you use a dishwasher, only run it when it is fully loaded, use the shortest cycle that will get the dishes clean, and clean the filter often to improve performance.
• Instead of using a clothes dryer, use solar power – hang your washing outside on the clothes line
• If you have a pool, be aware that the filter pump generates 1 – 3 tons of greenhouse gas per year, and a salt chlorinator adds up to another half a ton.   Use a timer switch and ask your pool expert how you can cut back filtering time.
• Leave the car at home when you can and walk or ride a bike – good for the environment and for you!

If you would like further advice on reducing your home power consumption, check out this site: http://www.environment.gov.au/settlements/energyefficiency/index.html

This site belongs to the Australian Government, and I am sure the Government where you live will have a similar site which you can take a look at.