Immediate action, immediate results
Even slight shifts in the ways people do things at home, like turning lights and computers off when they aren’t being used, can add up fast. A programmable thermostat, for instance, keeps the furnace or air conditioning from running unnecessarily when member of the household are away at work or on vacation.
With deregulation of the power industry, increasing numbers of states have opened their markets to competition, allowing renewable energy to enter the power grid on a larger scale. Several states actually require power companies to produce a portion of their electricity from renewable energy sources like the sun and wind. Consumers pay about $.01 to $.03 more per kilowatt hour, a small price to pay to support renewable energy. Call your local utility to find out about “green power” in your area.
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Energy efficiency for major appliances has gone up, and prices have gone down, making upgrading a great option for saving energy—and money. Energy Star, a joint program of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy, helps consumers identify the products that can do the best job with the least impact on the environment. Appliances in more than fifty categories now receive the Energy Star label, which identifies those that meet strict standards aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Replacing old appliances with energy efficient versions has a direct impact on the atmosphere. According to the EPA, if just one in 10 homes used Energy Star appliances, the impact on the atmosphere would be comparable to the planting of 1.7 million trees.
Remember, as well, to choose the best disposal options. Any older appliance that cools has refrigerants that may contain ozone-depleting chemicals as well as mercury and PCBs, and federal law requires proper disposal. Not to mention that appliances of every kind are made from materials that can be recycled, including glass, metal, and plastic. (The EPA says 95% of refrigerators and freezers can be recycled, yet eight million are thrown away each year). Often a retail store will haul away your old appliance for recycling when delivering the new one. Alternatively, call your local department of public works to find out about recycling opportunities. ....read more
