你担心今天全球变暖和世界的能量问题吗?有时绿色倡议感觉不太有用,仍然是拯救地球的大工作。

Yet there are all kinds of steps you can take at home to save energy and do your part. Every little thing helps, and we’ve put together a list of small, easy changes that can make a big difference.

以下是您今天可以在家中实施的节能的一些很好的例子。

1. Unplug Appliances

When you’re not using the toaster, the coffee maker, or any other countertop appliance, unplug it. Each one continues to draw electricity when they’re plugged in, even if they aren’t turned on. Unplugging these appliances can help lower your electric bill, as well as conserve energy.

The electric draws of appliances in the off position are called phantom loads. You can use a smart power strip to help with this. It will automatically shut off power to the appliance that’s turned off.

智能电源条也可以被编程为在一天或黑夜的某些时间关闭。

2.关灯

当你在一个房间结束时,当你走出去时关掉你身后的灯光。除非你计划转身然后回来,否则在你没有使用的房间里,否则有助于保持灯光。它会节省能量,它有助于将电费降低。

You can take this small step to conserve energy in your home, even if you’re not super passionate likePrabir Purohit, Vice President of Finance at Dominion Energy. He’s passionate about energy conservation and climate change and encourages you to take small steps like turning out the lights to conserve energy.

3. Switch to LED Lightbulbs

LED lightbulbs use a fraction of the energy that traditional incandescent bulbs do. They shine just as bright, and they actually last even longer than regular lightbulbs. By making the switch, you can conserve energy and also save a lot of money because you don’t have to buy lightbulbs as often.

4. Turn Down the Thermostat

在今年较冷的月份中,当你冷时,它可能会诱人变成恒温器。相反,考虑穿上一双温暖的拖鞋和运动衫。

You could even turnthe thermostat a degree or two to help conserve energy. Your energy bills will be lower, and you’ll be doing your part to help the environment.

当你不在家里或在睡觉时,你也可以倒转恒温器。如果您有智能恒温器,即使您在留下之前忘记了,您也可以远程执行此操作。

The US Department of Energy estimates that you can save up to10%一年on your energy bills by turning down the temp while you’re at work. Take advantage of programmable thermostats to help you avoid discomfort by having the temp turned back to normal by the time you’re home again.

5.系干洗衣物

Consider hanging your clothes on an outdoor clothesline or an indoor drying rack to save energy. Even if you committed to drying one or two loads a week that way, it would still help with energy conservation.

根据您的后院和您所在位置的天气,这些可能并不总是可行的。然而,每一个小的都有助于,所以让你的一些小的改变,如果不是全部,你的洗衣需要,可能是重要的。

6.节能:设备的例子

购买新设备并不是一个小的,日常一步,可以节省能源。大多数人没有预算出去购买所有新电器。但是,如果您需要更换设备,请花时间购物并找到节能的时间。

Dishwashers, laundry facilities, water heaters, refrigerators, and other large appliances all come in energy-saving models now. Ask the customer service representative or store employee to tell you about the benefits of the energy-saving features. They can help guide you to the best model for your home and family needsprioritize energy savings.

7.让菜Air Dry

Your dishwasher has a heat dry setting on it, but you can conserve energy by turning it off. When the dishes are finished washing, open the door and let the dishes air dry before you put them away. It doesn’t cost you anything to wait a little while, rather than using electricity to dry the dishes for you.

如果你真的想节省能源,请考虑每天用手做一些菜肴。即使只是剩下的一半负荷也可以节省一个整个洗碗机循环,节约能量。

8. Investigate Retailers

最好的节能技术之一是检查您购物的零售商,特别是在线。其中许多人已经致力于使用碳中性运输方法或通过一定日期成为碳中性公司。

Investigate their websites and dig deep to see if you can find any stance about energy conservation. If you can’t, reach out to them with an email to see if they can answer your questions about their energy priorities.

It may be that the companies you shop at aren’t putting energy conservation first. If that’s the case, you need to ask yourself if it means enough to you to find another retailer that cares more.

Ask your friends for recommendations! You may be surprised how many other people care about energy conservation and prioritize their spending. It’s always nice to know that you’re not alone.

9. Keep Track of Your Driving

如果您意识到您使用了多少,您更有可能寻找节省能量的方法。承诺跟踪您在特定时间段内开车的里程,如一周或一个月。你会感到惊讶,你去了多远以及你使用的能量。

If the results your self-driven study surprise you, think about you can conserve energy when it comes to transportation. Do you have a bike? Can you use your bicycle for one or two trips a week?

Could you shop at a closer store once in a while? Perhaps there is a store closer to home that you could walk to. While they may not have everything you need, perhaps you could stop there for small stock-ups in between bigger shopping trips.

Does anyone from work live close to you? You could carpool and share the driving responsibilities to help reduce emissions and be a more responsible energy consumer?

Do any other parents at your child’s school prioritize energy conservation? You could see if any of them are interested in sharing pickup responsibilities for the kids?

如果你住在一个城市,公共交通is an option, consider taking the bus or the subway once or twice a week. Remember to verify routes and timetables before you commit to an appointment time. Public transportation isn’t always as reliable as other independent means of transportation, but if you allow extra time you can still be punctual.

10. Don’t Waste Water

Take shorter showers to help reduce how much water you use. Start by measuring your normal shower times, and then see if you can reduce it by a minute. Then by 2 minutes.

Challenge yourself, and you’ll be surprised at how much you can save just by paying attention or setting a timer. If you’re really ambitious, you can try拿起海军淋浴每周一次而不是常规淋浴。

11. Baking

Did you know that if you switch up the pans you use when you bake, you can conserve more energy? Glass baking dishes take less heat to cook, so you can set your oven to 25° less than with a metal baking pan.

Take time to read the recipe before you focus on energy efficiency. If the recipe calls for a metal pan you can reduce the temp, but if it asks you to use a glass dish, cook it at the temperature in the instructions. Remember to cook meat to the correct internal temperature for health and safety.

12.定期炉维修

预算中的新炉并不总是在预算中,您不太可能更换现有的模型,直到易于维修。但是,保持定期维护也可以帮助您节省能源。

Change out your furnace filters on schedule to keep your furnace from working harder than it has to. Check to see if your filters are monthly, quarterly, or bi-annually, and then set reminders so you don’t forget.

如果你知道你的炉子老了,不会持续更长时间,开始做一些研究。预算中有哪种炉子?如果您牺牲早晨的盒子,您是否能够提供更节能的模型?

Saving the Planet

上述节能的例子只是您在家中更改以帮助地球的一些少量方式。当您在这里遵循这些想法时,节省能量并意识到您的选择。

If something works well for you and your family, pass it on! Make sure to let your family and friends know that there are small things they can do every day to help save energy and be good stewards of the Earth.

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