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  • energy loss in home Exercise outdoors instead of using electrical machines whenever possible.  Try going on a hike, swimming in a lake, going on a jog or running up and down some stairs!
  • Weatherstrip your windows and doors to keep drafts out. This effective and inexpensive strategy can reduce energy consumption by 5 to 30 percent. 
  • Upgrade to double paned windows with Low-E (low emittance) to cut heat loss. 
  • Turn off the lights when you leave a room. 
  • Get a home energy monitor to start tracking how much electricity you're using (and saving!)
  • Change your bulbs! A standard bulb uses 60 watts of energy an hour  while a CFL only uses 13 watts per hour and the LED equivalent of the standard 60 watt bulb uses roughly 7 watts per hour. 
  • Run your dishwasher only when it's full. Dishwashers use 4-6 gallons of water per load, and the water needs to be heated up, which takes energy. You can save money on water and electricity.
  • Avoid using the heat dry feature on your dishwasher. By using the 'air dry' feature you're not using energy to dry the dishes. 
  • Use a smart power strip to turn off all electronics. This will help prevent phantom energy use by electronics that are still plugged in, even when they're turned off. 
  • Close your curtains to keep heat out when it's hot outside, and the cold out when it's cold outside. Curtains help act as a layer of insulation. About 40 percent of unwanted heat comes through windows and about 10 percent of heat energy lost from a building goes through the windows. 
  • Install insulating window shutters. This is another form of insulation to prevent heat or air conditioning loss. 
  • household energy useWear clothes and use towels more than once before washing. Washing and drying your clothes contributes to between 75 and 80 percent of our clothing's total lifecycle impact. Plus, frequent washing degrades your clothes faster. 
  • Eat less meat. The production of meat is incredibly energy and water intensive and contributes to pollution of the air and waterways. 
  • Cancel your Yellow Pages delivery. These books account for 3.2 billion kilowatt hours of electricity each year to produce and print. 
  • Wash clothes in cold water. Heating water for the washing machine requires a significant amount of energy.  Today, you can find detergents specifically made to perform well in cold water. Not to mention, washing your clothes in cold water helps them last longer.
  • Turn your thermostat down by 4 degrees in cold weather and up by 4 degrees in hot weather. Then, dress appropriately for the season! 
  • Switch to a solar powered cellphone charger.

On the Road

  • Reuse your towel and sheets when staying at a hotel to avoid using the energy for heating water in the washing machine and for running the dryer.  
  • Choose a hybrid taxi or limo service if you can't walk or take public transportation.
  • Eat at a dine green certified restaurant or restaurants that are local and sustainable . stand by energy
  • Bike or walk whenever possible to reduce vehicle emissions and the amount of energy required to produce and transport fuel. 

At Work

  • Take the stairs instead of the elevator or escalator.  Elevator usage contributes to a significant fraction of the total energy used in buildings today. Plus, walking a few flights makes you healthier! 
  •  Use revolving doors whenever possible. This type of door prevents up to 18 percent of building heat loss by preventing outdoor air from being sucked in when a door is pulled open. 
  • Turn off your computers and other office appliances at the end of the day. This includes printers, docking stations, chargers, some of which can be sucking up energy even after they're turned off. 
  • Use the power-saving feature on the printer. By turning it off overnight you can save about $30 worth of electricity over the year. 
  • Stop using your screen saver. They're no longer necessary to keep your computer functioning and waste energy. You should also set your computer to automatically sleep or monitor shut off after a period of inactivity. 
  • Choose Energy Star models whenever possible. This includes computers, dishwashers, air conditioner, refrigerators, water heater, light bulbs, and more!