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Flip the Switch

Taking steps to promote energy efficiency helps to reduce consumption of natural resources. When lights are left on, energy is wasted. By flipping the switch on lights, electronics and other appliances, you can reduce energy use.

Here’s why this simple act matters:

• One ENERGY STAR qualified compact flourescent lightbulb (CFL) prevents 570 pounds of greenhouse gas emissions over its lifetime, the equivalent of keeping 270 pounds of coal from being burned.
• Using a power strip for your computer and all peripheral equipment allows you to easily disconnect the power supply from the power source, eliminating standby power consumption.
  • Even when turned off, electronic and IT equipment often use a small amount of electricity when plugged in.
  • Stand-by or “phantom” power load can range from a few watts to as much as 20 or even 40 watts for each piece of equipment.
• Many electronics now can be turned off and still maintain features like clock displays, channel settings, and remote-control functions.
• Depending on the type of lighting in a room, you’ll be saving energy and cooling a room
  • If a room is lit with CFL, energy saving, light bulbs—it’s a good idea to flip the switch if you’ll be out of that room for 15 minutes or more.
  • If a room is lit with incandescent lights—flip the switch whenever lights are not needed. That’s because only about 10%–15% of the electricity that incandescent lights consume results in light—the rest is turned into heat.
• Turning the light(s) off will keep a room cooler, an extra benefit in the summer. Therefore, the value of the energy saved by not having the lights on will be far greater than the cost of having to replace the bulb.

Source: Energysavers.gov

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Try Just One

Reducing the number of paper towels used daily helps save trees, money, energy and clutter. It also reduces chemicals in landfills.

Here’s why this simple act matters:

• Once used, paper towels cannot be recycled.
• As many as 51,000 trees per day are required to replace the number of paper towels that are discarded every day.
• Paper towels are usually made from virgin tree pulp which means trees are cut and harvested for a product that will be used once.
• Typical paper towels are manufactured using chlorine, a known toxin which releases carcinogenic dioxins into the environment.
• Paper products use excessive water and energy to manufacture.
• 40% of U.S. landfill trash is paper products.
• The paper industry is the third largest contributor to global warming.
• The average American discards of 700 pounds or more of paper each year.

Source: 1800recycling.com

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Choose to Reuse

Here’s why this simple act matters:

• Replacing single-use products with reusable ones helps preserve natural environments.

• Reusing keeps waste out of landfills, reducing harmful emissions that pollute the air and contaminate the water.

• In 2006, only 24.7 percent of plastic beverage bottles were recycled in the U.S.

• Bottled water costs up to 10,000 times as much per gallon as tap water. It’s easy to fill a reusable bottle with water from home or from Hydration Stations on Grounds.

• The material in plastic bags can be repurposed into new products like low-maintenance fencing and decking, building and construction products and new bags. Recycling plastic bags keeps more than 3.5 million tons of plastic bags, sacks and wraps out of landfills.

• Reusable items, instead of single-use items, are a smart long-term investment.

Sources: Abagslife.com, Reuseit.com