| Environmental organisations around the word keep | | | | Most people know that turning off plugs to |
| informing citizens to save energy and water | | | | appliances saves electricity, but few people do it. |
| where possible, but few actually do. The average | | | | With some appliances it is understandable, for |
| person would love to help the environment but he | | | | example microwaves that you have to reset |
| or she is a bit unsure on how to do it. People also | | | | every time you switch it on. But small things, like |
| say they don't have the energy to do it either. | | | | kettles and toasters, can and should be turned off |
| Recycling is a good example of people not having | | | | at the plug. Most small items don't have long |
| enough energy to do their part to protect the | | | | extension cords, so the plug shouldn't be that far |
| environment. The energy to create about 6 bins | | | | away. |
| for every type of material is too much for some | | | | Switch a light off when you leave a room. I |
| people. Even if they manage 6 bins separating | | | | know, everyone knows this one, but then explain |
| different materials, with labels on the bins for tin, | | | | to me why others don't do it. People are often |
| paper, plastic, etc., the process of remembering | | | | leaving bathroom lights, bedside lamps and garage |
| to recycle only lasts a few months. | | | | lights on when they go to work. Light switches |
| The good news is that there are other ways to | | | | are placed close to the door frame, so they are |
| save energy and help the planet stay a bit | | | | easy to find and can be turned on as soon as |
| greener without using too much energy on your | | | | you are in the room. This also means they can be |
| self. Saving energy doesn't have to involve you | | | | turned off as soon as you leave a room. |
| going out of your way. For example, a simple | | | | Tumble dryers are fantastic inventions. They |
| energy saving principle can be used not only at | | | | were invented so people could dry their clothes |
| home but at the office as well. All it involves is | | | | even when it is raining outside. Today people use |
| closing a door. If your office or home uses | | | | tumble dryers regardless of the weather outside. |
| heaters or air-conditioners, closing a door to | | | | By checking out of your window and seeing if the |
| unused rooms saves energy. | | | | sun, which is nature's clothes dryer, is out and |
| By closing the door, you trap the heat or cool air | | | | using it instead you can save energy. |
| in the room you are using. Thereby the heater or | | | | Hanging clothes on the line might be a bit more of |
| air-conditioner only has to maintain the | | | | a hassle than popping them in the tumble dryer, |
| temperature in one room instead of two. This not | | | | but remember that you are going to be using |
| only saves energy but will also save you money | | | | more energy with the tumble dryer. |
| on your electricity bill. | | | | Not to mention all the knots that sleeves and |
| Even better, instead of dressing for style and | | | | trousers cause when you use the tumble dryer. |
| letting machines maintain your body temperature, | | | | By simple hanging it up, you don't have to hassle |
| just dress for the weather instead. By wearing | | | | with it. Another way to think about it is that there |
| long pants, socks and shoes, and a jersey, you | | | | will be less ironing to do if you hang your clothes |
| don't have to even turn the heater on. Take the | | | | up as the will dry themselves straight. |
| jersey off and it's instant coolness without a fan. | | | | The whole point of saving energy is so that we |
| Another energy tip, which doesn't take much | | | | don't use it all up. So we can look out the window |
| effort, is to turn off your screen monitor. Most | | | | and still see the sun. Taking time out and going |
| people believe that screen savers are there to | | | | through the hassle of putting trash into different |
| save energy. To some extent they do save | | | | bins for recycling is brilliant. If people say they |
| some energy off the overall energy cost of a PC. | | | | don't have the time to do it, then that is fair |
| But turning the monitor off completely saves all | | | | enough. I don't know your schedule. But saying |
| the energy from the screen. If you touch the top | | | | that you would save energy if you knew how, or |
| of your monitor after a long day you can feel the | | | | if you had the time, is not an excuse. There are |
| heat it has generated while inactive. By turning it | | | | plenty of ways to save energy, without using |
| off you can save all that heat, which is essentially | | | | much yourself. |
| energy. | | | | |