Conserving Energy: Daily Personal Activities
We use energy every day during many different activities. Here are some specific ways to conserve energy and water during personal activities.
ENTERTAINMENT:
Whether you are using it or not, all that entertainment equipment requires a lot of energy.
• Turn off devices when not in use and unplug them.
• Plug media devices, such as TVs and DVD players, into a power strip. Then, turn off the power strip when the equipment is not in use.
COMMUNICATIONS:
We use a lot of energy to power our communication devices in order to stay in touch with people.
• When a device is fully charged, unplug it.
• Turn off your computer and monitor when not in use.
• Consider getting a laptop as your next computer. Laptops use a lot less energy than desktop machines.
• Use rechargeable batteries for items like cordless phones and mobile devices. It’s more cost effective than throwaway batteries.
PERSONAL CARE:
Taking care of personal hygiene requires not only energy but also a lot of water.
• Use a low-flow showerhead.
• Take short showers instead of baths.
• Unplug your hairdryer when you are not using it.
• Put a brick in your toilet tank to conserve water during each flush.
• Turn off the water while you brush your teeth. Turn it on only when you need it.
• Lower the thermostat on the hot water heater and when upgrading, chose an on-demand hot water system.