Save Energy And Reduce Waste Solar Power Energy Generation Guide
Save Energy And Reduce Waste To Help The Environment
By James J Dixon
Save energy and reduce waste are tips you can use to
make your contribution to save the environment. Every
time you need to do something around the house, review
your options and think about alternative ways you can
use, reducing your need for energy and create less waste.
For example, you may want to reduce the amount of waste
you send off to landfill. Look at ways to reuse and
recycle household products. Rather than throwing recyclable
newspapers, magazines, bottles and cans in the rubbish
bin, you should place them on your curb to be collected
by a recycling company in your local area.
Reusing Recycling Recyclable Household Products
If you throw recyclable products into the trash can,
they are send off to landfill and then more of the same
product needs to be manufactured, using more energy
in the whole process. You can reduce the amount of energy
used, by recycling and reusing recyclable household
products.
Another way to save energy is to use energy efficient
appliances. When you buy a new home appliance, check
the energy star rating on the appliance. The more stars,
the less energy it will use. This machine may be a little
more expensive than an inefficient machine, but it will
use less energy and save money in the long run when
you use an energy efficient appliance.
When you are looking at ways to help the environment,
you can see there are many ways to save energy and reduce
waste.
Reducing Your Contribution To Landfill
Constantly bombarded with negative information about
the environment, finances and natural resources? Feeling
overwhelmed? Each and every one of us can do something
to help our world - starting right where we are, right
now.
Though not everyone can afford to donate cash or time
to a cause, there are endless tactics that will decrease
an individual’s contribution to the landfill and their
resource consumption.
Using Energy More Efficiently
Mirrors, placed strategically in a room can be used
to make use of natural lighting more efficiently, and
reduce energy use as well. When placed near indoor plants,
mirrors act like a second window creating better growing
conditions while giving the illusion of increased space
and greenery to the ambiance of a room.
When loading the clothes dryer, fluff the wet and tangled
laundry before tossing into the machine. This allows
for immediate and more efficient use of dryer energy.
Very hot settings (which can actually shrink clothing)
can thus be avoided.
Diverting Heated Air From Your Dryer
Typically, the heated air from a clothes dryer is pumped
outside and wasted. Consider purchasing a dryer vent
converter - available at most hardware stores. These
are little boxes that divert the heated air from the
dryer into the house during the cold and dry winter
months – making better use of your energy dollar while
saving a little on heating costs.
Be warned that this air is moist, and this may not
be appropriate in all situations. Homes with dry static
air or wood heat would benefit from the moisture, but
buildings that already have a moisture problem (evident
by mould and mildew or sweating and frosted windows)
will only have their issues compounded by doing this.
Static Control With A Liquid Fabric Softener
Instead of buying disposable dryer sheets for static
control, consider using a liquid fabric softener with
a reused rag or sock. Pour a Tablespoon of the liquid
on the rag, roll it up and squeeze (to soak up all the
softener) and toss in the dryer.
Wash the rag periodically by throwing it in with a
normal load. Just imagine the number of dryer sheets,
the packaging they came in, along with the costs, energy
and resources to produce them that can be avoided by
this one simple act.
Reuse Plastic Lids For Your Potted Plants
There are many other little things we can do around
our home, to save money and reduce waste. Instead of
purchasing a plastic drip tray for potted plants, reuse
plastic lids from peanut butter or mayonnaise. Often,
just the right size of lid can be found for each potted
plant, and most of these are dishwasher safe. Foil food
trays also serve this purpose.
Plastic containers that fresh herbs are sold in make
useful storage packages in the kitchen. Dried herbs
and vegetables store well in these containers as long
as the seal is airtight.
Storing Fresh Ginger In Reused Herb Containers
We once bought some very nice fresh ginger in Vancouver’s
Chinatown and could not use it all in one recipe. We
placed the peeled and sliced root in the herb containers
covering it with red wine vinegar. Stored in the refrigerator
it kept for months this way and made it easy to add
fresh tasting ginger to any dish.
These are just a few ideas to demonstrate how easy
it is to make a difference while saving some money.
Imagine how many other small things you can do around
the home or office.
Once the ideas have begun to flow, they will cause
a ripple effect cascading into other aspects of your
life. Then, hopefully, you will think twice before throwing
anything into the trash.
Placing Recyclables For Collection On The Curb
If you do need throw household items in the thrash,
then check to see if they are recyclable. For example,
many types of bottles and cans are recyclable. They
usually state on the packaging if they are recyclable.
So are many paper products, including newspapers and
magazines.
You should contact a recycling collection service in
your area, and find out what recyclable items they collect
and then place a separate bin of the recyclable items
on your curb.
Many of the waste management companies, also run recycling
collection services, so if you are not sure who to contact,
try your waste collection company. If they do not collect
recyclables, they most likely know about companies that
do.
Setting aside all your recyclables, means you are making
an effort to save energy and reduce waste.
About the Author:
James J Dixon has written a number of articles on Recycling,
Waste Management and Renewable Resources including
Disposal Of Plastics,
Empty Bottles,
Environmental Jobs,
Hot Water System,
Waste Water,
Water Cycle Diagram.
Look out for new articles from this author, as they become available on this site.
Little Known Solar Facts.....
What is the initial cost of switching over to
using alternate energy?
Switching over depends on
what exactly you are switching.
Houses that have to be retrofitted using solar
panels to generate electricity can be quite costly.
Vehicles are cheaper to retrofit but require work.
The costs can vary for anything switched over.
The best way to get an estimated idea is to seek
out a contractor or mechanic that is for using
alternate energy sources.
|
