What are the most effective and simple ways we can save energy?

Question

What are the most effective and simple ways we can save energy?

Answer 1

1. Turn off lights when not in use.

2. Take shorter showers, and buy water efficient showerheads. Those saves lots of water!

3. Get CFL light bulbs. Saves lot of electricity.

4. Whenever possible, walk or carpool to get to places

5. Turn off water when you're washing dishes and brushing your teeth saves 5 gallons of water a day.

6. Skipping just 1 flush a day saves 4.5 gallons of water-as much water as the average person in Africa uses a day for drinking, bathing, cooking, and cleaning

7. RECYCLE!!!!!

8. Bring something to carry your groceries in so you don't use plastic bags.

9. Spend less time of the computer and TV. Go out and be active.

10. Eat healthy!!

11. For women, and I guess men, instead of blow drying your hair, air dry it when you have time.

Answer 2

Energy savings in the built environment.

I just read a study that the energy savings up to 2030 which can be realistically achieved in North America are equivalent to the whole road transportation sector in North America.

Most of these savings can even be achieved at negative or very little cost (so the sum would be close to zero costs).

The resulting quantity of emissions saved would be close to 1/3 of all the CO2 emissions from China.

Moreover this could be done while increase health and comfort of buildings.

Answer 3

Stop buying disposable. That's the most effective way to save energy.

Answer 4

Let me start off by saying we (my family and I) live completely, 100% “off of the grid and are completely self sufficient”

The house is built utilizing natures natural elements, in the shape of an octagon with 8ft wide arch doors on every wall to catch every angle of wind (typical 4 sided homes have half the chance as one with 8 sides. A circle being the most efficient design). Woodburning stoves, solar chimney, solar AC, solar heating, solar water heating (pool and home), solar stove, solar power, wind power, hydrogen powered back up generator, hydrogen back up water heater, hydrogen stove, 2 hydrogen powered trucks, 1 EV (electric vehicle) and satellite internet.

We also built many green small cabins on the ranch that we offer to family, friends and our on-site off-grid workshop guests, including one straw bale, one papercrete, earth bag and adobe, one cob and cordwood, one underground and rammed earth, one log and post and beam and one rock. Each one actually started as a test for what the main house would be and were later finished and turned into guest cabins. I later wrote a guide on how to build with alternative materials using alternative methods for next to nothing.

We raise meat and milk goats, chickens for meat and eggs, ducks for meat and eggs, trap havilina (wild boar pig), rabbit, quail. brew our own beer from home grown products, preserve our fruits, vegetables, etc. smoke and jerky the meat, make our own soap, cheese.

There are no utility lines, no water lines, no roads, tv, cell service, etc. on our ranch. EVERYTHING needed is produced here. All electricity comes from 27 solar panels, 2 main wind gens and a back hydrogen generator if needed (typically we can last 9 days with all luxuries of sunless windless weather, hasn't happened yet). Water is caught and storaged from the rain. Hot water is made with solar batch water heaters with an on-demand hydrogen hot water heater as backup. solar chimney, solar AC, solar heating, solar water heating (pool and home), solar stove, solar power, wind power, hydrogen powered back up generator, hydrogen back up water heater, hydrogen stove, 2 hydrogen powered trucks, 1 EV (electric vehicle) and satellite internet. Even our vehicles use alternative energy (2 hydrogen trucks, 1 EV electric vehicle converted). Because of this we have no bills, no debt and no mortgage.

Anyone interested can check it out at..

www agua-luna com

I believe this is the first step anyone can make “help the environment”. Once you convert your own life style to a greener more eco friendly route, you can start helping others.

my home has all the comforts listed above plus some. we live very comfortable without effecting the environment. just saying that tol et you know it's possible. you may not want to go as extreme as me and my family but anywhere in between is something.

Without getting to in depth here, Using alternative fuels in your vehicles and harnessing your own electricity from the sun, water, earth and wind are the 2 are key elements in making a green transition and erasing your carbon footprint.

here's a calculator to find out how much of a green impact your making (carbon footprint)

http://www.conservation.org/act/live_gre...

if you'd like to make your next step feel free to contact me personally at www agua-luna com

I've been installing home made Solar panels. Solar stoves, Solar batch and inline hot water heaters. Solar radiant heating. Solar home heating and AC, along with home made wind gens and other alternative energy items for the last 3 years.

You can even make the above projects on site with simple parts from the local hardware stores or auto stores or junk yards. For more info check out some guides I wrote / compiled on how to DIY www agua-luna com

Again these projects can be accomplished anywhere by anyone.

if you absolutely can't do anything in your home at least you can put alternative fuels in your car. most major automotive manufacturers (Chrysler, Ford, and General Motors, etc) recommend the use of bio fuels, and nearly every car manufacturer in the world approves ethanol blends in their warranty coverage.

In fact your probably even driving an ethanol car and didn't even know it.

The trick is finding fuel.

I've been producing biofuel for about 3 years now, it's not extremely difficult. Basically you need general household ingredients, a processor (or still for ethanol) and some used oil. Blend it, let separate, screen and use. I complied a guide a while back to help walk you threw the process step by step, just email me or check out..

www agua-luna com

as for recyling the best way i've found without taking money from your won pocket is to join a free freecycle group in your area or visit the habitat for humanity.

If you’d like help in making your self sufficient steps, feel free to contact me directly. I’ve written several how-to DIY guides available at www agua-luna com

on the subject. I also offer online and on-site workshops, seminars and internships to help others “help the environment”.

Hope this helped, feel free to contact me personally if you have any questions if you’d like assistance in making your first self sufficient steps, I’m willing to walk you step by step threw the process. I’ve written several how-to DIY guides available at  www agua-luna com on the subject. I also offer online and on-site workshops, seminars and internships to help others help the environment.

Dan Martin

Alterative Energy / Sustainable Consultant, Living 100% on Alternative & Author of How One Simple Yet Incredibly Powerful Resource Is Transforming The Lives of Regular People From All Over The World... Instantly Elevating Their Income & Lowering Their Debt, While Saving The Environment by Using FREE ENERGY... All With Just One Click of A Mouse...For more info Visit:  

www AGUA-LUNA com

Stop Global Warming, Receive a FREE Solar Panels Now!!!

Answer 5

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Answer 6

Better lighting

More insulation, plug air leaks

Programmable thermostat

The next time you buy a car, buy the smallest one that meets your needs

Answer 7

Efficient Transportation

Better Appliances

Cold Water Wash and Line Dry

Refrigeration Tips

Air Conditioning

Unplug Unnecessary Appliances

Home Heating

Reduce Your Home Size

Seal Air Leaks

Add Insulation

Window Efficiency

Save Energy at Work

Eat a Vegetarian Diet

Limit Your Family Size

Get Involved and Talk to Your Legislators

Answer 8

Turn lights off when you leave a room, turn youR A/C off when you leave the house, don't run the water when brushing your teeth, open the blinds and let the sun warm your house instead of the A/C, don't spend as much time on internet and watching TV, walk or ride your bike when you can.

Answer 9

DONT USE A CAR! bike, walk, use the bus or metro or taxi if you really need to

Answer 10

Go to bed early

Eat more [raw] fruits and vegetables

Walk

Unplug your appliances when they are not in use

Read instead of watching TV

Answer 11

Just 1 really simple one energy saving lighting! the others i agree with! but lighting is simple and in a lifetime saves tons of electricity

Answer 12

Stop using a computer so much.

Answer 13

Wear a sweater when its cold and turn down the thermostat -we should not expect to be in t shirts in the middle of winter!

recycle - pressure your local authority / town hall to make it compulsory but also make it possible i.e doorstep collections.  

if you work in a large building try and get the lights all turned off when people leave -how many office buildings blaze all night long but are empty?

teach your kids that all our resources are limited (food, clean water and energy) and at the moment we in the west get much more than our fair share -we have a huge environmental 'footprint'.  

get a water meter.

insulate your home to the maximum possible.

see solar power not in terms of how long it takes to recoup your investment but as not burning coal e.g. to light your house.

don't use bottled water (how many millions of those plastic bottles are there wasting away in landfill sites over 1000's of years!)

appreciate the complexity and beauty of our natural world and just try and stop and think each time you get in your car if you could walk or cycle instead.  

use your power as a consumer to push for better 'green' products and less packaging.  

buy simpler less processed food and less meat.  

good luck !