Ecologue.com

5 Easy Ways to Save Energy

By Misty McNally

Americans, on average, currently own 20 gadgets that utilize standby features. These features accomplish everything from monitoring refrigerator temperatures to charging cell phones. Even when they’re not turned on, digital clocks, battery chargers and remote-control sensors use energy. Some monitoring devices need to stay on, but the TV and computer have no reason to be on constant standby. In most homes, standby power accounts for about 7 percent of a home’s total energy consumption. In some homes, this energy consumption is as high as 20 percent.

You can stop using so much energy by following these suggestions:

1. Purchase Energy Star computers, appliances and power adaptors. They can consume half the electricity that standard models consume. Visit www.EnergyStar.gov for more information.

2. When not in use, fully shut down your printer and computer. (The “Sleep” mode uses standby energy.) Plug your computer, printer, and scanner into an easily accessible power strip to make it easy to turn it on and off.

3. Reduce the number of phones and remote controls that you have. How many do you really need?

4. Unplug any electrical device you aren’t using.

5. Remove battery-powered rechargeable devices from their docks after charging and do not leave the charger plugged in.

Easy Ways to Go Green

5 Easy Ways to Save Energy

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