Everyday energy-savers
Make these simple changes to save money and the planet.
By Stacy Adimando
Using less water or switching to efficient lightbulbs can help save energy and protect the planet, but some daily decisions ("Should I ask for a plastic or paper grocery bag?") can still stump us. Merrilee Harrigan, vice president of education at Alliance to Save Energy, gave some surprising answers to common eco questions.
1. Bake with ceramic or glass pans instead of metal ones. These materials retain heat better, so you can lower the oven temperature 25 degrees and cook foods in the same amount of time.
2. Shut off the lights when you leave a room. "Some people don't turn off the lights when they step out of a room because they think flipping the switch back on causes an energy surge, but that's a myth," says Harrigan. "Turning off lights for any amount of time always saves energy."
3. Turn off the car when idling for more than 30 seconds. Harrigan—along with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)—says that restarting your car uses less energy than letting it run.
4. Choose plastic bags over paper if you don't have a reusable one. It takes half as much energy to produce plastic bags as it does paper—and about 85 percent less energy to transport them, according to the Environmental Literacy Council, an educational nonprofit. Reuse bags to keep them out of landfills and away from wildlife. Better yet, of course, bring your own reusable bag.
Read more Green Living articles.
1. Bake with ceramic or glass pans instead of metal ones. These materials retain heat better, so you can lower the oven temperature 25 degrees and cook foods in the same amount of time.
2. Shut off the lights when you leave a room. "Some people don't turn off the lights when they step out of a room because they think flipping the switch back on causes an energy surge, but that's a myth," says Harrigan. "Turning off lights for any amount of time always saves energy."
3. Turn off the car when idling for more than 30 seconds. Harrigan—along with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)—says that restarting your car uses less energy than letting it run.
4. Choose plastic bags over paper if you don't have a reusable one. It takes half as much energy to produce plastic bags as it does paper—and about 85 percent less energy to transport them, according to the Environmental Literacy Council, an educational nonprofit. Reuse bags to keep them out of landfills and away from wildlife. Better yet, of course, bring your own reusable bag.
Read more Green Living articles.
