Sagot :
Answer:
#1. Use LED light bulbs, which are more efficient (and so decrease energy consumption) and last a long time. The US Department of Energy says that LEDs use 75% less energy than traditional incandescent bulbs and can last for years.
#2. Turn off the lights when you leave a room for more than 15 minutes. The power saved reduces the demand on electric utilities, which in turn require less output from power plants that burn fossil fuels.
#3. Turn off your television, computer, or any other electrical device when you’re not using it; this is a good way to conserve energy and help these investments last longer, so you don’t have to buy new ones as soon.
#4. Use appliances with the ENERGY STAR label, which is only placed on products that meet high-efficiency standards. To inform consumers, the label usually displays a calculation of annual savings as a percentage or monetary value. It can be found on air conditioners, heaters, refrigerators, and just about any home appliance.
#5. Reuse products that require fossil fuel resources to produce. By avoiding paper or plastic shopping bags, you can reduce the demand on the production process, which is fossil-fuel intensive. Instead, use fabric bags for groceries. You can limit how much plastic and Styrofoam you use by purchasing glass plates and cups, which can be reused over and over again instead of just once.
#6. Purchase goods manufactured with recycled materials. This helps reduce the demand for fossil fuels, too. Check for product labels that indicate such materials are included. Reusing anything that you can, such as printer ink cartridges, helps too.
#7. Recycle. By recycling waste, you send less of it to landfills. Many cities have recycling programs and require residents to put plastics, paper, and aluminum into separate bins. You can also donate clothing, lights, and appliances you don’t plan to use anymore instead of throwing them out, so they continue to serve a purpose. According to GreenAmerica.org, just over 34% of US waste is recycled or composted, but the Environmental Protection Agency estimates that 75% of all waste can be recycled.
#8. Avoid using petroleum-based printer inks. Soy ink, derived from soybeans, is an eco-friendlier choice for printer cartridges. Newspapers and other printed publications use it as well, some since the late 1980s.
#9. Take public transportation. Fossil fuels are a major part of the oil-refining process, which is how gasoline is made. Public transportation reduces the number of cars on the road and therefore the number of cars releasing emissions. You could also carpool, ride a bicycle, or walk.
#10. Telecommute. Telecommuting eliminates the need to travel altogether, avoiding the use of fossil fuels and the costs of fuel and travel. All you need is a computer, Internet connection, and smart phone.