How Earth Friendly Are You?
Protect and restore the integrity of Earth’s ecological systems,
with special concern for biological diversity and
the natural processes that sustain life.
-Earth Charter
Energy and Household
| 1 | 5 | 10 |
|---|---|---|
| Never | Sometimes | Always |
Read the 10 statements below. In the adjacent box, write the number corresponding to your answer. E.g. ‚ 1= Never. When you finish, add the numbers to get a score.
| Questions | Answers |
|---|---|
| I turn off water while brushing my teeth. | 1. _____________ |
| I spend less than 5 minutes taking my shower. | 2. _____________ |
| I turn off the lights when I leave the room, even if it is for a short time. | 3. _____________ |
| In the summer I close the blinds and drapes in the house while I am at work. | 4. _____________ |
| Whenever possible, I cook with a lid on the pot. | 5. _____________ |
| I use the “small load” on the washer whenever possible. | 6. _____________ |
| I drink filtered water from the tap instead of buying bottled water. | 7. _____________ |
| I have invested in Screw in Base Fluorescent bulbs (CFLs). | 8. _____________ |
| I set the refrigerator thermostat in the middle range. | 9. _____________ |
| I keep the freezer as full as possible without cramming. | 10. _____________ |
Score of 20 -69? See tips.
Score of 70+? See resources for ongoing learning.
Tips for Living More Lightly
- Turn off the water while brushing your teeth and save approximately four gallons of water for each minute you brush.
- A shower of less than 5 minutes will save up to 1,000 gallons of water each month.
- No extra energy is expended when turning on lights unless many are turned off at the same time.
- Close blinds and drapes in the heat of the day keeps the house cooler. Air conditioners don’t have to run as high to bring the house to comfort level.
- Cook with lids on pots to conserves energy. Water will boil more quickly.
- The “small load” saves water but uses just as much electricity as a full load. Another good strategy is to make sure you have a full load before washing–-clothes or dishes.
- Avoid drinking bottled water. Learn about your municipal water source and filter only if there is a local problem.
- The average life of a new fluorescent (CFL) bulb is 10,000 hours. They have a cool, long life. A 40-watt CFL uses only 10 watts electricity; a 60-watt CFL uses only 15 watts; a 100-watt CFL uses only 25 watts.
- The middle setting on refrigerator thermostat will keep all food at the right temperature when the door seal is tight.
- A full freezer will stay colder longer because there is no large amount of empty space to cool.
