
Power plant emissions are off the charts. As we incorporate more technology in our lives, we require more and more energy to keep our world powered. It might seem like a hopeless cause, but if everyone does their small part and reduces their energy consumption just a little bit, we can significantly reduce the global impact. Here’s what you can do to use less electricity in your home and your life:
1. Only run full loads.
Whether you’re washing dishes, clothes, or using the dryer, only do so when you have a full load to put in. Any less, and you’re using both water and electricity unnecessarily. If you desperately need a dish or have to wear a certain outfit, wash it by hand.
2. Use a power strip.
One of the most common tips you’ll hear about saving electricity is to unplug appliances you’re not using. This job becomes so much easier if you have several appliances connected to a power strip. Not only are power strips more energy efficient, they also make unplugging several electronics at once a cinch. These do come with a warning, though: don’t overload it or you could have a fire hazard on your hands.

3. Use energy efficient light bulbs.
“Traditional” incandescent lights should be a thing of the past in your household. Energy efficient bulbs work just as well, last six times longer, and use as much as 75% less energy. Think about how many light bulbs you have in your home, and that percentage becomes even more significant.
4. Ensure your home is properly insulated.
What’s the point of heating or cooling your home if all that air just leaks out anyway? Checking to make sure your home is properly insulated is not only good for the environment and reducing energy consumption, it’s also better for your wallet.

5. Hang clothes to dry in the summer.
Dryers are, for all intents and purposes, unnecessary. Sure they work relatively quickly, but what about the natural dryer that’s right outside your door? In the summer months when the sun is baking the earth, hang your clothes out to dry and use one of the only truly free resources in this world. As a bonus, your clothes will have that sweet summer scent that only comes from letting them dry in the breeze.