Quite interesting to watch “Carbon Cops” on the ABC iView at http://www.abc.net.au/iview/. It involves these “cops” visiting families to educate and help them reduce their carbon emissions. Sometimes I feel like a carbon cop myself with my husband. Nag.. nag.. switch the light off, computer, TV. It’s not that he is not “carbon emission” conscious – he really is; well guess I sometimes .. wag my tongue too much?
I wish I had the device the program uses to help me know how much energy I use on some of my items and even better – to beep so it drives me crazy I just have to switch an appliance off. Am I going mad? But honestly I think all of us can do something to help reduce our carbon emissions and help the environment. Afterall, here in Adelaide we have just gone through a heatwave with temperatures more than 35 C and reaching 42.8 C maximum for 5 days! Sure was hot. And to think in the northern hemisphere it’s freezing cold.
These are a few things Joel and I do to reduce our electricity/gas use :
1. Change our bulbs to energy saving ones. Nowadays there are newer designs you don’t really have to compromise on style. They are more expensive as a start, but in the long run you will save electricity. Visit www.neco.com.au for lots of environmentally-friendly products.
2. Switch off lights when not in use + switch off non-essential appliances at the end of the day at the mains. ( eg TV/ cordless phone and internet, computers ) We are still working on this.
3. Try and draft prove the house. Joel has done a great job on doing this. We still have draft spots with our house being an older one.
4. Try and fully load the washing machine before use. Use the fan instead of the air conditioning whenever possible.
It’s really not too difficult but it takes both of us to get on board and to get it into a habit. I don’t think it has compromised on our daily lifestyle either. I have to admit though I do get lazy at times and try and watch the TV and use the computer at the same time. Hmmm…
Anyone has other energy saving tips?
Note: Bizzarely, just at the end of me writing this and looking at the Neco website someone was at the door promoting ceiling insulation at no extra cost to us when the Australian government rebate is taken into account. I shall have to see what happens.
