|
Roots & Shoots members take action to help the environment, and so can you!
|
|
|
 |
Switch to CFLs.
ACTION: Change out old incandescent bulbs for compact fluorescent light bulbs, which use 80 percent less energy and produce the same quality of light.
TIP: Try to install CFLs in places where they'll stay on for at least three hours at a time. The more a CFL is turned on and off, the more quickly it burns out.
FACT: If every U.S. home replaced just one light bulb with a CFL, we could save enough energy to light more than 3 million homes for a year.
RESOURCE: Get CFLs.
|
|
|
 |
Stop door drafts.
ACTION: Keep heat from escaping through gaps and cracks with heavy curtains or a weighted draft-stopper on the floor.
TIP: To test for air leaks, get a parent to hold a lit candle next to the door on a windy day. If the flame flickers, you might have a leak.
FACT: Heating and cooling our homes contributes to global warming by using energy that releases carbon dioxide into the air. The average single-family U.S. home emits nearly 13,000 pounds of carbon dioxide each year.
RESOURCE: Make a "door snake."
|
|
|
 |
Use power strips.
ACTION: A lot of electronics use energy even when you turn them off. Plug your TV, computer and whatever else into a power strip, and flip it off when you're not using it.
TIP: If a small light or clock stays on when you turn the device off, then it's still using energy.
FACT: The average U.S. home uses about 450 kilowatt-hours of energy per year to power electronics that aren't in use.
RESOURCE: Get some strips.
|
|
|
 |
Get efficient.
ACTION: If your family is shopping for new appliances, tell your parents to check out ENERGY STAR® products, which conserve energy.
Kenmore® Brand offers a lot of ENERGY STAR® qualified products—and even some appliances that exceed ENERGY STAR® requirements.
TIP: Water and energy are related because it takes energy to move and to heat water. Letting your faucet run for five minutes consumes about as much energy as using a 60-watt light bulb for 14 hours.
FACT: About one-third of household electricity consumption comes from kitchen and laundry appliances.
RESOURCE: Research appliances.
|
|
|
 |
Spread the word.
ACTION: Spread the word about conservation by telling a friend.
TIP: Communication is a powerful tool, and word of mouth is a simple and inexpensive way to raise awareness about conservation issues.
FACT: Roots & Shoots has tens of thousands of members in more than 100 countries, all working together to help conserve our natural resources.
RESOURCE: Start a conservation conversation on the Roots & Shoots Discussion Boards.
|
|
|
Less is more when it comes to conserving precious resources like water and energy.
|
|
|
|
Take shorter showers.
ACTION: Cut your shower time to five minutes or fewer to save water—and the energy used to heat it.
TIP: Take showers instead of baths. Taking a bath uses about 70 gallons of water, while taking a 5-minute shower uses 10 to 25 gallons.
FACT: In the United States in 2000, we used about 408 billion gallons of water per day.
RESOURCE: Find out how much water you use.
|
|
|
|
Switch off lights.
ACTION: When you leave a room, turn off the light. Make sure others do too.
TIP: You can use contact paper to design, cut out and decorate informative light switch plate covers that help others remember to turn off the light.
FACT: In the United States in 2001, we used 101 billion kilowatt-hours of energy to light our homes.
RESOURCE: Learn more ways to use less energy.
|
|
|
|
Work your washers.
ACTION: If you're helping with the laundry or loading the dishwasher, use a setting that fits the load so you don't waste energy.
TIP: Your family can also conserve water and energy by using ENERGY STAR® qualified appliances, which are available from Kenmore® Brand.
FACT: Researchers predict that 36 U.S. states will experience water shortages by 2013.
RESOURCE: Test your water knowledge.
|
|
|
|
Close the fridge.
ACTION: Grab what you want to eat. Then shut the fridge door to keep the cold air in. Kenmore® Brand refrigerators have sensors that detect temperature changes and adjust to keep foods fresh while conserving energy.
TIP: Check to see if your fridge seals properly by closing a piece of paper in the door and then pulling on it. If it slips out easily, tell your parents that your fridge may need new seals.
FACT: We in the United States make up only 5 percent of the world's population but consume 26 percent of the world's energy.
RESOURCE: Learn about energy-efficient fridges.
|
|
|
|
Turn down the heat.
ACTION: Instead of cranking up the thermostat, put on a sweater when it's cold outside.
TIP: A few degrees can make a big difference in energy use. Ask your parents to keep the thermostat above 74 degrees Fahrenheit in the summer and at or below 68 degrees Fahrenheit in the winter.
FACT: In the United States in 2001, we used 356 billion kilowatt hours of energy to heat and cool our homes.
RESOURCE: Check out renewable energy.
|
|
|
|
Will you pledge to take these 10 Simple Actions to conserve water and energy at home?
Figures are approximate and drawn from:
- United States Department of Energy
- United States Environmental Protection Agency
- United States Geological Society
- ENERGY STAR®
- American Almanac
- Center for New American Dream
|
|
|
|
|
|
