1) Eliminate “Phantom Loads”. A Phantom load is energy that is consumed by an electronic device that is turned off but plugged into the wall. Even though the device is off it still draws power from the outlet. Yes, it is true, even though your device is turned off it is likely still drawing energy. According to the Department Of Energy, “75% of the electricity used to power home electronics and appliances is consumed while the products are turned off”. To eliminate this massive amount of waste plug all of your electronic devices in your home office into power strips that have an On/Off switch, then switch each control strip to Off at the end of your work day. This should reduce you electric energy usage by 75%!
2) Do you really need a hard copy of every fax you receive? Many of you probably don’t. Start receiving inbound faxes using a web based service such as eFax or J2. Receiving your faxes digitally will reduce the amount of paper you use because the fax is converted to a digital, usually PDF, format and emailed to you. You can then file the fax away on your computer and print it anytime if you need to. In addition to saving Trees the other benefit is that you can receive your faxes anywhere you are via email. Good for you and good for the environment. It just makes sense!
3) Recycling. If you are not already doing this, today is a great day to start. Take an extra trash can or spare box and dedicate it as your home office recycling bin. Drop any recyclable materials such paper and water bottles into it instead of your regular garbage can. If your waste disposal company does not provide recycling pickups search for a local recycling center where you can drop your recycling collection off on a regular basis.
4) Unplug battery chargers when the battery is fully charged. Battery chargers use an incredible amount of energy so be sure to stay on top of them.
5) Always look for the ENERGY STAR® and EnergyGuide labels when shopping for home appliances. The ENERGY STAR® label is the government’s seal of energy efficiency. The EnergyGuide label estimates an appliance’s energy consumption.
6) Set your computer to automatically switch to sleep mode instead of the screen saver when you are not using it. According to the Department Of Energy, and contrary to popular belief, screen savers do not save energy!
7) Position your desk near a window if possible so you can use sunlight instead of lamps and ceiling lights.
8) When it gets too hot in your office install an energy reducing pull-down shade on your window to block out direct sunlight. This can cut the heat from your window by 95%. We tested this one from Redi Shade and it was super easy to install and worked like a charm:
9) If you are the only one at home during work hours use a space heater or room fan instead of the house wide heating or cooling system. This will save a ton of energy!
10) Bring a houseplant into your home office. Did you know a NASA study determined that a common houseplant could remove up to 87 percent of air toxins in 24 hours from a room? It’s true and a heck of a lot cheaper and energy efficient then a powered air purifier. Each time you water or gaze at your plant’s beauty you will be reminded of the symbiotic relationship we have with Earth.
Happy Earth Day!
By WILL BERNSTEIN, At Home Moms.com, Thursday, April 22, 2010
