{"id":17974,"date":"2019-07-01T13:18:29","date_gmt":"2019-07-01T18:18:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/greenheart.org\/blog\/uncategorized\/\/"},"modified":"2025-07-02T14:38:25","modified_gmt":"2025-07-02T19:38:25","slug":"6-ways-to-reduce-your-energy-consumption-standing-with-the-environment","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/greenheart.org\/blog\/greenheart-international\/6-ways-to-reduce-your-energy-consumption-standing-with-the-environment\/","title":{"rendered":"6 Ways to Reduce Your Energy Consumption: Standing with the Environment"},"content":{"rendered":"

Invisible, silent, and all around you. Electricity provides clean and safe access to light and power around the clock and is fundamental to modern life. We use electricity to power our homes, workplace and an increasing number of devices that most of us can\u2019t imagine life without. This month, as we continue our focus and commitment to Standing with the Environment, Greenheart staff member, Sara Eden<\/a>, uncovers how we can be more mindful of our energy consumption. As a whole, Americans plugin, switch on, and use up an average of 12, 071 kWh per capita, which is 9,397 more kWh than the world average<\/strong>[1]<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The beauty of modern energy is precisely what thwarts our efforts to reduce our energy usage. Prior to the electrification of our homes and cities, we were lugging enormous quantities of fossil fuels into<\/em> our homes and workplaces, powering them directly with coal or gas. The cost for these fuels was up-front and the consequence of using them (smoke, heat, soot, fire, pollution) was inescapable. Now, with the flip of the switch or a press of a button we have 24-hour instant access to power without getting our hands dirty. However, 70% of the energy used in the U.S. still comes from burning the very same fossil fuels we were dragging indoors at the turn of the century[2]<\/a>. The electricity that we use today might keep the indoors clean, but it has simply distanced us from the source, which obscures the true environmental cost of energy usage.<\/p>\n

This month, we stand with the environment by examining the energy we consume as individuals and as a community. The United States is still the second largest emitter of CO2 <\/sub>and in 2014 contributed 15% of global CO2<\/sub> emissions[3]<\/a>. There are so many easy and practical ways to reduce your \u201ccarbon footprint\u201d, minimize your consumption and dependence on fossil fuels and choose more sustainable options. Although the responsibility of reducing these emissions rests largely in the hands of industry and world governments, the small changes we make as individuals will be steps in the right direction \u2013 not to mention save you some money on your monthly utilities!<\/p>\n

Top 6 ways to reduce your energy consumption:<\/strong><\/h3>\n
    \n
  1. Shut down your computer<\/strong> – Computers are some of the biggest energy users in office buildings. Turn off your monitor when you do shut down. Opting to shut down\u00a0does not affect your computer’s lifespan. So,\u00a0power down!<\/li>\n
  2. Eliminate vampire power<\/strong> \u2013 Devices like televisions, microwaves, scanners, and printers use standby power, even when off. Some chargers continue to pull small amounts of energy, even when plugged in (a good judge of this is if a charger feels warm to the touch).\u00a0Unplugging “energy vampires” can save you as much as 10 percent on your electricity bill.[4]<\/a><\/li>\n
  3. Adjust your thermostat based on the temperature outside \u2013 <\/strong>It\u2019s most efficient to keep the temperature in your house between 77 and 80\u202f\u00b0F in the summer. Lower your thermostat to between 64 and 68\u202f\u00b0F in the winter. Keep your windows covered during summer days to keep out the heat and allow natural light in during winter days to heat up the room.<\/li>\n
  4. Buy green! –<\/strong> When it\u2019s time to replace old appliances and electronics, buy those with energy saving features or those that are certified energy-efficient. Fun fact: most monitors at Greenheart have an \u201cEco\u201d setting that you can switch to by pressing the options button on your monitor.<\/li>\n
  5. Shop online!<\/strong> \u2013 But only use standard shipping. This video is a great resource about why speeding up the delivery of your items is bad for carbon emissions: The environmental cost of free two-day shipping<\/a><\/li>\n
  6. Use public transportation \u2013<\/strong> cut down on your energy use by carpooling, taking the train or biking to work!<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    These are just a few possible ways to reduce your total energy consumption, among many others! If you are interested in finding out more about your personal \u201ccarbon footprint\u201d with specific suggestions of how you can reduce it, check out this calculator<\/a>!<\/p>\n\"\"<\/a>\n

    Take a Stand<\/strong><\/h3>\n

    This month (and every month) we have the chance to make small changes.\u00a0Here are some suggestions to get you started:<\/p>\n