Saturday 29 March 2008

Earth Hour – Do Your Part – Turn Off Your Lights to Save Energy and Save Money!

"Earth Hour" is 8-9pm, your local time, today and in support of Earth Hour hundreds of thousands of people across the world will be switching off their lights for one hour. This Global initiative is to help raise the awareness of the detrimental effects of Global Warming.

Earlier this week I read a report that a huge shelf of Antarctic ice had collapsed. What caught my attention was that the size of this collapsed ice was 160 square miles. To put this into perspective, that is almost the size of Barbados (166 square miles).

Barbados, one of the most densely populated countries in the world is inhabited by approximately 280,946 people (2007 estimate). If it were reported that Barbados had suddenly disappeared (heaven forbid!) I'm sure many more people would sit up and take notice.

Satellite imagery further showed that another ledge, this time the size of Connecticut, 5,013 square miles, is hanging on by a thread.

These are the results of Global Warming and it having an adverse impact on our weather systems and our climate. And for us human beings the consequences of Global Warming are disastrous.

We live in a global community. We are all connected. You may think that your contribution is too small to make a difference but no contribution is too small.

Marian Wright Edelman, a lobbyist on behalf of children said:

"We must not, in trying to think about how we can make a big difference, ignore the small daily differences we can make which, over time, add up to big differences that we often cannot foresee."

Her remarks may have been made in reference to children but are equally applicable here.

So please join this global initiative turn off your lights tonight for just one hour.

However, you can do more. Here are 10 more energy-saving tips:

1. Turn your thermostat down a degree or two on your heating or use your heating for one hour less each day and reduce your fuels bills by up to 10%.

2. Turn the thermostat down on your refrigerator.

3. If you're buying a new washing machine, cooker, choose an A-rated energy-saving model.

4. Wash at 30 degrees rather than 40 degrees. On average this reduces energy consumption by 41%.

5. Turn off your computer when you're not using it.

6. Do not leave your TV, video and DVD players on standby. Generally, even on standby these appliances will use 25% of the full amount of energy they use when on full power.

7. Ensure that your hot water tank is properly insulated - this could save you £20 a year.

8. Draught-proof your windows and doors and save up to £20 a year.

9. Walk or use public transportation when traveling short distances.

10. Replace normal light bulbs with low energy light bulbs. They last 12 times longer and each one can save you up to £10 a year. You'll save even more simply by switching lights off when you leave a room.

The irony is that these energy-saving measures also save money. Yet some people are unwilling to make the small effort required to adopt these energy-saving practices.

However, I know that if you're reading this that you're not one of those people. I know that for the sake of Mother Earth and humanity - you will do the right thing.

Watch the video below to learn more about the Earth Hour initiative.





Click HERE if you cannot see video.

"Act as if what you do makes a difference. It does."
William James


No comments:

Post a Comment