Save some green while being green

By KATU News and KATU.com Staff Published: Sep 12, 2009 at 5:17 PM PST Last Updated: Sep 12, 2009 at 7:25 PM PST
electricity

If you're wasting electricity or gas these days, experts have shown that you're throwing away money and harming the environment. So we've collected a few signs you're an energy hog or, looking at it another way, four tips to save yourself some green - while being green.

  • Forgetting to power off your computer: We know it takes time to boot it back up, but even sleeping computers keep sipping energy. Other oft-forgotten powered off electronics include computer printers, speakers, even the wireless router. Experts KATU.com spoke to recommend keeping all of your computer items on one multi-plug power strip where at the end of the day it's a simple matter of turning off one switch to ensure that everything is fully off.

    (And while you're at it, go ahead and turn off the power strip to your home media system too. Television sets use power even when they're not turned on, since most sit in "stand by" mode, and video game consoles have proven to zap even more power than the biggest big-screen television.)
  • How about those long relaxing showers? They may feel good, but 15 percent of your home energy bill is spent on hot water. So if you must take long showers, experts said to at least invest in a low-flow shower head. Another option with a little "ewww" is this one from a Brazilian ad campaign to save the ocean.
     
  • Still idling your car before taking off? That's a big waste, according to our sources. Any more than about 15 seconds of not going anywhere and it would save you money to just turn it off and turn it on again. The one place not to do that is at a traffic light.
     
  • And, our last big energy waster, drinking bottled water. The Pacific Institute reports that it takes about 17 million barrels of oil just to make a year's worth of plastic disposable water bottles.

How about you? Give yourself one point for every item above you still do, with 4 points being a tried-and-true "energy hog" and 0 points being a tried-and-true "greenie." Now tell us, where do you stand on each of the efforts above?