put a lid on it

Ohhhhh I wish I could find this one Cosby show special or PSA or something where Clair Huxtable talks about how we can boil water quicker along with conserving energy by putting a lid on your pots and kettles when boiling water! I could be making all this up and have selective memory from my childhood but regardless, put a lid on it! Having a lid on your pot keeps the heat and energy from escaping your pot so that more of it stays to heat up your agua quicker. Quicker heating time = less energy used!

shut down

Many of us forget to turn off our computers after we use them but, just like turning off the lights when we leave a room or unplugging appliances that aren't being used, you should make turning off the comp second-nature! It's a very simple task that helps conserve energy, helping Mother Earth, and you can save a few bucks down the line through your energy bills!

I've been really good about shutting off my laptop, or putting it on standby, along with unplugging it when I am done fiddling around on the internets. My work computer on the other hand? I admit I sometimes leave it on because I sometimes log on to my work comp from home to finish a few things now and then. I know, I know! Leave work at home! Which I should keep telling myself so that I can also turn the work computer off when I leave. And co-workers, if you're reading this, I know many of you are guilty of this, too!

So everyone, turn off your work computers when you leave and do the same with your home computers.

And, as an added bonus...

My good friend, Jason Kaminsky (along with his group @ Stanford University) have started a group/project called TOT for tots. TOT (a.k.a Turn Off Tool) is a program you can download to your PC that helps remind you to turn off your computer when you're done using it! They have specially created this tool for kids so that they can learn the value of turning off the computer early on!

Just visit www.turnofftool.com and download the program. Once installed, simply click the picture of the sleeping moon and the computer hibernates or shuts down. See? Easy peasy.

Get 'em while they're young, I say! But really, it's important to get kids excited, informed, and interested about green living at an early age, and now with many kids using computers early on this simple add-on should be a no-brainer!

Lights Out

Tomorrow (March 29th) @ 8pm (your local time), everyone is encouraged to join in on Earth Hour and turn off your lights and non-essential appliances for ONE HOUR in solidarity for electricity conservation (households and businesses alike)!

Last year's Earth Hour (created by the World Wildlife Fund) was held in Sydney, Australia where more than 2 million people flipped the switch. They even got 48,000 cars off the road for that hour. Can you believe it? Hooray for lower carbon emissions!

Need to light the way during Earth Hour? Light up some beeswax candles (they swell oh-so-sweet) and make shadow puppets, read a cook by candlelight like in the olden days, have conversation...or just have a makeout session...you know, whatever floats your boat.

Wind It Up!

FYI: Don't forget that we turn our clocks one-hour forward this weekend. Hooray! It will be lighter out when I leave work. Oh Springtime...

Next time you're in the market for a new clock why don't you opt for a wind-up one. You don't need to plug it in and it doesn't require batteries. Plus, they've got the cool old-timey feel! And the ticking can lull you to sleep.

Note to not forget to wind it up again (I would do it before bed) otherwise your clock slows down and you're timing will be off!

(Clock pictured is of the Ikea-ilk)

Pull The Plug!

Not many people know that even when turned off many of our electronic devices are still energy suckers while still plugged into the socket.

I am completely OCD when it comes to the plugs in my home. I unplug everything (except for my refrigerator, of course). After I watch TV, I pull the plug. Once I've zapped my food, that microwave's plug is out of the socket. Really, I live alone so do I really need the microwave clock flashing for nobody. My laptop and lamps? Unplugged! Hell, I even unplug my electric stove! Neurotic, I know, but all for the good of the cause. It's my way of saving energy and some cash while I'm at it.

However, many of you may not want to have to deal with unplugging every single thing in your home. So for those of you who don't want to keep slipping your arm behind the couch or TV stand you can still help conserve energy with the Gaiam power strip!
You just plug in your TV (or computer) into the strip along with all the goodies that go along with it (DVD player, TiVo, cable box, and the like) and when you turn off your TV, the strip cuts the power to everything else. This simple action saves you 72% of the dinero you pay to power your TV. That's beaucoup bucks right there.


Order your strip for $39 on Gaiam.com
Or just unplug like I do if you don't want to spend the $39. Either or, do what you gotta do to do your part. Even little things like unplugging your electric toothbrush, lamps around the house, your phone charger that isn't being used at the moment, or your stereo.