What You Can Do At Home

To help the natural environment at home, you will find many guides on recycling and conserving energy. Here are some of the standard tips for reducing energy use:

• Replace incandescent light bulbs with more efficient compact fluorescent bulbs.
• Turn off the lights when you leave the house and use only the lights you need.
• Shut off computer monitors when you leave your desk, shut off computers at night.
• Avoid using space heaters, they use 1500 watts/hour, which is more then an air conditioner! Wear warmer clothes to keep yourself comfortable.
• Turn down your hot water heater to 120 degrees. This conserves energy and reduces the risk of scalding yourself. Hot water heaters account for 15-20% of your electric bill.
• Lower the temperature in your home to less then 70 degrees. Turn the heat down to 60 degrees when you’re not home. Heating accounts for 50% of your electric bill.
• Use weatherstripping to minimize drafts in doorways. This is simple and effective while keeping you warmer!
• Storm windows even in the South insulate homes to reduce wasted energy. Putting plastic on windows in the winter is a good inexpensive alternative and helps reduce wasted heat.
• Unplug unused appliances as even when unused, appliances drain energy.
• Purchase energy efficient appliances that are cost competitive and save you money each month!
• Minimize dryer use, dryers are one of the most energy intensive appliances.
• Contact your local utility company asking for clean, renewable energy options.
  

If you live nearby, Emory University Recycling Center welcomes neighbors of Emory to recycle white paper, cardboard, mixed paper, file stock, newspapers, magazines, aluminum cans, glass, plastics #1 and #2, and inkjet cartridges. If you live in DeKalb county, there are several other Recycling Locations. You may also want to consider removing your name from junkmail (and telemarketing) lists. Contact the Direct Marketing Association.

If you are interested in protecting the watershed in this area, see the Creekkeeper Guidelines for Homeowners put together by local watershed alliances. If you are interested in conserving water, see Georgia Conservancy's recommendations. See also the Home Forester Self-guided Online Workshop (T.R.E.E.S. project, Los Angeles) and How to avoid polluting your stream (Georgia Environmental Protection Division).

If you are interested in improving air quality through use of alternative transportation outside of Emory's own Alternative Transportation Program, see the Atlanta Bicycle Campaign or MARTA websites.

Finally, it is always helpful to vote for environmentally friendly political officers -- from district commissioners to presidential candidates. For national offices, see the League of Conservation Voters or the Sierra Club's Environmental Voter Education Campaign (EVEC). For local offices in Georgia, see the Political page of the Atlanta Chapter of the Sierra Club.

© 2009 Emory University
For more information please contact environment@emory.edu.
Last Update: Monday, 12-Jul-04, 13:10:59