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- Info
At home...
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Thinking blue shouldn't stop when you leave ITQB. Think blue at home: save energy and save in your own bills.
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SIMULATOR
See the amount of energy you consume at home by using this simulator (choose the room and the appliances).
USE THE MAXIMUM SUNLIGHT
Whenever possible use natural instead of artificial lighting.
CHANGE LIGHTS
Replace regular light-bulbs with energy-saving bulbs.
This can reduce your electricity consumption in 80% (and thus your electricity bill).
DO NOT PRE-HEAT THE OVEN
Unless it is really necessary. Look through the oven window instead of opening the door. Switch it off 10 minutes before ending your cooking.
HANG DRY
Take advantage of good weather and hang dry your laundry instead of using the dryer. If you use the drying machine, separate clothes according to their weight (lighter clothes need less energy and time to dry).
WASH IN COLD OR WARM
Only launder when you have a full load and prefer low temperature programs.
TURN OFF BUTTONS
Turn off all appliances that are not in use and avoid leaving on the standby button. The electricity consumption of equipments in standby mode can represent about 12% of your annual electricity bill.
CHOOSE ENERGY EFFICIENT EQUIPMENT
When buying new household appliances check the European ecological label for energy efficiency. Class A and class B are the most energy efficient.
FULL REFRIGERATOR
A refrigerator full of food uses less energy than an empty one.
Defrost food in the refrigerator: the frozen food helps to cool the refrigerator as it thaws.
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DON'T RINSE
Rinsing dishes before using your dishwasher uses up to 75 litters of water for each load.
SHOWER vs. BATH
Choose the shower. Baths require almost twice as much water. Besides reducing water consumption, you will save the energy associated with heating.
TAKE A SHORTER SHOWER
Each minute you save on your shower saves about 15 liters of water.
BRUSH WITHOUT RUNNING
You'll save up to 15 litters of water per day if you stop running water while brushing.
LOAD DISHWASHER/WASHING MACHINE
Operate automatic dishwashers and clothes washers only when they are fully loaded or properly set the water level for the size of load you are using.
REDUCE TOILET FLUSHING
Avoid flushing the toilet unnecessarily. If the toilet flush handle frequently sticks in the flush position, letting water run constantly, replace or adjust it.
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REDUCE WASTE
Recycle everything you can and try to reduce your ecological footprint reducing the amount of waste you produce.
RECYCLE AND HELP PREVENTING BREAST CANCER
For each ton of recycled waste, Sociedade Ponto Verde and Laço donate 1,50€ to help the prevention of breast cancer. So you can make tons of difference!
RECYCLE MEDICINES
Avoid throwing away medicine leftovers . Take them to the nearest pharmacy or donate them to "Pata Vermelha" (this veterinary association uses your old medicines to treat some animals in need).
RECYCLE OLD CELL PHONES
If they go into landfills, the phones and their batteries introduce toxic substances into the environment. There are plenty of programs to recycle your phone and benefit noble causes.
FORGET PLASTIC BAGS
They are not biodegradable, and are making their way into our oceans, and subsequently, the food chain. Stronger, reusable bags are an inexpensive and readily available option.
PAY BILLS ON-LINE
And avoid all the paper involved in other forms of payment. This can save thousands of trees per year.
USE RECHARGEABLE BATTERIES
Each year billion of batteries are produced and sold and most of them are disposable alkaline batteries. Only a fraction of those are recycled. Buy a charger and a few sets of rechargeable batteries.
RECYCLE OLD APPLIANCES
Dispose of old appliances at amb3e. Check here to find the nearest Ponto Electrão.
RECYCLE USED ALIMENTARY OIL
There is a new campaign by AMI to recycle used alimentary oil, see here places where you can dispose it.
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PLANT A TREE
Or sponsor tree planting.
BUY LOCAL
Avoid the amount of pollution created to get your food from the farm to your table. Whenever possible, buy from local farmers or farmers' markets, supporting your local economy and reducing the amount of greenhouse gas created when products are flown or trucked in.
MAINTAIN YOUR VEHICLE
A properly maintained vehicle, with clean air filters, and inflated tires can greatly improve your vehicle's performance. Avoid unnecessary weight in the trunk - more weight means more fuel spent.
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Take what you've learned, and pass the knowledge on to others. If every person you know could take one small step, the collective effort could be phenomenal. Make this test and see if you are already saving energy.
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