Energy is the essence
of life, it enables
us carry of various tasks in our daily lives. It gives us light. It warms our
bodies and homes. It bakes cakes and keeps milk cold. It runs our TVs and our
cars. It makes us grow and move and think. Energy is the power to change things. It is the ability to
do work. Energy can take a wide variety of forms - heat
(thermal), light, mechanical, electrical, chemical, and nuclear energy.
The main focus can be
out on Domestic use of electrical energy and how we can save energy in our
homes at the same time using energy in a way that is friendly to the
environment. As we all know that there has been a looming power deficit in
Zambia (Load-shedding), it is important that we use electricity efficiently.
This is because no matter who we are, the electricity we use is a part of the
overall national consumption. We can therefore, use electricity efficiently be
it at individual, domestic, community or organizational level.
Energy Efficiency means
getting the job done while using less energy. A good practice of energy
efficiency does not only reduce on your electricity bills but also helps to
protect your environment as well as promoting good health. In addition, energy
efficiency will help to make electricity available to other users especially
during this time when Zambia is facing obvious power deficit resulting in
constant load-shedding in some parts of the country.
What
is ‘’Go Green’’?
With
the spread of global warming, the term "go green" has become
synonymous with certain behaviors, beliefs and practices that are considered to
be eco-friendly. Going Green means making a decision about our daily lives
while considering what impact the outcome of those decisions may have on global
warming, pollution, loss of animal habit, and other environmental concerns. Examples
of ‘’going green’’ include recycling, reducing energy or water wastage, growing
a garden or purchasing organic foods, purchasing or making non-toxic cleaning
products, reducing vehicle emissions by avoiding motorized transportation and
implementing alternative energy sources, such as wind or solar energy.
Keep reading on things you can
do today to help reduce your environmental impact, save money, and live a
happier, healthier life.
WAYS TO “GO GREEN”
Save energy to save money.
- Always make sure that your thermostats are working on your Geysers to automatically control heat, thereby saving energy
- Install compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) when your older incandescent bulbs burn out.
- Unplug appliances when you're not using them.
- Install solar panels in your house and for your geyser
- Do not use the stove for heating up a room
- Let the sun shine in. allow sunlight into your house or office and thereby eliminate the need to switch on the lights during the day.
- Wash clothes in cold water whenever possible. As much as 85 percent of the energy used to machine-wash clothes goes to heating the water.
- Use a drying rack or clothesline to save the energy otherwise used during machine drying.
Save water to save money.
- Take shorter showers to reduce water use. This will lower your water and heating bills too.
- Install a low-flow showerhead. They don't cost much, and the water and energy savings can quickly pay back your investment.
- Plant drought-tolerant native plants in your garden. Many plants need minimal watering. Find out which occur naturally in your area.
Cooking/Baking
- When cooking nshima, first boil water in an electric kettle
- Defrost food without using microwave oven or any other electrical appliances
- Find other less energy consuming sources of cooking like a peko pe stoves, gas stoves which are tested and verified to be efficient and less energy consuming.
Less gas = more money (and
better health!).
- Walk or bike to work. This saves on gas and parking costs while improving your cardiovascular health and reducing your risk of obesity.
- Alternatively use public transport as much as possible to reduce on gas expenditure bills.
- Use the stair cases if you have the energy to do so, that way you will save energy and burn calories instead of power, thereby, staying healthier.
- For better health take the stairs instead of the lift (elevator)
Ironing
- Switch off your pressing iron once it has reached the correct temperature
- Switch off the pressing iron if interrupted while ironing
- Iron cloths in large batches
- Iron low temperature fabrics first to reduce warm up times
Stay updated on environmental matters
- Develop an interest in knowing what’s happening around the globe to do with the environment, that way you will learn a lot and you will know the DOs AND DONT's
- Use the internet to your advantage, articles in news papers and journals to update yourself about the environment
MESSAGE
TO THE YOUTHS
Let’s make sure that we act responsibly at home,
it’s not only the task of our Parents and guardians to follow the energy saving
tips but for everyone. We can actually help and do much because as we are
vibrant and sharp to remember most of the things which are supposed to be done
to make earth a better place. By doing so, we can actually make our
Parents/guardians proud because they will see a sense of responsibility in us.
GO GREEN TODAY!
Share with us your experiences, comments and
recommendations. Send emails to wildlifemgtsociety@gmail.com
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