How to Save The World while Working From Home
Hands up if you’re working from home…. yep, me too!
I’ve put together some really simple ways you can save the world from your dining table, bedroom, living room, wherever you are staying home and safe!
1. Unplug your computer overnight
Make it a habit to unplug your computer every night. Not only is this a real energy saver, but it also can protect your computer from serious damage. It’s not an old wives’ tale — a power surge caused by lightning can completely fry your computer.
A computer, modem, and monitor, TV, phone charger, or cable box all consume a considerable amount of electricity even when not in use.
2. Disable Screensavers
Yes, they are very pretty however, a PC with a screensaver going can use well over 100 watts of power, compared with only about 10 watts in sleep mode.
Most screen savers use the same amount of energy as when the screen is in normal use. Some more sophisticated screen savers actually use more energy. You can set most screens to automatically power down after a pre-set time of user inactivity, e.g. 1 minute. By clicking the mouse or pressing a key the image is quickly restored. Remember to fully switch off at the end of the working day.
3. Use a paper bin
YES – obviously its way more eco-friendly to reduce your paper waste in the first place but when paper waste is inevitable make sure you are recycling correctly.
If you haven’t got a spare bin you could use a strong shopper bag or even an empty cardboard box which makes it all the more easier to recycle!
Now lets see if we can reduce the amount of paper….
4. Print on both sides
If I need to print anything I make sure I can fit at least 2 pages to one sheet and most printers have an option to print on both sides.
You’ve saved paper, saved ink and saved electricity! Well done you!
5. Lower your Screen Brightness
This green tip comes to us from Harvard Law School’s energy manager Eric Potkin who found that reducing your computer monitor brightness from 100% to 70% can save up to 20% of the energy the monitor uses.
Most people won’t notice much difference in their monitor between 100% and 70% brightness, so reducing brightness to the minimum comfortable level is a great opportunity to save up to 20% of your monitor’s energy consumption.
6. Make your own snacks!
So we’re at home and we’re not using coffee cups or plastic bottles, we get to use our favourite mug all day…WIN!
Making your own snacks means less, or even, no packaging.
Nuts left over from Christmas make awesome seeded bars and flapjacks, or try your hand at the lockdown favourite of banana bread to reduce food waste.
Being at home is the perfect time to get creative – make sure you share your home recipes!
7. Change your search engine
Goodbye Google…
Bye Bye Bing…
Adios Ask.Com….
Ecosia uses the ad revenue from your searches to plant trees where they are needed the most. By searching with Ecosia, you’re not only reforesting our planet, but you’re also empowering the communities around our planting projects to build a better future for themselves.
Give it a try!
Stay Safe Everyone
Let me know if you use any of these tips by connecting with me on Facebook and/or Instagram
Love, Light and Green Vibes….
Jodie
