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The Energy Diet
Trimming your energy use is a lot like taking off extra pounds. You’ve heard all the advice, but the thought of starting a diet can be daunting. Will you feel deprived? Can you stick to all the changes you’ll need to make? And where do you begin? This calendar will help you take a step-by-step approach toward a lifestyle that is healthier for the planet, and may end up saving you money.
Follow households around the world as they attempt to reduce their carbon footprint -- and blog about it -- at the 360º Energy Diet.
Adapted from Dutch language book, The Ideal Energy Weight, by Klaas van Alphen, a researcher at Copernicus Institute for Sustainable Development, Utrecht University and Herman van der Meyden, a Shell engineer who has participated in the company’s future scenarios project.
Click on a month to learn how you can save more energy.
January
Find out the age of your refrigerator and whether it might be due for replacement. Replacing a refrigerator that is more than ten years old with a model that carries an Energy Star rating in the United States or an “A” label in the European Union usually pays for itself in a couple of years. If your refrigerator is new, have a good look at the rest of the appliances.
February
Do you have an old natural gas furnace or boiler in the house? Then calculate how much a high efficiency (HE) unit would save you in monthly energy costs. Some guides and calculators that can help you with this decision are found at Energy Star and the Energy Information Administration (Excel file).
March
This month, have a look at the electricity bill. Do you have green electricity? See if you can choose renewable energy where you live and, if so, where you can get the best deal.
April
If April is the month for planning your summer vacation, have a careful look at your destination and how you will get there. Are there other options? If you are going to fly, calculate the carbon dioxide emissions of the planned flight. Consider buying carbon offsets when purchasing the ticket.
May
Invest in energy-saving power strips to keep your television, home entertainment center, or computer from going into energy-draining sleep or standby mode.
June
Consider whether you are able and willing to purchase a sustainable energy source for yourself. Investigate the options for a solar boiler, heat pump, or solar panels. Also have a look at the current government subsidies in the United States.
July
Find out how far you drive each year, and how much fuel your car burns over this distance. Calculate how much you could save with another car. The idea is not to buy another car immediately, but just to take an objective look at use and consumption.
August
Time for some sun, beach, sea, and a vacation from energy-consumption topics!
September
The evenings are getting longer, and more lighting is being used. Consider replacing standard light fixtures with low-energy bulbs.
October
With the summer definitely over, you may want to see whether the insulation in your house can be improved. Use the U.S. Energy Department’s insulation guide as an aid.
November
With winter approaching, it is a good time to look for holes, seams, and cracks throughout the house through which heat could escape. Close these spaces with weather stripping or caulk.
December
Perhaps you are already having personal success with your energy diet, but would you like to share it with the people around you? Think during this holiday month whether you have family and friends with whom you would like to share the energy diet.
More Energy Features
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What Is the Great Energy Challenge?
The Great Energy Challenge is a National Geographic initiative to help you understand our current energy situation. Explore the GEC to figure out and trim your carbon footprint.
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Global Fossil-Fuel Subsidies Map
See which countries pay the most for tax breaks and other mechanisms that keep fossil-fuel prices down.
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Light Bulb Savings Calculator
How much could you save yourself, and the world, by switching to more efficient bulbs? Use this tool to find out.
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The Global Electricity Mix
An interactive view of how regions and countries around the world generate their power.
Did You Know?
One hour’s worth of global sunlight has enough power to meet the world’s energy demands for a year.
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