Despite good intentions, people simply aren’t aware of the best ways to save energy.
That’s according to a new study (hat tip to TechCrunch for the link) that’s making headlines worldwide.
Among the misconceptions people have about energy:
- They think turning out the lights is one of the best ways to save energy (when, actually, switching to a more energy-efficient bulb is much better).
- They think a single-room AC unit is only slightly more efficient than central air conditioning. In fact, central air gobbles up 3.5 times the energy.
- They undervalue the benefit of owning, and using, more efficient products – things like energy-efficient appliances, CFLs, and hybrid cars.
When this story came across our inbox (from about 20 different folks – thanks to everyone!), we weren’t surprised. There’s so much information out there that it’s tough to keep it all straight.
Here are the facts
There are two big reasons to use less energy. It saves money. And most forms of energy burn greenhouse gases that get trapped in the atmosphere, leading to climate change. The less energy we can use, the less pollution we create.
At Team Earth, we have our own list of energy-saving actions, but it’s not just some gimmick. We asked scientists from our own team at Conservation International to join up with scientists from the Rocky Mountain Institute to give you a list of actions that’s both credible and meaningful.
So when you take a Team Earth action, you know you’re actually having an impact. Things like switching to energy-efficient lighting, reducing vehicle use, and installing a smart meter have a meaningful impact.
That’s our goal, anyway, and we hope you find our resources helpful!
To read more about the science behind Team Earth:
http://www.teamearth.com/science/Pages/science.aspx
To join the team:
http://getinvolved.conservation.org/site/PageNavigator/TE_PledgeLessPledgeMore_Survey
Photo: http://www.flickr.com/photos/purplemattfish/| via Creative Commons
Read more about: CFL, energy efficiency, hybrid car, Rocky Mountain Institute, save energy
