Ilonggos more environmentally aware, Greenpeace officer says
The efforts towards making the public more environmentally conscious are taking effect.
According to Tina Hernandez, Direct Dialogue Venue officer of Greenpeace, Ilonggos are more aware of how important it is to protect the environment.
Hernandez, along with other Greenpeace representatives, are here for an exhibit at SM City and Robinsons Place Iloilo until July 15.
"We can see it in the little things. They have started to segregate their wastes at home and at the office. They no longer throw trash on the streets. If they couldn't find a garbage can, they keep it inside their bag," Fernandez observed.
She also shared that Greenpeace is launching "Simple Lang", which will promote energy consciousness. "Simple things like unplugging appliances when they are not in use mean a lot already," she said.
Greenpeace offers the following tips in saving energy. First, proper insulation and ventilation is the first and most important energy saving measure. In hot regions, energy use for active cooling (air conditioning) can be minimized or even avoided if the construction is well-thought out. In a moderated climate, active cooling can always be avoided.
Second, try to minimize electricity use: its generation needs a lot of energy, mostly heat produced in coal, gas or nuclear plants. Using electric hot water heaters or space heating is extremely inefficient.
Third, replace incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescents (CFLs). Compact fluorescents use four times less energy, and last eight times longer (8,000h instead of 1,000h) than incandescent light bulbs.
Also pay attention to the light fixtures. Clever use of reflectors, and directional lamps to get the light where you need it can save you another 50 percent energy cost and improve your comfort.
CFLs at the end of their operating life should be disposed of properly so the mercury inside can be recycled.
Fourth, buy efficient electric appliances. They use two to 10 times less electricity for the same functionality, and are mostly higher quality products that last longer than the less efficient ones. In short, efficient appliances save you lots of energy and money.
Fifth, buy a laptop instead of a desktop, if practical. It consumes five times less electricity. If you buy a desktop, get an LCD screen instead of an outdated CRT. Enable the power management function on your computer, the screensaver does not save energy.
Sixth, cut off standby losses. Most modern electric appliances consume electricity even when turned off.