The Trenton Middle School FCCLA is promoting “Saving Energy” with the FCCLA STAR Event Environmental Ambassador.
The team of Ashten Whitaker and Jayden Roeder have been busy looking up ways to save energy for their friends and family. This STAR (Students Taking Action with Recognition) Event recognizes participants who address environmental issues that adversely impact human health and well-being and who actively empower others to get involved. These students have investigated areas where they can make a difference, and have developed a stewardship project for their home, school and community. Through this effort they hope to educate the community about ways to save energy. Community members giving support were Chad Davis and Rosetta Marsh from the Trenton Municipal Utilities.
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When looking for ways to save energy and money at home it is not the big ticket items that they are looking to find that save you money. The students have found many little ways to make a difference over time by saving energy. Below you will find some of their tips for saving energy.
1. Use an electronic power strip for your electronic equipment, devices and phones. This will help to reduce phantom loads by plugging the devices into the power strip and turn it off when not in use. ie. phones, tablets, laptops.
2. Choose energy efficient lighting by replacing 5 of your homes most frequently used lights with Energy Star bulbs. Incandescent lights give off heat which is good in the winter but not as much in the summer.
3. Turn off lights when not in the room.
4. Wash only full loads of clothing and fill the dishwasher before running it. Air dry or hang clothes and bedding on a clothesline.
5. Reduce water use. Turn off water while actually brushing teeth, turn back on when rinsing mouth.
6. Take a short shower instead of baths, and use low-flow shower heads.
7. Turn down your thermostat, 1 to 2 degrees, and put on a sweatshirt if you are a little cool.
8. Set your refrigerator temperature at 38-42 degrees Fahrenheit; your freezer should be set between 0 and 5 degrees Fahrenheit.
9. Unload the back of your mini van, car trunk or bed of truck. Less weight = better gas mileage.
10. Fill the gas tank on your vehicle in the morning instead of in the afternoon when it is warmer outside because fuel expands when it heats up.
11. Switch your ceiling fan to turn in a counter clockwise direction in the summer and in the winter, run at low speeds but clockwise.
12. Ride a bike to church or work instead of taking a vehicle when possible.
These tips were found at the Department of Energy, www.energyguest.ca.gov; www.motherearthnews.com; and www.50waystohelp.com.
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