take action
The Power of Small Steps
Consider that Georgia Tech has about 7 million square feet in occupied building space. Assume that a single 4-tube fluorescent fixture illuminates about 75 square feet. If everyone on campus agreed to turn out all the lights (at a time when they were normally on) for one hour during the year, this would save 16,000 kilowatt hours or about $650 for the year. The same reduction applied once a week would save 832,000 KWH or $33,800. Applied once a day, the savings would be 4 million KWH and more than $165,000 for the year.
Simple acts repeated many times by a lot of people can have a huge effect. The Spanish have a proverb: "Little by little we go far."
One way to look at such potential savings is to consider that the benefits will accrue not only to us, but also to future generations. The more we "sustain," the better our tomorrow will be.
What Can I Do?
What can you do? A great number of things, as there are countless actions that can save energy:
• Turn out a light.
• Adjust the thermostat (upward in summer, downward in winter).
• Don't stand and hold the door open.
• Don't run unneeded copies.
• Don't let the water run in the bathroom, and install water-saving devices. (Not only does this save water, but it also saves the electricity required to pump and clean the water.)
• Don't get two napkins, if you only need one; it takes energy to manufacture and transport almost everything we use.
• Don't get a plastic spoon, if you only need a fork.
• Don't leave your car running, while you run into the store.
Most of these (and other, similar) actions will make very little difference in your quality of life today, but such actions may have a huge impact on your "tomorrow.
