HOW TECHNOLOGY CAN IMPROVE AND PROTECT THE ENVIRONMENT FROM HOME? By y Claudia Fernรกndez Marvin Rojas j Angela Aguilar Patricia Ortiz
INTRODUCTION
Now all human beings can do something to take care of our planet, it is those who prepare themselves to give solutions to stop the imminent environmental imbalance. To be ready y before the extreme changes that human beings have to take brings back to consciousness of which consequences we´ll have if we don`t take it measured now we will lose very y soon our planet. p The dream to live in a healthy world, to breath clean air and to see grow up our children, couldn´t be only a dream. It's about living healthier, living better, living more efficiently. We could support all the programs to conserve our environment. Now, a lot of companies have dedicated their efforts to design campaigns in favor of the protection to the environment and the planet. l t Around A d th the world ld “th “the earth th d day”” h has tturned d iinto t th the ideology of many people who want to protect the future of the humanity. We can contribute to develop these ideas not only in our homes but also in the city, city the country and why not the planet planet.
ENERGY EFFICIENCY, FROM THE KITCHEN TO THE DESKTOP The kitchen is the centre of most households households, you can make your kitchen more energy efficient by becoming more aware of the way you’re using energy and taking steps to reduce your levels of energy consumption. Looking at your kitchen’s electrical appliances, which all use varying levels of energy, is key when tackling energy efficiency in your kitchen kitchen. This includes the everyday items such as oven, fridge and freezer, which most of us rely on to cook and store food safely and effectively. It also means the more specialist electrical items – dishwashers, blenders and electrical whisks – that help us get jobs in the kitchen done quickly and painlessly.
GREEN LIVING: ADOPTING LYFESTYLE THAT ACCOMODATES SOLAR,, WIND AND RENEWABLE SOURCES OF ENERGY
Efficient energy use, sometimes simply called energy efficiency, is using less energy to provide d the h same level l l of energy f service. Modern energy‐efficient appliances, such as refrigerators, freezers, ovens, stoves, dishwashers, and clothes washers and dryers, use significantly less energy than older appliances. Current energy efficient refrigerators, for appliances. Current refrigerators, for example, use 40 percent example, use 40 percent less energy than conventional models did in 2001.
VEHICLES THAT RUN ON “GREEN� FUEL, HYBRIDS AND POPULAR DESIGNS Green fuel, also known as biofuel, is a type of fuel distilled from plants and animal materials, believed by some to be more environmentally friendly than the widely-used fossil fuels that power most of the world. In the desperate search for alternative energy sources, green fuel has evolved as a possible fueling option as the world drains its fossil fuel resources. Recent technological innovations have created the fields of advanced biofuels which focus on biofuels, non-food sources and waster renewal as energy.
BUILDINGS WITH CONSTRUCTION DESIGNS TO HARNESS THE FORCES OF THE ELEMENTS.
Building materials typically considered to be 'green' include rapidly renewable plant materials like bamboo and straw, lumber from forests certified to be sustainably managed, ecology blocks, dimension stone, recycled stone, recycled metal, and other products that are non-toxic, reusable, renewable, and/or recyclable (e.g. sheep wool, panels made from paper flakes, compressed earth block, adobe, baked earth, rammed earth, clay, vermiculite, flax linen, sisal, seagrass, cork, expanded clay grains, coconut, wood fibre plates, calcium sand stone.
• RECYCLE. Some cities already require people to sort their trash into paper, metals, glass, and organic waste. Even if your city doesn't, you can launch a growing trend. Set up four separate waste baskets, and make sure the contents end up in the appropriate recycle. recycle • Update your REFRIGERATOR Fridges are the most energy intensive appliance in a house. This means that a poorly maintained and energy inefficient fridge is costing you money, let alone adding its burden to the atmosphere. Recent fridges use 40% less energy than fridges of 10 years ago. If you do decide to upgrade the fridge, make sure that you buy for its excellent energy rating, longevity and durability and that you have the old fridge recycled. • Avoid disposable products, such as plates, cups, napkins and cutlery. Use REUSABLE TOWEELS and dishwashing cloths in place of paper towels and disposable dish sponges. sponges
• Prefer showers over baths. Showers use less water. Don't forget g to install an efficient SHOWER HEAD • Use soaps and detergents that contain no phosphates phosphates. • Install low-flush toilets in your home. These use 1.6 g gallons p per flush,, instead of 3.5 gallons, cutting water consumption by more than half
* Use recycled paper in your home office and p printer. Double side yyour p printing g and give scrap paper to the kids or turn it into note paper for the phone table. day Even if it * Turn off the computer every day. feels like it is not making much of a difference, it is. You also reduce any risks of g or shortcircuiting g byy turning g overheating computers off overnight.
* Leave the car at home. Let the car contribute less to the atmosphere by resting at home whenever possible. Walk to your local stores, take public transport to work and cycle to your friends' houses for dinner. Join a car pool and f ferry others th t workk rather to th than th driving d i i in i alone. You'll make new friends and you'll all share the costs. * Buy a fuel-efficient car if you are changing cars. Choose a compact car over an SUV. SUVs burn almost twice the amount of gas as a station wagon g and yyet can still carryy around the same amount of passengers. * Keep your bike well maintained. Take away at least one excuse that you cannot use your bike because it is in bad shape. Keep it in shape and then use it to keep yourself in shape.