While so many New Year's resolution appear to focus on changes to be made in your personal life to improve health and wellbeing, we'd like to suggest one that can help you and your environment.
We urge everyone to look at ways to save energy day after day in your house, at your desk at work and in your car or truck.
It's no secret that fuel prices jump when global politics go haywire. Consequently, we need to be ahead of the game and be active in reducing consumption in our daily lives. Doing so will lessen the impact from the whims of whichever despot decides to squeeze the United States.
So, here are five quick tips everyone can put on their "to do" list to make this New Year's resolution at reality, thanks to the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority's Web site:
1. Organize your furniture and rugs away from registers and heating return vents.
2. Using small appliances such as a microwave oven could use 80 percent less energy rather than a conventional oven.
3. Clean your refrigerator coils and repair any loose seals.
4. Use a power strip as a central "turn off" point for powering down multiple pieces of equipment.
5. Look for the ENERGY STAR label on new appliances. These units have advanced features that improve energy efficiency.
