SAVE IT!

Use natural light where at all possible. My children are notorious for never opening the curtains before midday and sitting about with the lights on. Sunlight is free and it is a lot better for you than the yellow-toned, artificial light provided by light bulbs. When you do use artificial light, make sure that it is energy saving. Energy efficient light bulbs are no longer the luxury that they once were.

Using Natural Daylight

Even better, adjust your hours to be more in tune with daylight. This might mean getting up earlier to make use of the natural light and going to bed earlier so as not to have to light your house so long in darkness. As you get used to this, you will be amazed at how much you can get done early in the morning without the rest of the family getting under your feet and how energetic you feel when you don't sit up until after midnight on a regular basis. We are natural creatures and our bodies are regulated by sunlight. Many a shift worker has discovered how draining it can be to get up and go to work while it is still dark.

Asking difficult questions

Finally, talk to your electricity supplier. Ask them, bluntly, how much of their supply comes from renewable sources and whether they think that percentage is good enough. Only by making a nuisance of ourselves will we convince those who supply our electricity that we do care about environmental issues.

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