Want to be more sustainable? The best place to start is in your room. There are many things you can do to decrease your energy usage and lower your environmental footprint while living in sunny Southern California. Your room is your space, so let’s get personal!
Tips & Actions
USE NATURAL LIGHTING DURING THE DAY
Open those blinds and use natural lighting during the day. When you do need to turn on lights, use desk lamps instead of overhead lamps. This is called “task lighting.” Not only does task lighting use less energy, it also increases productivity.
ADJUST TEMPERATURES SEASONALLY
Adjust your heating and cooling to better align with outdoor temperatures (68° in the winter and 78° in the summer). Better yet, dress for the weather and wear a sweater in the winter and lighter fabrics in the summer to avoid turning on heating or cooling altogether.
USE LEDS
Replace the incandescent bulb in your desk lamp with an LED bulb, which is more energy efficient. LEDs use 90% less energy and produce about 70-90% less heat.
UNPLUG ELECTRONICS
Did you know that your electronics use energy when they’re plugged in, even if they aren’t on? This is called “vampire power.” Cut down on vampire power by unplugging your electronics when they aren’t in use.
Purchase an area rug for your room. Not only will it look good, it'll add warmth underfoot meaning you'll be less likely to turn on the heat.