What are eco-gestures ?
These are small, simple actions that save money and benefit the environment.
They can be applied on a daily basis.
Here is our selection:
At home
Our consumption is a direct result of our daily habits. One of the easiest and most cost-effective ways to reduce our consumption is to change these habits. Here are a few tips to help you reduce your bills while helping the planet.
- The energy consumption of a television is related to its size. By choosing a smaller screen, you can ensure lower energy consumption.
- By plugging all the audio-visual equipment into a power strip with a switch, you can easily turn them off at once. This way you can avoid leaving them on standby when they are not in use.
- You can reduce your water consumption by using a dual flush system.
- By choosing showers over baths, you can save between 90 and 120 litres of water.
- Remember not to leave your towels permanently on the radiator. This will prevent the radiator from warming up the room.
- The bedroom is usually empty during the day. If you remember to keep the curtains closed when you are not there, it will help to keep the room warm.
- By lowering the room temperature by 1°C you will not only save energy but also sleep better. It has been proven that the ideal temperature for sleeping is between 16 and 18°C.
The kitchen is certainly one of the liveliest places in your home, but it is also one of the most energy-intensive places.
- Remember to cover your pots and pans when you cook. This will save a lot of energy.
- Household equipment is a major energy-consuming item. Pay attention to the class of your appliances before you buy them! Favour equipment of class A or higher.
- By defrosting your refrigerator, you reduce its consumption.
- By placing your cooling appliance as far away as possible from a heat source, you also reduce its consumption.
- Avoid putting hot food directly into your fridge, wait until it has cooled down.
- Use short programmes for your appliances and avoid running them half full.
- Many appliances are equipped with a timer. If you have a day and night meter, program them to run at night. This way you will benefit from cheaper electricity.
Some tips are even more effective when applied to the whole house.
- You can, for example, replace your old light bulbs with LED bulbs. This will drastically reduce your electricity bill. These bulbs do not emit heat, have a much longer life expectation and most importantly consume up to 80% less energy.
- In order to maintain a constant temperature during the night, even in winter, it is important to close all the curtains in the house.
- When there is enough sunlight to light your rooms, avoid "mechanically" switching on your lamps.
- Having your boiler serviced regularly by a professional will ensure that it is working properly. A boiler that is perfectly working is a boiler that consumes less.
- By automating your home, you can save a lot of energy, whether it's a smart thermostat or connected lights, they will help you reduce your consumption.
At the office
Too often we forget our good habits when we are at work. Yet by continuing our efforts at the office we can significantly reduce our environmental impact.
Here are some examples of what can be done at the workplace.
Here are some examples of what can be done at the workplace.
- Keeping the printer on all day is not always necessary, remember to turn it off after use.
- When you can allow it, print in black and white and in "draft" mode.
- Double-sided printing saves a lot of paper.
- When you need to read a document, use the digital version, and only print it out if you really need to.
E-Mail
- Remember to sort and delete your e-mails regularly.
- A compressed attachment will make your email less energy consuming.
- You can also unsubscribe from newsletters that you do not read.
Web
- By using precise keywords in your web searches, you consume less data and find what you are looking for faster.
Computer
- You can turn off your second screen when it is not in use.
- To make your computer consume less energy, you can activate the "energy saving" mode.
- Remember to sort and delete your e-mails regularly.
- A compressed attachment will make your email less energy consuming.
- You can also unsubscribe from newsletters that you do not read.
Web
- By using precise keywords in your web searches, you consume less data and find what you are looking for faster.
Computer
- You can turn off your second screen when it is not in use.
- To make your computer consume less energy, you can activate the "energy saving" mode.
Lights
- Remember to turn off the lights when you leave the rooms.
- When there is enough daylight to work you can turn off the lights.
- By rethinking the arrangement of work spaces, it is possible to make a better use of natural light.
Heating
- Closing the curtains at night helps to maintain a good room temperature.
- Remember to close the doors, especially those in contact with unheated rooms.
- Turn off the radiators before opening the windows.
Water
- If you haven't already done so, you can fit your toilet with a dual flush system.
- Remember to turn off the lights when you leave the rooms.
- When there is enough daylight to work you can turn off the lights.
- By rethinking the arrangement of work spaces, it is possible to make a better use of natural light.
Heating
- Closing the curtains at night helps to maintain a good room temperature.
- Remember to close the doors, especially those in contact with unheated rooms.
- Turn off the radiators before opening the windows.
Water
- If you haven't already done so, you can fit your toilet with a dual flush system.
- When you can work from home, do it. Working from home reduces the need for extensive business travel.
- If you have to travel a long way for a meeting, use video conferencing.
In transport
We can continue our eco-gestures when we travel. Whether it's by using public transport or by driving in an eco-friendly way.
Travelling by public transport is the best way to reduce energy consumption related to transport. Since they have all been made free it has also become the most economical solution.
By opting for eco-driving, you can reduce pollution and extend the life of your vehicle. Here are some examples of eco-driving :
- Try to avoid sudden starts as much as possible.
- Over-speeding consumes more fuel. To reduce fuel consumption, it is advisable to shift gears smoothly and at the right time.
- Remember to turn off your engine during long stops.
- Try to have your vehicle serviced regularly.
- Use the motor brake rather than the mechanical brake.
Business travel represents a large proportion of road traffic.
- Car sharing reduces the number of cars on the road in the morning. It also makes journeys more pleasant and reduces costs.
- In the city, car-sharing is a very interesting solution. Simply register on a car-sharing platform and you can reserve your car at any time.
- Video conferencing is also a very effective way of limiting business travel.
- Car sharing reduces the number of cars on the road in the morning. It also makes journeys more pleasant and reduces costs.
- In the city, car-sharing is a very interesting solution. Simply register on a car-sharing platform and you can reserve your car at any time.
- Video conferencing is also a very effective way of limiting business travel.
