At Home
At Work
In your environment




At Home

Electricity
Make full use of daylight
Install split switches to only turn on the lights you need
Replace traditional bulbs with energy saving models
Although they are more expensive, they pay for themselves by lasting longer

Appliances
To avoid unnecessary waste, unplug all appliances when not at home for a long period, unplug the television, the stereo and the video at the wall. Although not in use, when appliances are connected they still consume electricity (standby).

Choose efficient appliances to save money and energy. Energy efficiency labels mean we can compare different available models and choose those that consume less energy.

Letters A, B and C marked in three different green colors show the models with the lowest energy use.

90 percent of the energy used by a washing machine is to heat the water, if we reduce the cycle temperature from 60 to 30 percent, energy use halves.

Reduce reuse recycle
Reduce plastic bag use. There are more environmentally-friendly options such as a shopping trolley or canvas bags or those made with alternative resistant materials.

Avoid excess packaging, especially porexpan or polystyrene trays (the white spongy plastic material used to package food, amongst other things) which are highly polluting and non-biodegradable).

Decorate your home with reused objects, hanging painted burnt-out bulbs or yoghurt pots decorated with colored paper.

Choose recycled paper for Christmas cards. This way, you avoid trees being cut down and contribute to conserving forests.

Give toys that do not use batteries as presents. As well as being more hands-on toys, you avoid the impact caused by them being thrown away without care.

Saving water
Aerators are fittings that mix water with air and substitute the normal tap filters so as to consume up to 70% less water.

Showers are better that baths as they can save around 90-100 litres; in addition, turning off the water when we are soaping up in the shower saves around 30 litres every time.

Turn off the tap when brushing your teeth; it can save between 15 and 20 litres, as well as being a good time to make children aware of saving water.

When washing the dishes by hand, do not leave the tap running. Use the plug or a washing up bowl.

Air conditioning and heating
Choose devices with Investor technology, it can save up to 25% in comparison with traditional systems.

Fitting adhesive draught excluders to doors, windows and shutter cases means a 5 to 10 percent energy saving.

If the heating has been switched on all day, you can turn it off or reduce the temperature with a thermostat at night.

Ecolabels
Ecolabels or ecological labels are used with products and services that are environmentally friendly.

Packaging: in Europe, the green dot identifies those packers and producers that pay taxes for selective collection of packaging, whether it be paper, cardboard, plastic or glass, except in the case of returnables.

Organic food: ecolabels for vegetable or animal products that comply with European legislation.

Electrical appliances: the ecolabels classify energy consumption, running from A to E and showing the most to the least efficient.



At Work

Saving energy
Install motion detectors in areas with movement: corridors, WC, photocopiers, etc.

Use fluorescent tubes wherever possible as they consume less than traditional bulbs; but only in areas where there is no need to constantly switch them off and on since energy use is higher when turning them on.

In bathrooms, substitute electric hand dryers for rolls of paper towels.

Configure computers, photocopiers, printers etc. for energy saving mode wherever possible.

Activate the toner saving mode when printing or photocopying where the option is provided.

Reduce reuse recycle
Install a paper bin near photocopiers and printers as a reminder and to make it easy to recycle paper.

Use paper on both sides when writing, printing or photocopying. Use recycled paper.

Reuse paper that has only been used on one side and envelopes used for internal mail.

Saving water
Install taps with a timer, those which are activated by pushing a button, let the water run for a specific time and then shut off automatically, or motion detection systems.

Choose cisterns with two-step flush devices, low consumption or limited capacity flush.

04 At work
Air conditioning and heating

Keep radiators and air conditioning out pipes free from obstacles that lead to energy loss.

Turn radiators in unused room off.

Control the temperature with thermostats wherever possible or, when the ideal temperature is reached 20 grades, switch off ventilation systems or radiators.

Ecolabels
Packaging: the steel, aluminum and cardboard manufacturers include logos on their products showing their environmental suitability such as Ecosteel or Tetrapack.

Chemical products: the chemical industry is obliged to show the toxicity of their products on information labels on paints, cleaning products, solvents, etc.

Energy: the automobile industry in Britain is also obliged to notify about its consumption and CO2 emission levels for vehicles.



In your environment

The open air
When going on trips to the country, keep to marked paths and designated camping areas.

In summer, follow fire restrictions. Where allowed, most areas have regulations setting the maximum size for campfires.

Take reusable materials instead of disposable boxes and cans. At the end of your stay, remember to clean the area.

Do not disturb wildlife, it could affect mating or nesting seasons. Do not feed wild animals as they may associate food with humans leading to a dangerous situation for both.

Transport
Use public transport wherever possible.
Use a bicycle or simply go on foot, it’s healthier, cheaper and does not pollute.
Avoid sudden acceleration and sharp braking at traffic lights.
Stop the engine in traffic jams and stops.

Noise pollution
From 55dB to 75dB, the level is considered noisy. 65dB are reached with a vacuum cleaner or with a television on at high volume. A rubbish truck creates 75dB. In a traffic jam, 90 dB can be reached.

Keep your vehicle well-maintained, paying special attention to the silencer. Correct tyre pressure avoids unwanted noise.

Only use the horn when necessary or in an emergency.

Where jobs involve noise levels above 80dB, workers must be notified about the potential risks for hearing, as well as the preventative measures to be taken. Medical check-ups are to be carried out periodically and workers exposed to noise are to be given hearing protectors.

Light pollution
ON AN INDIVIDUAL LEVEL
Switch indoor and outdoor lights off when not required. Use low consumption light bulbs appropriate to real lighting needs.

ON A GROUP LEVEL
Implement support and promotion policies for alternative energy.
Reduce lighting at illuminated monuments.
Reduce full operating capacity at facilities when not in use with the aid of two-tier systems.

ON AN EDUCATIONAL LEVEL
Include awareness of appropriate and rational use of electricity in professional training for architects, civil engineers, designers, engineers, environmental experts, etc.

Promote the inclusion of environmental topics in education plans as well as encourage pollution studies and maps.