Most habits that save energy can also save you money. Consider turning off the lights when you leave a room or if enough ambient light is available to fill a space, go without lights. This action has immediate impacts on the bottom line. It leads to reduced energy bills and prolongs the life of the light bulbs, allowing less frequent purchasing.
Less common, perhaps, are those habits that save energy and improve your health. In this realm consider walking to the local market or restaurant (if you’re fortunate enough to live within walking distance). The other day I went out to run some errands on campus. I was half way to my destination when I caught myself wondering how I exited the building. For the past year I have worked on the 6th floor of a 14-story office building on the university where I’m obtaining my degree. Over that time I have always taken the stairs down to the lobby and exited the building. On a rare occasion I’ll walk up, but that is even less likely when I ride my bike to campus. Preferably I wait to ride with someone, but that doesn’t always happen. Small placards placed by the elevator implore people to take the stairs down one and up two floors instead of using the elevator, but I don’t see it working.
As I was saying though, the other day I was out the door and on my way when I wondered how it was that I exited the building. The only possible answer I could come up with was that I walked down the stairs, because that’s what I’ve done for the last year; it’s what I always do. When I’m with a group of people leaving the floor at the same time, I’ll take the elevator to be social, but not always. From time to time people come with me, which is the goal of a positive habit, getting others to join in the “exercise” as well.
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