There’s an easy way to start your path to green living, when you flick on remember to flick off.

If the lights are on when you exit an empty room, always remember to flick off the light switch.  During the daytime, let in as much natural light as possible to avoid using unnecessary electricity.  In my home, I completely avoid the use of lighting during the daytime and I’m a total minimalist for lighting in the evening.  This not only saves energy, but saves on your utility bill as well.  More importantly, it’s an essential basic step toward a greener lifestyle.  It may sound insignificant, but if everyone flicked off, the impact would be huge.During Earth hour 2009, Toronto alone recorded a decrease in electricity of 15.1% (nearly doubled from 8.7% for the previous year) as many businesses flicked off, including the CN Tower.

Everyone is guilty of leaving the lights on and corporations are often one of the worst offenders.  It’s maddening to pass strip malls or businesses at 11 o’clock at night which have all of their lights on but their business is closed.  What is the point of lighted signs, storefronts, and offices if no one is physically in the building?  So passersby can see how wasteful you are after business hours?  Come on people, turning the lights off is green living made easy, it requires little effort and it will save energy.  And that multiplies exponentially when you’re talking about every business out there wasting electricity now.  If you need lights for security, eliminate all non-essential lighting and use infrared cameras.  Anything is better than leaving the lights on 24/7.  It’s a total waste of energy serving no purpose.

Communities are now searching for eco friendly alternatives and ways to promote green living, so why can’t they lobby local businesses, restaurateurs and retailers to flick off the lights and save energy?  It seems like common sense to me.  Cities could even consider lighting every other street light during low traffic hours to cut down on unnecessary consumption.   I’ve driven on enough unlighted country roads at night time to know that the headlights on my car are more than sufficient to see the road ahead and still drive safely.

This is green living made easy folks, always remember to flick off and you save money and help save the planet.

Tags: CN Tower, Earth Friendly, Earth Hour, eco money saving ideas, electricity reduction, energy conservation, energy wastage, environmental responsibility, Go Green, Green Lifestyle, Green Living, planet forward, simple green ideas, sustainable ideas, sustainable tips, Toronto green news